Arizona republican., 1892-03-09

fathers sunny hair mingling with her dark locks
 With some difficulty way was made through the throng to her seat, which nad been placed on one side of the judge, directly opposite the candle box, 3n the other, where Antonio sat. She took her place and never moved during the whole of the trial, excepting as she was required to testify, and once when fhe baby tugged at some glistening thing that lay hidden in the folds of her dress, Ut which she took pains to distract its attention with n chip from the floor. As for the baby, it sat there with its big blue eyes open to their fullest extent, entirely absorbed in the novel scene, save at the moment when that irresisti- ble glitter caught its eye.
 Every one being now present, the trial went on i'll good earnest. A number of witnesses were examined, whose testi- mony showed that Gueldo had had trou- ble with Blake, and more than once threatened his life; that Gueldos pistol was one charge empty on the evening of the day of the murder, whereas in the morning it had been full; that he was seen that morning around Blake's house, and more than that. Blal1es widow had heard Gueldo's voice just before the fatal shot, and had seen him retreating as she ran out.
 At this last point the Galveston law yer asked the witness few questions re- garding how she knew it was Gueldo's, and how she had recognized the voice for his. She didn't know how exactly, but was none the less sure for that.
 There had been a rumor about that some one had heard Antonio make 8 boast of having done for Blake this time," but if there were witness for this he could not be found now.
 And so the prosecution closed.
 The Galveston lawyer began by in volving in whirlpool of helpless con tradictiOn the witness who had sworn to having seen Gueldo near Blake's house. Then he expatiated on the ease with which one person may be mistaken for another, and brought witness to show how Gueldo had already been said to re- semble some one in the village. Finally he produced three of the i'll conditioned fellows before referred to, who swore that Antonio was with them on a hunt ing expedition during the whole of the day on which the murder was com mitted.
 It was a clear case of alibi Jack Smiths astonishment at the ease with which the thing had been accomplished was unbounded. He threw disgusted look toward Pitblado, but the judge was nonpluSsed and didn't seem to be inter- ested with things in Jake's vicinity.
 "Gentlemen of the jury" said he, "the verdict took turn l didn't alto gether expec'. don't know as there's much to be said. s'pose you've got to go by the evidence, an that don't need any explainin. Eff you kin make out, accordin ter that, that Antonio Gueldo killed Jem Blake, why, jest recollect that's what yer here fur"
 Jake Smith fgdeted about on his box and cast anxious glances through the open door toward the clump of nopals where the jury was deliberating.
 Antonio talked and laughed i'll an un- dertone with his counsel, and Blake's widow sat staring at them with com pressed lips and a strong expression of determination coming into her face.
 It wasn't long before the jury filed in again, all seating themselves but the spokesman, and Judge Pitblado rose, wiping his forehead with his shirt sleeves.
 "StraighteIed it out, have ye:" asked he, nodding to the spokesman.
 The man nodded in return.
 "Yer see," said the spokesman, with hesitating and disappointed air, "ef yer hadn't a-corralled us with sticking ter the evidence We might a done bet ter, but acco:din to that Antonio wasn't thar when the murder was done an eff he weren't thar he couldn't a done it, an eff he didn't do it, why-then-of course he's-not guilty
 Pitblado didn't dare to look at any body: he stared mp at the rafters, down at the table, nowhere in particular, and then turned half way toward the pris- oner.
 You kin go" said he at last, and with great deliberation, but don't stay around here too long"
 There was a dead pause, during which nobody moved.
 Jake Smith exploded single cuss word which he had held in for some time past, and Blake's widow stood up.
 Have you got through, judge" she asked
 aal-l-spose SO"
 And there is nothing else to be done"
 'l am afraid there ain't."
 And he's free to go?'
 "Y-a-s."
 Antonio Gueldo arose with an insolent grin and picked up his hat.
 The baby crowed. for it saw the gilt tering thing again.
 There was sharp report--Antonio pitched forward in heap upon the floor and Blake's widow stood with the pistol pressed to her breast.
 A line of thin blue smoke curled from the muzzio of the weapon and formed a halo around the childs fiaxen head. The glitteling thing was quite near the little hands now, and they took it from the yielding grasp of the mother.
 Blake's widow looked steadily at the figure on the hoor-it was quite motion less; then she turned and went through the wide passage opened for her by the silent crowd, holding the baby very ten derly, and the baby carrying the pistol.
 The child laughed with delight; it had
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