The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-01-07
BLAkE'S WIDOW.

Jem Blake was shot dead in his own
doorway by Antonio Gueldo, and the
trial was to come off directly.
The extraordinary interest in the af-
fair was less due to the murder and its
peculiar circumstances than 10 the fact
that this was the first case tried at San
Saba in any more formal court than
the time-honored institution of Judge
Lynch.
As there was no place specially ar
ranged for the trial. Judge Pitblado
Hospitality offered the use of his shed.
Here a rough table ardS chair were
placed for the Judge. tie othor neeas-
sary furniture, intended 70 represent
the dock. the stand. etc, being eked
out with boxes from Silas Baggertts
store.
Jake Smith looked ut these prepara-
tions for time with frowning discon-
tent, and then slrolled down the road.
turning into the lane that led to Bake's.
When he reached the door of the shanty
he leaned against the jamb and poked
his naked head inside, tanning himself
in an embarrassed way with his greasy
fragrant hat. He had come there with
the intention of saying something, but
the sight witnin made him forget it.
Biakes widow sat there, as she had
sat pretty much all the time since the
murder staring straight before her.
with her chin in her PALM. The sun.
light struck through the foliage of the
red-oak trees that grew before the
door, and checkered with llickering
brightness the floor and cradle in which
Jems baby was sleeping.
There it was. just as it lad been
three days ago Gould it be only three
daysD just As it had been when she
went out that morning to look after
the driving clothes and left him stand
ing in the door by the cradle chow
fond he was of the babyD-just rs it
was when she heard the crack of tie
pistol and ran in with an awful sense
of suifocating fright-just the same as
when she had found him lying upon
the cradle. dabbling its white linen
with his blood and the baby playing
with his hair. She screamed once the
first and last complaint any one had
heard her make; then she was quiet
and helpful through it all-when men
came and lifted him up; when they laid
him on the rough bed in the other
room; when they carried him to the
grave. she following with the baby in
her arms.
Jake Smith was trying to find the
link missing in his thoughts; he shifted
with perpleXity-or Something-anu
Blake's widow looked up without
speaking. Jake nodded pleasantly
four or five times.
'Pootv chipper?' asked he.
Blake's widow smiled sadly. bent
over the sleeping child and smoothed
the clothes with a tender touch.
They're agoin ter try him in a
court" Jake went on. "an' | don't be-
lieven-
Try who-Antonio?n She turned
toward the burly figure in the door
with flash of interest in her black
eyes.
Yes. The Jedge is making court
out of his shed. | hope it'll turn out
all right, but it seems like givin' that
Mexican devil Il chance he oughtn't ter
have"
He can't get clear. can hep" she
asked. rocking the cradle gently and
patting the coverlet.
II don't see how, but he's got some
kind of law cuss to speak for him-a
feller that stopped here day or two
ago on his way to Galveston-ant 1t
makes me kind o. nervous"
Blake's widow did not appear to
notice the last remark. for the child.
disturbed by the talking, had awakened
aud sat up in his tradle with wonder-
ing look.
''Pooty. amt hep said Jake. regard
ing the small figure with interest
Looks just observation-disclosures. Poor
| Iitle = = Il" = he stammered. and
treated his hat like a mortal enemy.
'Of course he'd had-you've got
there's nothiu' l could do fur yer. may
be?''
She answered with grateful look.
but 1t was accompanied by shake of
the head.
Jake bent down and with his bic
fore-tinger softly rumpleI the hair OF
the baby's head; then he went out and
left them. Blake's widow sitting as he
found her, and the baby staring down
the Oath after him.