The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-02-27
THE AIIBI.

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 to 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 hos.
pitably offered the use Of his shed. Here
a rough table and chair were placed fol
the judge, the other necessary furniture
intended to represent tho dock, the
stand, ETC., being eked out with boxo,
from Silas Bagget's grocery store.
Jake Smith looked at these prepara.
tions for a time with frowning discon.
tent and then strolled down the road
turning into the lane that led TO Blake's.
When he reached the door Of the shauty
he leaned against the jamb and poked
his naked head inside, tanning himself
in an embarrassed way with his greasy
fragment Of hat. He had come there
with the intention Of saying something
but the sight within made him forget it
Blake's widow sat there, as she had
pretty much all the time since the mur
der, staring straight before her, with
her chin in her palm. The sunlight
struck through the foliage of the red
oak trees that grew before the door, and
checkered with the fickering brightnes,
the floor and cradle in which Jem's baby
was sleeping.
There it was, just as it had been thre,
days ago could it be only three days;)-
just as it had been when she went out
that morning to look after the drying
clothes and left him standing in the dool
by the cradle (how fond he was Of the
babyD-just as it was when she hearJ
the crack Of the pistol and ran in Will
an awful sense Of sulfocating fright
just the same as when she had fount
him lying upon the cradle, dabbling it,
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 wa
quiet and helpful through it all-wheI
men came and lifted him up; when the,
had laid him ON the rough bed in thO
other room; when they carried him {,
the grave, she following with the baby
in her arms.
Jake Smith was trying to find the linl
missing in his thoughts; he shifted witt
perpleNty-or something and Blake
widow looked up without speaking
Jake nodded pleasantly four or fyu
times
"Pooty chippor?" asked he.
Blake's widow smiled sadly, bent owe
the sleeping child and smoothed tn.
clothes with a tender touch.
They're agoin ter try him in a court,
Jake went on, IAN don't believe
"Try who-AntOnio" She turned to
ward the burly figure in the door with
flash of interest in her black eyes.
Eyes. The jedge is making a cour
out Of his shed. hope it'll turn out al
right, but it seems like givin that Mexi
can devil a chance he oughtn't ter have
"He can't get clear, can her she asked
rocking the cradle gently and pattinl
the coverlet,
II don't see how, but he's got som
kind Of a law cuss to speak for him
feller that stopped here a day or two ag
on his way to Galveston-and it make
me kind O. nervous"
Blake's widow did not appear to no
tice the last remark for the child dis
turbed by the talking, had awakene
and sat up in his cradle with a wonder
ing look
"Pooty, amt hep said Jake, regardin
the small figure with interest. "Look
Just lilye-ahcm-you. Poor little-l-
a"-he stammered, and treated his ha
like a mortal enemy. "Of course he'
had-you've gOt-theres nothin coul
do fur yer, maybe"
She answered with grateful look, bu
it was accompanied by a shake Of tn
head.
Jake bent down and with his big fore
finger softly rumpled the hair Of the ha
by's head; then he went out and lei
them, Blake's widow sitting as he foun
her and the baby staring down the pat
after him,
He walked ON until he reached the 10
Of the little hill, where he could lool
down upon the roof which covered th
piteous scene he had just left Here n
seemed to have half mind to turn back
for he hesitatel and stopped; but
changed his partial intention after lin
gering a moment and walked medit.
! lively onward, with the exclamation
oval, some women do beat the d.
amazin.'
OF course everybody came 70 the tlia
| The arrangements were soon found {
be altogether too meag6r Pitblado
shed was filed to overhowing and Bag
get made a clean sweep Of every empt
| box in his store,
Ant0nio's lawyer, o sharp eyed, shar
/ featured fellow from Galveston, hS
hustled about with surprising agility O
the day previous, holding mysteriou
conferences with in conditioned fellow
of Gueldos kidney.
The court was assembled, the jury ha
| been chosen, and the witnesses were a
/ present save oue-Blako's widow.
Pretty soon there was a stir at TIL
/ door, then "a mmmur Of surprise ra
through the crowded room.
"May ho l-d, said Jake Smith, q,
| dibly, 'ii She hasn't brought her bobr
What reason sho may have had f.
| not leaving Doe little thing IN charge G
some syml lizing woman-and thei
were plen' "-1 would have been gla
D