Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-14


a clean sweep OF every empty box IN MS
store.
Antonio's lawyer, a sharp-eyed. sharp
featured fellow from Galveston. had
hustled about with surprising agility of5
the day previous. holding mysterious con-
ferences with il-conditioned fellows of
GueldO'S kidney.
The court was assembled, the jury had
been chosen and the witnesses were all
present save one-Blake's widow.
Pretty sooa there was a stir at the door,
then murInur OF surprise ran through the
crowded room
MAY be DID, said Jake Smith. audi
bly,, IF she hasn't brought her Bo5i''
What reason she may have had for not
leaving the little thing IN charge of some
sympathizing woman-and there were
plenty who would have been glad OF the
trust-was not apparent; however that
might De, there 1t was, clasped firmly in her
arms, its bright red checks contrasting with
her whiteness, and its fathers sunny hair
mingling with her dark locks.
With some difficulty way was made
through the throns to her seat, which had
been placed on the side of the judge, directly
opposite the candle box on the other. where
Antonio sat. She took her place and never
moved during the whole of the trial. except
ing as she was required to testify, and once
when the baby tugged at some glistening
lIllilS ludJ LAY utuueu IN ILt 1O4QS OF lGI
dress, at which she took pains to distract
its attention with q 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 irresistible glitter
caught its eye.
Everyone being now present the trial
went on in good earnest. a number of
witnesses were examined whose testimony
cbOvVpd thar (,I1edn had had fr.0r1hla n
Blake, and more than once threatened his
life; that GueldO's pistol was one charge
empty on the evening of the day of the
murder, whereas in the morning il had been
fun: that he was seen that morning around
Blake's house, and more than that, Blake'S
widow had heard Gueldo's voice just be-
fore the fatal shot. and had seen him re-
treating as she ran out
At the last point the Galveston lawyer
asked the witness a few questions regard
ing 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 runor about that some
one had heard Antonio make a boast of
''having done for Blake this time" but if
there was a witness for this he could not be
found now.
And so the prosecution closed.
The Galveston lawyer begun by involving
in a whirlpool of HELPLESS contradiction the
witness who had sworn to having seen
Gueldo near Blake's house. Then he ex-
patiated on the ease with which one person
may be mistaken for another, and brought
witness to show how Gueldo had already
been said to resemble someone in the vii
lage Finally he produced three of the i'll
conditioned fellows above referred to, who
swore that Antonio was with them on q
hunting expedition during the whole of the
day on which the murder was committed.
1t was Il clear case of alibi. Jack Smiths
astonishment at the ease with which the
thing had been accomplished was IN
bounded. He threw disguised look toward
PitDlado, but the judge was nonplussed and
didu't seem to be interested with things in
Jake's vicinity
Gentlemen of the jury" said he, 1.-The
verdict took turn l didn't altogether ex-
pec' l don't know as there's much to be
said. dispose you've got to go by the evil
dence, an that don't need any explainin'.
Eff you kin make out. accordin' ter that,
that Antonio Guelda killed Jem Blake,
why, just recollect that's what yer here
fur
Jake Smith fidgeted about on his box, and
cast anxious glances through the open door
toward the clump of naples where the jury
was celebrating.
Antonio talked and laughed in an under
tone with his counsel, and Blake's widow
sat staring at them with compressed lips
and Strong expression of determination
coming into her face.
1t wasn't long before the jury filed in
again, all seating themselves but the spokes-
man. and Judge Pitblado rose, wiping his
forehead with his shirtsleeves.
Strengthened it out, hev ye?" asked he,
! nodding TO the spokesman.
The man nodded in return.
eyer see,' said the spokesman, with a
| hesitating and Disappointed air, ''ef yer
hadn't a-corralled US with sticking to the
evidence we might a done better, but ac-
cordin' to that Antonio wasn't thar when
the murder was done, an eff he weren't thar
he couldn't a done it, am eff he didn't do it,
why-then-of course he's-not guilty"
Pitblado didn't care to look at anybody
he stared up at the rafters, down at tie
table, nowhere in particular, and then
| turned half way toward the prisoner.
''You kin go, - said he at last, and with
great deliberation, "but don't stay around
here too long"
There was deep pause, during which
nobody moved.
Jake Smith exploded single cuss word
which he had held in for sometime past,
and Blake's widow stood up.
''Have you got through judge, " she asked.
''Waal-I-s' pose So"
'tAnd there is nothing else to be donel''
81 am afraid there amt"
'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 glitter
ing thing again.
There was a sharp report-Antonio
pitched forward in a heap upon the floor
! and Blalle's widow stood with the pistol
pressed to her breast.
A line of thin blue smoke curled from the
muzzle of the weapon and formed a hale
around the child's faxen head. The glitter.
ing thing was quite near the little hands
| now, and they took it from the yielding
grasp of the mother
Blake's widow looked steady at the fig.
ure on the floor-it was quite motionless
then she turned and went through the wide
passage opened for her by the silent crowd
holding the baby very tenderly, and the
baby carrying the pistol
The child laughed with delight. It had
got its shining playthingsa IN Detroit
News.
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