Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-27
THE ALIBI.

trial was 10 come on directly.
The extraordinary interest in the af.
fair was less duo to the murder and its
peculiar circumstances than to the fact
that this was tho first case tried at San
Saba in any more formal court than the
time honorcd 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. Hero
rough table and chair were placed for
the judge. the other necessary furniture,
intended TO represent the dock, the
stand, ETC., being eked out with boxes
from Silas Bagget's grocery store.
Jake Smith looked at these prepare.
tions for time with frowning discon.
tent and then strolled down the road,
turning into the lane that led to Biake's.
When ho reached the door of the shanty
he leaned against the jamb and poked
his naked head inside, tanning himself
in IN 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 il.
Blakes widow sat there, as she had
pretty much all the time since the muir
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 tho Pickering brightness
the floor and cradle in which Jem's baby
was sleeping.
There it was, just as il had been three
days ago could it lie only three daysD-
just as IL had been when she went out
that morning to look after the drying
clothes and left him standing in the door
by the cradle (how fond he was Of the
baby!l--just as 1t was when she heard
tho crack Of the pistol and ran in With
an awful sense Of suffocating fright
just tho same as when she had found
him lying upon the cradle, dabbling its
white linen with his blood and tho 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 1t all-when
men came and lifted him up; when they
had laid him on tho 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
pcrplexity-or something-and Blake's
widow looked up without speaking.
Jake nodded pleasantly four or five
times
"Pooty clipper" asked he.
Blake's widow smiled sadly, bent over
tho sleeping child and smoothed the
clothes with a tender touch.
They're agoin ter try him in court" 1"
Jake went on. IAN don't believe"-
TRY who-AntonioY' She turned to-
ward the burly figure in the door with a
flash of interest in her black eyes.
Yes. The jedge is making court
out of his shed. hopo it'll turn out all
right, but it seems like givin that Mexi.
can devil a chance he oughtn't ter have"
He can't get clear, can hey" she asked,
rocking the cradle gently and patting
the coverlet.
II don't see how, but he's got some
kind Of II law cuss to speak for him-a
feller that stopped here day or two ago
on his way to Galveston-and it makes
Inc KIM o nervous.
Blake's widow did not appear to no.
tice tho last remark, for the child, dis.
turbed by tho talking, had awakened
and sat up in his cradle with wonder.
ing look.
"Pooty, amt heg' said Jake, regarding
the small figure with interest. Looks
Just like-ahem-you. Poor little-l-
a"-ho stammered, and treated his hat
like mortal enemy. "Of course he'd
had-you've got-there's nothin could
do fur yer, maybeT
She answered with grateful look, but
it was accompanied by n shake of the
head.
Jake bent down and with his big fore
finger softly iumpled tho hair of the ba.
by's head; then lie went ont and left
them, Blake's widow sitting as he found
her and tho baby staring down the path
after him.
He walked OH until he reached the top
Of the little hill, where he could look
down upon the roof which covered the
piteous scene lie had just left. Hero he
seemed to have half mind TO turn back,
for he hesitated and stopped; but he
changed his partial intention after lin.
gering q moment and walked medita-
lively onward, with the exclamation,
"Wal, some women do beat the ID
amazin."
OF course everybody came to the trial.
Tho arrangements were soon found to
be altogether too meager. Pitblado's
shed was filled to overfowing and Bag
get made a clean sweep OF every empty
box in his store.
Antonio's lawyer, q sharp eyed, sharp
featured fellow from Galveston. had
hustled about with surprising agility on
tho day previous, holding mysterious
conferences with i'll conditioned fellows
of Gueldo's kidney.
The court was assembled, the jury had
been chosen, and tho witnesses were all
present save one-Blako's widow.
Pretty soon there was n stir at the
door, then a murmur Of surprise ran
through tho crowded room.
"Alay be d-d," said Jake Smith, au.
dibly, IF she hasn't brought her bobv'
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
or the trust-was not apparent; how
ever that might be, there it was, clasped
firmly in her arms, its bright red cheeks
contrasting with her whiteness, and its