Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-11-14
THE ALTBI.

trial was TO come OH ulreculy.
The extraordinary interest in the af-
fair was less due to the murder and its
neculiar 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 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 prepara-
tons for 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 shanty
he leaned against the jamb and poked
his naked head inside, tanning himself
in an embarrassed way with his greasy
fragment of a hat. lie 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 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 the Pickering brightness
the floor and cradle in which Jems baby
was sleeping.
There it was, just as it had been three
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 door
BY the Grail. t'iow fond he was Of the
babyD-just as it was when she heard
the crack of the pistol and ran in with
an awful sense of suffOcating 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
had 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
perpexity-or something-and Blake's
widow looked up without speaking
Jake nodded pleasantly four or five
times.
'Pooty chipper?" asked he.
Blakes widow smiled sadly, bent over
the sleeping child and smoothed the
clothes with a tender touch.
They're agoin ter try him in court"
Jake went on, IAN don't believe
TRY who-Antonio?" She turned to-
ward the burly figure in the door with a
fash Of interest in her black eyes.
Yes. The jedge is making court
out of his shed. hope it'll turn out all
right, bnt it seems like givin that Next
can devil a chance he oughtnt ter have"
He can't get clear, can her she asked
rocking the cradle gently and patting
the coverlet.
81 don't see how, but he's got some
kind of II law cuss to speak for him-a
Teller that stopped here day or two ago
on his way to Galveston-and it makes
ME kind O nervous"
Blake's widow did not appear to no
t1ce the last remark, for the child, dis
turbed by the talking. had awakened
and sat up in his cradle with wonder
ing look
"Pooty, amt hep" said Jake, regarding
the small figure with interest. Looks
just like--ahem-you. Poor little-l-
Abe stanlmered, and treated his hat
like mortal enemy. "Of course he'd
had-you've got-there's nothin could
do fur yer, maybe?"
She answered with a grateful look, but
1t was accompanied by shake of the
head.
Jake bent down and with his big fore
finger softly rumpled the hair of the ba-
by's head; then he went out and left
them, Blake's widow sitting as he found
ner and the baby staring down the path
after him.
He walked on until he reached the top
OF the little hill. where he could look
down upon the roof which covered the
plteous scene he had just left. Here he
seemed to have half mind to turn back,
Tor he hesitated and stopped; but he
changed his partial intention after lin
gerlng moment and walked medita-
lively onward, with the exclamation,
wal, some women do beat the ID
amazin"
OF course everybody came to the trial.
Inc arrangements were soon found to
be altogether too meager. Pitblado's
shed was filled to overtiowing and Bag
get made clean sweep of every empty
box in his store.
Antonio's lawyer, a sharp eyed, sharp
Featured fellow from Galveston, had
hustled about with surprising agility on
the day previous, holding mysterious
conferences with i'll 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 soon there was stir at the
door, then murmur of surprise ran
through the crowded room.
May be id" said Jake Smith, au-
albly, 'Tf she hasn't brought her bob!'
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
oi the trust-was not apparent; how
ever that might be, there it was, clasped
nrinly in her arms, its bright red cheeks
contrasting with her whiteness. and its
taeners sunny hair mingling with her