Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-13
CONVICTED.

some one now" said a tall man with a
hamper and some fishing tackle by way of
luggage. "Here's jury ready--1s of u.s."
mo, there amt" cried big man In
big white oyercoat. Count me out-only
II of you. Wouldn't sit on jury in case
of life and death. Wouldn't bring in YER
dict of guilty if ten men had seen the deed
DONE.
Reckon you don't hold to capital pun
ishmentp" said the other.
"Don't believe any of the evidence"
said white overcoat. "Why, man alive, I
might have been hung myself on the very
best OF evidence 30 years ago. know
what it's worth"
"You didn't do it, them" asked very
little old man with no hair to speak of.
you'd have sworn did," said white
overcoat, In nowise offended by the ques-
ton. $50 would Norris and Todd and
Joaquin was young fellow then, just
20-big for my age, horrible temper, awful
fool.
''Liked the girls" said white overcoat.
"Like em still. was good looking, but
Joaquin was handsomer, and Tilly Sparks
said so. Her cousin told me that she did,
nyhow, and as I'd been paying attentions
to her it wasn't pleasant to hear that on
the very night when lilly went off to
church with Joaquin.
"'It's shame Thomas, said the cous-
In. Il scolded her for it, but she laughed
at me. Joaquin is 20 times handsomer
than Tom," says she. "and if l like a
change why shouldn't have it?" And
that's the truth, Thomas
"'Well, says I, no doubt 1t is, and girls
are girls. Let lilly do as she chooses. But
as for Joaquin, I'll spoil his beauty for
him.
with that I went off in fury, mean
ing to thrash Joaquin next day. hadn't
thought of cutting his throat, but I
meant to give him two black eyes If got
the opportunity
"There was Norris in bed, home, sick
with cold roomed with him. He was
young man from Boston. All the good
young men do come from there He taught
Sunday school and wanted to be minis
ter, only circumstances hadn't permitted.
"'I couldn't close my eyes, said Norris,
If I'd talked like that. You've mentioned
the evil one IA times, and you've spoken
Of the lake Of fire and birthstone 10 times.
You've gone through the bones and jints
that Joaquin is composed of like an an
atomical work, and you've cussed EN- all
separately, and you've threatened his life. ;
"'Hold your tongue yelled l. You
amt ordained yet Nobody is compelled
to hear you preach until you are. I'll talk
as choose
At this he tucked his tow colored head
under the sheet, and put out the light
and turned into my own bed, but couldn't
60 to sleep was in such tremor of rage.
lay there thinking and thinking, as If
I'd been a machine made to turn out
thoughts by the bushel.
II thought how gloriously could give
1t TO Joaquin. One, two, three-smash!
One, two, three-crash! Down with him,
and all that, you know. l thought I
should like to break his nose and gouge
his eyes and leave marks on him for good.
"After awhile thought how I'd like to
have a loaded pistol. Then remembered
that l had one. 1t didn't belong to me-
I was keeping 1T for friend. / had it in
my bureau drawer.
"Norris hadn't called to me as went
out of the room, so suppose he hadn't
u6dEO IN0S UuU bICIC 1 was III UHC 1VlUOu,
with the pistol in my breast pocket 1t
was not late yet-only 10. If Joaquin had
been SO greatly encouraged by lilly, no
doubt he was with her yet.
1T took my way toward that well re.
membered door. l stood behind the lamp
DOSE on the corner and took peep My
suspicious were correct. He had been in
and was just bidding lilly goodby l saw
him kiss her.
"And the door shut, and on he came to-
ward me, whistling as If he'd swallowed a
canary bird. And behind him, from under
a porch where he'd been hiding, came a
mana great, rough brute Of fellow
creeping, creeping OH his track.
"I hey were opposite my lamppost and
I saw the fellow draw pistol from his
pocket and take aim straight at Jacquin's
head. forgot all my own rage them
"'My God Joaquin, take care OF your
self cried.
sAnd there was the report of pistol,
md saw him before me fat on his face
Tho murderer rushed down the street, and
knelt beside him. Blood streamed down
his temples all over my clothes, all over
my hands Speak to me, Joaquin, !
cried And then hand came down on my
shoulder, ard turned. A policeman stood
there, ard beside him stood Norris.
81 knew where your angry passions
would lead you, said he. and in spite OF
my cold followed. I'm very sorry for you,
Thomas
mo one believed my story of the man
who had followed him, and there were wit.
nesses- Norris and Tilly's cousin-to at
test to the fact that had threatened
Jncquin's life In fact, the evidence was
all against me. They didn't seem to take
ten minutes to decide on the verdict,
Guilty. Sentence of death was pro-
bounced upon me by the judge in less time
than can tell you of 1t"
Train coming" cried the station mas
ter. Don't stop a minute"
"Good gracious' screamed the little old
man. How did 1t endS''
Convicted murderer" said the man
with white coat Sentenced to be hung
next Friday Gallows built. Clergyman
with me. Letter to mother. Letter to
lilly. Black cap on. Bell tolling. Out
on the platform. crowd looking. Last
dying speech
The engine shrieked.
Passengers, yelled the voice at the
door.
"What saved youf' screamed the little
man.
Evoke up" said Thomas Thomas;
Evoke up then. Found myself in bed
Hadn't got up at all. Pistol safe In the
drawer. Norris snoring In the next bed.
All a dream. T"
And the train was of.
Never touched Joaquin, said the story
teller over his shoulder. He married
Tilly. Goodby. "-Exchange.
Bicycle Against Panther.