Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-11-20
CONVICTED.

- ~ $50 ''sS VIZ
time.
The weather was eusty and the
night dark.
aHaven't starved so since l was
on the jury in the Fribble murder
case, said short passenger in a
pea jacket.
"Good time fer the Jerscyites to
murder some one, now said tall
man with a hamper and some fishing
tackle by way Of luggage. "Here's
a jury ready-twelye Of u.s.
"No, there amt, cried tall man
10 big light overcoat. "Count me
out-only eleven of you. Wouldn't
sit on jury in a case of life and
death. Wouldn't bring in verdict
of guilty If ten men had seen the
deed DONE"
sReckon you don't hold to capt
tai punishment ~ said the other.
"Don't believe any Of the evil
dence,' said light overcoat. "Why,
man alive, / might have been hung
myself on the very best OF evidence
twenty years ago. l know what it's
worth
"You didn't do it, then Y asked a
little old man. with no hair to speak
of.
YOU'D have sworn / did," said
light overcoat, in no wise offended
by the question. $50 would Norris,
Todd and Joaquin. | was a young
fellow, then, just twenty-big for
my age, horrible temper, awful fool.
Liked the girls--like them still. I
was good looking, but Joaquin was
handsomer, and Tillie Sparks said
so. Her cousin told me she did,
anyhow, and as l had been paying
attentions to her, it wasn't very
pleasant to hear that on the very
night Tillie went of to church with
Joaquin.
It's shame, Thomas, said the
cousin. 4 scolded her for it, but
she laughed at me, saying Joaquin
was twenty times handsomer than
Tom, and if she liked a change why
shouldn't she have it And that's
the truth, Thomas
WE'LL says 1, mo doubt it is,
and girls are girls. Let lilly do as
she pleases. But, as for Joaquin,
III spoil his beauty for him.
with that 1 went off in fairy,
meaning to thrash Joaquin next day.
| hadn't thought of cutting his
throat, but | 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 a young man from
Boston. He taught in Sunday school
and wanted to be a minister, only
circumstances hadn't permitted.
i couldn't close my eyes, said
Norris, "ifI'd talk like that. You
have mentioned the evil one fourteen
times, and you have spoken of the
lake OF fire and birthstone eighteen
times. You have gone through the
bones and joints that Joaquin is
composed of like an anatomical work
and you've cussed 'em all separately,
and you've threatened his life.'
!" Hold your tongue yelled I,
you amt ordained yet. Nobody is
compelled to hear you preach until
you are. I'll talk as / choose
cat this he tucked his head under
the sheet, and | put out the light and
turned into my own bed, but
couldn't go to sleep l was in such a
tremor of rage. lay there think
ing and thinking, as if I'd been a
machine to turn out thoughts by the
bushel. | thought / 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 / had one. It
didn't belong to me; was keeping
it for a friend. / had it in my
bureau drawer.
morris hadn't called TO me as
went out of the room, so / suppose
he hadn't heard me but there was
in the street with the pistol in my
breast pocket. 1t was not late yet
only ten. II Joaquin had been go
greatly encouraged by lilly, no
doubt he was with her yet.
81 took my way toward that well
remembered door. | stood behind
the lamp post on the corner and
took a peep. Ny suspicious were
correct. He had been in and was
just bidding lilly good-by. I saw
him kiss her.
Sand the door shut, and on be
came toward me, whistling as if he
had swallowed a canary bird. And
behind him, from under porch
where he had been hiding, came a
mana great rough brute of fell
low-crecping on his track.
"They were opposite my lamp
post, and | saw the fellow draw a
pistol from his pocket and take aim
straight at Jacquin's head. l for.
got all my rage then.
sob Joaquin, take care of your.
selfv I cried.
A i A.