El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-08

ker rolling her eyes beavenWard.
"Why did any one do such cruel
thing?"
.sRobbery could not have been the
motive. as jenkins always boosted that
he never carried money on his person.
But some one might have had grudSe
against him.
"Yes.' assented the blacksmith, ap-
plying match to his pipe and taking
a few preliminary puffs- "Wlll you
smoke, Cobb3 There is an extra pipe
here"
s'No, thanks I never indulge, an
swered Cobb, surprised at the black
smiths unusual hospitality. "Oh. by
the way. Parker. came to summon
you.
The pipe fell from the blacksmith's
mouth and the tobacco was scattered
far and near, while perceptible ire
NOR ran through his massive frame.
"What do you mean?' he asked
hoarsely. and his face grew ashy white.
Cobb stared in amazement at the eff
feet his words produced
ct mean you must appear at the in
quest, which takes place tomorrow at
o'clock sharp"
"Oh, yes, of course" said Parker.
with an unnatural laugh, as he reached
for his pipe 'But, you know, Cobb.
never could look at a corpse"
Nonsense. laughed Cobb, derisive-
". 'The idea of a big fellow like you
afraid of a dead man.
81 am not afraid" protested the
other, "but cannot do what you ask.
ssBut you must. There is nothing
more to be said about it, answered
Cobb decidedly.
GA fool made such custom as
that" muttered the blacksmith, rising
to refill his pipe.
ssOf course" assented Cobb pleasant
". 'sEvery one is fool who dares to
differ with ourselves Parker con-
strued the remark as a thrust at him
self, and his face grew dark with rage.
He clinched his fist as though he would
deal his visitor a blow. The instant
Cobb's eyes fell upon the hand he cried
out:
"Why, how did you hurt your hand T
Parker, with half muttered curse.
quickly drew the member out of sight
| but the next instant thrust it forward
| again.
A dark purple bruise extended across
the knuckles-
81 struck it," he explained sullenly:
cit amounts to nothing"
cit must have been quite a hard
crack" said Cobb lightly. "Wen, I
must be going. Goodby, Mrs. Parker;
gcodby, Parker. Don't forget tomorrow
morning at o'clock" and with this
parting injunction he left the house.
His face wore thoughtful express
sion as he wended his way along. There
was that in the blacksmith's manner
which set him to thinking, and there
dawned on his mind suspicion that
Parker knew more about the murder
than he cared to tell, and he (Cobb)
cudge1ed his brains for a plan to force
a confession from him. At last he hit
upon one he deemed expedient, and.
forgetting where he was. he fairly
shouted out:
.I'n do it, by Jovel I'll do it'll The
experiment is worth tryingl"
The next morning the coroner and his
Jury assembled in the barn where lay al
that remained Of Samuel Jenkins. II
was CHASTITY looking corpse, with eyes
wide open and numerous cuts ano
bruises about the head and face The
blacksmith avoided facing the dead
man, as he fancied the latter was look
ing at him, so he kept near the door,
which was out of the range of those
wild, staring eyes. He trembled like {
person with the ague- But only ont
man present observed his uneasiness
and that was Mr.. Cobb He watched ev
cry movement. AS the men drew nea
to examine the body they all fell bacl
in CONSERVATION as voice proceeded
from the dead man saying: "Yonde
stands my murderer Seize himl'
Horror was depicted upon every coun
. tenance as each individual stared at hi
, neighbor.
But the blacksmith with wild shriel
: of terror fell back against the wall. In
stantly all eyes were riveted upon him
2 Then, as though something impelle'
him forward. he staggered to the feet o
the corpse
eyes, killed your he screamed, hi
eyes fastened on the dead man. "Bu
you struck the first blow. You didi' a
though his victim had denied tn
. charge. ''You would not pay me, SO
? followed you here. We had words, an
you aimed a heavy blow at my hea
with your whip handle But warde
it off and received it on my hand in
stead. You were no match for me,
with a horrible laugh. 81 had no weaI
| on, but my fists served me well. and
gave you many blows even after 20
were down. Oh, take your eyes fro1
p nv facet" he cried, with renewe
frenzy "Take them away, I sayl Yo
will not2 Then there is but one way
get rid of Them" and before the awe
struck assembly could interfere b
; quickly drew knife from his coat an
stabbed himself to the heart. Their
= with low, gasping moan, James Pal
ker, the blacksmith, sank dead upon tn
|