The Florence daily tribune., 1899-03-15


Eer. rolling her eyes beavenward.
WI did any one do such cruel
thingr''
Robbery could not have been the
motive. as jenkins always boasted that
he never carried money on his person
But some one might have had a grudge
against him.
"Yos. assented the blacksmith ap-
plying match to his pipe and taking
few preliminary puffs "Will you
smoke Cobbg There is an extra pipe
here.
mo. thanks. / 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 tre-
NOR ran through his massive frame.
What do you meanY' he asked
hoarsely, and his face grew ashy white.
Cobb stared in amazement at the eff
feet bis words produced.
81 mean you must appear at the in
quest, which takes place tomorrow at o
O'Clock sharp.
"Oh. yes. of course. said Parker,
with an unnatural laugh, as he reached
for his pipe. But, you know. Cobb. l
never could look at corpse.
Nonsense, laughed Cobb, derisive-
ly THE idea of big fellow like you
afraid of dead man. 2"
Il am not afraid" protested the
other. "but cannot do what You ask.
"But you must. There is nothing
more to bo said about it. answered
Cobb decidedly
IA fool made such custom as
that, muttercd the blacksmith, rising
to rem his pipe.
"Of course assented Cobb pleasant
ly. Every 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 clrrhed his fist as though he would
deal his visitor n blow. The instant
Cobb's eyes fell upon the hand he cried
ont
"Why. how did you hurt your hand"
Parker, with "A half muttered curse,
quickly drew the member ont of sight,
but the next instant thrust it forward
again
A dark purple bruise extended across
the knuckles,
81 struck it, he explained sullenly.
lit amounts to nothing.
lit must have been quite hard
crack. said Cobb lightly "Well.
must be going. Goodby. Mrs. Parker;
goodby, Parker Don 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 blacksmiths 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)
cudgeled his brains for plan to force
n confession from him. At last he hit
upon one hc deemed expedicnt. and,
forgetting where he was. he fairly
shouted out;
"1'll do it, by Jovel I'll do It'll The
experiment is worth trying'
The next morning the coroner and his
jury assembled in the barn where lay all
that remained of Samuel Jenkins 1t
was CHASTITY looking corpse, with eyes
wide open and numerous cuts and
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
Will th
man present observed his uneasiness,
and that was Mr.. Cobb. He watched ev-
cry movement, As the men drew near
to examine the body they all fell back
In CONSERVATION as voice proceeded
from the dead man saying: "Yonder
stands my murderer Seize himl'
Horror was depicted upon every coun-
tenance as each individual stared at his
neighbor,
But the blacksmith with wild shrek
of terror fen back against the wall In
stantly all eyes We're riveted upon him
Then, as though something impelled
him forward, he staggered to the feet of
the corpse
"Yes. killed you - he screamed, his
eyes fastened on the dead man. "But
You struck the first blow. You did' as
though his victim had denied the
Charge. You would not pay me, so
followed you here, We had words, and
you aimed heavy blow at my head
with your whip handle. But warded
1T off and received it on my hand in
stead. You We're no match for me, "
with II horrible laugh. II had no weap-
on, but my fists served me well. and
gave you many blows even after you
were down oh. take your eyes from
my facev' he cried. with renewed
frenzy "Takc them away, say You
will not Then there is but one way to
get rid of them, and before the awe
struck assembly could interfere he
quickly drew knife from his coat and
stabbed himself to the heart Then.
with n low pnsriny rnonp Iopao Dor