The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-03-03

on his head. any one a. which was sum
Gent to cause death"
Poor. poor man. walled Mrs. Par
ker, rolling her eyes heavenward.
why did any one do such q crue
thingf"
Robbery could not have been The
motive, as Jenkins always boasted tina,
he carried money on his person,
But some one might have had a grudge
against him"
Eyes" assented the blacksmith, ap.
plying a match to his pipe and taking
. few preliminary puffs. 'tWill you
smoke, Cobb? There is an extra pipe
here"
"No, thanks. I never indulge, an
swered Cobb, surprised at the black
smiths unusual hospitality. "Oh, by
the way. Parker, I anne to summon
you"
The pipe fell from the blacksmith'a
mouth and the tobacco was scattered
far and near, while a %perceptible ire
NOR ran through his massive frame.
"What do you meant he asked
hoarsely, and his face grew ashy white.
Cobb stared il amazement at the eff
feet his words Produced.
II mean You must appear at the in
quest, which takes place tomorrow at 9
o'clock sharp"
"Oh, yes, of course" said Parker.
with an unnatural laugh. as he reached
for his pipe. "But. you know. Cobb. I
never could look at q corpse"
Nonsense, laughed Cobb, derisive-
~. 1.-THE idea Of a big fellow like You
afraid Of a dead man."
II am not afraid" protested the
other, .'but I cannot do what You ask. .
"But you must. There is nothing
more to be said about it." answered
Cobb decidedly.
"a fool made such q custom as
that, muttered the blacksmith. rising
to refill his pipe.
"Of course, assented Cobb pleasant
". every n is a 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 hand9'
Parker, with a 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.
II struck it," he explained %sullenly.
SIT amounts to nothing"
''It must have been quite a hard
crack" said Cobb lightly. swell, I
must be going. Goodby, Mrs. Parker;
goodby, Parker. Don't forget tomorrow
morning at 9 o'clock" and with this
parting injunction he left the house.
His face wore a thoughtful express
sion as he wendell his way along. There
was that in the blacksmith's manner
which set him to thinking, and there
dawned on his mind a suspicion that
Parker knew nor about the murder
than he cared to tell. and he (Cobb)
cudgeled 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:
"Ill do it, by Jovei Ill 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 a 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 a
person with the ague. But only one
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 a voice proceeded
from the dead snan saying: "Yonder
stands my murderer! Seize him!''
Horror was depicted upon every coun-
tenance AS each individual stared at his
neighbor.
But the blacksmith with a wild shrek
oI terror Ieu Dack against the wall. In
stantly all eyes were riveted upon him.
Then, as though something impelled
him forward, he staggered to the feet of
the corpse.
"Yes, I killed you'll" he screamed, his
eyes fastened on the dead man. "But
you struck the first blow. You didl' as
though his victim had denied the
charge. 'You would not pay me, SO l
followed you here. We had words, and
you aimed a heavy blow at my head
with your whip handle. But I warded
it off and received it on my hand in
stead. You were no match for me-,
with a horrible laugh. IT had no weap-
on, but my fists served me well, and l
gave you many blows even after you
were down. Oh, take your eyes from
foonbS 10 4-s.J III