Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-05-13
on his head. any one of which was sun

-" - $3.50 = W
Poor, POOR mani walled Mrs. Par
ker, rolling her eyes heavenward.
"Why did amy one do such d cruel
things''
Robbery could not have been the
motive, Is Jenkins always boasted that
he never carried money ON his person.
But some n might have had a grudge
against him
Eyes assented the blacksmith. APP
plying q match to his pipe and taking
q few preliminary puffs. .swill you
smoke, Cobb There is an extra pipe
here"
mo, thanks. | never indulge" IN
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 t~ohacco-was scattered
far and near. while a ~perceptible tre-
NOR ran through his massive frame.
What do you meanY" he asked
noarsely, and his face grew ashy white.
Cobb stared in amazemsnt at the eff.
feet his words produced.
II mean you must appear at the in
quest, which takes place tomorrow at 0
o'clock sharp.
"Oh, YES, Of courA~" said Parker,
with an unnatural laugh. as he reached
for his pipe. "But. You know, Cobb. !
never could look at q corpse"
.Nonsense. laughed Cobb, derisive-
". "The idea of a big fellow like you
afraid of a dead man."
II am not afraid" protested the
other. s.but | cannot do what you ask. !"
"But you must. There is nothing
more to be said about it, answered
Cobb decidedly.
"A fool made such a custom as
that, muttered the blacksmith, rising
to refill his pipe.
"Of course . assented Cobb pleasant
~. EVERY one 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 handf'
Parker. with a half muttered curse,
quickly drew the member out of sight,
but the next instant thrust it forward
again.
A dark purple hruise extended across
the knuckles.
~ struck it. he explained sullenly.
cit amounts to nothing"
ut must have been quite a hard
crack" said Cobb lightly. "Well. 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 a thoughtful express
sion as he wenaed 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 more 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 e~xpedient, and,
forgetting where he was, he fairly
shouted out:
I'm do it, by Jovei I'll do It'll The
experiment is worth tryingl"
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 as him, 50 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 al a voice proceeded
from the dead man saying "Yonder
stands my murderer Seize himi'
Horror was depicted upon every coun-
tenance as each individual stared at his
neighbor.
But the blacksmith with a wild shrek
Of terror fell back against the wall. In
bUdHlly dli eye WE'RE IlNttcu upon ulul.
Then, as though something impelled
him forward. he staggered to the feet Of
the corpse.
Eyes, killed your he screamed, his
eyes fastened on the dead man. "But
you struck the first blow. You didi'' as
though his victim had denied the
charge. lyon would not pay me, SO /
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. II had no weap-
on, but my fists served me well, and l
gave you many blows ever after you
were down. Oh, take your eyes from
my facet" he cried, with renewed
frenzy. Take them away. / sayi You
will not2 Then there is but one way to
get rid of them = and before the awe