Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-04-08


Parker. with u frown.
Certainly not. But one cannot al.
ways avoid hearing of certain happen
ings We'll old man Jenkins was found
dead in his barn this afternoon.
Mrs Parker clasped her hands to
gethcr in Specchlcss horror.
''How do ynu know it was MURDER
quericd the blacksmith. sitting down
near his visitor. but not looking at him
1T seems like it, answered Cobb
crossing one leg over the other as he
seated himself more comfortably in his
chair. And there are several wounds
on his head. any one of which was suffi-
cient - Ca,ise death "
Poor, poor mani" walled Mrs Par
ker. rolling her eyes heavenward.
"Why did any one do such cruel
thingg"
Robbery could not have been the
motive. as Jenkins always boastcd that
he never carried money ON his person.
But some one might have had grudge
against him.
"Yes. asscnted the blacksmith. ap-
plying "A match to his pipe and taking
few preliminary puffs will you
smoke, Cobby There is an extra pipe
here
"No, 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 =
mouth and the tobacco was scattered
far and near, while perceptihle tre-
NOR ran through his massive frame.
What do yen mean" he asked
hoarsely. and his face grew ashy white.
Cobb stared i'll amaZcmcnt at the eff
sect his words produced
II mean You must appear at the in
qucst. which takes place tomorrow at .
o'clock sharp.
"Oh. yes. of course said Parker.
with an unnatural laugh. rs he reached
for his pipe. "But You know. Cobb. /
never could look at Il corpse
"Nonsense, laughed Cobb, dcrisive
ly. The idea of a big fellow like you
afraid of dead man -
Il ann not afraid, protested the
other, "but cannot do what you ask
But you must There is nothing
more to be- said about it. answered
Cobb decidedly.
~ fool made such a custom as
that muttered the blacksmith. rising
to refill his pipe.
''Of course, assented Cobb pleasant
ly. Every one is fool who dares 10
differ with ourselves. Parker con
strucd the remark as a thrust AT him
self. and his face grew dark with rage
He clinchcd his fist aS though he would
deal his visitor blow. The instant
Cobb's eyes fell upon the hand hc cried
ont:
"Why. how did you hurt Your hand -
Parker. with IA half mut;ered curse
quickly drew the member out of sight
but the next instant thrust il forward
again.
A dark purple bruise extended across
the knuckles.
al struck it. he explained sullenly.
ut amounts to nothing.
1T must have been quite hard
crack. " said Cobb lightly. We'll. |
must be going. Goodby. Mrs. Parker;
gCodby. Parker Don 4 forget tomorrow
morning AZ . 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 : 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 (Cobbl
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 ont.
I'm do il. by Jovel I'll do iti 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. Ii
was ghastly 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 fancicd the latter was lcok
ing at him, 80 he kept near the door
which was ont of the range of those
wild. staring ewes. lie trembled like Il
person with the aguc But only one
man present Observed his uneaSiness,
and that was Mr. Cobb He watched cv-
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 Wonder
stands my murderer Seize him,
Horror was depicted upon every Ccun-
tenance as each individual stared at his
neighbor.
But the blacksmith with II wild shrek
Of terror fell back against the wall. In
stanily all eve, were rivetod uuon him.
Then. as though something impclled
| him forward. hc stage, red Ia the feet of
the corpse.
YES killed you" hc screamed. his
eyes fastened on th" dead man. But
you Strucl, the first blow Yuu did az
though his victim had denied the
charge "You would not pay me. So
followed Won here We had words. and
you aimed heavy blow at my head
with your whip handle But | warded
/ IL 'ilt ana IffiiNtN II tflI NY Hdlt
stead You were no match for me.
with horrible inugh Il had no wrap-
on but my ii . served me well, and
gave yon m;ny blows even after you
were down oh, take Your eyes from
my face he cried, with renewed
frenzy. "1alc them away. say, You
will noty Then there is hnt 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 Ia the heart Then.
with A low. ga>ping moan. James Par
ker, the blacksmith, sank dead upon the
floor Chicago News.
Not For Her.
Some years ago, when Queen Victoria
visit Il certain sisterhnod she desired
the superior to show her the place just
| ms mn ordinary visitor and not tp trcnt