The Denison review., 1899-06-16

ways AVOID nearing or certain nappe0-
ings. Well, old man Jenkins was
found dead in his barn this afternoon"
Mrs. Parker clasped her hands to-
gether in speechless horror.
"How do you know 1t was murder?''
eueried the blacksmith, sitting down
near his visitor but not looking at him.
s'lt 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
sufficient to cause DEATH"
"Poor, poor man!' walled Mrs. Par
ker. rolling her eyes heavenward.
why did any one do such cruel
thing?" go
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 grudge
against him."
'Yes." assented the blacksmith. ap-
plying match to his pipe and taking
q few preliminary puffs. ''Will you
smoke, Cobb? There is IN extra pipe
here.''
NO thanks, never indulge" ans
werad 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
Tar and near, while perceptible term
or ran through his massive frame.
What do you mean?" he asked,
hoarsely, and his face grew ashy white.
Cobb stared in amazement at the
effect his words produced. 20
II mean you must appear at the In
quest which takes place tomorrow at
9 O'CLOCK sharp ,.sftI.,s.
"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-
ly. 'The idea of big fellow like you
afraid of dead man!' ~
II am 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.
"a fool made such custom as that"
muttered the blacksmith, rising to re-
Gil his ripe. si3 ;4l8} 's
.'Of course" assentet1 Cobb pleas
antly. Every one is fool who dares
to differ with ourselves" Parker con-
strued the remark as a thrust at him.
self aud his face grew dark with rage.
He clinched his fist as though he would
deal his visitor blow. The instant
Cobb's eyes fell upon the hand he
cried out: 'er - 'sfi.e w
"Why, how did you hurt your hand?''
Parker. with a half-muttered curse,
| quickly drew the member out OF sight,
hut the next instant thrust it forward
again. Ss
a dark purple bruise extended across
the knuckles. '''' s''si's =,
Il struck it." he explained, sullenly.
SIT amounts to nothing e' ee!,s
p''tt must have been quite a hard
crack" said Cobb. lightly. s''Nvell, 1
must be going. Good-by, Mrs. Parker,
eood-by, Parker; don't forget tomorrow
morning at O'clock" and, with this
parting injunction. he left the house.
His face wore q thoughtful express
sion as he wended his way along.
There was that In the blacksmith's s
manner which set him to thinking and
there dawned II his mind suspicion
that Parker knew more about the muir
der than he cared to tell; and he Cobb
cudgeled his brains for plan to force
. confession from him. At last he hit
upon one he deemed expedient, and,
forgetting where he was. hs fairly
shouted out:
"I'll do IT, by Jove! TIL do IT sThe
experiment is worth ttryingiT'' Try .g'i' j ..ya.
The. next morning the coroner and
bis, jury assembled in the barn where
lay all that remained Of Samuel Jen-
.kins.. It was a tghastly 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
vas looking at him. 50, he, kept near
the door, which was out Of the range
Of those wild, staring eyes. He trem-
hled like person with the ague. But
only one man present. observed his un-
easciness, and that was Mr.. Cobb. He
watched every movement. As the men
drew near to examine the. body they
all fell back in CONSERVATION as, q
voice proceeded from the dead man
| saying: ,.'Yonder stands my murderer!
Seize him!" 49,. s,f
| Horror was depleted upon every
countenapce as each individual stared
at, his neighbor. se ~ +.
| But the blacksmith with wild
shrek of terror fell back against the
wall. Instantly all eyes were riveted
upon him. srsse,.e,
Then, as though something impelled
him forward he staggered to the feet
Of the, corpse. ! h, mana ,n,na
,...Yes, i killed you!" he screamed, his
eyes fastened on the dead man. But
you struck the first blow. You didv'
as though his victim had denied ,,the
| CHARGE s.YOu would not nav mo 40