The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-07-18

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Joe, you'd ind IL hard 10 keep your hands
OF Of him: but I don't ask You 70 do 50
much a. touch finger 10 him, only. II
the boat turns over, he can't swim 1
heard him say so. and then fathers saved,
an A nobody the wiser, for the best boat
man that ever was might have an accident
on A sQually evening like this"
There, there. Marcy. be still. poor
girl. you don'tknow what you're saying"
interposed Joe.
" Yes / do" said she passionately /;
:" never you think that, Joe Gorron. l tell
you IL lays with you TO save father or Kill
him: yes. and me too, for if they hang
him I'll never live over the day. and that
Hank. ~ she turned 10 listen. II can't
stay" She pressed her hand hard on his
shoulder, looking up pireously in his face.
Joe. II ever YOU cared for me. save that
poor old man, And before he could an
swer she was gone, leaving him looking
after her like one in a dream
The clouds were getting lever snd
heavier as the boarman set OF with his
passenger.
Looks as il we should have a spell of
weather." said the latter. glancing from
the leaden sky 10 the leaden wafer. Hope
you're what they cracked you up 10 De.
1 III Al XVI a QlNhlAAE tAtlt cA4O4-4A4 AA-lA
myself again in hurry"
| sWell, I'm as good as they'll average.
reckon. mister-I didn't hear your name"
said Joe, looking up inQuiringly.
Peter Groom Il my name, and one
amt ashamed of; it'll be pretty well
known in these parts by this day week.
I'm thinking" and the man smiled
smile not pleasant TO see.
flows that ~ said Joe, anxious 70 be
tray no previous knowledge.
"I've come 10 give evidence in q trial
that's coming OF In your county town."
answered Groom, motioning toward the
Milham shore. 1--we Travelled nigh i've
hundred miles on purpose 10 do IL. znd
I'd travel five hundred more If twas
needed"
lis IL the Sawyer trial you mean-
asked Joe. carelessly. People have been
saying there amt evidence enough 10
make a case. but / 'spose then there's
something new turned upy'
Il should rather think so: something
| that'E make 8 case II hold John Sawyer as
| tight as his coffin"
Joe clinched his hand on his oar. He
was beginning to understand Margy's
hatred for this man, wiisl his open exulra-
ton in the ruin he was going 10 work.
I'm sorry for the old man. he said.
dANTi HdA-t- anu - al Altt lV4kf alttAl
here. Wilson was known for 8 bully.
and, if Sawyer really done il, twas that
that and drink. for when he's himself he
wouldn't hurt a WORM"
You've no need TO tell me what John
Sawyer is" said the other. shortly. = Il
knew him before YOU was born, before he
ever came 10 these parts
..Well.'' said the boatman. I" you've q
queer notion of old acquaintance sake
then, that's ALL
I'm give him a SWIM for old acQuAint-
ance' sake, if can" replied Groom, with
a scowl.
Joe drew a quick breath.
''Can you do thatr' he said.
"That or lifer. l tel you. my man, l
saw II done.-
/" You saw Sawyer kill Wilson, ex-
claimed Joe. stopping short on his oars.
- l saw him strike the blow that killed
him. and that comes to pretty near the
same thing, take IT,"
But how is il you've kept back al
alongg'
=. Well. it's like this said Groom. who
appeared 10 be in a more communicative
mood than while before The day Of the
murder-to begin AT the beginning-I hap
pened 70 be passing through Milham. and
stopped over train there 10 see a man
AlhL - WiAAA- lit ltCA a lAAAt R4A
Of the town, a lonesome road. part Of the !
way across some fields. / did my bust /
ness, and started back again alone, "a |
had come. Halfway, or thereabout. |
heard a kind Of cussing and quarreling in /
the next fiela-right close TO nv ear II 4
seemed. only couldn't see anything for /
the high hedge. What's up 2 thinks I. /
might a. well take a peep Twas an
uncommon fine evening; moonlight you /
could almost see to read by. and knew I
Sawyer as soon as | set eyes on him. His /
face was turned exactly 10 me. and ugly /
enough il looked then. The next minute 1
| saw him strike out. and the other man 4
went down like log"
'.And you let him layr' interrupted /
Joe, in excitement. "You never called /
for help, nor nothingy'
''What for:- said Groom. carelesslv, 1
II thought twas just a drunken quarrel |
Il knew what Sawyer was-and / left /
'em 70 settle IL between themselves. / had I
to look sharp for the next train. 50 hur- /
lied back TO the hotel. and none too soon 1
either. ! never thought again about the 4
matter, till the other day I happened 10
hear that John Sawyer was going 10 be /
tried for murder, and. talking this WAY
and that, found the time and the gen'ral 1
circumstances agreed with that evening
so, then, knew | had seen the thing
DONE"
Groom paused a moment. and when be
resumed IL was in an distracted tone
"'Twasn't particularly convenient 1
for me TO leave my business Just
then; If it'd been anybody else.
I'D likely have left the poor devil 1
TO sink or swim as might be. but
John sawyer Itell you,- be continued,
through his set teeth. as. catching the
boatman's eye, he appeared suddenly
conscious Of listener. I'D let all I've
got go to rack and ruin for the pleasure
of seeing John Sawyer stand there. dis