Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-14

voice with him cried, "1f you leave
this man. to die, you are hismurderer!' n
A great surge Of horror and remorse
for the thought that had been in his
heart seemed to sweep him away, and
before the second lightning-bolt could
tear the cloud, he had thrown himself
after Groom.
When the two rose together, the
boat was nowhere in sight. There was
nothing now for it but to strike out fol
the shore. Luckily, the Milham side
was not now very distant; still, it waa
hard stretch through the numbine
water, epoambered, as he was, with his
heavy clothing and the weight oi
Groom, who, moreover, himself com.
pletely helpless, held him with q ner.
xops clutch that half strangled him.
By the, time they neared7 the shore, his
strength was pretty we'll spent. but the
growing lights gave him heart again
ho rested an instant for the final pull,
aud just then it was that the gust seiz.
ed him, uuprepared, and whirled him
away from the inlet he was making for,
to the rock-ledge jutting into it. that
caught and battered him-poor Joe.
he was conscious when, they took
hlm mp, but there was q look lin his
face that foretold the end, even before
the doctors did. As for Groom, he
had been shielded by Joe's body, and,
tough and wiry as be was, was scarcely
the worse for the whole adventure.
When he he heard what they were say
ing about Joe, he burst out with an
oath, ead hurried, to vhere he lay.
sWeh, 4ort0n, ana low is it with
you ." he said, affecting to speak cheer
fully, though, struck 1T once by that
look ef death in his face. n
"About % bad as it can be, Mr..
Groom, answered. ySR foebly. stThe
old e. boat +; and III 50. down together, I
Nov, neyer.yoat talk that duff, my
man, said Groom, in almost a bluster-
mg xay; perhaps to cppcesI .. certain
unsteadiDess of voice, II owe you q
life. and amt one TO rest tin I've paid
1t, it it taks all the doctors from hero
to Jericho. I've got means.I tell ye. :"
mo use, Mr.. Groom said Joe,
" there amt no doctor could patch up
what's smashed inside Of me. But look
here" and he instlnctively lowering his
voice, with = glance at the attendant,
though there was little fear of that
broken whisper reaching any ears but
those CLOSE to it, otis what I wanted
70 speak to you about-you owe me q
lite; mine ain't yours to give-but old
Sawyer's il -
Groom's face darkened. "I swear
Id almost rather you asked for my
own, he nuttered.
"But you'll promise, Mr.. Groom ~
said Joe, in his earnestness managing
to half raise himself, " you'll promise9''
"Wel-I s'pose I ain't got no
choice" answered Groom, still reluc-
s:s tantty; ", "yes' 1 do promise, there's
"A CLEAN Of intense delight for the
moment almost drove the death-look
from Joes face. "It's all right, Mar.
gy, he whispered softly to himself,
and laid his hand back again. =
Yes, it was all right, as Heaven secs
right. When John Sawyer had been
discharged for want of evidence. when
the Lake Village gossips, wondering
over tue strangers disappearance, con.
oluded that his boasts had been mere
itle talk to make . sensation, Marcy
could have told them better. She knew
how it was Joe had died, she knew; that
q life had been paid for her fathers ;
and in 9 heart softened by pain she
acknowledged that, her prayer had been
answered in Gods own way.
KATE PUTNAM OsaooD.