Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-14
From Appleton's Journal.
JOE GORTON,S PASSENGER.

LILO uay WAs uTa"lHS COWArO IL
close; chill and raw. Lake Villag
was almost always gusty, but just no,
the wind was having its own way NOR
than usual, and any passcr through tn
long, bleak street, happened to glance
in at tho window of the little water
side tavern, might we'll have bee,
tempted by the bright fire and goot
company inside the bar.
They were the usual afternoon
loafers, with the exception of on,
small. wiry-looking man, a stranger
who had stopped to take glass O
something hot, and who, at the mo
mcnt, was evidently the centre of tin
general interest.
"But what is it you know anyhow
stranger7" asked one of the group
"Comc, now, among friends"
"Never you mind" answered til,
man addressed, II know enough t.
shut up John Sawyer a pretty spell, i
not to make him swing. and I know
how to tell it when the right tim,
comes, don't you be afraid for that
The days getting on" he added
abruptly, rising and turning towart
the window, "anl your duck POM
there don't look over agreeable JUS
now. ''Who's a good boatman here
abonts 2 for if I'm split, Ican't swim.
"Joe Gorton's your man" was tn,
answer; "he couldn't tip over if ht
tried, couldn't joe"
"Why don't you wait till tomorrow
stranger, if you're afeared O. the wealth
or and them clouds over there Il,
look kinder pesky," said the landlord
Of the Lakeside House, turning q prac
tical eye on the gray mingling outlines
of tho lake and sky.
"Well, fact u.s." said the other, 'I'n
acquainted over in Milham, and, if it's
all the same to you with wink
I'D rather be there than here: so, il
you'll hunt up this Joe What's-his
name, I'll be obliged"
The landlord, resenting the wink and
the implied insinuation, opened the
door aud called out, sulkily, to some
one in the next room: "Margy, run
down to the water and tell Joe there's
= passenger here"
In another minute the house dool
closed, md tall, slight girls figure,
with shawl over it's head, might have
been seen hurrying down to the water
side.
Joe Gorton, busy about his boat,
heard his name called, and, looking mp,
saw the girl Marcy. The sharp wind
had blown out stray locks of her crisp,
black hair from under the red shawl,
but the hectic in the checks, and the
ferverish brightness in the dilatci1
eyes, were not all the winds work.
She came close to the young boat.
man, who raised himself up, fucine
her.
"Joc," she sud, "there's a passen,
ger waiting up to the house - she laid
her hand Oh his arm, and glanced eau
ticusly round before adding, in a whis.
por: "Joe, if onco that man reaches
the other side, it's all up with father. ,
"What's that, Margys" said the
boatman, looking wonderin9ly at ler.
II toll you I heard it j; he'll bring il
home to him, he says SO, he's come a
purpose. It's fathers chance clean
gone if VOW take him across"
EDO you mean I should refuse tc
take him, Margy?" said Joe, slowly.
"What good would that doc" said
the girl, impatiently. "Keliy or some
Of 'cm would take him fast enough
what's fathers life against fare? No
it's yoi, must take him, Joe, and then
if anything happens" sinking her voice
to meaning whisper, "nobody bu
you and mes tho WISER"
Joe started back.
81 can't help it I" cried the girl pas
sionately, twisting her fingers in til.
shawl fringe so that it snapped; che:
my father, and never was a better bu
for the drink-you know, yourself
everybody says so-and, if you coult
hear that man up there laug Ching nut
boasting he'll hang him! Joe, you'f
and 1t hard to keep your hands off O
him but I don't ask you to so mucl
as touch finger to him, only, if til,
boat turns over he can't swim. I heart
him say so, and then fathers saved
ami nobody's the visor, for the bes
boatman that ever was might have a,
accident on squally evening like this.
"There, there, Marcy, be still, poo
girl, you don't know what you're say
ing" interposed 200.
eyes do, said she passionatcly
never you think that, Joe Gurton.
tell you it lays with you to save fatho
or to kill him yes, and me too, for i
they hang him I'll never live over tn,
day, and that I swear, so you choos
between us. Hark |! " she turned t,
listen. 81 can't stay" She pressed
her hand hard on his shoulder, iookin,
up piteously in his face. ''Joe, if 70,
ever cared for me, save that poor oil
man And before he could answer sh,
was gone, leaving him looking after he
like one in a dream.
The clouds were getting lower nn(
heavier as the boatman set off with hi
passenger.
"Looks as if VIC should have spcl
of weather, said the latter, gIancin,
from the lcadcn sky to the leader
water. Hope you're what thoy crackct
You up to be, for if got duck,ng her
I shouldn't find myself again in
hurry"
Well, I'm as good az they'll aver
age, l reckon, mister-I didn't hea
your namc," said Joe, looking ~ il,
quiringly.
ICGOI NEoOlA ~ NY uuulc, tlnu OH
amt ashamed of it'll be pretty wei
known in these parts by this day wocl,
I'm thinking" and tho man smiled
smile not pleasant to see.
elbows that ? " said Joe, anxious t.
betray no previous knowledge.
"I'vc como to give evidence in
trial that's coming off in your c"untr
town. answered Groom, motionin
toward the Mill,am shore. "Ivo trav
rlrl nigh five hundred miles on pun
pose /" do it, AMI I'll travel five hun
'tral more if twas needed.
Is it the Sawyer trial You mean ?
asked Joe, careIessIy. "Pcoplc hav
been saying there uin't cvi,lenc
enough t" make IL case, but [ 'spos
then there's something new turnc,
up?"
~ should rather think so: some
thing that'il make a casc'Il hold .Jnh
Sawyer as tight us his coi1in.'
J,c clinchch his hand ON his OF,
He was beginning to undcrst,n,
Margy's hatred for this man, with Iii