Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-11-02

open exultatiOh in the ruin he was
going to work.
"I'm sorry for the old man, he
said, after pause, "and so are most
folks about here. Wilson was known
fora bully, and if Sawyer really done
it, twas that-that ana the drink, for
when he's himself he wouldn't hurt a
woman"
"You've no need to tell me anything
about John Sawyer" said the other
shortly. "I knew him before you was
born, before ever he came to these
parts"
"Well,n said the boatman, You've
q queer notion of old acquaintance
sake then, that's ALL"
"I'll give him swing for old ac-
quaintance sake, if | cam" replied
Groom, with scOwl.
Joe drew quick breath.
"Cdnyou do thatW he said.
"That or a lifer. tell you, man, |
saw it DONE"
"Yon saw Sawyer kill Wilson,
exclaimed Joe, stopping short on his
oars. ~
"I saw him strike the blow that
killed PIN, and that comes to pretty
near the same thing, take it."
"But how is it you kept back all
along?'
DWELL it's like this,' said Groom,
who seemed to be in more cOmmun-
icative mood than before; "the day of
the murler-tO begin at the begin
ning-I happened to be passing
through Milham, and l stopped over
there train to see man had deal
ings with. He lived out Of town, a
lonesome road part of the way across
some fields. l did my business and
started back again alone, as l had
come. Halfway, or thereabOut, /
heard a cllssing and quarreling in the
next field-right close to my right ear
it sounded, only couldn't see anything
for the high hedge. What's up"
thinks I, better take a peep Twas
an uncommon fine night: moonlight
you could almost see to read by, and l
knew Sawyer the moment / saw him.
His face was turned exactly towards
me, and ugly enough it looked then.
The next minute saw him strike out
and the other man went down like a
log. ,
"And you let him lay" interrupted
Joe, in his excitement. "You never
called for help nor nOthing?"
"What for?' said Groom, careless
ly' ~ thought twas just a drunken
QUARREL knew what Sawyer was
and left them to settle it between
themselves. L had to look sharp for
the next train, so / hurried back to
the hotel, and none too soon either. /
never thought a thing about the mat
ter till l heard John Sawyer was go
ing to be tried for murder, and talking
this way and that, / found that the
time and the general circumstances
agreed with that evening, so then, /
knew had seen the thing DONE"
Groom paused a moment, and when
he resumed it was in an abstracted
tone.
WTwasn't particularly convenient
for me to leave my business just then;
if it'd been anybody else, I'd likely
have left the poor devil to sink or
swim, as might be! but John Sawyer,
tell yOu,u he continued, through his
set teeth, as, catching the bOatman's
eye, he appeared suddenly conscious
of a listener !"Id let all I've got go to
rack and ruin for the pleasure of see
ing John Sawyer stand there, Il dis
graced and convicted man, and say to
him, rTwas me that did it. p"
There was something in Joe Cor
toms breast on which the fierce words
and manner Jared painfully. He was
no preacher, this poor, untaught boat
man; he did not know how to tell the
man before him that the promised re-
venge was cruel and cowardly; but he
felt that, even setting aside Margy's
interests, there was something in it
which aroused oil his instincts of re-
sistance. He shook his head as he
thought about it.
"That's feeling I can't make out"
he said half aloud.
"Can't you?" said Groom shortly,
suppOsing the remark addressed to
himself. Have you got sweet
heart young MANI" he added abrupt
ly, after short pause.
IA sweetheartm repeated Joe, startled
at the associations connected with the
question, and the man who had put 1t.
DWELL you've no cause to be shy OF
owning it," said Groom, who had no
ticed the movement. GA sweetheart,
when she's the right sort is what no one
need be ashamed of. 1 had one my
self whenI was your age,''-and he
stopped a mOment-"I don't s'pOse
you'd ofteu see her like; never did.
There was girl up at that place, that
tavern there, had kind of look of her
about the eyes and forehead, but moth
ing to compare-I had a friend, tOO;-
well, it amt much of story" Groom
broke off with dry laugh, "and
don't know hardly why ] mention ii
at all, only, maybe, it III help you
make out what seems to puzzle you.
The long and the short OF 1t is, that
my friend-mind that, youngster-my
| .friend-cheated me out OF my sweet
heart. l amt much to look at, | know
| never was; but could care for a
woman Just as much as If Pd been SIX
foot high, and fresh as rose; and ia
take my oath she cared for me, too
| till he came between us with false
tongue enough to turn any girls head
| Well, he came off first best; she left me
and went away with him. l swort
then, boy,p said Groom, looking dark.
ly in his listeners earnest face, that
If ever my day come, I'd be even with
John Sawyer; never thought t'would
but it has, and do you think pdlet my
chance slip now? No, by c.
and the man brought down his fist
with force that shook the boat-side
"That was hard times, SURF
enough" said Joe, thoughtfully; "but
Mr.. Groom, you was speaking. just
now, Of o girl up at the tavern there
She's my sweetheart, and" added the
boatman, slowly, i" "she's Sawyer'
girl-his only child"
NO!n exclaimed Groom, evident
ly moved by the intelligence