Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-24

was somebody'd got the chance and the
old Sawyer ''''' -
what are you driving at now?" inter
Tupted Groom. There amt nobody. as
Know OF, has got either-more luck for
me!' he ended, with laugh.
Amt there" said the boatman, slow
~. GU talk about justice, Mr.. Groom"
ne resumed, but it amt justice you've
set out to dots murder. You've got
. ~m law on your side, as it happens, but
an :. the same, as far as you're concerned,
IL s amurder-as bad, for what can see,
as II somebody-as it might be me'-said
Joe, looking fixedly in the others face
through the growing dusk, somebody
with motive, no matter what, for want
ing to be rid of you, getting YOU all alone
AS 1t might be here-out of sight of
help, should just put you quietly out O.
the way"
Hey! dye mean to threaten me-"
cried Groom, springing up. Just then
the breaking gust struck sharp on the
poat's SIDE that, lett to her own guidance,
had drlfted round; she gave a lurch and
pound that sent Groom, who, in starting
back, had lost his balance, overheard like
a shot.
Joe stared for an instant at the empty
place opposite, hardly comprehending
what had happened so quickly, then, sud
den as the lightning darling through the
black sky above him, it flashed upon his
mind that here were silence and safety,
and that through no act of his "Why
not profit by the accident? Why not, in
the mans own spirit, in his very words,
leave him to sink or swim, as might be ?'''
But Joe could no more be deceived by his
own, than by others sophistries; a voice
within him cried: eff you leave this man
to die, you are his murderer" 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-b could tear the clouds, he
had thrown himself after Groom
When the two rose together, the boat
was nowhere in sight There was moth
ing now for it but to strike out for the
shore. Luckily, the Milham side was not
now very distant; still, it was a hard
stretch through the numbing water, en-
cum bered, as he was, with his heavy
clothing and the weight Of Groom, who.
moreover, himself completely helpless,
held him with nervous clutch that half
strangled him. BY the time they neared
the shore, his strength was pretty we'll
spent, but the growing lights gave him
heart again; he rested an instant for the
final pull, and just then it was that the
gust seized him, unprepared, 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 him
up, but there was look in his face that
toIetold the end, even before the doctors
did AS for Groom, he had been shielded
by Joe's body, and, tough and wiry as he
was, was scarcely the worse for the whole
adventure When he heard what they
were saying about Joe, he burst out with
an oath, and hurried to where he Law.
"Nell, GortOn, and how is it with you ?"
he said, affecting to speak cheerfully,
though struck at once by that look of
death in the face
"About as bad as it can be, Mr. Groom"
answered Joe, feebly. The old boat and
I'll 90 down together, | reckon"
"Now, never you talk that stuff, my
man." said Groom, IN almost clustering
way, perhaps to conceal a certain I'M
steadiness of voice, Il owe you life, and
| amt one to rest till I've paid it, if it
takes all the doctors from here to Jericho
Eve got means, tell ye."
"No use, Mr.. Gro0m,' said Joe; ''there
amt no doctor could patch up what's
smashed inside Of me. But look here"
and he instinctively lowered his voice,
with glance at the attendant, though
there was little fear of that broken whis-
per reaching any ears but those close to
it, Its what | wanted to speak to YOU
abOut-you owe me life, YOU say; mine
amt yours to give-but old Sawyer is"
GrOOm's face darkened Il swear I'd
almost rather you asked for my own" he
muttered.
But you'll PROMISE Mr. Groom % said
Joe, in his eagerness managing to half
raise himself you'll promise?"
"Well-l spose | amt got no choice"
answered Groom, still reluctantly; yes,
do promise; there's my hand on it."
A CLEAN of intense delight for the mo-
ment almost drove the death look from
Joe's face. cts all right, Marcy" he
whispered softly to himself, and laid his
head back again
Yes, it was all right, as Heaven sees
right. When John Sawyer had been dis
charged for want Of evidence, when the
Lake-Village gOssips, wondering over the
strangers disappearance, concluded that
his boasts had been mere idle talk to make
a sensation, Marcy could have told them
better. She knew how it was Joe had
died; she knew that a life had been paid
for her fathers; and in heart softened
by pain she acknowledged that her prayer
had been answered in Gods own way
Applet0n's J0urnaL