Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-14
open cxnltation III tho ruin ho was

open cxultation in tho ruin ho was
going to work.
"Im sorry for tho old man," he
SAID, after pause, "anl 80 arc most
folks about here. Wilson was known
for bully, and, if Sawyer really done
it, twas that--that and tho drink, fol
wurm.''
"You'vc no need to toll ,.,c wlat
John Sawyer is, said the othcr shortly.
II knew him before you was born, be.
fore ever he came into these parts"
"Wcll," said the boatman, "you'vc
IL queer notion of old acquaintance
sake then, that's all.
"l'll give him swing for old ac-
auaintance' sake, if / can," replied
Groom, with a scowl-
Joe drew q quick breath.
"Can you do that" he said.
"That or litter. tell you, my
man, saw it donc."
"You saw Sawyer kill Wilson," OK.
claimed Joe, stopping short on hiA
oars. :.
"I saw him strike tho blow that kill
ell him, and that comes to pretty nigh
the same thing, take it,
"But how is it you've kept back all
along2"
swell. it's like this" said Groom,
who appeared to be in II more commu-
nicativo mood that while before.
"The day of tho murder-to begin at
the beginning-I happened to be pass
ing through Alilham, and stopped over
a train there to see man had deal
ings with. He lived little out of
town, II lonesome road, part of the way
across some fields. did my business
and started back again alone, as I had
come. Halfway, or thcreabouts, I
heard kind of cussing and quarreling
in the next field-right close to my car
it sounded, only couldn't see any
thing for the high hedge. What's
up, thinks I, might as we'll take a
peep Twas an uncommon fine even.
ing; moonlight you could almost sec
to read by, and knew Sawyer as soon
as set eyes on him. His face was
turned exactly to me-, and ugly enough
it looked then. The next minute saw
him strike out, and the other man went
uO"u 11AC IL lOks
"Anl You let him lay 2" interrupted
Joe. in excitement. "YOu never called
for help, nor nothing?"
"What tore" said Groom, careless
~. II thought twas drunken quar-
rel knew what Sawyer was-and I
left them to settle it between them
selves. I had to look sharp for the
next train, so I hurried back to the
hotel, and none too soon either. l
never thought again about the matter,
till tho other day I happened to hear
that John Sawyer was going to be tried
for murder, and taking this way and
that, found the time and the gent
circumstances agreed with that evening
80, then, I knew had seen tho thing
DONE"
| Groom paused moment, and when
he resumed it was in an abstracted
tone.
""Twasn't particularly convenient
if it'll been anybody else, I'd likely
have left the poor devil to sink or swim
as might be, but John Sawyer! I tell
you," he continued, through his set
teeth, as, catching the boatman's eyes,
he appeared suddenly conscious of a
listener, I'D let all I've got go to
rack and ruin for the pleasure of seeing
John Sawyer stand there, disgraccd
and ruined mas, and saying to him,
Twas me that did it -
There was something in Joe Gorton's
breast on Which the fierce words and
manner Jared painfully. He was no
preacher, this poor untaught boatman :;
he did not know how to tell the man
before him that his promised revenge
was cruel and cowardiy; but yet he
felt that, even setting aside Margy's
interests, there was something i'll it
which reused all his instincts Of resist
ancc. He shook his head as ho thought
about it.
"That's feeling I can't make out, ,"
lie said, half aloud.
"Can't you 2" said Groom, shortly,
supposlng tho remark addressed to
himself. Have you got n sweetheart,
young man 70 he added, abruptly, after
short pause.
"a sweetheart z" repeated Joe,
starting at tho association connected
with the question, and the man who
put it.
"Well, you've no cause to be shy of
owning it," said Groom, who had no.
ticed the movement. "a sweetheart,
when she's the right sort, is what no
man need bo ashamed of. I had one
myself when I was your age" he
stopped mOment-"I dent 'spose
you'd often see her like, l never did.
There WAS girl up at that place. that
| fnvor1, fhorx, ho1 q 1in.7 1o.,1. l,,.
about the eyes and forehead, but moth
ing to compare-J had friend, too
we'll, it amt much of y story" Groom
broke with a dry laugh, "and I don't
hardly know why tell it at all, only,
maybe. it'll help You to make
out what seems to puzzle you
Tho long and short of it is, that my
friend-mind that, youngstcr! my
friend cheated me out of my sweet.
heart. 1 amt much to look ut, know,
never was, but could care for woman
just as much as If I'd been six foot
high, and fresh as a rose, and I'd take
my oath she cared for me, too, till he
came between us with a false tongue
enough to turn any girls head. Well
he came off first best she left me and
went away with him. swore then,
boy" said Groom, looking darkly in
his listeners earnest face, "tlut, if
over my day come, LII be even with
John Sawyer; never thought 'twould,
but it has, and do you think III let my
chance slip MOVIE No, by God!" and
the man brought down his fist with a
force that shook the boat side.
"That was hard lines sure enough, -
said Joe, thoughtfully, "But, MIR.
Groom, you was speaking just now of
a girl up at the tavern there She's my
sweetheart, and" added the boatman,
slowly, "sle's Sawyer's girl, his only
child"
"Nol" exclaimed Groom, evidently
moved by the Intelligence. "Hatty's
child" he muttered to himself,
Hatty's cEild!'
EYES," said Joe, eagerly, "don't
forget whose child sho IL, and that
you'll make her suffer along with the
old man."
"Ah," said Groom, "that's all very
wclh but Il Mt forget neither whose
child she is Oh tho other side. No! I'm
sorry for the girl, and tor You, young
ste, since you've an illcrcst in her, but
I'd have my pay out of john Sawyer
now, ii was to die for it,
Joc's grasp frightened convulsively