River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-19

uiH listeners CdTutSb ldCc, budI, IL
over my day come, I'd be even with
John Sawyer; l never thought 'twould,
but it has, and do you think I'll let my
chance slip nowl No, by God u 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, Mr..
Groom. you was speaking just now of
a girl up at the tavern there She's my
sweetheart, and" added the boatman,
slowly, "she's Sawyer's girl, his only
child"
"Nol" exclaimed Groom, evidently
moved by the intelligence. Harty's
child" he muttered to himself,
Hatty's cLild !"
"Yes,' said Joe, eagerly, "don't
forget whose child she is, and that
you'll make her suffer along with the
old man."
"Ah, said Groom, CHATS all very
well, but don't forget neither whose
child she is on the other side. No I'm
sorry for the girl, and tor you, young
ste, since you've an interest in her, but
I'd have my pay out of John Sawyer
now, if was to die for it,"
Joe's grasp frightened convulsively
on his oar. Was the man crazy, thus
to make boast of the misery he would
cause before one whose advantage and
opportunity 1t alike was to insure his
silence who had him almost as COM
pletely at his mercy here on this Tin
familiar element as il they two had
been alone In all the earth III he were
to die for it Every plunge of the
dark water seemed to be repeating
those words. The boatman reused
himself with a start at the sound of his
passengers voice.
You're pretty Teller, amt you,
now, said the latter, resuming the
subject in a lighter tone, wanting to
pefshade me to cheat justice after that
fashion I"
=" AS for that, answered Joe, "you
said, yourself, if it had been anybody
but Sawyer you wouldn't have troubled
to hunt him down, and | can't see as
that's any better notion Of justice than
mine, Besides" he added, gravely,
" the old mans got his death sentence
Already, if that's what you want what
with the drink, he amt the man he
used to be, and the night Of the quar-
rel he got cough that's tearing him
all to pieces the doctors say he can't
live long, nohow."
'" He'll live long enough to make the
acquaintance of ropes end, | reckon"
said Groom, with coarse laugh, "and
that's all | care about"
The brutal words and manner reused
the lurking devil in Joe Gorton's heart.
He stammered out curse, inarticulate
for passion.
"Eh 2" said Groom, catching the
sound, but not the words, what's
that you say 2"
The boatman stopped rowing and
loaned forward till he almost touched
Groom where be sat.
"Just put yourself in the old mans
place for a minute" he began with an
effort, speaking quietly. "Spose there
was somebedy'dgot the chance and the
will to get shut O. you, just as you have
of old Sawyer"
What are you driving at now I" in
terrupted Groom. There amt any.
body, as l know of has got either
more luck for mel" he added. with a
laugh.
"Ain't there q" said the bcatman.
slowly. "You talk about Justice, Mr..
Groom, he resumed, "but it amt
Justice you've set out to dots MUIR
der. You've got the law on your side
as 1t happens, but oil the same as far
as you're concerned, it's murder-as
bad, for what L can see, as if some
body-as it might be me, said Joe !;
looking friendly in the others face
IN the growing dusk, somebody with a
motive, no matter what, for wanting to
be rid of you, getting you all alone, as
1t might be here, out of sight or help,
should just put you quietly out of the
way"
Hey dye mean to threaten me r"
cried Groom, springing up. lust then
the breaking gust struck sharp on the
boats side that left to her own guild
ance, had drif.ed around. She gave
lurch and bound that sent Groom, who
III starting back, had lost his balance.
1verboard like shot.
"oo Stuied lOr an instant at the
empty place opposite, hardly compre.
hending what had happened so quick.
~, then, sudden as the lightning dart.
ing through the blue sky above him.
it flashed into his mind that there were
silence and safety, and through no act
of his. Why not profit by the acct.
dent Why not, IN the mans own
spirit, in his very words, leave him TO
sink or SWIM, as might be9'" But
Joe could no more be deceived by his
own, than by others sophistries a
voice with him cried, IF 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.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 il but 10 strike out for
the shore. Luckily, the Milham side
was not now very distant; still, il was
a hard stretch through the numbing
water, encountered. as he was, with his
heavy clothing aud the weight of
Groom, who, moreover, himself com.
pletely helpless, held him with ner-