Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-07-31

after her Ike a dresm. The clouds wer,
getting lower and heavier a. the boa,mat
set of with III. passenger.
Looks as If we should have a smell o
, weather said the latter. glancing from
the leadcn sky to the leaden water. Hope
you're wha, they crack you up to be, fol
IL get dueking here. I shouldn't End
myself again in q hurry
Wei. I'm rs good as they'll average
| reckon. mister, didn't hear youa
nan.e. said joe. looking up ingniringly
Peter Groom is my name, and one
amt ashamed Of; it'll he pretty well known
in these parts By this day week, Tn think
ing and the man smiled smile not pleas
ant 10 see.
'fiow's thr r ssid Joe, anxfsus 70 be-
tray no previous knowledge
I've come to give evidence in trial
that's coming of in your county town.
Answered Groom. mo;ioning toward the
Milham shore I've Travelled nigh Eve
hundred miles on purpose to DO 10. and
/ Id travel FIVE hundred more If twas need :
cd
rs Il The Sawyer trial you mean ? asked
Joe. care!essly. People have been say
ing there amt evidence enough to make a
case. bu, spo-c then there's something
new turned up
! i should rather think so; something
that'll make q case ,la,'ll hold John Saw.
yer as tight as his cniin.'
Joe clenched his hand on his oar. He
was beginning to understand Margy's ha-
tired for this man. with his open exulta.
tion in the ruin he was going to work.
I'm sorry for the old man he said. az
ter pause. 'aud SO are most folks about
here. Wilson was known for a bully.
and. it Sawyer really done it. twas that
that and the drink. for when he's HIM
self. he wouldn't hurt worm
You've no need to tell me what john
Sawyer is, said the other. shcr,lv. L
knew him before you was born. before
ever he came into these parts
We'll, said the boattnan. you've a
qneer notion Of old acquaintance sake.
then. ,hnt's ALL
III give him swing for old acquaint-
anre' sake, if cau.' replied Groom. with
o scowl.
Joe drew Ir;rk breath
Can you do thst : he said
Tint or liFer. | tell you. my man. |
saw i, done
You saw Sawyer kill Wilson 2 cx-
claimed Joe. stopping short on his oars
i saw him strike the blow that killed
him; and that comes to pretty nigh the
same thing. | take it.
But how is il you have kept back al
along 2
Well. its like this. said Groom. who
appeared 10 be in more communicative
mood than while before The day Of
:he murdcr--to begin with the beginning
i happened to be passing through MIL
ham. and stopped over train there to see
man had dealings with He lived n
little ont OF the town. lonesome road.
part OF the way across some fields did
my business, AMI started back again alone.
a. had come. Half way. or thercahout.
| heard n kind Of cuS>iug and quarre!ns
in the mex, fcld-right close TO my ear
it sounded. only ! couldn't see any 'hing
for III" high hedge. What's up p thinks
|. 'mic git Us we'll take peep Twas an
uncommon 6ne evening; moonlight you
could almost read by. aud knew SAWYER
rs soon as set eyes on him. His face
was turned exactly to ne, and ugly enough
it looked then. The net, miaute | saw
him stsike out, and the other man went
DIVA IKE n log 1f.
And you lie. him lay 2 interrupted
Joe. in excitement. You never called
for help. nor nothing 2
What for 7 said Groom. carelesslv. Il
though, it was just q drunken QUARREL
knew what Sawyer was-and left EN- to
settle it between themselves | had TO
look sharp for the mex, train. so hurried
back to the hotel. and none TOO soon eth
er. never thought again ahou. the mat
ter. ill the Other day happened to hear
tha, John Sawyer was koing to be tried
for murder. and. talking this way and
that. found the time and the general cir
cumstances agreed with that evening
so. then. | knew had seen the tl.ing
done
Groom paused moment. ard when he
resumed 1t was in an distracted tone.
''Twasa i. particular csnvenient for me
TO leave my business just ,heo; if ii had
been any body else. Id likely have left the
poor desi! to sink or swim rs might be,
but John Savy r! I tell ycu.' be con,inu-
cd. through has set teeth. As. catching the
boa'man s eve. be appeared dieuly con-
scious Of > listener. I'D let all i'se 60, 90
to rack and ruin for the pleasure of seeing
John Sawyer stand there. disgraced aud
convicted man. aud saying to him. Twas
me that did i,i''
There wasscmethiag IN Jcc Gor.on's
breas, on which the fierce words aud man
ner Jared painfully. lie was no preach.
sr. this poor. untaught boatman: he did
not know how 10 tell the nau before him
that his promised revenge was cruel aud
cowardly; but yet he felt that even setting
assde Maryy'sinterrsss. there WIS scmc-
thing in il which reused all his instincts
Of resissausel He shcek. bis head as he
though. about It.
That's a fecIing I caa's make OUT he
hs said, half aload. .gtgyuF rr.7
isCah't yoa = said GroJm. shortly. SUP.
posing the remark addressed % himself.
Have scc cot = svesshears. youug maui
he added aora2,ly. after short pause.
"A swcctheart I repeated Jee. starting
st the associations connected with the
question, aud the man whc put il.
We'll, you've no cause 10 bc shy OF