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

] amt ashamed of ; it'll be pretty we'll
known in these parts by this day week.
I'm thinking" and the man smiled Z
smile not pleasant TO see.
How's that said Joe, anxious TO
betray no previous knowledge.
"Tye come to give evidence in a
trial that's coming off in your country
town, answered Groom, motionipp
toward the Milham shore. GIVE tray,
eled nigh five hundred miles on mr.
pose to do it, and I'd travel five hun.
dred more if twas needed.
Is it the Sawyer trial YOU mean ~
asked Joe, carelessly. "People have
been saying there amt evidence
enough to make case, but spose
hen there's something new turned
apt"
81 should rather think so; some.
thing thatll make case'll hold John
Sawyer as tight as his coffin"
ice clinched his hand on his oar.
He was beginning to understand
Margy's hatred for this man, with his
open exultation in tho ruin he was
going TO work.
I'm sorry for the old man." he
SAID, after pause, land so are most
folks about here. Wilson was known
for bully, and, il Sawyer really done
it, twas that-that and the drink, for
when he's himself he wouldn't hurt a
worm"
You've no need to tell ne what
John Sawyer is, said the other shortly.
Il knew him before You was born, be-
fore ever he came into these parts. y
Well, said the boatman, "you've
Ia queer notion of old acquaintance
sake then, that's all.
"I'll give him swing for old ac-
quaintance sake, If | can, replied
Groom, with scowl.
Joe drew a quick breath.
Can you do thatlr he said.
That or litter. / tell you, my
man, ] saw it done.
You saw Sawyer kill Wilson 2" ex-
claimed Joe, stopping short on his
oars.
. / saw him strike the blow that kill
ed him, and that comes to pretty nigh
the same thing, take it. +"
But how is it you've kept back all
along 2"
Well. it's like this" said Groom,
who appeared to be in more commu-
nicative mood that a while before.
The day of the murder--to begin at
the beginning-I happened to be pass
ing through Milham, and stopped over
a train there to see a man / had deal
ings with. He lived little out of
town, lonesome road, pant of the way
across some fields. | did my business
and started back again alone, as L had
come. Halfway, or thereabouts, [
heard kind OF cussing and duarreling
IN the next tield--right close to my ear
1T sounded, only couldn't see auv
thing for the high hedge What's
up, thinks l., might as well take n
peep. Twas an uncommon fine even.
ing; moonlight you could almost see
to read by, and L knew Sawyer as soon
as | set eyes on him. His face was
turned exactly to me, and ugly enough
1t looked then. The next minute saw
him strike out, and the other man went
down like a log
And you let him lay 4" interrupted
Joe. in excitement. You never called
Tor help, nor nothing 2"
What for r" said Groom, careless
ly. . thought twas a drunken quar-
rel knew what Sawyer was-and
left them 90 settle it between them
selves. | had to look sharp for the
next train, so | hurried back to the
hotel, and none too soon either. |
never thought again about the matter.
TIL the other day | happened to hear
that John Sawyer was going to be tried
Tor murder, and taking this way and
that, | found the time and the central
circumstances agreed with that evening
so, then, l knew / had seen the thing
done.
Groom paused moment, and when
he resumed it was in an distracted
tone.
"'Twasn'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. he continued, through his set
teeth, as, catching the boatman's eyes,
he appeared suddenly conscious of n
listener, I'D let all I've got go to
rack and ruin for the pleasure of seeirg
John Sawyer stand there, n disgraced
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 M
preacher, this poor untaught boatman
he did not know how 10 tell the man
before him that his promised revenge
was cruel and cowardly; but yet he
felt that, even setting aside Margy's
interests, there was something in it
which reused all his instincts of resist
ance. He shook his head as he thought
about it.
That's feeling | can't make out, +"
he said, half aloud.
Cant you e. said Groom, shortly,
supposlng the remark addressed TO
himself Have You got sweetheart,
young man ~ he added, abruptly, after
a short pause.
"A sweetheart ~ repeated Joe,
starting at the association connected
with the question, and the man who
put it
"Well, you've no cause 10 be shy of
owning il, said Groom. who had no.