Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-11-02

pletely at his mercy here on this un-
familiar element as if they had been
alone in all the earth? If he were to
die for it! Every plunge of the dark
water seemed to be repeating these
words. The boatman reused himself
with start at the sound of his passen-
gers voice.
you're a pretty feller, amt you,
subject in n lighter tone, wanting to
persuade me to cheat justice after that
fashion,"
GAS for that" answered Joe, "you
said, yourself, if it had been anybody
but Sawyer you wouldn't have
troubled to hunt him down, and l
can't see as that's any better notion of
justice than mine. Besides" he add
ed, 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 quarrel he got u cough
that's tearing him to pieces; the
doctors say he can't live long, nOhOw."
"He'll live long enough to make
| the acquaintance Of rOpe's-end,
reckon,h said Groom, with coarse
| laugh, "and that's all l care about"
The brutal words and manner
aroused the lurking devil in Joe Cor
toms heart. He stammered out a
curse, inarticulate for passion.
"Eh?" said Groom, catching the
sound, but not the words, "what's
that you say?"
The boatman stopped rowing, and
leaned forward till he almost touched
Groom where he sat.
"Just put yourself in the old mans $
place for a minute" he began with an
effort, speaking quietly. "SpOse
there was sOmebody'd got the chance
and the will to get shut O'you, just as
you have of old Sawyer"
"What are you driving at nOw?"
interrupted Groom. "There amt any
body, as | know of, has got either
more luck for mel" he added with a
laugh.
"Ain't there!" said the boatman,
slowly. "YOu talk about justice, Mr..
Groom" he resumed, but it amt
Justice, you've set out to do-it's MUIR
der. You've got the law on your side,
as it happens, but all the same as far
40 JOu IC CotiCClllC't, ~ . AIuANSi do
bad, for what can see, as if somebody
as it might be me,"-said Joe, look
ing fixedly i'm the others face through
the growing dusk, " somebody with a
motive, no matter what, for wanting
to get rid of you, getting you all alone
as it might be here--0ut of sight or
help, should just put you quietly out
of the way"
"Hey! dye mean to threaten me?"
cried Groom, springing up. Just then
the breaking gust struck sharp on the
boats side, that, left to her own guild
ance, had drifted round; she gave a
lurch and bound that sent Groom,
who, i'm starting back, had lost his
balance, overheard like shot.
Joe stared for an instant at the empty
place opposite, hardly comprehending
what had happened 50 quickly; then,
sudden as the lightning darted through
| the black sky above him, it flashed
| into his mind that there was silence
and safety, and that through no act
of his. "Why not profit by the acci-
dent? Why not, in the mans own
spirit, and his very words, "leaye
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: 'Ifyou leave
this man to die, you are his muir
derern' 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 light
ming bolt could tear the clouds, he had
thrown himself after Groom.
When they rose together the boat was
nowhere in sight. There was nothing
now for 1t but to strike out for the
shore. Luckily, the Milham side was
not now very far distant; still, it was
hard stretch through the numbing
water, incumbered, as he was, with
his heavy clothing and the weight OF
Groom, who, moreover, himself COM
pletely helpless, held him with ner-
vOus clutch that half strangled him.
BY the time they neared the shore, his
strength was pretty we'll spent; but
the glowing 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 bat
tered him-pOOr Joe!
| He was conscious when they took
him up, but there was q look on his
face that fOretOld 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 scarce
ly 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 lay.
"Well, GortOn, and how is it with
you?" he said, affecting to speak cheer
fully, though struck at once by the
look of death in the face. -,
"About as bad as it can be Mr..
old boat and Tll go down together,
reckon"
"Now, never you talk that stuff, my
man," said Groom, in almost a blus-
tering way, perhaps to conceal GER
tain unsteadiness of voice; III owe you
life, amt one to rest till I've paid
it, if it takes all the doctors from here
to Jericho. Pve got means, / tell ye."
"No use, Mr.. Groom" said Joe,
"there amt no doctor could patch up
what's smashed inside of me. But,
look here" and he instinctively low
ering his voice, with glance at the at
tendant, though there was little feai
of that broken whisper reaching any
ears but those close to it, ats what
wanted to speak to you about-you
owe me life, you say; mine ain't
yours to give-but old Sawyer's is"
Groom's face darkened. ~ swear
I'd almost rather you had asked for my
own,p he muttered.
"But you'll promise, Mr.. GrOOm"'
said Joe, in his eagerness managing
| To half rai isa himself MXOu,l III nrOmiAeNl