Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-14
AUSTIN MOWER COUNTY, MINNESOTA THURSDAY

[NTY, MINNESOTA, 7
used to DO, md tho night Of tho quar-.
rel hc got cough that's tearing him
all to pieces tho doctors say he can't
live long, nohOw."
"Ho'll live long enough to make the
acquaintance of q ropes end, reck on, -
said Groom, with II coarse laugh, "an.l
that's I'LL care about
The brutal words and manner reused
the lurking devil in Joe Gorton's heart.
He stammcred out Il curse, inarticulatc
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 man IS
place for minute" he began with an
effort, speaking quietly. "'Sposc there
was somebedy'dgot the chance and the
will to get shut @ you, just as you have
of old Sawyer"
"What are you driving at now !" in.
terruptcd Groom. 'There amt any
body, rs 1 know Of has got either
more luck for me2" he added, with a
laugh.
"Ain't there - said the bcatman,
slowly. "You talk about justice, Mr..
Groom" he resumed, "but it amt
justice you We 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
as you're concerned, it's murder-as
bad, for what I 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
it might be here, out of sight or help,
should Just put you quietly out Of the
way"
Hey dye mean to threaten me 90
cried Groom, springing up. lust then
the breaking gust struck sharp Oh the
boats side that left to her own guild
ance, had driftel around. She gave q
lurch and bound that sent Groom, who
i'll starting back, had lost his balance,
overheard like shot.
Joe stared for IN instant at the
empty place opposite, hardly compre-
bending 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 be?'" But
Joe could no more be deceived by his
own, than by others sophistries a
voice with him cried, eff you leave
this man ia 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 it but to strike out for
the shore. Luckily, the Milham side
was not now very distant; still, it was
hard stretch through the numbing
water, encountered, as he was, with his
heavy clothing and the weight of
Groom, who, moreover, himself com.
pletely helpless, held him with a ner-
vous clutch that half strangled him.
ty the time they neared the shore, his
strength was pretty well spent. but the
growing lights gave him heart again :;
he rested an instant for the final pull,
and just then it was that the gust seiz-
ed him, uupreparcd, and whirled him
away from the inlet he was making for,
to the rock.ledge jutting into it. that
caught and battered him-poor Joe.
he was conscious when they took
him up, but there was a look in his
face that foretold the end, even before
the doctors did. As for Groom, he
had been shielded by Joc's body, and,
tough and wiry as he was, was scarcely
the worse for the whole adventure.
When he he heard what they were say
ing about Joe, he burst out with an
oath, and hurried to where lie lay.
Swell, Gorton, and how is it with
You Z" he said, affecting to speak cheer
FULLY, though struck at once by that
look Of death in his face.
"About Us bad as it can be, MIR.
Groom, answered Joe, focbly. ''Tho
old boat and III go. down together, I
reckon"
CHOW, never you talk that stuff, my
man, said Groom, in almost buster
ing way, perhaps to conceal certain
l!nstcadiDess of voice, II owe you Il
life, and amt one to rest till I've paid
it, if it talks all the doctors from hero
to Jericho. I've got means I tell yc.'
"No use, Mr.. Groom said Joe,
"there amt no doctor could patch up
what's smashed inside of me. But look
here, and he instlnctively lowering his
voice, with glance at the attendant,
though there was little fear of that
broken whisper reaching any ears but
those close to it, cts what I wanted
to speak to you about-you owe me a
lie; mine amt yours to give-but old
Sawyer's is"
Groom's face darkcned. "I swear
Ia almost rather you asked for my
own, he muttered.
But you'll promise, Mr.. Groom z"
said Joe, i'll his carnestness managing
to half raise himself, "youll PROMISED
Well s'pose 1 ain't got no
CHOICE answered Groom, still rcluc-
t tan 1y;;,, Eye" ~ = do promise, there's
A gleam of intense delight for the
moment almost drove the death-look
from Joe's face. "It's all right, Mar.
gy," no whispered softly to himself,
alit! laid his hand back again.
Yes. it WAS all right, as Heaven sccs
right. Whom John Sawyer had been
discharged for want of evidence. when
the Lake Village gossips, wondering
over the strangers disappearance, con
cluded that his boasts had been mere
lille talk to make sensation, Marcy
could have told them better. She knew
how it was Joe had died, she knew that
life had been paid for her fathers
and in a heart softened by pain she
acknowledged That her pray er had been
answered in Gods own way.
KATE PUTNAM OsaOOD.
A Baby rs II Weapon.
| Memphis Avalanche, June ~.
During tho fray she seized an infant,
scarcely year old, by the legs, and
commenced IN in,liscriminate striking
with it at any and everybody that came