The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-08-14


Sawyer's girl-his only child!
No! exclaimed Groom, evidently NOV
ed by the intelligence. tIetiy', child, lie
muttefed 70 himself, Hetiys cbildl
Yes, said Joe, eagerly don't forget
whose child she Is, aud that you'n
make hcr suffer along with the old man.
All, said Groom, that's all very well,
but don't forget neither, whose child
she ls, on The other side. No! rm sorry
for the girl, and for YOU, youugstcrt since
you've an interest in her, bat I'd have
my pay out Of John Sawyer now, If /
was to die for it.
Joc's grasp dghteued oonyulsiyely on
bis car. Was the man crazy, thus to
make a boast Of the misery be would
cause before one whose advantage and
oppriuuity alike was to insure his silence?
who had him almost as completely at his
mercy here on this unfamiliar element as
II they two had been alone in all the
earth? II he were to dia for itl Every
plunge OF the dark water seemed to be
repeating these words The boatman
reused himself with start at the sound
OF his passengers voice.
You're pretty fellcr, amt you, now
said the latter, resumug the subject in a
lighter tone, wanting to persuade me to
cheat Justice after that fashion,
As for that, answered Joe, you said,
yourself if il had been anybody blt Saw
yer you wouldn't have troubled to hunt
him down, and can't see as that's any
better notion of justice than mine. Be
sides, be 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 tie quarrel he got a cough that's tear.
ing him all to pieces; the doctors say he
can't live long, nohow.
He'll live long enough to make the ae-
quaintance of rope's.end, reckon, said
Groom, with coarse laugh, and that's
all care about
The brutal words aud manner aroused
the lurking devil in Joe Groton's heart.
He stammered out a curse, inarticulate
for passion.
Eh2 said Groom catching the sound,
but not TIE words, what's that you say?
The boatman stopped rowing, and lean
ed forward till he almost touched Groom
where he sat
just put yourself in the old mans place
for minute, he began with an effort,
speaking quietly. S'pose there was some
body'd got the chance and the viii to get
shut O. you, just as you have of old Saw
yer
What arc you driving at now? inter
rupted Groom. There amt anybody, as
know of, has got either--more luck for
me! he ended, with laugh.
Amt there? said the boatman, slowly.
You talk about justice, Mr.. Groom, he
resumed, "but it amt justice you've set
out to dots murder. 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 / can see, as if
somebody--as it might be me"-said Joe,
looking fxedly in the others face through
the growing dusk, somebody with a mo-
tive, 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 O. the
way
Heyi 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 guidance, had
drined round; she gave a lurch and a
boupd that sent Groom, who, in starting
back, had lost his balance overheard like
a shot.
Joe stared for an instant at the empty
place opposite, hardly comprehending
what had happen ID so quickly, then, sud-
den as the lightning darting through the
black sky above him, it flashed into his
mind that here was silence and safety,
and that through no act of his. Why
not profit by the accidentI Why not, in
the mans own spirit, and his very words,
'lcaye 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: If you leave
this man 10 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
clouds, he had thrown himself after
Groom.
When the two rose together, the boat
was nowhere in sight. There was no.
thing now for it but to strike ont for the
shore. Luckily, the Milham side was not
now very far distant; still, it was hard
stretch through the tumbling water, en-
numbered, as he was, with his heavy
clothing aud the weight Of Groom, who,
moreover, himself completely helpless,
held bin with a nervous clutch that hall
strangled him. By the time they neared
the shore bis strength was pretty well
spent, but the growing lights gave him
heart again; be rested an instant for the
final pull, aud just then 1t was that the
gust seized hin, unprepared, and whirled
him away from the inlet be was making
for, to the rOck-ledge jutting into IL, that
caught aud battered him-poor Joe!
He was conscious when they took him
up, but there was look In his face that
f0retold the end, even before the doctors
did. As for Groom, be had been shielded