Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-14

MY, MINNESOTA, T
used to be, and the night Of tho quar-
rel he got cough that's tearing him
oil to pieces the-doctors say ho can't
live long, nohOw."
"He'll live long enough to mako the
acquaintance of a ropes end, reckon y
said Groom, with IL coarse laugh, "antl
that's NIL care about"
| The brutal words and manner reused
the lurking devil in Joe Gorton's heart.
He stammered out q curse, inarticulate
for passion.
"Eh r. said Groom, catching the
sound, but not the words, what's
that you say2"
The boatman stopped rowing; and
leaned forward till he almost touched
Groom where be SIT.
:"Just put yourself In the old mans
place for a minute" he began with an
effort, speaking quietly. "Hpose there
was somebedy'dgot:th the chance and the
wy II, 70 get shut 2 you' just as you have
=" What are you driving at now !" in.
terrupted Groom. ':There amt any
body, as 1 know of has got either
laugh: . ~.
slowly. 'You talk about justice, Mr..
Groom" he resumed. "but it amt
Justice yOu've set out TO- do-it's MUIR
DEF, You'v got the law on your side
as ii happens, but oil the Same us fur
as you're concerned, it's murder-as
bad, for what T 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
Pc r!d 9Eyon; getting you all ;alone, as
ut might be here, out Of sight or help,
should Just put you quietly out OF the
Wey- . :. si-I:
"Hey! dye mean to threaten me 81
cried Groom, springing up. lust then
the breaking gust struck sharp on the
boats side that left to her own guild
ance, had drifted around. She gave q
lurch and bound that sent Groom, who
in starting back, had lost his balance,
overheard like shot. -.
Joe stared for an instant at the
empty place opposite, hardly eompre-
hending 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 bis. ''Why not profit by the acct.
dent3 Why not, IN the mans own
spirit, in his very words, leave him to
sink or swim,' as might be2'" But
Joe could no more be deceived by his
own, than by others sophistries a
voice with him cried, IF you leave
this man to 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, encumbered, as he was, with his
heavy clothing and the weight of
Groom, who, moreover, himself com.
pletely helpless, held him with q ner-
yops clutch that half strangled him.
By the time they neared the shore, his
strength was pretty we'll spent, but the
growing lights gave him heart again
he rested an instant for the final pull,
aud Just then it was that the gust seiz-
ed him, uuprepared, 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 look in 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 scarcely
the worse for the whole adventure.
When he he heard what they were say
ing about Joe, he burst out with IN
oath, and hurried to where he lay.
"Weu, Gorton, and how il it with
yon2 z" he said, affecting to speak cheer
fully, though struck at once by that
look Of death in his face.
"About as bad as it can be, Mr.. !
Groom" answered joe, foobly. "The
old boat and I'll 60. down together, I
reckon"
"Now, never you talk that stuff, my
man" said Groom, in almost buster
ing way; perhaps to conceal certain
ansteadiness of voice, 81 owe you
life, and I amt one to rest till I've paid
it, If it taks all the doctors from hero
to Jericho. I've got means I tell ye."
mo 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, it's what wanted
to speak to you about-you owe me a
life mine amt yours to give-but old
Sawyer1s is"
Groom's face darkened. "I swear
Ia almost rather you asked for my
own, he muttered.
"But you'll promise, Mr.. Groom 2"
said Joe, in his carnestness managing
to half raise himself, "you'll promise9'
WE'LL s'pose amt got no
choice, answered Groom, still reluc-
family; Eyes, I do promise, there's
my head on it."
A CLEAN OF intense delight for tho
moment almost drove the death-look
from Joe's face. cts all right, Mar.
gy,'" he whispered softly to himself,
and laid his hand back again.
Yes, it was all right, as Heaven sccs
right. When 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. Marry
could have told them better. She knew
how it was Joe had died, she knew that
a life had been paid for her fathers;
and in heart softened by pain she
acknowledged that her prayer had been
answered in Gods own way.
KATE PUTNAM OsaooD.
A Baby as q Weapon,
Memphis Avalanche, June 10.
During tho fray she seized m infant,
scarcely year old, by the legs, and
commenced IN indiscriminate striking
with it at any and everybody that came
in her way. Another colored woman
came to the rescue of the child, but was
badly beaten by tho british creature,
and every attempt at approach was
warde1 off by her swinging the infant