The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-08-02

%uOSc CUllu SHE Is, anu GndL you make ner
after along with the old man"
All said Groom, that's all very well,
ut don't forget neither whose child she is
m the other side. No! I'm sorry for the
irl, and for you, youngster, since you've an
interest in her, but I'd have my pay out Of
John Sawyer now, if was to die for it."
Joe's grasp frightened convulsively on his
oar. Was the man crazy, thus to make a
boast of the misery he would cause before
one whose advantage and opportunity it alike
was to insure his silence? who had him al
most as completely at his mercy here on
his unfamiliar element as if they two had
been alone in all the earth If he were to
lie for it Every plunge of the dark water
seemed to be repeating those words.% The
4boatman reused himself with a start at the
sound of his passengers voice.
You're pretty Teller, amt you, now"
said the latter, resuming the subject in a
lighter tone, wanting to persuade me to
cheat justice after that fashion?"
LAS for that" answered Joe, "you said,
yourself, if it had been anybody but Sawyer
you wouldn't have troubled to hunt him
down, and can't see as that's any better
notion of Justice than mine. Besides" he
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 the quarrel
he got cough that's tearing him alto pieces;
the doctors say he. can't live long, nohow.''
Hell live long enough to make the &C.
quaintance of the rope's-end | reckon said
Groom, with course laugh, land that's all
care about"
The brutal words and manner reused the
lurking devils in Joe Gortons heart. He
stammered out curse, inarticulate for pas
sion.
"Eh?" said Groom, catching the sound
but not the words, d" what's 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 minute" he began, with an effort,
speaking quietly "'Spose there was some
bOdy'd got the chance and the will to get
shut O. you, just as you have Of old Saw
yer" 1855
What are you driving at now?" inter-
rupted Groom ."1,here amt anybody, as
know of, has got either-more luck for me u
he ended 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 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 ifsomebody
fxedly in the others face through the grow
ing dusk, somebody with motive, no mat
ter what, for wanting to be rid of you, get
ting you all alone-as it might be here-out
of sight or help, should just put you quietly
out O. the way"
"Hey! dye mean to threaten?" cried
Groom, springing up. Just then the break
ing gust struck sharp on the boats side
that, left to her own guidance, had drifted
round: she gave a 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 comprehending what
had happened so quickly, then, sudden as
lightning darting through the black sky
above him, it flashed into his mind that
here were silence and safety, and that
through no act of his. Why not profit by
the accident? Why not, in the mans own
spirit, in his very words, leave him to sink
or swim, as it might be z" But Joe could
no more be deceived by his own, than by
others sophistries voice within 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 clouds, 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 numbng water, encountered, as he was,
with his heavy clothing and the weight OF
Groom, who, moreover, himself completely
helpless, held him with nervous clutch
that half strangled him. By 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
seized him, unprepared, and whirled him
away from the inlet he was making for, to
the rock-edge jutting into it, that caught
and battered him-poor Joe. ~ -.
He was conscious when they took him,
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,
and, tough and wiry as he was, was scarce
" 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. ~ 49,.
well. Gorton, and how is it with you?n
he said, affecting to speak cheerfully, though
struck at Shy that look OF death in the
face
About as bad'as it can be, Mr.. Groom, y
answered Joe, feebly. 1.-The old boat and
I'll go down together, reckon. -,
zss. Now, never you talk that stuff, my man, =
said Groom, In almost clustering way per.
haps to conceal certain unsteadiness OF
voice, "I owe you my life. and amt one
to rest till I've paid it, if it takesall the doc
tors from here TO Jericho. I've got means,
tell ye.'' -.
No use, Mr., Groom" said Joe, "there
amt no doctor could patch up what's smash
ed inside Of me.-But look here and he in
stinctively lowered his voice, with glance
at the attendants though. there was little
fear of that broken whisper reaching any
ears but those close to it, :. it's what want
ed to speak to you about-you owe me
life, you say mine amt yours to give-but
old Sawyer's Is .s.kE9@ =
i Groom : face darkened. At swear I'd al
smostrather you.asked Drsmy OWL he NUT
teIsd.
But you'll promise. Mr.. Groom - said
Joe, IN his-eassrnsss managing to half RAISE
himself, you'll promise? = = A-M 81 "a
"Well-l s'pose I amt got no CHOICE
answered Groom, still reluctantly; Ives, I
do promise, there's my hand on it,