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

AUSTIN, MOWER COZ
open cxultation in tho ruin ho wal
going to work.
"Tm sorry for tho old man," Il.
sand, after pause, "and so are mos
folks about here. Wilson WAS know
for bully, and, if Sawyer really don.
it, twas that--thnt and the drink, fol
when he's himself he wouldn't hurt {
wOrm.'' ~~.
tYon'vc no need to toll nc what
john Sawyer is, said the other shortly
"Iknew him before You was born, DO
fore ever he came into these parts"
SWELL" said the boatman, "you'vt
a queer notion of old acquaintance
sake then, that's NIL.
It'll give Kim u, swing for old &C
auaiatance! sake, if / ean," replied
Groom, with scowl :
Joe drew q quick breath.
"Can you do that2" he said.
"That or litter. tell you, my
man, I saw it dono."'
"You saw Sawyer kill Wilson 2" ex
claimed Joe, stopping short 'on hi
oars. 80. -.
II saw him strike tho blow that kill
ed him, and that comes to pretty nigh
the same thing, take it.;
but how is it you've kept back ali
"Well. it's like this" said Groom,
who appeared to be in moro commu.
NEGATIVE mood that a while before.
"The day of tho murder-to begin al
the beginning-I happened to be pass
ing through Milham, and stopped ovel
a train there to see a man I had deal
ings with. He lived little out oi
town, q lonesome road, part of the way
across some fields. did my business
and started back again alone, as I had
come: Hallway, or thereabonts, !
heard kind Of cussing and quarreling
in tho next field-right close to my cal
it sounded, only I couldn't see any
thing for the high hedge. whats
up, thinks I, might as we'll take a
peep 'Twus an uncommon fine even.
ing moonlight you could almost sec
to read by, and knew Sawyer as soon
as set eyes on him. His face WAS
turned exactly to me, aud ugly enough
it looked then. The next minute Isaw
him strike ont, and the other man went
down like log"
''Anl you let him lay z" interrupted
Joe. in excitement. s':You mover called
for help, nor tlothing2"
"What tor2" said Groom, careless
~. II thought twas drunken quar-
rel Il knew what Sawyer was-and !
left them to settle it between them.
selves. I had to look sharp for the
next train, so I hurried back to the
hotel, and none too soon either.
never thought again about the matter,
till the other day happened to hear
that John Sawyer was going to be tried
for murder, and taking this way and
that, I found the time and the gen'ral
circumstances agreed with that evening
80, then, knew had seen the thing
DONE"
Groom paused moment, and when
he resumed it was in an distracted
tone.
"Twasn't particularly convenient
for me to leave my business just then !;
if it'd been anybody else, I'd likely
have LETT the poor devil to sink or swim
as might be, but John Sawyer! I tell
you," he continued, through his set
teeth, as, catching the boatman's eyes,
he appeared suddenly conscious of a
listener, I'D let all I've got go to
rack and ruin for the pleasure of seeing
John Sawyer stand there, a disgraced
and ruined max, and saying to him,
TWAS me that did it ="
There was something in Joe Gorton's
breast on Which the fierce words and
manner Jared painfully. He was no
preacher, this poor untaught boatman
he did not know how to tell the man
before him that his promised revenge
was cruel and cowardIy; but yet he
felt that, even setting aside Margy's
interests, there was something in it
which reused all his instincts of resist
ancc. He shook his head as no thought
about it.
"That's feeling I can't make out, I"
he said, half aloud.
"Can't you z" said Groom, shortly,
supposlng the remark addressed to
himself. Have you got a sweetheart,
young man r. he added, abruptly, after
q short pause.
IA sweetheart 2" repeated Joe,
starting at the association connected
with the question, and the man who
put it.
"Well, you've no cause to be shy of
owning it." said Groom, who had no:
ticed the movement. "a sweetheart,
when she's the right sort, is what no
man need be ashamed of. I had one
myself when 1 was your age" he
stopped Il moment-"I don't 'spose
you'd often see her like, never did.
There Was girl up at that place, that
tavern there, had kind of look of her
about the eyes and forehead, bat moth
ing to compare had friend, too
well, it amt much of story" Groom
broke with dry laugh, "and I don't
hardly know why tell it at all, only,
maybe, it'll help you to make
ont what seems to puzzle YOU.
The long and short of it is, that nv
friend mind that, youngster! my
friend cheated me ont of my sweet.
heart. l amt much to look at, I know,
never was, but could care for a woman
Just as much as if I'd been six foot
high, and fresh as q rose, and I'd take
my oath she cared for me, too, till he
came between us with false tongue
enough to turn any girls head. Well
he came off first best; she left me and
went away with him. Iswore then,
boy" said Groom, looking darkly in
hin listeners earnest face, "tllat, if
over my day come, Id be even with
John Sawyer; never thought 'twould,
but it has, and do you think I'll lot my
chance slip now2 No, by God !" and
the man brought down his fist with @
force that shook the boat side.
"That was hard lines sure enough, "
said Joe, thoughtfully, "But, Mr..
Groom, you was speaking just now of
a girl up at the tavern there She's my
sweetheart, and," added the boatman,
slowly: "she's Sawyer's girl, his only
child"
"No!" exclaimed Groom, evidently
moved by the intelligence. Hattys
child" he mutterel to himself,
"Hatty's ckild!"
YES said Joe, eagerly, "don't
forget whose child she If, and that
you'll make her sullor along with the
old man."
"Ah," said Groom, "that's all very
welh but l d. Mt forget neither whose
child she is on the other side. No I'm
sorry for the girl, and tor you, young
ste, 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 tightened convulsivaly
on his oar. Was the man crazy, thus