Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-07-31

u get duckfng mere, l shouldn't nnc
myself again in hurry
Wei. I'm as good ss they'll average
| reckon. mister, I didn't bear you,
name. said Joe. looking up inquiringly
Peter Groom IL my name, and one
ain't ashamed Of; It'll be pretty we'll knowr
in these parts by this day week. TN thi.s
ing. and the man smiled smile not pleas
ant 10 see.
'How's that r said Joe. anxious to be.
tray no previous knowledge.
I've come to give evidence In . trial
that's coming Of in your county town,
answered Groom. mo,ioning toward the
Milham shore. 'Pve Travelled nigh five
hundred miles on purpose to DO it. and
I'd travel Eve hundred more IL twas need.
ed
is il the Sawyer trial you mean ? asked
Joe. careles-ly. People have been say.
ing there amt evidence enough to make q
case, bu. 'spose then there's something
new turned up?'
Il should rather think so something
tha,'ll make case that'll hold John Saw.
yer as tight as his cofhu.'
Joe clenched his hand on his oar. He
was beginning to understand Margy's ha-
tired for this man. with his open exulta.
ticn in the ruin II. was going to work.
I'm sorry for the old man. he said. af-
ter . pause. 'and go are most folks about
here. Wilson was known for q bully,
and. If Sawyer really done it, twas tha,
that and the drink. for when he's him
self. he wouldn't hurt worm
You've no need to tell me what John
Sawyer is, said the other. shortly. L
knew him before yon was born. before
ever he came into these parts
We'll. said the boatman. you've .
queer notion Of old acquaintance sake,
then. tf;a,'s ALL
III aivc him swing for old ncquaint.
nnre' sake. if can, replied Groom, with
a scowl
Joe drew quick breath.
Can you do thPt z he said.
TIA, or lifer. tell you. my man,
saw it done
'You saw Sawyer kill Wilson ? ex.
claimed Joe. stopping short on his oars
i saw him strike the blow that killed
him; and that comes to pretty nigh the
same thing. Itake IT,. :" -
But how is it you have kept back all
along?'
Well. it's like this said Groom, who
appeared TO be in a more communicative
mood than a while before The day OF
the murdcr--,o begin with the beginning g
i happened to be passing through Mil
ham. and stopped over train there to see
a man had dealings with. He lived Il
little out OF the town. lonesome road
part Of the way across some fields Ibid
my business, and started back again alone.
as had come. Half way. or thereahou,.
| heard kind Of cussing and quarreling
in the next fcld-right close to my car
it sounded. only I couldn't see any thing
for tho high hedge. What's up p thinks
l. nigh. as well take peep Twas au
uncommon fine evening; moonlight you
could almost read by. aud knew Sawyc,
as soon as set eyes on him. His face
was turned exactly to me. and ugly enough
it looked then. The next minute I saw
him strike out, aud the other man went
down IKE a log si'.." a.t
And You let him lay interrupted
Joe, in excitement. You never called
/ for help. nor nothing p
What for ? said Groom. carelessly. Il
thought il was just n drunken QUARREL
knew wha, Sawyer was-and left 'em e
settle it between themselves. | had to
look sharp for the next train. so hurried
back 10 the hotel, and none too soon eth
err never thought again about the mat.
ter. till the other day happened to hea,
tha, John Sawser vas going to be triec
for murder. aud, talking this way ant
that. | found the time aud the general cir
cumstances agreed with that evening
so. then, knew l had seen the thing
done
Groom paused moment. and when b,
resumed it was in an abs,ractcd tone.
Twasn't particuler eopverient for M,
TO leave my basiacss juSt then; if it hac
been anybody else. Id likely have left tn,
poor devil TO sink or swim as might be
but John SaNyr. tell you, he cou,inu.
cd. through his set teeth. as. catching the
boa,man's eye. be appeared srdienly con.
scious OF listener, I'd let all i've got &c
to rack aud ruin for the pleasure of seems
Jobn Sawyer stand there, adisgraccd aud
convicted ran. and sayieg to him. Twas
me that did ll'
Y There was something in Jcc Gortcn'
breast on which the ierce words aad maa
ner Jared painfully. He vas no preach
er. this poor. untaught bustn,ss: be di,
no, know how 10 tell the man Sore bin
that bis promised revenge vas cruel snt
eewardly; but yet he felt iha, even settius
ssitc Msrgy's interes,s. there vas scmc
thing in it which reused all his ins,inc,
Of resistance He shook his bead as b,
thought about is.
1 That's feeling cani make OUT b,
be said. hall aloud. rfufr. 10
'Cant You 2 said Groom. shortly. sup
posing The remark addressed 10 himself
Have yoa got q sweetheart. young nsasl
he added aara?,ly. after q shos, pause.
"A sweethesrty repeated Joe. starting
at the associations connected with th1
question. aud the man sho put il.
We'll. you've no cause to be shy o.
owning it, said Groom. who had noticed