Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-11-02
yos Augelss Asrald.
Is Published every morning except Monday,
TIE HERALD pRfNTING COMPANY,
OFFICE-lIeraId steam Book Rnh Job
Printing House, Spring street, opposite the
Court House.
Joe GORTON'S PASSENGER.

The day was drawing to its close,
chill and raw. Lake Village was al
ways gusty, but, just now, the wind
was having its own way more than
usual, and any passer through the
long, bleak street, happening to glance
at the window of the little water-side
tavern, might well have been tempted
by the bright fire and good company
inside the bar.
There were the usual afternoon loaf
ers, with the exception of one small,
wiry looking man, stranger, who,
had stopped to take a glass of some
thing hot, and who, at the moment,
was evidently the centre ofgeneral in
terest.
"But what is it you know, anyhow,
stranger?" asked one of the group.
"COme, now, among friends"
"Never you mind" answered the
man addressed; 81 know enough to
shut up John Sawyer a pretty spell, If
not to make him swing, and / know
how to tell it when the right, time
comes. Don't you be afraid for that
The days getting on" he added,
abruptly rising and turning toward the
window, "and your duck pond don't
look over agreeable just now. Who's
good bOatman hereabouts? for if Pm
split, can't swim. "
Joe GOrton's your man." was the
answer; "he couldn't tip over If he
tried, couldn't JOe."
"Why don't you wait till tomorrow,
stranger, il you're afeard o. the wealth.
er? and them clouds over there do
look kinder pesky," said the landlord
Of the Lakeside House, turning prac-
ticed eve on the gray, cOmmingling
outlines of lake and sky.
"Well, fact u.s." said the other, "Pm
acquainted over in Milham, and if it's
all the same to yOu,"-with wink
I'D rather be there than here; so, if
you'll hunt up this Joe what's his
name, I'll be obliged"
The landlord, resenting the wink
and the insinuati0n, opened the door
and called out, rather sulkily, to some
one in the next room: "Margy,. run
down to the water and tell Joe there's
u passenger here.'
In another moment the house door
closed, and tall, slight girls figure,
with a shawl ever its head, might be
seen hurrying down to the water side.
Joe GOrtOn, busy about his boat,
heard his name called, and, looking
up, saw the girl, Marcy. The harp
wind had blown out stray locks or her
crisp, black hair from under the red
shawl, but the hectic flush in the cheeks
and feverish brightness in the dilated
eyes were not all the winds work.
She came close to the young boat
man, who raised himselfup, facing her.
"JOe, " she said, "there's a passen-
ger waiting up to the house;' she laid
her hand on his arm and glanced eau
tiously around before adding, in a
whisper: "JOe, if once that man
once reaches the other side, it's all up
with father"
WHATS that, Margy?" said the
boatman, looking wonderingly at her.
~ tell you heard it; he'll bring it
home to him, he says so, he's come
upurpOse. les fathers chance clean
gone If you take him cross"
" Do you mean to say | should re-
fuse to take him, Margy?" said Joe
slowly. :,
NV nat good would that do?" said
the girl, impatiently. Kelly, or
some of them would take him iast
enough; "What's fathers life against
fare? No, it's you must take him,
Joe, and then if anything happens"
sinking her voice to meaning whls-
per, nobody but you and mes the
wiser"
Marcy, what's that you're think hh *
II can't help it! cried the girl pas
sionately, twisting her fingers in the
shawl fringe till it snapped. "He's
my father, and never was better but
for the drink-yOu know yourself, ev-
erybOdy says so-and ii you could
hear that man up there laughing and
boasting he'll hang him! Joe you'd
find II hard to keep your hands Off OF
him; but I don't ask you to SO much
AS touch finger to him, only, If the
boat turns over, he can't swim. l
heard him say SO, and then fathers
saved, and nobody the wiser, for the
hest boatman that ever was might
have an accident a squally night like
this"
"There, there, Marcy, be still, poor
girl, you don't know what you're say
ing,n interpOsed Joe.
Eyes dO," said she, passionately;
"never you think that, Joe Gort0n:. !
tell YOU IL lays with you to save father
or to kill him. Yes, and me too, fol
mi never live over the day, that ]
swear. 80 YOU choose between us.
s1HsrkV, she turned to listen. 81
can't STAY" She pressed her hand
heavily on his shoulder, looking pita-
ously into his face. "JOe, if you ever
loved me, save that poor old man!'
And before he could answer she was
gone, leaving him looking after hel
like one in dream,
The clouds were getting lower and
heavier, as the boatman set off with
his passenger. :,
Looks as if we should have spell
of weather" said the latter, glancine
from the leaden sky to the leaden wa
. ter. "HOpe you're what they crack
ed YOU up to be, for il l got duckine
here shouldn't. find myself again In
q hurry"
"Well Pm as good rs they, average
name,sh said Joe, looking up inquir'
ingly. ouoon, :. ,,,, no mo and on,
amt ashamed of; it'll be pretty wei
known in these parts by this day
week. I'm thinking, and the mar
smiled smile not pleasant to See.
"How's that?" said Joe, anxious t.
betray no previous knowledge.
"Pye come to give evidence In {
trial that's coming off in your town,
answered Groom, motiOning tOwart
thesle le1hepn shore. I've Travelled 9igf
500 miles on purpose to do 1t, and IL
travel 500 more If twas needed"
us it the Sawyer trial, you mean"
asked Joe, carelessly. "people hav'
L.on ,o,,s,,~ fharo 0intt ayidenc,