The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-08-12

spot. All measures to foat him a line,
by which he might be hauled on shore,
proved abortive.
"Iu swim off and take a line to him."
at last said Sims.
"No, don't CO." said some one among
the crowd ; "it's certain DEATH"
az will" said Sims.
"No, you won't-not if I canhelp it."
said Jim Freemantle. "You're wrong
to try it /; and if you do, we're going to
stop you. We've IS good a right to
stop a man from committing suicide as
murder"
There was a murmur of assent from
the bystanders. Sims turned away and
walked toward his cabin. When again
he emerged, it was with a cooked six
shooter in his hand. He came straight
toward the group and spoke:
"You say you will stop me from swim
ming off to the Black Rock. 1 do not
intend that you shall. You have sue
ceeded in making my life thoroughly
miserable on this Flat by injustice,
taunt and abuse, and now that there's a
chance of getting rid of it you want to
stop me. You see you have made a mis-
take. You've put me up for a man with
out grit. Well, I'm going to show
you that courage run in streaks, and it
takes different circumstances in different
men to draw it out. I'm courageous
enough now to own that I have backed
down before some of your six-Ghooters,
because I didn't think my life was worth
yon dirty little claim. But any of you
would risk your lives in a dispute over a
pack of cards, because you've got a fight
ing reputation to keep up at any cost,
and you dare notlive to be called coward
by some hound who would pick your
pockets had he a chance. Not n of
you dare go near Tom Wilson's cabin,
when I nnrsed him through the small
pox. Not one of you dare go a prospect
ing as I did on the headwaters of the
Ovens river and camp out for weeks
alone, fifty miles from the nearest settle.
ment. And I'm not afraid of the river,
savage as it looks /; for the roar of its
waters, as I've listened to them many 6
long night in my cabin, has been 6
kinder voice than any of yours, and if
down, 1 want the Stanislaus to bury me
somewhere deep down in its channel,
Wu6Te your utluS III lCdSb NAY ucfOl
drag me out. Let nae pass !"
They made way for him. His face
was white, hard, firm and desperate
He walked with a proud step, like {
king going to the scaffold. All the
shrinking timidity, the bafled hesitation
of former days, had disappeared. i
WAS another man who passed through
the crowd, another being who had, as i
were, suddenly risen up and usurped the
body of Timid Sims.
"He's got the sand, by -" sale
Alick Ware.
Jim Freemantle walked hastily a little
ahead of the rest. "Look here, SIMS
said he, with a more kindly information
in his voice than ever he had used il
speaking to him before "look here
come back, boy-if you go in, you're
only goin' to get drowned for q China
man-'tisn't worth it anyhow-and-anC
we've made a mistake, and you're grit
that's all. Here, take my hand"
Sims took the proffered hand. 1t wa!
but for a moment. He did not ALLOW
the grasp to detain him. "It's to-
) late," said he. 81 don't want you
kind words now. I don't need them.
> stand above you all, and I've known i
! this many a day. I'm going to prove t.
you that I don't fear death. If 1 SHOULD
turn back, you'd say in less than a weel
I'd been playing a game of bluff. I al
: ways knew I had grit enough in me. 1
! wanted only your scorn and that poo
. creatures extremity bring it out"
He walked for a few yards further u
the river bank, made one end of theigh
line he carried fast to a stake, divesteC
, himself of his upper clothing, and hold
!, ing the other end of the warp, plunge'
, in. 1t was all Overt in a moment. Dow
: with race-horse speed he was borne o.
: the surging muddy pillows toward tn
! Black Rock ; down he came, borne hk
! a feather with one arm uplifted, rs h
: was shot past, he held out to the China
! man the life-preserving line, which tn
poor creature eagerly grasped. Blu
Z Sims could get no hold of the black an
!. polished bowlder. The fearful current
u roaring and trembling, bore him into th
6 mouth of the Big Canon but no n o
! Texas Bar after that hour yer spoke {
"Timid Sims"