The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-15

silence; who had him almost as COM
pletely at his mercy here on this un-
familiar element, as if they two had been
alone in all the earth If he were to
die for it Every plunge of the dark
water seemed to be Repeating, those
words, The boatman reused himself
with q start at the sound of his passen.
gers voice.
"You're a pretty feller, amt you,
now, said the latter, resuming the sub
iect in lighter tone, wanting to per-
suade me to cheat justice after that
fashion,"
GAS for that" answered Joe, "you
said yourself if it had been anybody
but Sawyer you wouldn't have troubled
to hunt him down, and I 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 all to
pieces; the doctors say he can't live
long, nohow."
"He'n live long enough to make the
acquaintance of a ropes end, reckon, I"
said Groom, with coarse laugh, "and
that's all I care about"
The brutal words and manner reused
the lurking devil in Joe Gorton's heart.
He stammered out a curpe, inarticulate
for passion.
"Eh2" said Groom, catching the
sound, but not the words, "what's that
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 begun, with All
effort, speaking quietly. "S'pose there
was somebody'd got the chance and the
will to get shut O you, just as you have
of old Sawyer -
"What are you driving at nowf" in
terrupted Groom. "There amt any
body, as know OF, has goteither- more
luck for mel" he ended, with laugh.
saint there2" said the boatman,
slowly. "You talk about Justice, Mr..
Groom, he resumed, "but it amt JUS
tiee you've set out to do--it's murder.
You've got the law on your side, as it
happens, but all the same, as far as you
are concerned, it's murder-as bad, for
what I can see, as if somebody-it might
be me-" said Joe, looking f1edly in the
others face through the growing dusk,
somebody with a motive, no matter
what, for wanting to be rid OF you, get
ting you all alone-as 1t might be here
out of sight or help, should just put you
quietly out of the way
"Hey! dye mean to threaten ="
cried Groom, springing up. Just then
the breaking gust struck sharp on the
boats side, that, leftto her own guidance,
had drifted round she gave lurch and
bound, that sent Groom, who in start
ing back had lost his balance, overheard
like shot.
Joe stared for an instant at the empty
place opposite, hardly comprehending
what had happened 80 quickly, then,
sudden as the lightning darting through
;he 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 accidenta Why not, in the
mans own spirit, in his very words,
"leave him to sink or swim, as might
be9" But Joe could no more be de-
ceived by his own, than by others
sophistries voice within him cried:
eff you leave this man to die, you are
his murderer A great surge of horror
aud remorse for the thought that had
been in his heart seemed to sweep him
away, and before a 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 moth
ing now for it but to strike out for the
shore. Luckily, the Milbam side was
not now very distant still, it was hard
stretch through the numbing water, en-
numbered, as he was, with his heavy
clothing and the weight of Groom, who,
moreover, himself completely helpless,
held him with q nervous clutch that half
strangled him. By the time they neared
theshore, his strength was pretty well
spent, but the growing lights gave him
heart again he rested an instant for the
6nal pru, and just then it was that the
gust seized him, unprepared, and whirl-
cd him away from theinlet he was making
for, to the rock ledge jutting into it,
that caught and battered him-poor Joe.
he was conscious when they took him
up, but there was look in his face that
foretold the end, even before the doc
tors did. As for Groom, he had been
shielded by Joe's body, and, tough and
wiry as he was, was scarcely 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 lie lay.
"Well, Gorton, and how is it with
you?' he said, affecting to speak cheer
fully, though struck at once by that look
of death in the face.
"About as bad as it can be, Mr..
Groom" answered Joe, feebly. "The
old boat and III 60 down together, I
reckon"
"Now, never you talk that stuff, my
man." said Groom, in almost bluster-
ing way, perhaps to conceal certain
unsteadiness of voice; II owe you q
life, and I amt one to rest till I've paid
it. if it takes all the doctors from here
to Jericho. I've got means, I tell ye. I"
"No use, Mr.. Groom" said Joe,
athere amt no doctor could patch up
what's smashed inside Of me. But look
here" and he instinctively lowered his
voice, with a glance at the attendant,
though there was little fear of that
broken whisper reaching any ears but
those close to it, "it's what wanted to
speak TO you about-you owe me life,
you say; mine amt yours to give-but
old Sawyer's is"-
Groom's face darkened. 81 swear Id
almost rather you asked for my own, !"
he muttered,
"But you'll promise, Mr.. Groomf"
said Joe, in his eagerness managing to
half raise himself, "you'll promisea"
"Well-1s'pose I ain 'tgot no choice"
answered Groom, still reluctantly; "yes,
I do promise, there's my hand on it.
A gleam of intense delight for mo-
ment almost drove the death look from
Joe's face. "It's all right, Marcy" he
| whianered aoftlv- tn himself. and laid