Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-07-20

whose child she Is, and that you'll make
her suffer along with the old man.
'Ah.' said Groom. that's all very well
but don't forget neither, whose child she
is on the other side. No! Pm sorry for the
girl, and for you, youngster, since you've
an interest In her, but I'd have my pay out
OF John Sawyer, now, II l was to die for
it,
Joe's grasp frightened convulsivsly on his
oar. Was the msn crazy, thus to make q
boast OF the misery he would cause before
one whose advantage and opportunity it
alike was to insure his silence; who had
him almost as completely at his mercy here
on this unfamiliar element, as II they two
had been alone in all the earth7 II he were
to die for it. Every plunge of the dark
water seemed to be repeating those words.
The bOatinan reused himself with q start
| at the sound OF his passengers voice.
You're pretty feiler, amt y"u now,'
said the latter, resuming the subject In
lighter tone, wanting to persuade me to
cheat justice after that fashion,
AS for that, answered Joe, you said
yourself II II had been anybody but Sawyer
you wouldn't have troubled to hunt him
down, and can't see as that's any better
notion Of justice than mine. Besides he
added graveiy, the old mans got his death.
sentence already, II that's what you want;
|
used to be, aud 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'll live enough to make the acquain-
tance Of ropes end, | reckon said
| Groom, with \ coarse laugh, land that's all
| care about
| The brutal words and manner reused the
lurking devil In Joe Groton's heart. He
stammered out 4 curse, ,inarticulate for pas
| sion.
'Ehy' said Grooul. catching the sound,
| but not the words. whats that you sayr
| The boatman stopped rowing, and lean
ed forward till he almost touched Groom
where be sat
| Just put yourself In the old mans place
for minute he began, with an effort
| speaking quietly. 'S'pose there was some
| body u got The chance aud the will to get
shut o you, just as you have OF old Saw
yer
What are you driving at now interrupt
| ed Groom. There amt anybody, a |
know OF has got either-more luck for
me lac ended. with a laugh.
Amt there!' said the boatman slowly.
You talk about justice, Mr. Groom he
resumed, but it Amt justice you've set
| out To dots murder You've got the
law on your side. ss it happens. but all the
| same. as far as you're concerned, IT'S
| murder-as bad, for what | can see, as ii
somebOuy-It might be me said Joe,
looking iixcdly In the Others face through
the growing dusk, somebody with mo-
tive, no matter what, tor wantin. to be rid
OF you, getting you all alone-as il might
be here-out of sight or help, should put
you quietly out oil the way
iiey, do you mean 10 threaten me?
cried Groom, springing up. Just then the
breaking gust struck sharp on the boats
side. that left 10 her own guidance. had
driited round; she gave lurch and u
bound, that sent Groom. who in startin.
back had lost his balance, over board like
shot.
Joe stared for an instant at the empty
place opposite. hardly compreheudtng
what had happened 20 quickly. then. sud
den a the lightning dartlng through the
dark sky above him, it flashed into his
mind that here were silence aud safety,
aud that through no act OF his. Why not
profit by the accident: Why not IN the
mans own spirit, in his very words leave
him low sink or swim as might ber But
Joe could no more be deceived by his own,
than by others sophistries; voice within
him cried: III YOU leave this man TO die,
you are his murderer A great surge OF
horror and remorse for the thought that
had been In his heart seemed TO sweep him
away, and before the 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 nothing
now tor it but TO strike out for the shore.
Luckily. the Mlhain side was not now very
distant; still, 1t was hard stretch through
the numbing water, encountered, as he
was with his heavy clothing aud the weight
OF Groom. who, moreover, himself com
pletely helpless, held him with a nervous
clutch that half strangied him. BY the time
they neared the shore, his strength was
pretty well spent, but the growing lights
gave him heart again; he rested All iu-
slant for the final pull, and just then it was
that the gust seized him, unprepared, and
whried him away from the inlet he wa.
making for, TO the rock ledge juttiny into
il. that caught and battered him--poor
Joe.
He was conscious when they took him up
but there wa. a look in his face that fore
told the end, even before the doctors did,
As for Groom, he had been shielded by
Joe's body, and, tough aud wiry as he was,
WAS scarcely the worse for the whole ad
venture. When he heard what they were
saying about Joe. he burst out with AN
oath and hurried to where he lay.
We'll. Groton, and how is it with you? he
said. affecting to speak cheer fully, though
struck at once by that look Ct death ia the
face.
About as bad rs /. can bs. Nr. Groom
| answered Joe, feebly. THE old boat and
I'll go down together, reckon
Now never you talk that stuff. my man,
said Groom, in almost q clustering way
perhaps to conceal q certain unsteadiness
| Of voice; i owe you a life, aud amt one
to rest till I've paid it, il it takes all the
doctors from here to Jericho. Eve got
means, tell ye.'
No use. Mr.. Groom said Joe, there
ain't no doctor that can patch up what's
smashed inside Of me. But look here,' and
he instiRctively lowered his voice. with a
| glance at the attendants. though there was
| little fear Of that broken whisper reaching
| any ears but those close to il, ITS what
wanted to speak to you about-yOu owe
me life. you say, mine amt yours to give
but cid Sawyer's is
| Groom's face darkenrd. i swear I'd al
most rather you asked for my own he
muttered.
But you'll promise Mr.. Groom?' said
Joe, In his eagerness managing to half
raise himself, you'll promise"
! WE'LL s'pose l aii't got no choice
answered Groom. still reluctantly; yes,
dc promise, there's my hand on it,
A CLEAN of intense delight for q moment
al.,ost drove the death-lOOk from Joe's
face It's all right Marcy, he whispered
softly to himself, and laid himself back
again.
Yes, it was all right, as Heaven sees
right. When John Sawyer had been dis
charged for want Of evidence when the
Lake Village gossiPs. wondering over the
strangers disappearance. concluded that
Ii h..A a 10. fatk Gs.
q sensation. Marcy could have told them
better. She knew now it was that Joe
had died, she know that q life had been
paid for her fathers; and IN q heart SOFT
ened by pain she acknowledged that her
prayer had been answered in Gods own
way.
INDOOR Salty In A THUNDER STORM -
Mr.. Latimer Clark, the eminent elect
rician, gives the following useful hints rs
to the safest position people can occupy
during thunder storm: A person reclln