The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-15
name." said Joe, looking up inquiring

that's coming off in your county town, y
answered Groom, motioning toward the
Milham shore. "I've travelled nigh
five hundred miles on purpose to do it,
and I'd travel five hundred more if twas
needed"
sis it the Sawyer trial you mean ~
asked Joe, carelessly. "People have
been saying there amt evidence enough
to make a case, but I 'spose there's
something new turned up9"
81 should rather think 30; something
that II make a case'n hold John Sawyer
as tight as his coffin"
Joe clinched his hand on his oar. He
was beginning to understand Margy's g
hatred for this man, with his open exul-
tation in tho ruin he was going to work.
"I'm sorry for the old man, !" he said,
after pause, "and so are most folks
about here. Wilson was known for a
bully, and, if Sawyer really done it.,
twas that-that snd the drink, for when
he's himself he wouldn't hurt a worm. "
"You've no need to tell me what John
Sawyer is," said the other, shortly. 81
knew him before you were born, before
even he anne into these parts"
"Well," said the boatman, "you've
queer notion of old acquaintance
sake then, that's all"
"I'll give him swing for old &C.
quaintance' sake, if I can," replied
Groom, with scowl.
Joe drew quick breath.
"Can Won do that2" he asked,
"That or lifer. I tell you, my man,
I saw it DONE"
"You saw Sawyer kill Wilson 2" e1-
claimed Joe, stopping shor on his oars.
CT saw him strike the blow that killed
him, and that comes to pretty nigh the
same thing, I take it.
"But how is it you've kept back all
along2"
"Well, it's Like this" said Groom,
who appeared to be in more communi-
cative mood than a while before.
"The day of the murder-to begin at
the beginning-I happened to be Ass
ing through Milham, and stopped over
train there to see man I had deal
ings with. He lived little out of the
town, lonesome road, part Of the way
across some fields. I did my business,
and started back again alone, as had
come. Half way, or thereabout, I
heard kind of cussing and quarreling
in the next field-right close to my ear
it sounded, only I couldn't see anything
for the high hedge. whats up 2
thinks I, might as well take a peep. ,
Twas an uncommon fine evening !;
moonlight you could almost see to read
by, and l knew Sawyer as soon as set
eyes on him. His face was turned ex-
actly to me, and ugly enough it looked
then. The next minute l saw him strike
out, and the other went down like a
log." ,
Joe, in excitement. "You never called
for help, nor nothing?"
What fora said Groom, carelessly.
81 thought twas just drunken quar-
rel knew what Sawyer was-and I
left 'em to settle it between themselves.
I had to look sharp for the next train,
80 hurried back to the hotel, and none
too soon, either. I never thought again
about the matter, till the other day /
happened to hear that John Sawyer was
going to be tried for murder, and, talk
ing this way and that, found the time
and the gen'ral circumstances agreed
with that evening-so, then, I knew I
had seen the thing DONE"
Groom paused moment, and when
he resumed it was in an distracted tone
"'Twasn't particularly convenient for
me to leave my business just then if
it'd been anybody else I'd likely have
left the poor devil to sink or swim, as
might be, but John Sawyer I tell
you," he continued, through his set
teeth, as, catching the boatman's eye,
he appeared suddenly conscious of a
listener, "I'd let all I've got 60 to rack
and ruin for the pleasure of seeing John
Sawyer stand there, disgraced and con.
victed man, and saying to him: 'Twas
me that did it 7"
There was something in Joe Gorton's
breast on which the fierce words and
manner Jared painfully. He was no
preacher, this poor, untaught boatman ;
lie did not know how to tell the man be-
fore him that his promised revenge was
cruel and cowardly but yet he felt that,
even setting aside Margy's interests,
there was something in it which reused
all his instincts of resistance. He shook
his head as he thought about it.
"That's feeling can't make out, "
he said, half aloud.
"Can't you2" said Groom, shortly,
supposing the remark to be addressed
to himself. "Have you got sweet
heart, young man p he added, abruptly,
after short pause. .
ga sweetheart2" repeated Joe, start
ing at the associations connected with
the question, and the man who put it.
swell. you've no cause to be shy OF
owning it." said Groom, who had no
ticcd the movement. GA sweetheart,
when she's the right sort, is what no
man need be ashamed of. I had one
myself when was your age he
stopped a moment-"I don't s'pose
you'd often see her like, never did.
There was girl up at that place, that
tavern there, had kind of leok Of her
about the eyes an forehead, but moth
ing to compare. I had friend, too
we'll, it amt much of story" Groom
broke off, with. dry laugh, "and 1
don't hardly know why I tell it at all,
only, maybe, it'll help you make out
what seems to puzzle you. The long
and short of it is that my friend-mind
that, youngster my friend cheated me
ont of my sweetheart. I amt much to
look at, I know-never was but could
care for woman just as much as if I'd
been six foot high, and fresh as a rose,
and I'd take my oath she cared fer me,
too, till he come between us with false
tongue enough to turn my girls head.
Well, he come off first best she left me
and went away with him. swore then,
boy" said Groom. looking darkly in his
listeners earnest face, "that if ever my
day come, I'd be even with John Sawyer
l never thought 'twould, but it has, and
do you think III let my chance slip
now9 No, and the man brought down
his fist with force that shook the boats
side.
"That was hard lines, sure enough, "
said Joe, thoughtfully, "but, Mr..
Groom, you WAS speaking just now of a
girl up at the tavern, there. She's my
sweetheart, and," added the boatman,
slowly, "she's Sawyer's girl, his only
child"
"Nol" exclaimed Groom, evidently
moved by the intelligence. Hetty's
oh L.