Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-10

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laugh-"and / don't know Why tell il
at all, only, maybe, it'll help you ou'
what seems to puzzle you. The long
and the short of it is, that my friend
mind that, youngster-my friend cheated
me out of my sweetheart. l amt much
to look at, know, never was, but could
care for woman rs. as much as if Id
been six foot high and fresh as rose,
and I'd take my oath she cared for me,
too, till he came between us with false
tongue enough to turn any girls head.
Well, he come off first best she left me,
and went away with him. Iswore then,
boy" said Groom, looking darkly in his
listeners earnest face, "that if ever my
day came I'd be even with John Sawyer.
| never thought it would, bat it has, and
do you think I'll let my chance slip now:
No, by God :" and the man brought
down his fist with force that shook the
boat side.
THAT was hard lines, sure enough,
said Joe, thoughtfully; "but Mr.. Groom,
you was speaking just now of girl up
at the tavern there? She's my sweet
heart, and added the young boatman,
slowly, "she's Sawyer's girl-his only
child"
NO" exclaimed Groom, evidently
moved by the intelligence. Hetty' S
child, he muttered to himself; 4" Hetty's
child"
Yes" said Joe, eagerly, don't for
get whose child she is, and that you
will 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 am
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 if
| was to die for il"
Joc's grasp frightened convulsively on
his oar. Was the man crazy, thus to
make a beast Of the misery he would
cause before one whose advantage and
opportunity it alike was to ensure his ST.
lence, Who had him almost as COM
pletely at his mercy here on this unfa-
miliar element as if they two mad 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 a star: at the sound Of the passen-
gers voice.
You're a pretty fellow, amt you,
now" said the latter, resuming the sub
ject in lighter tone, wanting to per-
suade me to cheat justice after that fash
ion :"
"As for that" answered Joe, "you
said, yourself, if it hadn't 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, gravely, "thc
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 a
cough that's tearing him all to pieces;
and the doctors say he can't live long,
nohow"
Hell live long enough to make the
acquaintance Of a ropes end, reckon,'
said Groom. with a coarse laugh, land
that's all care about"
The brutal words and manner reused
the lurking devil in Joe Gorton's heart.
He stammered out curse, inarticulate
for passion.
"Eh?" said Groom, catching the
sound, but not the words, what's that
you say"
The boatman stopped rowing, and
learned forward till he almost touched
Groom where he sat.
"Just put yourself in the old mans
place for a minute he began with an ef-
fort, speaking quietly. "S'pose there
was somebody got the chance and the
will to get shut o you, just as you have
of old Sawyer
"What are you driving at now" in
terrupted Groom. "There amt any
body, as know Of, has got either-the
more luck for me- he ended, with a
laugh.
"Ain't there" said the boatman,
slowly. e" You talk about justice, Mr..
Groom" he resumed, but it amt JUS
tice you've set out to dots murder
You've got the law on your side, as ii
happens, but all the same, as far as you
are concerned, it's murder-as bad, fol
what / can see, as if somebody's il
might be me"-said Joe, looking fxedly
in the others face through the growing
dusk, somebody with motive, M
matter what, for wanting to be rid Of
you. getting you all alone-as it might
be here-out of sight or help, should just
put you quietly out o the way"
"Hey! dye mean to threaten me >
cried Groom, springing up. Just ther
the breaking gust struck sharp on the
boats side, that, left to her own guild.
ance had drifted round she gave lurct
and bound that sent Groom, who in
starting back had lost his balance, over
board like shot.
Joe started for an instant at the empty
place opposite, hardly comprehendina
what had happened so quickly; then
sudden as the lightning darted through
the black sky above him, it flashed int
his mind that there were silence anC
safety, and that through no act of his
"Why not profit by the accident: Why
not, in the mans own spirit, in his yer,
words, leave him to sink or swim, a
might be-" But Joe could no more b
deceived by his own than by other: