Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-12-12
THE PEOPLE UP 34E CREEK.
Vengeance of the. tn: .'on.r, from

SteamDoaG-0 great nOaGN g farm house
; of an affair, slow but comfortable.
There were but few pad engers, and il
appeared to me that half tlat number
were gamblers. Neverl before had ]
seen gambling INDUCED In with such
oPenness. 10 moral n5au from New
England, this was at An,t shocking.
After awhile, however, ny eyes became
accustomed to the sceneJ In the ma
Jorlty of men, high ideks of morality
soon lind accommodation With circum-
stances. l knew that could not re-
form those reckless men. felt that a
we'll delivered lecture would fail to con-
vince them that they shSuld not win
each others money.
/ What's your name?" ksid gentle
manly looking fellow, addlessing me.
William Hackett," 1 REPLIED.
"Glad of it," said nd IS he threw
down the ace of clubs. I boxed at him
in establishment.
Glad of it, you say?"
Yes, glad"
"Why?"
well. Tn always glad d meet Nom.
bers of the Hackett familyt
Have you met many OF (hem:'
"No, you are the first onk.
u don't understand you'll sir"
VI reckon not. Neitherdk the men. nm
the creek. Won't you taxi hand?"
No, never played l card in my
life."
Then you ought to pl IT,. A new
man always sweeps the 4ble. He's
like new broom. I rather like your
looks, Hackett."
THANK you, sir.
"Not at oil. I always WIS that way.
You wouldn't think that Andrew Jack
son was my uncle, would ydu?"
Il don't know. Was he 1our uncle?"
NO" he replied shutfiink the cards.
Anderson. don't guy thaman," some
one remarked.
"Tm not guying him. He's good
fellow, I'd bet hundred dn it. Sit
down, Hacket.. and take Inland. I'll
stake you If you haven't anyImoney."
Il don't care to play, but have
money, thank YOU"
"How much?"
THAT is rather an impairment ques-
ton, sir"
Yes, that's what they Isay up the
creek. II lose, which I am very
likely to do, l may strike you. Let me
see you minute" he continued, arising
and taking my arm. He led me up on
the hurricane deck.
You wouldn't think that am
renegade missionary would you?<
Il don't know, but 1 wouldn't think
that you are at present engaged in &C.
tive missionary work.
mo, 1 presume not. lam just from
China. went over to teach religion
to the Chinese. I have come back to
kill man."
lam crazy. don't yon ?" "-M 1A
nit. -FOUR remarks are Wild ~7sz "a
"Yes, SO are the remarks you hear
up the creek. While L was in China.
working in good cause, money that 1
sent my wife failed to reach her. The
man from whom she rented house
drove her into the street. That red
headed fellow with whom / was play
ing cards just now is the man. / am
going to kill him. Ny wife lived in
Nicksburg. When we land at that
town shall kill the man and drag his
body through the street. Oh, L know
you are Mortified. So would he be if
he knew what I was talking about. He
thinks that my name is Anderson. Ii
he knew that 1 am the Rev. John
Harkrider he would jump into the
river. l have studied deeply over this
matter and"
Something sang in my ears. 1 felt
myself going upward. Then, after
long lapse of time, it seemed, [ felt
that was going down. Splash! III
struck the river. AS was sinking be-
low the surface [ saw til. moonbeams,
away down the stream, glancipg on the
water. Boar, roar! Would L never
stop going down? Rush, rush. would
l never stop coming up? When I
gained the surface [ was conscious. I i
knew that the boat had exploded her
boilers. [ struck out for the shore. A
great weight was hanging to my foot
and l tried in vain to kick it oft. IL
drew myself out on a saudbar. My
right leg was broken, and, dangling,
had Impressed me with the idea that a
weight was hanging to my foot. | sank
into insensibility. When L became con-
srlous, the sun was shining. The bodies /
OF Two mon lay near me. The men, il
DEATH had grasped each others throats.
One was the gent!emanly follow who |
had stood with me when the explosion
occurred; the other was II red-headed |
man. 1 shouted for assistance. but
there came 10 reply. save the murmur !;
Of the water that washed the edge of !
the sand-bar. The suns rays came !
down with merciiess fiercenc,s. Would |
rcict never come? Again my senses
de er'ed me. When awoke TO real
'zaiionot my surroundings, 1 was lying
III u cabin. An aged man, young
looking woman and a bright-eyed boy
we're in the room. The woman said !
something and the boy remarked, YES,
50 do the people up the creek.
soon found out that l was nursed
ny Mrs. Harkrider and her father. The
v"mau know not of her husbands fate.
the bodies of the men, unrecognized,
.ete buried near the river bank. Mrs.
arkrider told me that her husband |