The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-02

by both. I'll have to pay Tor that craft,
while yours seems to be all right.
Don't talk of knitting man or driving
him overheard because Of q bit of acct
dent"
"Out You go." he Missed after long
look at me, and what did the villain do
but fash his knife and begin to advance
upon mel
It would have only been wet jacket
to have gone overheard, but he had TAX
en- me wrong, you see. All men have
a pride about these things. Argument
is all right, but to attempt to drive
them is different matter. However, as
he was armed with a knife and / had
nothing, expect ] should have taken to
the water but for the luck OF finding
broken oar at my feet. ] had firm
grasp of it quicker than can tell you,
and warned the man, whose face
could only outline in the darkness, near
as he was, 10 advance at his peril. He
was more reckless than brave. Steady
ing himself for few seconds, with his
feet wide apart, he was about TO make
dash at me when i brought the oar
down upon his head, and he fell like a
log.
I was bit upset by what had oc-
Cured, as stands to reason, but pres
emily figured that the best way was to
take the oars and pull up to the inn and
see how badly the fellow was hurt. Old
John Hampton, who had kept the place
since was boy in knee pants, was
just turning out the lights when l en-
tered and told him what had happened.
'Bless my blooming soul, but who can
it bev' exclaimed the old man as he
walked down TO the skiff with me. Il
didn't know we had such peppery fell
low in the country hereabouts. You
served him right, Ralph, but / hope
you didn't strike too hard, you know.
Not that any of us would blame you
even if you laid him dead, but because
the coroner and police would make you
no end of bother. Here we are, and
there lies your man as quiet as mouse.
Well catch him crop and heels and up
to the inn with him."
He was stoutly built chap, and as his
body was dead weight we had good
pull for it to get him up to the house
and stretched out on his back. Then
Uncle John brought candle and knelt
down to have look at him. 1t WASH t
five seconds before he lifted his hands
and called to me:
"Why, Ralph, there is curious bit
of business. Upon my word, but
knows him as well as my own doorpost.
It's young man named Ben Johnson,
and he's living with "a widowed sister
at the upper side of the town.
That's all right as to who he is, but
how bad is he hurt?" / asks
"Im no doctor, and l can't say.
Here's cash in his scalp and plenty Of
blood flowing, and take that as sign
he isn't dead yet. Alb, see him shiver
He's coming to, but sip of WHISKY viii
make it easier for him. +"
So fiercely had the man clutched the
handle of his knife that the weapon wa.
still in his hand While Uncle JOIN
was after the liquor pried the finger.
open and released the knife and laid II
on shelf. About minute after the
liquor had run down his throat the tel
low opened his eyes and glared about
hard at me and 1iercely muttered:
"Yes, / remember now. Some one
ran into me on the river and then tried
to kill me-
"Look here, Ben johnson. and i be
lieve that S the name you answer to, >
said Uncle John, "what sort Of fish dc
you call this? Seems to me you are bi
too ready with your knife for this local
ity. Is it your play to knife man frs
and then inquire about what's hap
pened?"
"Who are you?" bluntly inquired
johnson as he turned to me.
} Ralph Tompkins, sir, whether i
pleases you or no. You keep sayinl
that some one ran into you. 1t was ex
actly the other way. My boat was drift
ing, while you must have been in grea
hurry to have smashed into her as yol
did. ~
II say you are liar'' he shouted.
Come, man, that's going beyond
reason" put in Uncle John. IF yo'
were ON your feet wouldn't take tina
from you myself, old as am. Let mt
wash off the blood, bind up your head
and do you go home and recover you
good nature"
The man was still weak and dazed
but never saw an uglier face even OF
Malay pirate. He got up after bit
waving us away when we would have
assisted him, and backing up to one O
the barroom tables to get support III
looked at me as if he would stamp my
face ON his memory forever and finally
said:
: "Tompkins or Thompson, never saw
you before, but I'll take good care no
to lose sight of you from this time on
You played me trick tonight which
shall cost you your life.
"Why, man, what's come over your
blooming character all at once?" ex
claimed the landlord as he advanced {
step or two. 1--WE heard of your beinl
jailed for poaching, and there is then
as has pointed you out for an idler ant
mischief maker, but never suspected
go o.