Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-06-11
toll him what t'd cufne fef, he arAwea

himself up en- fer es he could, FER he's h
leetlc man, an sails: Does you mean TO
call me thief9' Then sais: 4 never
owed you no money, Pete Siders.' Sam
Soper,' sails he, 'hain't you satisfied of
your brother-in-law theft An
then he turns an walks into the house,
an shets the door in my face. hain't
seen him sence, fer / couldn't STAN livin'
near Pete an not bein' on peaceful
groun's with him. ! give up me place,
an got job here, 'tendin' the canal
lock-"
"And sometimes you think you were
to bame?" asked.
Sometimes" he replied. "Pete he he'd
curious ways, an l don't b'lieve he
meant no harm. o'tn't hev called him
a thief"
Soper suddenly started to his feet,
and, shading his eyes with his hnnds,
gazed up the river.
"a fddle!" he cried. "0ut on the
riverl l heard Il plain. There 1t ii
ag'in,"
| sprang to his side, and looked up
the stream at black object to which he
was pointing. II was a boat; and we
could SEQ man sitting in its stern,
rocking to and fro. Then l heard
quick succession of harsh, grating notes,
low, but distinct, and l saw that the
man was fiddling.
"1ts Pete!" cried my companion.
"Thet's his playin' an that's him. Look
at the boat! Why, 1t won't stay up an
hour!"
The craft was sunk low in the water,
and was sweeping rapidly toward us
on the turbulent stream; but the fid-
dler seemed unconscious Of his danger
for he swung to and fro In maudlih
manner, running his bow madly over
the strings OF his instrument.
ats Pete's way" Soper exclaimed.
"He don't know what he s doin', fer he's
ben at the liquor ag'in."
As he spoke he stripped Off his coat
and boots.
"What are you doing!" cried, seiz-
ing his arm. "You are not going out In
such q flood!"
The boat was bearing rapidly toward
us; every motion of its maudlin occu-
rant was now plainly discernible; every
note of his aimless music was distinctly
audible.
"Nawthin' else to do" came the quiet
reply. "They's rocks an rapids below,
an thet boat 'ud never live through
'em."
With that Soper ran out into the river.
In moment he was over his depth;
then he struck out into the stream.
Ihs was not masters stroke. He
beat the swiftly flowing water convul-
si,ely with his hands, and seemed to be
making almost superhuman efforts to
reach a point that he believed the boat
would pass. His progress was slow,
and the current bore him down the
river. His efforts would have been
vain had not the runaway craft taken
sudden swerve toward him. 1t was al.
most on him. Then saw him raise his
long arm high above him and grasp the
bow. Instantly the boat turned its nose
toward the shore, and breathed more
freely.
Siders sprang from his place, and with
unsteady steps began to make his way
toward the man who was risking his
own life to save him. The craft gave q
quick lurch over on one side so that the
water rushed in and almost filled It.
"Get down." I screamed.
"Let go there!" yelled Siders, fran.
tically. you'll upset me, you fooll"
He raised his fiddle and struck wildly
at Soper, but his blow fell short of its
mark; he lost his balance and toppled
into the bottom Of the boat, which
righted itself, but none too soon. Siders
quickly recovered and cautiously
crawled forward.
"Git off there!" he yelled.
Soper made no answer, for he was al
most exhausted. He clung more des.
rcrately to the craft, which was now
within q hundred feet of the shore
The fiddle whirled through the air and
crashed down on his head. Still he
clung on. With a cry Of disappointment
Sidcrs fell into the bottom of the boat
l ran out into the water, seized the
sinking craft, and dragged it ashore
When he heard the keel CRATE on the
gravel, Sam Soper released his hold and
fell into my arms unconscious. lifted
him out on the bank. Acios his fore.
head there was great cash from which
the blood flowed freely.
Some men came to my aid from q
neighboring field, and helped me tc
carry the injured man to his home
which stood few hundred yards bach
from the river. The wonderful Siders
who had partially recovered his sense.
Ly reason of his immersion, followed us
He explained that he had spent the
night fiddling at a party and had al
daybreak started for his home. The
last thing that he remembered clearly
was getting into a boat to cross thu
river.
When Sam Soper recovered conscious
ness half an hour later he asked TO,
his brother-in-law, and as Sidcrs sanl
into chair at his bedside he hold ou
his hand and said:
"Pete, l think III go over the rive
to live agin, fer / low / was to blame
II low you was, too, Sam," mumblet
the other, taking the proffered hand
"But don't bear you no spite."-N. Y
Evening Sun.
A Homo Thrust.
The other day young man from
L 4 u IL