The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-05-14

I ter him what I'd come fer. he drawed
himself up ez fer az he could, fer he's .
leetle man, an sails: Does you mean to I
call me thief?' Then I sails: I never
owed you no money, Pete Siders. Sam
Soper,' sails he, 'hain't you satisfied of
CALM your brother-in-law q thief! An
then he turns an walks into the house,
an shets the door in my face. Ihain't
seen him sence, fer I couldn't STAN livin'
near Pete an, not bein' on peaceful
groun's with him. I give up me place,
an got . job here. 'tendin' the canal
loci" u >.. ..a. -.
!. .'And sometimes you think you were
to blame?'' I asked. 2,::!s r.. 2" E.3
Sometimes, . he replied. "Pete he he'd
curious ways, an don't b'lieve he
meant no harm. I o'tn't hev called him
q thief" KEITH =. -. " rF .
+ Soper suddenly started to his feet,
and, shading his eyes with his hands.
,gazed up the river. - - 70 |s'3t
"A fiddle!" he cried. "Out on tho
river! I heard it plain. There it is
ag'in!" r>' '.@S-..5.
I sprang to his side, and looked up
the stream at black object to which he
was pointing. It was a boat; and we
could see man sitting in it's stern.
rocking to and fro. Then heard a
quick succession Of harsh, grating notes,
low, but distinct, and / saw that the
man was fiddling. .,,.r ...,,.. ~.
Its Pete!" cried my companion.
'Thet's his playin' an that's him. Look
at the boat! Why, it 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 maudlin
manner, running his bow madly over
the strings of his instrument.
=, ''lt's Pete's way" Soper exclaimed.
"He don't know what he 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 outin
such a hood!"
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 tibet boat 'ud never live through
EN-"
With that Soper ran out into the river.
In a moment he was over his depth;
then he struck out into the stream.
Ills 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 q point that he believed the boat
would pass. His progress was slow,
ard the current bore him down the
river. His efforts would have been
vain had not the runaway craft taken
sudden swerve toward him. It was al
most on him. Then I saw him raise his
long arm high above him and grasp the
bow. Instantly the boat turned it's nose
toward the shore, and j breathed more
freely. '"s >'S!, 's' T''F' 's''.
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
quick lurch over on one side SO that the
water rushed in and almost filed it. Z
"Get down." screamed. go :
"Let go therei" yelled Siders, fran
tically. "You'll upset me, you fool!" +.
He raised his fiddle and struck wildly
ac Soper, but his blow fell short Of it's
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. I
Soper made no answer, for he was al.
most exhausted. He chung more des-
rerately 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
chung on. With a cry of disappointment
Siders fell into the bottom of the boat.
I 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. I lifted
him out on the bank. Across his fore
head there was a great cash from which
the blood flowed freely. -,.,@ ~ -. w:
Some men came to my aid from a
neighboring field, and helped me to
carry tho injured man to his home,
which. stood a few hundred yards back
from the river. The wonderful Siders,I
who had partially recovered his senses
Ly reason of his immersion, followed us.
He explained that he had spent the
night fiddling at q party and had at
! daybreax started for his home. The
last thing that he remembered clearly
was getting into q boat to cross the
river. p. ~ @e 81
Whensam soper recovered conscious
ness half an hour later he asked for
his brother-in-law, and as Siders sank
i;lto chair: at his bedside he held out
+ his hand and said: ~, -
:sspete think I'll 90 over the river