West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-01-21

thwart.
But it was you who ran into me,
sir, 1 replied, feeling no anger what
ever.
It's liei I'm a mind to give you
taste of this steel! Come, now, as you
came aboard of your own accord, you
tam leave on the same terms. Out you
gcr'
Don't he so fast, my friend" re-
piled, astonished and nettled that he
should be so peppery at the outset.
DOUBTLESS the blame should be shared
by both. I'll have to pay for that craft,
while yours seems to be all right.
Don't talk of knitting n man or driving
him overheard because of bit of acct
dent"
"Out you gol" he Missed after long
look at me- and what did the villain do
but fash his knife and begin to advance
ppon mel
1t would have only been wet jacket
to have gone overheard, but he had TAX
en- me wrong, you see. All men have
pride about these things. Argument
is all right, but to attempt to drive
them is a different matter. However, as
he was armed with a knife and had
nothing expect i should have taken to
the water but for the luck of finding q
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, to advance at his peril. He
was more reckless than brave Steady
ing himself for a few seconds, with his
feet wide apart, he was about to make
dash at me when brought the oar
down upon his head, and he fell like q
log.
was bit upset by what had o.
CURED. as stands to reason, but pres-
emily figured that the hest 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 u boy in knee pants, was
just turning ont the lights when en-
tered and told him what had happened.
Bless my blooming soul, but who can
1t bep' exclaimed the old man as he
walked down 10 the skiff with me. II
didn't know we had such a peppery fell
low IN tho country hereabouts You
served him right, Ralph, but I hope
you didn't strike too hard, sou know.
Not that any of us would blame you
even II 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
mil = 30 4. ~
and stretched out on his back Then
Uncle John brought a 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 I
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
I'm no doctor, and / can't aay.
Here's cash in his scalp and plenty Of
blood flowing, and take that as a sign
he isn't dead yet. Alb, see him shiverl
He's coming to. but sip of whisky will
make IL easier for him"
So fercely had the man clutched the
handle of his knife that the weapon was
still in his hand While Uncle John
was after the liquor pried the fingers
open and released the knife and laid it
on a shelf About a minute after the
liquor had run down his throat the fell
low opened his eyes and glared about.
In another 60 seconds he sat up, stared
hard at mo and fercely muttered:
YES, remember now. Some one
ran into me on the river and then tried
20 kill me. A."
Look here, Ben johnson, and be-
heve that's tho name you answer to {"
said Uncle John, what sort Of fish do
/ you call this2 Seems TO me you are a biz
too ready with your knife for this local
/ tty. Is 1t your play 10 knife q man first
and then inquire about what's hap
I penedy'
who are your" bluntly inquired
! johnson as be turned TO me.
/ Ralph Tompking, sir, whether II
/ pleases you or no. You keep saying
/ that some one ran into you. IL was ex-
actly the other way. Ny boat was drift
Ing, while you must have been in great
I hurry TO have smashed into her az you
did. "
II say you are liari" no shouted.
Come, man, that's going beyond
reason" put ia Uncle John IF you
] were ON your feet, wOuldn't take that
from you myself, old as / am. Lot me
wash of the blood, bind up your head,
and do you 90 hone and recover your
4 good nature
The man was still weak and dazed.
but never saw an uglier face even on
2 Malay pirate. he got up after q bit.
waving as away when we would have
assisted him, and backing up 10 one Of
the barroom tables 20 get a support he
looked at me az II he would stamp my
face ON his memory forever and finally
said
IOmpkins or Thompson, never saw
you before, bat I'll take good care not
% 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 obceY' ox.
claimed the landlord ~ be advanced .
step or two. I've heard Of your being
Jailed for poaohiug, and there IS them