Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-01-19
ION the Rivers
Brink ~ -
....oht 1901, by A. S. Richardson

out this pier loi - making me
ntchman. You're only n'AAins ne
to O1ton ts horn to trouble as the sparks
,nward" quoted the man. This
ny lso nearest one" he added. He
mos nanting little.
wac p ,'.d never got a-past me if-if''-
.1f YOU hadn't been taking htte
IN" suggested the man. Weil' IL s
nap, night for'-he paused glancing
sOuu at the dark river, silvered over
nth the wavy radiance OF the lnooh-
Hoht-"for sleep.
ns Tno Waterman shuddered you amt
,i1, Going to do it," he said entreat-
,n0lv and edged forward. The COM
nany which employed him was opposed
En- suicides off its piers.
"Don't come any nearer now,
worned the man, 'unless you want to
hurry me. .s
nv the nervous putting OF belateo tug
far ont on the river and the slapping OF
,ho little waves against the pierhead.
rho man was leaning against pile at
tho extreme end of the pier. Within
orn,s length of him a steamship, made
cost unreared its dark hulk. If some
one would only reach out of portfolio
and seize him was the wild hope of the
vatchman The man Strengthened up
and stretched himself.
"pardon this natural hesitation" he
cold lightly. 1t is time | went"
"tIod on cried the Waterman.
.non't-dont-don be in a hurry! 1t
wos the best he could do on the spur Of
the moment The man laughed, but he
nausea. Desperately the watchman
proped for something-anything to say.
But the power of light and genial con-
vnrsation. which is special gift of
those who watch by night, had gone
from him.
what do you want to do 1t for, any
way?" he finally burst out.
I'm justifiable suicide" replied the
man.
"A what?" This was beyond the
watchman's ken.
"a justitable suicide. You've heard
of iustifable homicide, haven't you?
Well, I'm a justifiable suicide. l have
right to kill myself"
mot off'n this pier" said the watch
man, with conviction.
Nobody will know where l jumped
In unless you tell them. The current
will carry the body away"
Don't talk that way" besought the
80 I'll -
stringpiece of the pier. II don't like
IT,"
I'm glad to see you sit down." OBJ
served the man. because now l need
not watch you so closely for fear you
might make rush. If you did'-he
glanced again at the swift water
wed both 60. and wouldn't like to
take you from steady JOB"
The Waterman caught at the last
words. Maybe you're out of work. II
it's that, know job l might get you
tomorrow"
u don't reckon shall be candidate
for any job tomorrow, thank you," said
the man griHly.
oh" said the Waterman blankly.
Obviously he had got on the wrong
track He tried another. IF it's from
being broke
That reminds me-" interrupted the
other He pulled handful of bills out
Of his pocket and laid them on plank.
There are several dollars there.
shall not need them where I'm going.
The money may be of some use to you
If you don't mind using a dead mans
wealth"
II wouldn't hardly be lucky, would
nr faltered the Waterman.
Most people aren't so sQueamish
ABOUT legacies. Don't worry; won't
haunt you"
Maybe it's woman that's the trou-
Dle' pursued the Waterman desperate
~ having struck another trail. But
you've got right to wait and see how
turns out | knew a Dutchman thai
N'ed In the same house with me, and
the lady he was keeping company with
threw him down. He turned on the
gas, but somebody turned it off again.
say In three months he was so stuck
vi another lady that he was talking
apout killing himself again."
curious people, the Germans" re-
MARKED the man absently.
Inc battied Waterman rubbed his
ueau painfully and patiently tried
again If it's sickness that's driving
YOU TO it. you don't want to be too quick
ABOUT 1t, cause you can't never tell.
Like as not 1t amt as bad as you think.
,nere was friend of my brothers in
'ne grocery business shot himself on
account Of not having good health, and
,ne autopsy showed that he could have
neen fixed all right if he had went to a
good doctor"
IN well enough in body" said the
man shortly.
lou don't talk like man that's era.
y, Nehtured the Waterman.
MOI That's surprising, all things
w remarked the man bitter.
Say, pardner," said the Waterman
r np,peanngly, IF you're bound to 60 you
80 SUI as well tell me who you are and
nat yCHIrn ani,