River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-01

since his return from the west; but
here she was alone, and he determined
to speak to her, to grasp her hand, TO
take her in his arms, if she would per-
nit it, though he had to kill Ike Sor-
rel the next moment, for multiplied
stories of likes abuse had reached
Abe's ears in the past week.
Hearing footsteps on the trail, Mar
tina Ann looked up, and a stream of
mixed blood and water spread down
over her face, giving it a splash OF
scarlet. Abe Hawkins stopped where
he was moment, then hurried for
ward.
Martha Ann, how come that cash
In your forehead?"
Abe was holding out his hands to
the girl; and, involuntarily, her own
had gone up to him, still dripping
from the stream and bearing faint
traces of blood from the wound in her
forehead.
81 dasn't tell We, Abe" she said, in
answer to his question.
"Then We needn't, for l know. It's
one of likes love ticks, On i'm.
Abe kneIt beside the girl, laid bis
arm gently about her waist and began
bathing her face, having taken big
handkerchief from about his neck,
which he dipped into the water. Abe
was realizing a situation long dreamed
of, and he prolonged the service he
was rendering long after the flow OF
blood from Martha AIMS forehea1 had
been stanched. Occasionally, Abe al
lowed his lips to come near enough to
touch Martha AIMS hair, and his grip
on her waist gradually frightened. For
the girl, it was moment Of stolen
joy out of life of dread aud suffer-
ing, and she yielded, without thought
of consequences, to the temptation OF
it. And only the sound Of commo-
ton among the underground on the
hillside above them, and the hoarse
breathing of cultural growl recalled
her from the sense of happiness that
had been hers for five minutes.
Martha Ann sprang to her feet, and
Abe Hawkins did likewise, releasing
his hold upon her waist. Ike Sorrel,
like some Infatuated animal of the
jungle, was coming down the hill to-
ward them, leaping the bushes and
uttering growls of anger that vera
meant to inspire terror in those who
heard. In one hand he carried pis-
toll, in the other his long-bladed clasp
knife. Rushing upon the two at the
branch he slashed at Martha Ann with
the knife and brought the pistol to
bear upon Abe Hawkins breast Mar
tina Ann screamed and lodged out OF
his reach, while Abe's foot suddenly
went skyward, and Sorrel's pistol de-
scribed series of circles and fell far
over his head in the swamp. Then,
before the moment of surprise had
passed, Abe's big fist shot outward and
landed upon Sorrel's neck. There was
a distinct crack. The mountaineer' s
head fell limp to his shoulder, and his
body sank to the ground.
1t all happened in the twinkle of an
eye; and moment of silence
followed. A mans fist has never been
considered a deadly weapon, but the
body of Ike Sorrel, with a broken neck,
lay there in evidence of this miscon-
struction of the law. Presently, Mar
tina Ann crouched toward Abe, realiz-
ing what had happened to her tyrant
of a husband, and with sense of awe
that made her shiver and long for
further protection. Abe reached out
and touched her, caught her by the
arm and dragged her against him.
"Ye're safe now, Marthy Ann he
said
Martha Ann looked up into his eyes
and crept closer.
"Id have gone back west the min
ute I found ye'd married, gal. if |
hadn't hyeard We war ketchin hi
all the time from that brute. ! reck-
oned I'd stay an kill i'm, jest on &C
count O. the old days, Marthy Ann,
though I hardly thought lido it with
my fist"
but, Abe, I'm afeard the law will
take ye."
"Well, let it. I'll have the satisfac-
ton o. KNOWN we've got no tornenter
a hectorin' over We, while I'm servin
l don't see what We married the coyote
for, noway."
Abe drew away from Martha Ann.
But the girl shrank quickly toward
him again.
eye went off, Abe, an never
hyeard word from We; an Ike KEEP
a pesterin' an pesterin' of me, till
thought jest as WE'LL
"I reckon twas my fault, Marthy
Ann, not writin', but, we see, l didn't
know the fellers out there much, an
didn't want to AK any of 'em to do It
for me. But / thought We might ha'
waited anyhow"
Martha Ann only crept closer, Pres
emily Abe strobe forward and turned
over the body of Ike. Then he led the
way up the trail.
Old Jerry Moore was the coroner;
and by daylight the following day he
had summoned his jury from the hill
sides and the ravines of Mooreheaven.
The broken neck of Ike Sorre1 was
curiously examined by the jurors. and
chances of admiration for the neatness
of the Job were directed toward Abe
Hawkins.
When the jury was impanellsd the
evidence taken was little more than
matter of attempted form, and con-
sumed not exceeding Is minutes. Then
Bill Turner, the foreman of the jury,
elected to that position on account of
his knowledge of reading and writing,
canvassed the jury in the presence of
the court and witnesses then labori-
ousIy wrote down the verdict which he