Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-01-27
THE COURT OF LAST RESORT.

TO supp tHc Volihtt'i h"' NiNSi7 ii"''t
the superintendent Of the railroad tc let
me Off
The station WIS c'tscd and dark. The
weather was rortentous of rain. Masses
of cloud. drifted across the sky. the moon
lodging fitfully behind them. My sur
Iroundings were alternately black or gray.
! stood 1t tiio station. watching the
vanishing lights of the train. My irTeso-
luton was due to doubts of finding shell
ter ! bad before me a twenty mile drive
/ to the scene Of a murder, for which an
early morning start was imperative.
\ path led into tangie of brush; fol
/ lowing il { emeI 2ei into the open upon
( q narrow foot bridge Midway On that
structure the moon disclosed like a sill
I houctte IA mans figure leaning against
the rail His gaze was directed down
ward into a gorge messy with the roar
of . mountain torrent.
Summer tourists familiar with the
Au Sable region will recall THE Black
Pool into which 4 stream plunges over
a ledge Of rock The gorge is dismaIly
repeIlant, by day OF night
Approaching The spectral man. / asked
to be directed to a shelter for the night.
lie did not al once reply but regarded me
with suspicion Indistinct as were his
features. in The gray haze, knew him to
be aged and, when he spoke. his voice
proved dim native % the locality.
How'd We git here. mister?" he finally
asked
/ explained that The train had been
stopped for me.
What We done on the kcers tibet they
put We oh'om emf
Il wasn't put off, ! explained. Il
travel ion a living am newspaper cor
Iresponlent"
oh! thought mebby yes like
t'other feller''-a remark | did not un-
derstand; but | renewed my request to
be directed to a stopping place for the
night. After he had again looked me
over, the native said:
Il mout TEX We meself, eff | hedn't IN
a ready"
When | again urged the stranger to
give me shelter he added: III do es
well es ! ken by We. cause no wimmin
folks mp ter my house. cause my wife is
dead, an | never did have no childer.
But, say. ! got man up there l pulled
outen this here pool less AN two hours
ago! He's done nothin' sence but moan
an cry. | couldn't stan him no longer.
so toddIed down here I'm kinder glad
we've come, for / hate to be alone with
tibet chap all right
My prospective host led the way across
the bridge and up hillside path. As we
climbed he grew more talkative.
II was a.comin' up from the pos ofIiss
fan t,ltt In ,l..,.
fer I'm gettin long in years an hey pains
IN my legs. Jes' es | com night thet
bridge ! see a Teller path down The cliff
an the swirl in a splash in the water
below, ! her been i'll these ere noun.
tings boy an man, for seventy year an
knoWed the path down the cliff, an the
swirl in thct pool-where ct carries a
ioatin' body. Foreettin WAS more'n ten
years old, | got down Their in no time.
watched fer i'm. Wen he come nigh |
pulled i'm to the ledge. where was.
Part by carYin' but more by draggin Of
I'm | got the poor Teller up this ere road
To the house. Their | took the wet buds
often him and oot him afore the fire. He
Keep his eyes on the floor, an has face i'm
his hands, | had no stimulous to rive
him heln' temperance; but | meant to
cheer him up bit by askin' WHY d
We want ter de-
tie didn't pay no 'tention--on'y KEEP
tookm at the floor. 'Ie amt more'n
%, SAYS |. The worlds afore We. Wit.
lie turned his face at me; an | see
Inn good, for the first time His ewes
was hollcr; his cheeks so wasted an pale
was Altered he'd die right Their was
Jess goin' ter say somethn' comfortin'
when he snarlcd: Shet up. We oil fooln
Say what d We think of that ="
Before l could reply we entered the
house
In the middle OF the room, seated in
front OF the glowing logs, was the res
cued man. The hollow eyed stranger
.raloed his cmaciated face and spoke.
Look here, my good man. he began.
GU made a miStake Why did you in
tcrtereg"
At yer time of life, no man ought ter
want to 80 to the other world" replied
the native.
How do lou know" was the angry
rrtort, as the unknown got upon his
Il didn't mean ten interfere with Provi.
d"nce, said our host, ALPHABETICALLY.
or Justice asked the man. in low
voice
Certainty uoi'" with emphasis.
Come here. thon." commanded he of
the hollow voice. iii state my case
ON shall be court OF last resort"
the two men drew apart and stood bv
F" "lndo" In tones So low that not
word was audible to me, the wretched
one made his plea. The lines upon the
/ lace OF the mountaineer grew rigid. as the
narrative progressed.
/ Wheh the stranger had finished. tho
u"tl'' went to the chair upon which
n"'S Tile mans clothing. took the steam.
my coat theretrom. and helped him put
/ ~ ~" Next, he handed the warderer
'', nat opened the door and said:
lie We're right. / hedu't ought ter