Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-06-16
TORPEDO jim.
I'm dying; yes, dying"

all u LIZ sCe, W IuS.
Away up on the Bingham lands, in the
great northern oil field of Pennsylvania,
man lay dying. The flare of huge
gas-jet came struggling through the
wide crack of the rude hemlock board
upon whose features the hand of trouble
and sorrow had left heavy traces. He
was alone, save the writer of this, and as
the hours dragged slowly along he grew
uneasy, as if he feared and dreaded the
end which was inevitable. With an ef-
fort he reused himself.
"What time is it?"She asked.
"Nine o'clock
"Big Jack won't be home till half
past twelve, and before that time 1 will
be locating wild cat wells in another
world
"Shall 60 for him?''
"No, oh, no. Don't leave me. /
couldn't watch out the last tour and run
the last bit alone. want to tell Big
Jack something, but you will do just as
well. Can you keep secret?''
s. Yes"
Well, it's strange story I've got to
tell, and want somebody to know it
before
He paused a long time for breath.
The cabin or s. shanfy'' in which he lay
was situated in sheltered spot among
q cluster of giant pines, and was the
only habitation for miles around. Five
men occupied the cabin-two drillers,
two tool -dressers and male cook. Two
of the men were, at nine O'Clock at
night, busy with the test-well half mile
away, two others were on q visit to
Bradford for provision supplies and the
fifth one lay in a rude bunk above the
gas stove, tossing from side to side and
waiting for the "silent summons 1t
was Torpedo Jim, the moonlighter.
What his real name was no one knew ;
he went under the dime-novel name of
Torpedo Jim. Some men called him
Jim Barton, but whether or not that
was really his name none of his friends
and acquaintances could tell. Jim had
been sick for three DAYS, so the head
driiler, Big Jack Sanford, said, and as
] stood. BY the side of his bunk and
watched the pain contorted face wished
might lift the veil hanging over this
mans life and so learn the romance and
tragedy lying deeply hidden beneath the
blue shirt and heavy coat. As stood
watching and waiting he started up in a
fright.
aMy God, did you hear that?" he al
most shrieked. @
,siNo. 1 heard nothing. What was
it?,'
"A woman's scream. i have heard
it before more than once. Go outside
and listen."
Curiousiy wondering what the man
could mean opened the door and step
rs,d out into the night. All was still
and dark, save low whispering among
the snines and the flare of the burning
o-as Away off down the valley at the
fest.weil I could hear the puff, puff OF
the laboring engine rs it swung the pom
derous drilling tools up and down, and
the ring of the heavy hammer as the
tool-dresser pounded the bit into proper
shane. No other sound broke the still
ness Of the night, and the little cabin
nnder the pine was as silent as the grave
Into the room again and by the invalid S
hnnk was but step, and as his eyes met
mine the mute question was quickly an
swered;
az could hear nothing except the weu ;
al Il still.p was my reply.
ssTt must be that I am dying; yes,
dr;nO. . the man murmured once more,
s.and / can not 60 with secret on my
,,o;rd Say. stranger" said he, sud-
da,lv- ado you think God forgives the
S.s..I.zt Sins and crimes?''
He waited eagerly and with emotion
-. :. Yas 4 Won ask 1t In the right spirit. y
an van think so? Well, I'm glad OF
Il and / have been praying long tune
these three days l have been SICK iof