Sharp County record., 1885-08-13

hear the voices Of the drillers he stopped
and listened. For more than two nourS ne
sat there close to the derrick with qllcN
ear for all that was said and done AIUer
awhile his cramped position became ui'
bearable and he ascended the derrlcA'
passed to the ground and went nome;
They were tapping the sand, he gathered
from what he heard, and he Ielt IKE mug
ging himself for Joy at the place ne mao mao
found from which everything done couIu
be observed. For three nights he went 10
the derrick by way of the tree. 4 lew MN
utes climb, a couple OF hours clm9lnS 10
the derrick, and all the dolngs at the wen
for the night were known. when ne came
the fourth night he was almost on Ihe uer-
rick before he observed that guard saU on
the top platform dangling his feet IN space,
whistling softly to himself, and graspIn$ d
gun in one hand. Hughes knew JuaO ms
observation place had been dlscoVered'
and slipped back into the gloom 10 IIIL'N
out another plan. After circilng about Ihe
derrick a couple of times to find out where
the men were placed. Hughes dlacoVereu
that, beyond an occasional visit OIL the Ilr5-
men. the engine-hOuse was comparatively
unmatched. Without losing moment
time he slipped out Of the woods ana
dodged and crept to the outlying sned OF
the derrick. Then he Crawled along tne
timbers until he lay close against the DER
rick floor. He could hear unusual prepara-
tions going on, and was eager to get nearer
Besides he was liable to be discovered by
one of the men who kept futterlng ABOUT
from the derrick room past HIM 10 Ihe
other parts OF the machinery. AL ChG
while the drillers were making unusual
noise with the tools in the derrick room
Creeping to the side opposite them, Hu9heS
found a board loose and got INTO the der,
rick room. The floor boards were lald
down very loosely To pull two OF them
Nd. squeeze himself through under the Hoor,
and pull the boards after him was the work
OF a moment. He could hear the drIlerS
tramp about over his head, busy making
fast the pipe connections. Alter aWhlie'
from the sound OF other voices above, he
knew the men had been replaced by another
gang and that daylight was breaking. ne
changed his position to dryer spot ana
made himself comfortable for long siege
On in the day he was aroused from nap
he had dropped off into by an unusual
commotion overhead. Above the tram
pling he could distinguish the sound Of
iduid squirting with violence against hard
substance. The oil began to leak through
the floor and drop on his face and clothes
He was all attention in an instant. Ihere
was no mistaking it; the well had flowed.
| For several minutes he could hear the
splash of the oil Then the trampllng Of
feet again became active, and the squirting
sound ceased.
"The biggest part OF Hughes work was
done. He wished it was night that ne might
escape from his perilOus position, report
his discovery and reap the rewards Of ms
| hardships and daring. But it seemed to
him that night would never come. He heard
the clatter Of tin pals and the munchmg oi
iaws after awhile, and knew that dinner
time was come, and grew hungry himself.
It seemed a century to him before twlllgnJ
began to settle down. Then the well made
a second flow, this time more than before.
He was satisfied that the flow was very
considerable, and that the nugatory would
be q market breaker. When darkness had
enyeoped everything he carefully slipped
| through the rickety floor, replaced the
| boards. crawled out OF the derrick room
and drOpped behind log One OF the
guards stood with his back to him peering
in+antly i..tO tFq~-s---~A - +--4e'>-~---
! away. In a minute or two the guaiu toOh
up his patrol toward the other side Of the the
we'll. and Hughes scrambled along the
machinery mgIt' merry shed to the side Of the engine
room. Hearing nothing in the darkness be-
tween him and the forest he stole out, and
in moment had disappeared among the
cioseIy-growing bemlocks. In a short time me
he had safely reached the farmhouse where
he boarded. Stopping only to get some
tbinr to eat, he mounted one Of the iarm-
ers horses and rode like the wind to War
ren When he drew rein at the telegraph
office day was just breaking. A cipher dIs,
patch sent to the firm for whom ne worked ,Ts 20
explained everything about the well. Then
his obligation to his employers ceased. e! .
Through messages sent to several OF ms ms
friends and by some money he had Of MS