The Wahpeton times., 1886-08-19
BY WILL n. CLKArENs.

His dress and manner indicated refinement
and good training in his youth. The girl
one could scarcely call her a woman after
closer inspection-was smaller than her hus-
band, likewise tai and slender. with a still
more delicate face, with mild and tender
blue eyes
eMary," said he, addressing her, as he took
3 seat on the rough wooden bench by her
dde, @the town is four miles of. There is no
hotel here and am afraid we must make
the best of these quarters until morning Our
baggage will come on the morning train, and
we can take 1t with US on the stage to Big
ley"
She spoke to him in the kindest of tones
and uttered no word of dissent at his sug-
gestions While they chatted on trivial
things he removed his overcoat, and with her
shawls made a comfortable couch for her on
the long wooden seat The door of the op-
stove within sent irs warm rays into the
waiting room. The girl reposed upon the
couch, and the young fellow stopped and
kissed her lightly on the forehead. Then he
walked across the room and entered the
apartment of the man who combined the
duties Of telegraph operator and station
Agent
sDo you smoke?" queried the stranger,
aud, observing the smile light up the face of
the operator as he nodded his head, he con-
knued:
well, If you smoke, was going to suggest
here beside your fire."
sThat's fair trade" said the operator. as
the smile on his face increased in dimensions
and Illuminated his whole countenance
@My names Thomas Hayden" continued
the stranger, in a matter of-fact way. as he
lighted cigar and handed the burning
match to the operator. sMy wife Mary and
1 came up here from Philadelphia to make
our fortunes in the oil business. If we fail,
why we fail, that's all, and can go back and
commence life over again, just where we
left off in the CITY,"
Then he fell to plying the operator with
various questions-the cost Of living, the
price of board and q SCORE of items in rela-
zion to the oil business 1t was long past
midnight, and as the two men sat and
talked and smoked, time passed quickly.
Ere they were aware of the tieetness with
which the hours passed, the gray streaks of
dawn were peeping over the neighboring
hills Twice did Young Hayden return to
the wooden bench in the adjoining room to
End his young and fragile wife sleeping
peacefully. and twice did he softly tiptoe his
way back to the companionship OF the little
sound stove and the smiling operator.
The morning came, the day express
stopped at the station, Hayden's baggage
was thrown roughly upon the platform and
the operator bade goodbye to his acquaint-
bis arm wended his way down the track,
Whstling in the bright, crisp air of the sunny
morning. The station agent who arrived
shortly before his departure was large,
hard featured man, and young Hayden did
not venture to form his acquaintance His
and made her toilet ut the battered tin water
tank in the corner OF the room. A Numbering
stage was at the dept when the morning
train arrived, and Hayden, his wife and his
three large trunks were safely stored therein.
An hours ride over the toughest of coun-
ny roads brought the conveyance before the
cOugh-looking structure that boasted of be-
ng the finest and best hotel in Bigley-there
ras no other there Hayden and wife
llighted, secured rooms and began life in
surroundings Any one who has visited q
\ young mining town in the far West can form
IN adequate picture OF the budding town Of
Afew weeks In the upper oil regiona The
primitive hotel, post0ffice. store or two,
. score of frame houses. amid wilderness
Of oil derricks, constituted about all there
was in Bigley. 1t was not many weeks be-
tore Thomas Hayden found acquaintences in
Il the town, and among them 81 Moffat Young
man like himself, but rough In manner and
! dress, with smooth, forid face and large.
well-knit frame Tom Hayden possessed in
Philadelphia bank to the amount of several
thousand dollars, but he had every thing to
( learn aDouS ., 1aIms' rms gusners and wells and
10y ,he hna ~, Ihe Snonsana & an9 one
J. know Of . dollar in the world he could cali
az ~ oWn, ~, Dns ne naa . 1een Dorn ana reared In
lss,.; aie ~ County a9u Gnere Wss noG gusner"
~ aa,d .aaas nnt i ot nunoaea m,es OF which
nna,S'nn @ m nos .ss gve an % history
est q man as one could and in a day,s iour-
ney, and kind, warm heart beat within his
breast
"A friendship spranr mn between the two
men, followed by a partnershin II was a
4 commercial union Of gold and experience