Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-07-13

| both were so earnest that Leltbel
thought of the lud;crous side Of the
situation. She looked steadily at hin
for a moment after his declaration
/ that be meant to come for supper
Had be caught her hand and
held it, or attempted to coax her, she
would have doubted him, and would
have said that she would tell Grip to
expect him. But she saw he was
still angry, and was asking no ia.
vors, although he was determined to
meet Grip if possible.
We'll" she said deliberately, 'it
you come you needn't be surprised to
find plates only for two"
"That'll be enough, if they're for
Grip ana me-"
With that he left her, and went
splashiug through the mud toward
Hartford.
Leoua was angry, thoroughly so,
and called after him al s'pose you'll
change your clothes and come in your
Sunday suit, If you and Grip eat
together, you might need your good
clothes to be buried in
Leona had a high temper, anu
when it was reused her tongue was
reckless.
Jockey Todd did not reply nor
look around. LeoGa returned to he
house, called herself a fool for run
ming into the mad to meet Jockey
Todd, and resolved to inform Grip
that he could expect visitor for sup
per. But the day passed and Grip
did not come home She began to
be uneasy about him, fearing he and
Jockey Todd had met. She had not
begun to get supper when she saw
Jockey Todd coming up the road
She was so angry at him that she did
not laugh when she saw that he had
wore his Sunday suit. Something
serious was pending, and she wished
she could warn Grip; but it was too
late, for there he was talking to Jock
ey Todd at the gate. She had not
seen her brother approach the house.
Grip was laughing, but Jockey
Todd's face was dark
'sYou bad no business to play me
that trick, Grip"
The company can stand it," said
Grip.
He was reckoning On Jockey Todd's
love for LeOna.
Leona went to the door, and could
hear all that was said.
"But if | report it, the company
won't stand it"
But you won't report it," said
Grip, still laughing.
"Mebbe l will, and mebbey |
won't"
Grip put his hand to bis hip pocket
and tapped the butt Of revolver. eff
you tell the company | stole the gly-
cerine, IIl put hole in you" Grip
had ceased laughing, and assumed a
threatening air.
Leona ran down the steps. ''W hat
are you two fighting abo ut?" she ask
ed.
mere WAS HO GCpiy.
a.. "What is it, Hiram Todd?n She
turned fercely on him.
Grips got to quit moonlighting," +"
he answered.
II guess he'll do as be pleases
about that," she said, sharply.
"Well, all Tve got to say is that
Pve warned Grip
At this Leona's eyes flashed, and
she shook her fist it Jockey Todd's
face. "If you tell on Grip, | hope he
will kill you. Now you can go your
way and I'll go mine. You're a cow
ard to come here and threaten my
kin"
"Well, you've got my word for it,
Grip Quit now, when you've got a
chance. Remember the glycer'n."
Remember this, Jockey Todd, "
Grip replied. and laid the revolver
across his arm.
Il will, and get one for myself"
Jockey Todd turned his back on
the brother and sister, and started to.
ward Hartford.
"She never was as pretty as when
she was shaking her fist at me. L
think she could make life interesting,
but / have to give her up"
Thus mused Jockey Todd as he
went his way in obedience to her
command.
The brother and sister-she in nc
amiable mood toward him-went in
to their house, and sat down to sup
per. There were plates for two, and
for some reason, hen she was wash
ing them after the meal, Leona's eyes
became moist.
The next morning Jockey Todd
went to the company's office and re-
signed his position, giving as a reason
for leaving their employment that he
was afraid the glycerine would soon
number him among its victims if he
did not stop handling it. A few day
afterward he got work as u pumper
on lease on the hill just above
Leona's home He could sit in the
engine-house door and see her NOV
ing about in the yard.
One day Grip came home with The
news that Jockey Todd had quit
shooting wells and gone to pumping
them. Leona stared at Grip mo-
ment, and when be smiled said, "Io
needn't think he'd give up his job be-
cause he was afraid of you. H'
couldn't stay with the company anC
not tell on you"
ooh, he was afraid. thnnggh =, y sait
Grip, with an air of bravado.
"Some of these nights you'll fine
out that Hiram Todd don't fear any
thing. Mind what | say, Grip"
Grip only laughed.
When Jockey Todd took up hi
abode in the engine house on tn,
Krohm lease, he was surprised tha
the silence of the woods after nigh
was agreeable to him. He found com
fort in the quiet that was broken onl,
by the stroke of the pumping-engin'
and the rattle of the rods. Thes
sounds were so regular in repetition
that he grew to consider them a par
of the stiffness. The flaming gas je
threw at the whim of the wine
changeful shadows across the cleare'
space in which the derrick stood
The trees nearest him in the enclr-
|