The Hope pioneer., 1888-07-20


give her up"
Thus unused Jockey Todd as he went his
way in obedience to her command.
The brother and sister-she in no amiable
mood toward him-went into their house,
and soon sat down to supper. There were
plates for two, and for some reason, when
she was washing them after the meal,
Leona's eyes became moist
The next morning Jockey Todd went to
the company's Office and resigned his posi-
tion, giving as 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 days
afterward he got work as a pumper on a
lease on the hill just above Leona's home.
He could sit in the engine-house door and
see her moving 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 moment, and when he smiled said:
"4ou needn't think he give up his job be-
cause he was afraid of you. He couldn't
stay with the company and not tell on you"
"Oh! he was afraid, though" said Grip,
with an air of bravado.
Some of these nights you'll find out that
Hiram Todd don't fear any thing. Mind
what say, Grip"
Grip only laughed.
When Jockey Todd took up his abode in
the engine-house on the Krohm lease, he
was surprised that the silence of the woods
after night was agreeable to him. He
found comfort in the quiet that was broken
only by the stroke of the pumping engine
and the rattle of the rods These sounds
were so regular in repetition that he grew
To SI1r
The flaming gas jet threw at tho whim of
the wind changeful shadows across the
cleared space in which the derrick stood.
The trees nearest him in the encircling
woods were distinctly brought out by the
Pickering light, and when it bent before
the breeze it gave him glimpses of grim
trunks that were in the darkness when the
flame stood still, but beyond was the dense
night OF the deep forest He got into the
habit of watching this change Of light and
shadow, and of gazing at the impenetrable
darkness.
"Leona acted accordin' to her light, but
she couldn't see any further into my heart
than 1 can into the woods. May be can
show it to her some time as plain as day."
Thus he unused upon Leona, and waited
for the time to come when she would fully
understand him.
Leona began to regret her hasty action,
as day after day went by and no harm came
to Grip. He was still free and light
hearted, while her spirits dropped, and she
went about her work in listless, preoc-
cupied manner. Often in the evening she
she stood in the door and looked up at the
gas jet In the distance it was only point
of light, but she knew that under it Jockey
Todd was sitting, and between him and her
the night interviewed. At last the sense of
the injustice she had done him was so heavy
upon her that sho resolved to right it. One
evening, just after the night fell, she threw
a light shawl over her head and started up
the hill. She knew the way, and did not
need the guidance of the gas let that sud
denly went out.
Jockey Todd was leaning back in his
chair in the engine-house, and wishing he
could see Leona His eyes were closed and
when, after few minutes, he opened them,
the derrick and the cleared place were
lighted only by the rays of moon not yet
in the third quarter. Supposing the strong
wind had hlown the light out, he got up to
relight the gas. When he stepped to the
door he saw man going to the derrick. He
became cautious at once, and remained in
the engine house. The intruder walked all
around the derrick, and Jockey Todd,
watching his actions, concluded he was q
moonlighter. He knew the well was to be
shot that night, but for the moment had
forgotten it. He had been away in the
early evening, and had not learned where
the glycerine had been concealed.
The moonlighter examined each part of
the derrick in turn, and did not seem to dis
cover the marks left by the glycerine man
who had hidden the explosive. At last the
moonlighter struck a match. By its light
Jockey Todd recognized Grip Jervis. More
over, ne saw that Grip was drunk
Soon Grip found what he was searching
for, and turning his back to the derrick, be-
gan to pace off a distance, counting aloud,
zone, two (hic), three Then Jockey
Todd ran out of the engine-house toward
him. Grip stopped aud faced about. He
was so intoxicated that he could not stand
erect. "Who's that!"
''Me-Jockey Todd"
''Stand where (hic) you are" Grip felt
for his pistol, but in a second Jockey Todd
was on him and held his hand in firm
grasp. There was a sharp struggle of
moment and Grip staggered back unarmed
Jockey Todd put the pistol in his pocket.
"Now, Grip, listen to reason; you are too
drunk to shoot this well. Youosit down and
I'll do it.'
81 amt drunk, I shoot this well myself
mind that. You never was nothin' but a
well-butcher, anyhow"
81 tell you if you pick up can of glycer-
inc tonight you'll drop it, and that'u be the
end of you"
s'Stand out Of my road"
Grip made lunge forward. Jockey Todd
avoided the bloV and returned it. Grip fell
back on stone and lay there still.
Jockey Todd soon found the glycerine and
the shell. He carried the explosive to the
derrick floor, then quickly fitted together
the Joints of the shell. In few minutes
the torpedo was filled and lowered to the
rock, and he dropped the weight.
On going out of the derrick to avoid the
flow of the petroleum he was met with the
command: "Hands up, Grip Jervis! I've
caught you at last"
Leona, crouching behind clump of
bushes, heard the words, and shiyered in
fear, for it would be like Grip to show fight
and perhaps be killed.
s4'm not objectin' to hold up my hands;
but I'd like to inform you, Mr.. Perkins, that
you've got the wrong name"
"Well, TlI be torpedoed." exclaimed the
detective, ''if it isn't Jockey Todd!
1.-THE same"
ssWell, I'm done upl" Perkins calculated,
quitting away his revolver.
sIwas sure 1 had Grip Jervis," he con-
tinued ssYou see, Grip was in Hartford
this afternoon, and got drunk. He did lot
of talking, and said he was going to shoot
we'll on the Sextuple Tract tonight. fol-
lowed him, but he gave me the slip. So /
could do nothing but watch the gas jets
from the top of the hill. When saw this
ens go out made bee line for here. /
got here Just as sou were lowering the shell; /;
sitter Sea dropped the vTelsht,1 went for