The Red Cloud chief., 1888-07-13
JOCKEY TODD.
How He Showed His Heart to
Leona as Plain as Day.

Jockey Todd was always sent with his
pair Of bays on the perilous journey Of the
torpedo-man. He was in the employ Of a
torpedo company. and it was his business &c
lake the nitro-giycerine to the oil we'll. pour
the fluid into the long cylindrical shell
lower II to the rock. and drop upon the car
the weight that would release the explosive
to rend the petroleum stratum.
One day on the Custer road he gave the
bays the whip. They broke into . wild run,
and the Obstetrics lave q vivid memory OF
Jockey Todd's dash through the town. He
came down the main street like q whirlwind,
and they held their breath, waiting for the
explosion. As he rushed pom them they
lived an age. But Jockey Todd sat on the
box a. carelessly As if he were winning .
race in q walk. In the p~ost-ofice door stood
girl Of twenty. She had run out Of the
street to avoid tine team. She had hardly
time to turn around before the bays shot
past. yet her buckeyes noted the calmness OF
the man at the lines. oh" she cried, 1.-The
Ssndy!"
The Sandy was only q small mountain
stream that flowed into the Tuna. but the
bridge had been torn up for repairs. The
plunge into that narrow ditch would be
fatal beyond doubt to the driver, and he did
not seem 10 know about it.
The spectators. fascinated, could not fee.
Their hearts beat hard and their eyes pro.
jected as they looked for the explosion. The
BAYS cleared the ditch. and the wagon dived
into il. The Obstetrics could not believe
their eyes. for there on the ground stood the
driver. unframed. and away down the road.
with the wagon tongue humping OF the
ground between them, the bays were run
ming at full speed toward Hartford.
Every spectator shouted and ran to the
bridge. Leona Jervis went with the crowd.
and when she saw Jockey Todd cOOlly
answering questions she fell in love with
him. Noticing her. he remembered that he
had seen her ia the post-oface door. and he
smiled As he recalled her frightened look.
Meeting his gaze, she blushed. and his smile
quickly gave place to a scowl. Daring al
ways, he strobe to whore she stood, and
asked in a harsh tone:
Did you think TO seea man in bits, blowed
In every direction By the glycer'n'."
NO: I come hopin' to see him clear the
ditch a. easy ~ he come to IL"
Il ask your pardon. Ny name is Todd
Hiram Todd"
And mine is Leona Jervis: I live there"
poiuting to q house on the hill above the
Tuna.
From that imDulsive beginning the &C.
l~uaiutance OF Jockey Todd and Leona Jer-
yis ripened into a mutual affection.
Some days after this. Jockey Todd pulled
up the bay as he was passing Leona's home.
She was getting breakfast for her brother
Grip.
When Jockey Todd was leaving. Leona
threw her arms around his neck and said
1'Give it up. Hiram; I am 50 afraid all the
time"
Il will Leona. I will never drink again"
But that was an evasion. She chung to
him tighter. and pleaded: II Hiram. I
can't let you go back 10 il. The terrible
S,ycerine will surely take your life some
day il you keep IN handlin' il. and I'm
worried TO death oll the time. Why. I never
hear an explosion, il it's only an em,ty can.
without jumpin'. My heart just stands still
while / wonder il it's YOU or-or-"
And she stammered into silence, hiding
her face on his shoulder. He filed out the
sentence, ~whispcringin her car-"Or Grip"
Her face pressed his shoulder in assent.
Grin was q moonlighter-One who tOrpe-
Aoed oil wells in the night at the risk Of ar
80 and Imprisonment The torpedo com
nany for which Jockey Todd worked had q
r.,cnt emitting them to the exclusive right
AZ ~toroedoing oil wells. % that all persons