Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-07-12
20. I'm 50 gladt' Leona exclaimed. for

hl--tH W Hol q io--Sf , -Dt 10 LIS ne II Vi
1t, no matter what his business IS. Neithe
me nor Grips goia' 70 get furt till our time
comes. 10; it's becaEse I'm regular sn(
Grips moor,:Shter tina: I'm bothered
I'm mixed bstTesa Grty and love. Say
Lccna, what did you tel me for'"
81 didn't quite tel yo-- You guessed it
and l couldn't lie"
''Well, kiss ne goodbye, and We'll fl
things Up somehow ---
She watched him drive up small hill IL
the road. The saadowy appearance OF tht
team and driver in the fog when they
reached the top Of :he rise, almost made her
cry cut in anguish. With superstitous
foreood;ng she returned u the house.
Jockey Todd drove slowly; there was tur.
MOL il his mind. He possessed sense of
honor. and it troubled him to be deceiving
those whom he served. He felt that if he
withheld from the company the evidence
that Grip was a nloonlighter he would be
! treating them unfairly. He was very glad
when ne reached the oil well that he had
come to torpedo. The exciting task that ne
was about 70 perform would for the time
| divert his thoughts. He stopped the horses
| a short distance from the derrick, and
! jumped TO the ground. Then ne opened the
box 20 get the glycer!ne. There was none
| there, The box was empty, yet be himself
had seen the cans placed there at the fac
tory before he started. He shut the lid
with a slam.
at was mean. d-:-n mean, of Grip Jervis
to steal my stuff while was in his house
courtin' his sister.
Ee put his foot On a hub Of a wheel, and
leaning an elbow on his knee, became
thoughtful He could not go back to the
factory ana declare that the box had not
been filed, for ne had signed the receipt,
and il was already filed as a voucher for the
quantity he had taken. II he reported TO
the company that he had lost the glycerine
ne might De accused of conniving with the
moonlighters A. last ne saw way out of
his difficulty. Being on good terms with
man who manufactured glycerine, and
whose trade was largely with the moon
lighters. Jockey Todd resolved to so to him
and try 70 buy enough Of the explosive to
shoot the well He hid the shell under
some bushes. and drove to the factory,
where he succeeded in purchasing the
amount o: glycerine he needed. He also
bought shell
When he returned 10 the well, curiosity
led him to look under the bushes where he
''Gripis tryin' me mighty hard,'' he NUT
tered, as he swung can Of glycerine care
lessly from the box.
1t was not long until the torpedo was at
the bottom of the deep we'll and then
Jockey Todd picked up the three-cornered
weight. sd like to drop this on Grips
head he said, between his clinched teeth,
as he stood over the casing through which
the oil was soon to spout.
snow gitr' he said to the men employed
on the lease, who were standing in the der
rick. They fed, and he dropped the ''go-
devir' into the casing. He heard it strike
the petroleum, and second later a sound
like the swapping of a percussion-cap reached
him. Then he ran from the derrick floor.
He was only few PAGES from it when a
column of oil shot over the top of the der
rick.
He was always proud of successful shot,
and a quick response on the part of the well,
but this time his pleasure was momentary.
As he turned to look at the flow. something
flashed in the sunlight. He shut his eyes
quickly, but not soon enough to avoid see
ing Grip Jervis lying under some low-hang-
ing bushes, and beside him the shell Jockey
Todd had brought to the well that morning
He became angry and jumped on the box,
his reel. He took up the lines
and spoke to the bays. They started off at
a rapid gait, and he let them go. The sur
face of the road was soft and muddy, and
there were many deep ruts. Into one of
these front wheel sank, and he went cut
on his shoulder into puddle. The horses
ran on. passed the Jeryis home. and dashed |
into Hartford.
Leona saw them and the empty wagon, |
and her heart stood still. At last it had |
come, and Grip would soon return with the |
news of Hiram's death. She stationed her |
self at window from which she could see
lp the road. A great weight Of dread OPP
pressed her. and there was a lump in her |
throat, but she did not weep. She had al
ways prided herself that she was not lone
If the cryin' kind" Presently she uttered |
1 glad exclamation. She saw Jockey Todd
IN the top of the little hill. He was walk
ng along rapidly, and she knew at once that
ne was angry But she did not mind that,
md ran to meet him.
20, I'm so glad you're not hurt!" she
'aid, running into the middle of the muddy
'oad.
He was covered with mud and presented a
sorry appearance. Leona's reaction of
spirits was so great that, unheeding the
cowI on his face. she laughed at him.
'sDo you think it's funny!' he snarled.
sit wouldn't be il you had been hurt"
he replied, softly, as she looked fondly upon
lin.
This, however, did not appeaSo him.
'sThat brother of yours WAS the cause OF
{. I'm comm to see him tonight"
Her smile faded and her face grew pale.
With trembling lips she asked:
"Are you comm alone!'
"Do you think I'd bring anybody:
81 don't think You'll find Grip
81 will if you've got confidence in me-"
''WelL, what if have"
"You won't tell Grip I'm comm for sup
,er"
They had been standing in the mud in the
middle of the road, but both were so earnest
hat neither thought of the ludcrous side OF ,
ne situation. She looked steadily at him .
Or moment after his declaration that lie
leant to come for supper. Had he canght
er hand and he'd it, or attempted to coax
er, she would have doubted him, and would
ave said that she would tell Grip to expect {
i'm. But she saw he was still angry and !
-as asking no favors. although he was de
,rmined to meet Grip if possible. :
"Wcll," she said, deliberately. ''if you {
ome you needn't be surprised to find plates i
My for two
THAT IL be enough il they're for Grip 4
nd me-" V
With that he left her and went splashing
trough the mud toward Hartford. i
Leona was angry, thoroughly so, aud e
alled after him: Il s'poss you'll change
our clothes, and come in your Sunday suit
you and Grip eat together, you might a
eed your good clothes to be buried i'm b
Leona had a high temper. and when it was