Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-12-13
NO. so.

for they were steadily advancing, while
Jim was counting their steps "One, two,
three, four FIVE six, seventeen he
stopped and lifted a can--"eight, nine"
"Stop, or he will kill us ~ shreked the
widow, seeing Jim swing the can, and her
words called a halt. Jim lowered the can,
and awaited the next movement of the pro.
ducers.
"He'scrazy, said Iarbauph, "and he will
throw those cans at us sure. Let us fall
back and wait till after dark.
In a minute the widow was left standing
alone, her knees shaking, and her breath
coming in short, convulsive gasps. Tears
filled her eyes, and through the mist before
her she gave Jim reproachful look then
she turned and walked slowly away.
"He would have thrown that bomb
whether il had killed me or not, 3" she muir
INJURED land all for that old pump that
could be replaced in three weeks
She began to sob, not caring that many
men were looking at her, desrous only that
Jim should not see her. Suddenly the
| growing darkness against the western hill
side reflected to her eyes a yellowish tint
| She looked back. The big gas jet at the
station was ablaze. Jim had taken advan-
tage of the momentary discontinue of the
producers TO light it, and the wide circle Of
It's light made the ground within one hun
dred yards of him almost as plain to his
vision as il was in the daylight. And in
spite of her grief she was glad be had the
protection that the gas Jet gave him.
As the darkness settled, the silence in the
valley was broken only by the crickets, and
from toward Hartford came the faint sound
Of the whistle of locomotive. Jim moved
restlessly on the small platform, wishing the
officers Of the Lines would send rescuing
party. Again the whistle sounded, nearer
this time, and Jim hoped that the approach
ing train bore to him relief from his trying
position While he looked down the valley
and listened for the rumble of the cars, a
flash illumined the darkness of the woods,
and he fell prone upon the platform. He
was shot through the side. There was
shout from the mob as they charged on the
pump station.
Jim heard the cry of onslaught and stag
gered to his feet. By great effort he was
able to appear strong in spite of the stream
of warm blood on his leg.
stop, you devils, or I'll kill every one OF
you I" and he threw a can Of glycerine
right in the path of the producers. 1t
burst, and the explosion covered them with
dust and pelted them with pebbles stop "
he yelled again, as he swung another can
into the air.
The producers huddled together, and then
fell back TO wait until Jim was exhausted
by the flow of blood from his wound. The
swoon came sooner than they expected. AS
he sank on the platform the short, sharp
, whistle that to the railroader means Down
, brakes I" sounded in his ears Immediately
, the producers charged on the station but
Harbaugh called halt before they reached
it, for he saw the sheriff and his armed
, deputies (many of whom were clerks and
employees of the Lines) advancing from the
train lust come to a stand-still. Seeing the
t number of the sheriff's posse, the producers
3 fled, and scattered under cover of the woods
/ There was surgeon with the sheriff Z
force, who dressed Jim's wound, and then
on a stretcher, the pumper was carried t
his room at Mrs. Stearns's house. His re
D covery was slow, and the widow was un
e failing in her attention to him. She wa
kind and gentle, but there was change II
Y her manner that distressed jim. He coulC
q not account for it, and spent many an houi
in silent meditation upon it. One day
t light broke in upon him, and he framed
e question for the widow.
did YOU think l would a throwed tina
a can at you that day when tire producer
!, was pushin' yer lords the station :"
When he launched the query at her tn
e widow was confused, and answered discon
d nectedly that she had thought he woul
= have thrown it.
n you was mistaken, for l would hav
let 'em smash the old pump rather than ru
s the risk Of takin' any inherent life, muc
e less yours. or even hurtin' you. for I've ha
d hankerin' after you this many day"
y The widows cheeks flushed deeper red
e and her eyes sparkled with the light of Joy
e but she could not resist the temptation
1t say, "You looked good deal more in carr
m est when you threatened to throw that ca
Z, at me than you do now, and if was mi
/: taken then, mebbe oughtn't to be quick
D, believing now"
10 Il had to look mighty much in earneI
'e then, for looks had TO do the business, or
now I'm trustin' mostly to words"
is "Well, if you can trust them, guess
* can, too"
IN After that declaration there was nothln
in in the widows manner that distressed jim
-Harpers Weekly.