Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-12-13

around Tor his pipe, and hnally iOuhd u
half full Of tobacco Lighting it, he sat
down 10 resume the meditation that had
been twice interrupted that day. Finding
that his thoughts were inclined to wander,
he rose and gave the fires a shaking up.
When he threw the poker down, he said to
himself, as If 10 another person.
IF they get to howlin' round here,
guess I'll have to let the fires go out, but
there's no use in borrowin' trouble"
The sun was on the slant to the west
when he heard again the Widow Stearns's
voice, but this time it was full Of alarm.
They're comm, Jim--the producers
They're just at my heels, but they stopped
down there in the hollow TO smash the pipe.
/ saw them breaking it with crow'bars."
She was very much excited, and exhaust
ed and breathless from running.
"Sit down, Mrs Stearns, and rest up
bit while stop the pump. There amt no
use in squirtin' the grease on to the ground. O."
He looked at her flushed cheeks, and
knew that had il not been for the unusual
bodily exertion she had undergone they
would have been pale, for he saw her fright
in her eyes and felt it in her tone.
"But you must run, Jim. They're com
in to smash the pump, and if they find you
here they might hurt you
did you bring the tobaccy Mrs Stearnsf"
Certainly | did but you must hurry
out of here"
"No; must stay here but you must
run soon as you give me the tobaccy"
ooh, jim, run for they will kill you.
She got up, and put her hands on his shoul-
ders pleadingly.
mo, they won't. I'll just keep them
away till they cool off, and then I'll come
home to supper, for they will go away
'If you don't go, | won't for il they
see a woman here they won't do any dam
age for fear of hurtin her.
"You mustn't stay for that reason. They
would say Jim Croffut had got woman to
protect him You give me the tobaccy,
and run
But Jim"
"Ill take care of myself and you must
20 now, but don't forget the tobaccy."
Here it is. Good-by, for I'd rather e
than have them think you a coward bu'
it isn't easy, Jim
He had suatched the tobacco with aquicl
"Thank you" and was climbing to the roo
of the station on a ladder. In one hand h'
carried can of glycerine. When h'
reached the platform that he had bull
there as a sort of observatory, she was ou
on the road He waved his hand to her
and ran down the ladder. In few min
utes he had four cans on the platform, anC
then sat down to light his pipe
my that woman hangin' on to my arm
fustered me most I'd rather face tn
whole mob of producers than have her s.
beseechin, for don't git so shook up"
He had not long to wait until he saw thu
producers coming When he saw hov
many there were of them, he ran down tn
ladder and locked the doors of the station
then he went back to the platform. A
the head of the crowd of angry men b
recognized the man whom he had requisite
to inform Rogers of the torpedo mans &C
cdent
Hello, Ben Harbaugh, what's up y
'You. and we want you to come dow
and open the doors. We want to examin
the pump. 'Tisn't workin.'
"Oh the pumps all right got laz
and shut her down. Too hot today for eve
a pump to work
"Well, you can suit your pleasure abor
lettin us IN wen get in ourselves Com
, on, boys"
, Harbaugh held up light crow bar as
sort of signal to the others to follow hin
and turned in from the road.
Jest wait a second, Harbaugh and tax
a look at this" He rose to his feet an
held up can. That's bomb It's 81!
Germ, and if you felers git too close to the
doors, I'll drop it on your heads.
Harbaugh came to a halt, and the othe
n crowded around him, peering at Jim. who's
tall strong figure was in position for imm
diate action. They were angry and vel
= determined, those men, and would ha'
. laughed at a gun leveled at them, but Il
mention of glycerine made them pause.
q has no aim, but scatters death in radii fro
= the point of its explosion.
Harbaugh plucked up courage and calle
!, "You can't fool us with an empty can, Jlr
- and we give you Just one more chance
= git down and out of the way, for we a
goin' TO smash that pump"
n For reply Jim swung the can around
!. head, and let it go at a tangent. 1t stru
|, the ground two hundred feet from the mi
!, and exploded, hurting stones and dirt
4 every direction.
- The producers fell back for they had Sc
- the other cans, and knew well the folly
risking their lives in the attempt to dislod
II, a man who was determined to use such a
a. munition in defence of the property he "
=, guarding. consultation was held, and
=, was decided TO parley with the pump
p Harbaugh was selected as spokesman,
~ he approached with two or three others
n within easy talking distance of the static
: Say, Croffut, we want to talk to yo'
a Harbaugh said
- "Go ahead can hear you from Their
4. Jim replied.
=. "Whv don't you get down and out, a
in give us a chance to get square with
- Lines They've never done anything p
"A ticular for you, and they have done u
n mighty sight of harm
M "How ~
"a "By letting our tanks overflow, and
~ oil from our wells run to waste. We
~, always get our oil run if we will sell II
a. them at lower price than the regular m
lv ket."
hs $50 I've heard, Jim commented; Z"
% is. how- smashin the pump goin' to help yo
-, 70 1T will bring the Lines to terms,
when they get new pump up they will
-. afraid to let our oil run to waste"
'u' I'VE can afford the loss if we get sa
ha faction afterwaId in having our oil ta
as. care Of"
ia well, amt got nothin' to do with tn
I'm here to pump, and to take care OF
tie Lines property"
.ao 'o You're pumpin' water that's what yo
"a doin," one of the other producers blurt'
~ ~ "What come out on the ground when
,ls broke the line down in the holler, greas
lar water ~
tha The producers looked at each uthe
amazement, as if to ask how he knew
he the broken line, and then Harbaugh
ON. marked 1T was the Widow Stea
Come, jim" he said, in louder voice, .
ers render, and we will make it right with y
the ITS right with me now, Jim answer
of Pm here to- protect this pump and
goin to do 1t"
vi
lin given you ample notice, and if you get
og it'll be your own fault.
YES, guess it will, Jim observed,
on. provoking calmness.
nee The producers retired to the main b
i'm and another consultation was held. /
With ositions were made to surround the p
tan station, and boldly attack it, but the &C
ben heads promptly decided against such II
ures.
for I've got an idea, " said Harbaugh.
orm us lay quiet until supper-time, and thei
ade Widow Stearns will come with sonnet
at for Jim TO eat When she goes up t
station we'll just follow her, jim Y
Dbe, dare to fire glycerine can then for
of killing her"
me. Good ~ exclaimed a number of the
/ go ducers, and all gave assent to the plan
Is to A short time after sunset Mrs Ste
one came up the road, and turned TO go Il
Irt." station. Harbaugh aud two others II
on diately joined her, and behind then
de lowed other producers armed with
bars and hammers. OF the presence q
then main body of men, who had been conc
in the woods, she was ignorant and
Rog. regard to the others, she took no thu
until Jim called TO her
le of 81 don't want any supper tonight,
sta Stearns, and you tell the other pump
und. stay on for the night turn.
1 the IAN right, Mr. Crohut III tell
Jim Mrs. Stearns answered, and turned
home. Then she discovered the numl
L L L Il. ~. lnl