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

Tuna alley. lhey hau coHecteu aI Nail-
GUS points, with the intention of marching
TO the head office Of the Combined Pipe
Lines company in a body that represented
the oil producers Of the entire Hartford re
pion. and demanding that their oil tanks be
relieved Failing to obtain this concession,
the producers meant to take possession of
the Lines, and run them for their self-pro
lection or destroy them.
1t was a beautiful May day, soft and
warm, and Jim Croffut felt indOlent, as he
sat outside of the pump station listening to
the monotonous strokes of the big engine
sending the petroleum with musical cllnk
into the main line He had smoked his
pipe so lazily that it had gone out, but he
still held the stem between his teeth.
A cheerful laugh reused him from his
reverie, and he swung forward, dropping
the chair on its four feet
"Wel, declare, Jim, you are the sleepl-
est man on the Tuna You never can keep
your pipe going" ~
How dye do, Mrs. Stearns VIII you
sit :"
mo, thank you rm on my way to the
store j,
"Will YOU 'blige by bringin' me plug of
smokin' tobaccy I'm about out OF that
consolation.
Certainly, Jim but l do think you
about the most easily consoled man ever
saw. Good morning"
Good mornin'."
He watched her tripping lightly over the
ground for few moments, and then, re-
snming his seat. muttered, Perhaps not
SO easily consoled as you think, Widow
Stearns, when none but you can do 1t and
Wit | can't tell you, for it would seem like
| forgittin' Bill Stearns, and me and him was
pards too long for that
knowing that he would soon have new
supply of tobacco, he knocked the ashes
out of his pipe and filled the bowl, packing
it with the crumbs which he picked from
his coat pocket with thumb and forehnger.
The coat was still lying over his knees, but
he seemingly forgot to tumble IN 1t Tor a
match, while he rested his elbows on 1t.
Again his preoccupation was broken by a
voice likewise familiar TO him. This time
the shed was between him and the speak
ar. who exclaimed, whoa, boys don
kick, or we'll all be in kingdom come IL
two shakes of cats tail. ."
Jim Jumped to his feet and ran arounc
the shed Before him lay torpedo man
thrown from his box by the breaking OF al
axle, and holding to the lines that guldeC
his team. The horses instlnctivelv stoo'
still, and Jim hastened to unhltch then
lest they should become restless and klcl
the wagon, which the torpedo man griml!
informed him was loaded. When thu
horses we're tied to a tree at short dis
tance from the wreck, Jim went to the tor
pedo man and helped him to his feet.
81 got a bad twist, Pumper Jim bu
I'm thankful that was all.
"Well, you are under obligashuns to b'
glad, for you come mighty near bein' pas
senger on the skyhigh route. How di
you get tied up that way, anyhow
Maxim a short cut | was goln' gentl
enough, but the wheel got twisted some
how on the big pipe and the axle snapped
dropped on the pipe, and hurt somethln
You torpedo men are all durn fool
anyhow, Jake Burdiu, and it's wonde
there amt more of you knocked into th
tree-tops
S By that time Jake was comfortable as
r. could be made on the rude lounge Jim col
e structed with plank and two chairs
I'm look for somebody TO send Rogei
K word" said Jim and he went out to u
e main road, where he met detachment
e producers on their way to Hartford.
$ "Say," he called, there's man hu
o down to the pump station-Jake Burdi
; Win one of you be kind enough TO tell no
I' ers Z"
Very much like string of oaths col
T.: demning all monopolies was the senten
II hurled back at him by the man nearest hlI
d "Monopolies 'ain't got nothin' to do wi
r. a man bein' human, have they You Il
, Rogers to send doctor out here, and tn
ic YOU can call Yourself a man"
ID Jim guessed the errand of the men,
as he had heard the mutterings OF the stoT
RS that was 10 break that day, but he ma
s, no allusion to the discomfort which had
ps last developed into violence.
a Were comm back to see you, mebt
I'd and we'l fetch doctor with us.
ar You'll find me at home when you con
ey lint if there's a man in that crowd he'll
T. straight TO Rogers's office when he gets
es Hartford, aud let em know there that O
nd of their mems laid up here with bad hur
n, "That bein' the case, we'l all call
se Rogers right off, for we're all men, and
mand a mans rights.
m. much obliged" jim called, and ii
ed fastened to Jake.
he Take it easy as you can, Burdin' X
ers will send for you soon.
He was right. for in short time one
Ia Rogerss teams dashed up TO the pump s
-. ton, and the driver leaped to the grou
a. Jake was lifted into the buggy, and
.aI driver LOOK up Lue llhVo " 81 ~"
80 asked what was going on in Hsrford.
eo ''Nothin but the producers they're
an 'aH in ON big, and there's likely to be sometl
nm smashed fore night.
Likely" Jim commented, aud then
ded good-by to Jake.
An extra man, who had come with
buggy, mounted one of the horses Jake
An driven, and leading the other was soon
ga iea, of sight The broken wagon, with its
the the of explosive, lay on its side.
cry Jim contemplated it a few minutes,
This then remarked "If there's TO be
55",f Of smashin' goin on, that stuff in there mi
rae be useful I'll just confscate it, as
lion used to say in the army"
ana He lifted the lid off the box, and loo
Sc., at the cans. They were all spall, {
und containing quart of nitro glyceripe.
Al Good p he muttered, They'll n
any good bombs. could throw one of Z
r 4 about one hundred feet, reckon, o
esns rson pinch"
ID" He took them carefully out of the