The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-04-24

Mrs. Stearns answered, and turned to go
home. Then she discovered the number
of men who had been behind her. Her
way was blocked, and she had to step
back to avoid being trod upon. The men
in the rear were advancing and pushing
those in front, who forced Mrs. Stearns
nearer to the station, she wondering what
it meant
Jim made it plain to her when, in cold,
deliberate tones, he said:
Ben Harbaugh and you other men,
you needn't think that you can find pro
lection behind a woman, for as sure as
live, if you come ten steps further, I'll
throw can at you"
"Why, Jim, you wouldn't kill wom-
an Harbaugh exclaimed.
mot intentially, but I'm here to take
care of this pump, as | told you, and
don't you men come come ten steps
closer, that's all
Mrs. Searms had faced about, and was
looking at Jim. She realized her danger
| if he meant what he said, and when her
eyes rested on his resolute face her
cheeks blanched and shiver passed over
her. The men behind seemed to disbe-
lieve Jim, for they were steadily advanc-
| ing, while jim was counting their steps:
zone, two, three, four five, six, seven
then he stopped and lifted can
''eight, nine
stop, or he will kill us!" shrieked
the widow seeing Jim swing the can, and
her words called a halt. jim lowered
the can and awaited the next movement
of the producers.
Hes crazy said Harbaugh, ''and he
will throw those cans at us sure. Let us
fall back and wait till after dark"
| In minute the widow was left stand
ing 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 reproach-
full look: then she turned and walked
slowly away.
"He would have thrown that bomb
whether it would have killed me or not,
she murmured 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. desirOus only
that Jim should not see her. Suddenly
the growing darkness against'the west
ern hillside reflected to her eyes yel-
llowish tint. ShO looked back. The big
gas let at the station was ablaze. jim
had taken advantage of the mOmentary
discontinue of the producers to light it,
and the wide circle of its light made the
ground within hundred yards of him
almost as plain to his vision as it was in
the daylight. And in spite of her grief
she was glad he had the protection that
the gas jet gave him.
As the darkness settled, the silence in
the valley was broken only by the crick-
cts, and from toward Hartford came the
faint sound of the whistle of locomO-
tive. jim moved restlessly on the small
platform, wishing the officers of the lines
would send a rescuing party. Again the
whistle sounded, nearer this time, and
} Jim hoped that the approaching train
} bore to him relief from his trying posi-
ton. 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 plat
form. He was shot through the side.
, There was a shout from the mob as they
charged on the pump station.
jim heard the cry of onslaught and
, staggered to his feet. BY great effort he
was able to appear strong i'll spite of the
stream of warm blood on his leg.
l Ds v
, of you!" and he threw can of glycer-
inc 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 an,
? other can into the air.
. The producers huddled together and
then fell back to wait until jim was ex
/ hausted by the flow of blood from his
' wound. The swoon came sooner thar
they expected. As he sank on the plat
| form the short, sharp whistle that to the
t railrOacer means Down brakes!
5 sounded in his ears. Immediately the
Q producers charged on the station; but
r 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) advanc
l ing from the train, just come to stand
7 still. Seeing the number of the sheriff ,
| posse, the producers fled and scattered
t under cover of the woods.
9 There was a surgeon with the sheriff ,
} force, who dressed Jim's wounds, anC
9 then, on a stretcher, the pumper was car
ried off ito his room at Mrs. Steans'
| house. His recovery was very slow, anC
the widow was unfailing in her attention
to him. She was kind and gentle, but
e there was change in her manner that
distressed Jim. He could not account
for it, and spent many an hour in silent
| meditation upon it. One day light
t broke in upon him, and he framed {
l question for the widow.
1 "Did you think | would a throweC
that can at you that day when the pro
| ducers was pushin' yer to'rd the sta
e tion?'
t When he launched the query at her the
| widow was confused, and answered dis
e connectedly that she though he woult
have thrown it.
: "You are mistaken, for would have
S let em smash the pump rather than ruI
X the risk of talIin' any innocent life, ,mucl
= less yours, or even hurtin' you, for I've
had a hankcrin' after you this many
4 day
The widows cheeks flushed deeper
red and her eyes sparkled with the ligh
of joy; but she could not resist thu
| temptation to say: you looked a goOt
e deal more in earnest when you threat
: ened to throw that can at me than yol
e do now, and if | was mistakened then
mebbe ought not to be quick in believ
ing now"
e II had to look mighty much in eapes
n then, for looks had to do the business
o but now I'm trustin mostly to words.
+ "Well, if you can trust them, | guess
can, too"
; After that declaration there was moth
o inc in the widows manner that dis