Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-28

he heard again the Widow Steai'ns' voice, but
this time it was full of alarm.
They're comiu', Jim-the producersl
They're just at my heels, but they stopped
down there in She hollow TO smash tho pipe.
! saw them breahing 1T with crowbarxn
She was very much excited, and exhausted
and brcathless from running
"Sit down, Mrs Stcarns, and rest up bit
while | stop the pump There amt no use
sqdrtin' the grease ON TO the ground.
lie looked at her flushed checks and knew
that had it not been for the unusual bodily
cxortion she had undergone they would have
been pale. for he saw her fright in her eyes
and felt il in her tone.
But you must run, Jim. They're comm
to smash the pump, and ii they fluid you here
they might hurt YOU
Did you bring the tobaccy, Mrs StoarnsF
"Cortainly did, but you must hurry out
of here
"No; ! must stay here, but you must run
soon as you give inc the tobaccy.n
ooh, Jim. run, for thcv viii Kill youl' She
got up and put her hands ON his shoulders
pleaiingly.
$50 they won't. III Just keep them away
till they cool OH. and then I'll come home to
supper, for theyl 90 awny.'
IF YOU don't 20. / won't, for if they see a
woman here they won't do any damage for
fear of hurtin her"
"You mustn't stay for that reason. They
would say Jim Crotfut had got woman to
protect him. You give me the tobaccy and
rum
Bat. JIM
"I'll take care Of myself. and You must go
now, but don't forget the tobeccyn
Here it Is. Good-by, for I'd rather go
than have them think YOU a coward: but it
isn't easy, Jim
lie had snatched the tobacco with quicl;
''Thank you, and was climbing to the roof
of the station ON n ladder In one hand he
carried a can Of glycerlne When he reached
the platform that lac bad built there as q sort
of observatory she was out on the road. TIo
waved his hand to her and ran down the lad
der. In few minutes he had four cans on
the platform and then snt down to light his
pipe
"Myl that woman hangin' on to my arms
fusterpd me most. I'd rather face the whole
mob of producers than have her 50 beseechin',
for don't get 50 shook up
tIe had not long Ia wait until he saw the
producers coming. When lie saw how many
there were Of then he ran down the ladder
and locked the doors Of tue station; then lie
went back to the platform. At the head of
the crowd OF angry mon he recognized the
man whom he had requested to Inform Rogers
of the torpedo mans accident.
"Iiello, Bee Uarbaugh, what's up."
You, and we want you to come down and
open the doors We want to examine the
pump. 'Tisil't workin.'
ooh, the pumps ali right got lazy and
shut her down. Too hot today for even a
pump to work"
"Well, YOU can suit your pleasure about
| lettin' TO in; we'll get in ourselves Come on,
| boys
LIarbaugh held up a light crowbar as a sort
Of signal to the others to follow him, and
turred in from the road.
Just wait a second, IIarbaugh, and take
n look at this" lie rose to his feet and held
up can That's n bomb. It's glycer'n,
and if you felers git too close to them doors
III drop it on your heads"
Harbaugh came to a halt, and the others
crowded around him, peerinG at jim, whose
tail, strong figure was in position for imme-
diate action. They were angry and very de
tormincd, those men, and would have laughed
at a gun leveled at them, but the mention Of
glycerine made them pause. Ii has no AIM
. but scatters death in radIi from the point of
its explosion.
Harbaugh pluckod up courage and called l.:
} "Nou cant fool US with an empty can
Jim, and We give you just one more chance
10 git down and ont of the way, for we are
goin to smash that pump
For reply Jim swung the can around his
head and let it go at q tangent. 1t struck
the ground POO feet from the men and ex-
podcd, hurting stones and dirt in every
direction.
The producers fell back, for they had seen
the other cans and knew well the folly OF
risking their lives in the attempt to dislodee
a man who was determined TO use such am
muniton in defense Of the property he was
guarding. a consultation was held, and it
was decided to paroy with the punper.
Iarbaugh was selected rs spokesman, and he
( approached, with two or three others, TO
within easy talking distance Of the station.
"Say. Croifut, we want TO talk to you, -
BarbauGh said.
$50 ahead ! can hear you from there, y
jim replied.
"Why don't you get down and out and
give Us u chance to get square with the Lines.
They've never done anything particular for
you, and they have done us 4 mighty 81 ght of
harm"
"HowF
SPY letting our tanks overflow and the oil
ways get our oil rum if we will sell it t. them
at lower price than tie regular Market
$50 I've heard Jim commented; ''hut
how's sinashin' the pump goin' to help youH'
1T will bring the Lines TO terms, and
when they geta new pump up, they viii be
afraid tD let our oil run 10 waste"
"WhatLl become of your oil when the
pumps layin' idle
"We can afford the loss if we ret salts
faction afUeruard in having our oil taken
care of.
"Wcn, amt got uothin' to do with that
Tn here to pump, and to take care of the
Lines property
You're pulnpin' water, that's what you're
don ~ one Of the other producers blurted.
what come out on the ground when You
broke the line down in the uoier-grease OF
watcrf
The producers looked at each sther in
ama2emcnt, u if to ask how he knew Of The
broken line, and then Harbaugh remarked
"lt was the Widow S,oarns Come. Jim.
he said, in a louder voice. Surrender and w.
will make it right with YOU
ITS right with me now" Jim answered