Wichita eagle., 1890-02-26

Certainly dld, but you must hurry out
of here
"No; must stay here, but you must run
soon as you give me the tobaccy."
s'Oh, Jim, run, for they viii kill you!" She
got up and put her hands on his shoulders
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'll go away"
''If you don't go, won't, for if they see a
woman here they won't do any damage for
fear of hurtin' her"
s'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
''rll take care of myself, and you must go
now, but don't forget the tobaccy."
Here it is. GOod-by, for I'd rather go
than have them think you O coward; but it
isn't easy, JIM"
He he'd snatched the tobacco with quick
"Thank you," and was climbing to the roof
Of the station On a ladder. In one hand he
carried can of glycerine. When he reached
the platform that he bad built there as sort
of observatory she was out on the road. He
waved bis hand to her and ran down the lad
der In few minutes he had four cans on
the platform and then sat down to light his
pipe.
My! that woman hangin' on to my arms
fustered me most I'd rather face the whole
mob of producers than have her SO beseechin',
for l don't get SO shook up."
He had not long to wait until he saw the
| producers coming. When he saw how many
there were of them he ran down the ladder
and locked the doors of the station; then he
went back to the platform. At the head of
the crowd of angry men he recognized the
man whom he had requested to inform Rogers
Of the torpedo mau's accident.
"Hello, Bee Harbaugh, what's ups"
You, and we want you TO come down and
open the doors. We want to examine the
pump. 'Tisn't workin'."
ooh. the pumps all right! got lazy and
shut her down. Too hot today for even q
pump to work"
'Well, you can suit your pleasure about
iettin' US in; we'll get in ourselves. Come on,
boys"
Harbaugh held up light crowbar as sort
of signal TO the others to follow him, and
turned in from the road.
Just wait second, Harbaugh, and take
a look at this" He rose TO his feet and held
up can That's a bomb It's glycar' n,
and if you fellers git too close to them doors
I'll drop it on your heads"
Harbaugh came to halt and the others
crowded around him, peering at Jim, whose
tall, strong figure Yves in position for imme-
diate action. They were angry and very de-
termined, those men, and would have laughed
at a gun leveled at them, but the mention of
glycerine made them pause. 1t has no aim,
but scatters death in radii from the point of
its explosion.
Harbaugh plucked up courage and called:
''You can't fool US with an empty can,
Jim, and we give you just one more chance
to git down and out 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 a tangent. 1t struck
the-ground 200 feet from the men and ex-
ploded, 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 dislodge
a man who was determined to use such am
munition in defense of the property he was
guarding. A consultation was held, and it
was decided to parley with the pumper.
Harbaugh was selected as spokesman, and he
approached, with two or three others, to
within easy talking distance of the station.
'.Say, Croffut, we want to talk to you, "
Harbaugh said
$50 ahead; can hear you from there, :"
Jim replied
''Why don't you get down and out and
give us a chance to get square with the Lines!
They've never done anything particular for
you, and they have done us a mighty sight Of
harm"
'How."
"By letting our tanks overflow and the oil
from our wells run to waste. We can al
ways get our oil run if we will sell it t. them
OF a lower price than the regular market"
$50 I've heard" Jim commented; "but
how's s1nashin' the pump goin' to help yous"
''It will bring the Lines to terms and
when they geta new pump up, they will be
afraid to let our oil run to waste"
"Whatll become of your oil when the
pumps layin' idle?'
eve can afford the loss if we get salts
faction afterward in having our oil taken
care of"
"Well, amt got nothin' to do with that;
N nero W pump sauu W Jake CAL . "a Cue
Lines property"
You're pumpin' water, that's what you're
doin'," one of the other producers blurted.
What come out on the ground when you
broke the line down in the lsousr-grease or
water2
The producers looked at each other in
amazement. as if to ask how he knew of the
broken line, and then Harbaugh remarked
sit was the Widow Stearns. Come, jim
he said, in a louder voice, surrender and we
will make it right with you"
Its right with me now" Jim answered ;
'Iln here to protect this pump and I'm goin
to do ii.
'Well. you can't say that we haven't given
you ample notice, and if you get hurt it'll be
your own fault"
Eyes, guess it WILL" Jim observed, with
provoking calmness.
The producers retired TO the main body and
another consultation was held. Propositions
were made to surround the pump station and
boldly attack it, but the cooler heads promptly
decided against such measures.
I've got an idea said Harbaugh. LET
US lay quiet until supper time and then the
Widow Stearns will come with something for
Jim to eat. When she goes up to the station
We'll iust follow her. Jim won't dare TO fire
a glycerine can then for fear Of killing her"
Good" exclaimed number of the pro
ducers, and all gave assent TO the plan.
A short time after sunset Mrs. Stearrrs came
up the road and turned to go 80 the static
Harbaugh and two others immediately joined
her, and behind them followed other produc-
ers armed with crowbars and hammers. OF
the presence of the main body Of men, who
had been concealed in tha FOODS she WIS ig-
a>rant and with regard TO the others she
s.,ol M tbo.,pb+ until lin, called to her.