Wichita eagle., 1890-02-26
PUMPER JIM.


valley. They had collected at various points
with the intention of marching to the head
office of the Combined Pipe Lines company
In body that represented the oil producers
of the entire Hartford region 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 protection or destroy them.
1t was beautiful May day. soft and warm,
and Jim Croffut felt indolent as he sat out
side Of the pump station listening to the mo-
rotonous strokes of the big engine sending
the petroleum with a musical clink into the
main line. He had smoked bis pipe SO lazlly
that it had gone out, but he still held the
stem between his teeth.
A cheerful laugh aroused him from his rev.
erie, and he swung forward, dropping the
chair on its four feet.
well, l declare Jim, you are the sleepiest
man on the Tuna You never can keep your
pipe going"
'How dye do, Mrs. Stearnsi VIII you
sitsn
NO, thank you; I'm on my way to the
store"
''Will you 'blige by bringin' me plug of
snokin' tobaccys I'm about out of that con-
ISOLATION"
Certainly, jim; but 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, resum-
ing his seat, muttered, Perhaps not so easily
consoled as you think, Widow Stearns, when
none but you can do it; and yit can't tell
you, for it would seem like fergittin' 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
we'll with the crumbs which he picked from
his coat pocket with thumb and forefnger
The coat was still lying over his knees, but he
seemingly forgot to tumble in it for a match,
while he rested his elbow on it. Again his
preoccupation was broken by voice, like
wise familiar to him. This time the shed was
between him and the speaker, who exclaimed,
"Nhoa boysl don't kick, or we'll all be in
kingdom come in two shakes of q cats tail"
Jim jumped to his feet and ran around the
shed. Before him lay torpedo man, thrown
from bis box by the breaking of an axle and
holding to the lines that guided his team.
The horses instinctively stood still, and Jim
fastened to unhitch them lest they should be-
come restless and kick the wagon, which the
torpedo man grimly told him was loaded.
When the horses were tied to a tree at a
short distance from the wreck, Jim went to
the torpedo man and helped him TO his feet.
81 got a bad twist, Pumper Jim; but I'm
thankful that was all.
"Well, you are under obhgashuns to be
glad, for you come mighty near bein' pas
senger on the sky high route. How did you
get tied up that way anyhow"
MAXIM short cut. I was goin' gentle
enough, but the wheel got twisted somehow
on the big pipe, and the axle snapped. l
dropped on the pipe and hurt somethin'."
You torpedo men are all durn fools any
how, Jake Burdin, and it's a wonder there
amt more of you knocked into the tree tops. +"
By that time Jake was as comfortable as
he could be made on the rude lounge Jim con-
structed with plank and two chairs.
''I'll look for somebody to send Rogers
word" said Jim, and he went out to the main
road, where he met detachment of produc-
ers on their way to Hartford.
"Say," he called, there's man hurt down
10 CuS pump buiU.i =" Al ohC
of you men be kind enough to tell Rogersf'
Very much like string Of oaths condemn
ing all sorts Of monopolies was the sentence
hurled back at him by the man nearest him.
''Monopoles amt got nothing to 90 with a
man being human, have they? You tell Rog
ers to send doctor out here, and then you
can call yourself man"
Jim guessed the errand Of the men, for he
had heard the mutterings of the storm that
was to break that day, but be made no alu-
sion to the discomfort which had at last de-
veloped into violence
Were comm back to see you, mebbe, and
we'll fetch doctor with US
You'll find me at home when you come,
but if there's man in that crowd he'll 90
straight to Rogers Office when he gets TO
Hartford, and let 'em know there that one of
their mems laid up here with bad hurt"
That being the case, we'll all call on
Rogers right off, for we're all men and de-
mand mans rights"
Much obliged" Jim called and then has
tened to Jake
Take it as easy as you can, Burdin; Rogers
will send for you soon"
He was right, for in short time one Of
Rogers teams dashed up to the pump station
and the driver leaped to the ground Jake
was lifted into the buggy and the driver
took up the lines to 60 when Jim asked what
was going on in Hartford.
''Nothin' but the producers. They're going
on big. and there's likely to be somethin'
smashed fore night"
good-by to Jake.
49,, L A. A.
buggy mounted one of the hcrses Jake had
driven, and, leading the other, was soon out
Of sight. The broken wagon, with its load Of
explosives lay on its side.
Jim contemplated Ii a few minutes and
then remarked: If there's to be any smashn'
goin' on, that stuff in there might be useful
I'll just confscate it, as they used to say in
the army"
lie lifted the lid or the box and looked a.
the cans. They were all small, each contain
ing quart Of nitro-glycerine.
GOOD" he uuttered They'll make good
bombs. / could throw one OF them about one
hundred feet, / reckon, Oh pinch
He took them carefully out OF the box and
carried them into the shed, rs be called the
little house that covered the pumping en-
gines. When done with that be looked around
Tor his pipe and finally found it, half full of
tobacco. Lighting it, he sat down to Resume
the meditation that had been twice inter
rup.ei that day. Finding that his thoughts
were inclined to wander he rose and gave tfx,
fires q shaking up. When he threw tie poker
down he said TO himself, as If to another per
son:
I'll they get TO howlin' round here guess
I'll have 10 let the fires 80 out, but there's no
use in borrowin' trouble
The suu was on the s,sns to the west. when
he heard again the Widow Stearns- voice. but
this time it was full Of alarm.