The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-03

brink either of success or ruinous failure,
had forgotten it; both hearts were full of
grief over the fate which threatened the
dearest sister, the sweetest love ever
brother or lover had.
The engine throbbed, the machinery
clanked and the new sound grew louder
and yet louder, q sharp metallic click,
click, which suddenly eliminated in the
strong uprush of an imprisoned food, and
the heavy pattering fall of the descending
fluid on the roof of the building.
Both men raised pale and dazed faces,
and once again Kinnard opened the door
and strobe out far enough to see the sum-
NIT of the derrick, from which the first
fruits of their patient toll was bursting
like fountain.
"Hurrah! Come out an see, old pard, !"
shouted he in sudden wild excitement.
We've struck it at last, an struck it rich,
an now, thank God, we can fight the
scoundrel off the field an save Nella."
And the pardners grasped hands in a
hard grip.
But the sudden opening of the door
threw long lance of light into the forest
Of tree trunks, and Tins keen eye caught
movement some dozen PAGES off, as II a
shadow had giided behind tree. With
out word he bounded to the spot The
shadow bad melted into the universal
gloom. He stood still as a statue, holding
Has ptcdth, nedIu the etedtny SUCK OF q
footstep on the spongy moss, and sprang
at spot few PAGES away further on, and
so collidcd against the skulker with such
violence that he rolled on the ground,
with Tim on top of him, pinning his arms
to his sides.
His shout brought Ned, with the lamp,
snatched off its hook. in his hand, and by
was ragged, yellow-skinned wretch, who
appeared to be in the very extremity of
terror. Kinnard swung him to his feet
and demanded sharply what he did round
there?
"Le'me go, boss, I want doin' no harm, %
he whined. I'm only pore colored
boy"
.why were ye skulkin' round our dig
gin's?" asked Kinnard, loosening his grip
on the abject creature.
81 was jist agoin' ter ak fer a nights
lodgin' when We sot the do open in sech a
bounce got skeered, explained the mu-
latto, and he raised his shaggy arm to pull
down the brim of his old hat further over
his eyes, exposing wrist which cleaned
Grab him--he's white!" But the dis
guised man was too quick for Kinnard.
He leaped off like cat and vanished in
| the thick darkness. Kinnard was after
him as swiftly, stumbling against protrud-
ing roots, dashing himself against tree
trnnks-a hopeless chase, although Ned
| followed behind with lamp. Give him
a shot," called he. But Kinnard had left
| his rifle in the shanty; however, as a last
| chance, he sent his knife shooting toward
| the sound ahead, and a muffled cry told
| that his aim had been true. The spy was
| wounded. For all that he kept on, his pace
accelerated if anything by his wound, and
| succeeded in shaking off his pursuers in
| the end. Next morning they found his
| trail; he had been bleeding profuselv. vet
| had retained strength TO drag himself 10
the nearest highway, where no doubt he
had team in waiting TO carry him to a
| safe asylum.
| The partners knew their danger if he
should happen to be some rascally oil
| that there was new well nowing, and that
broker would make his fortune on the oil
| exchange at their expense. They tele-
graphed to a friend of their own on
change and thus saved the field. for by
| the time the wounded spy was able TO
| forward his news il was an old story.
| worth nothing to bis employer.
Ned also telegraphed TO his sister Nella
| to have nothing more to say TO Joel Har-
| riman, promise or no promise, but if he
| troubled her to refer him to him. Ned.
| And then the partners threw themselves
| heart and soul into developing their enter
| prise.
| Ii was six months afterward and the
| ground was covered with snow, and Nella
| Vance was on her way 10 Venango to her
| brother, 10 he his housekeeper in the
| pretty new house built by the now -four
| ishing firm of Vance & kinnard Nella
had come as far as the railroad would
| carry her on her journey. but she had yet
! a long ride in old Bolts primitive stage
| sleigh along the well made road which
| now cut straight as the crow flies through
| the inferminahle hemlock forest from the
railway station 10 the new city of Ven.
| ango.
| Nella was not the only passenger. There
We're young and elderly men crowding TO
| the new Mecca in search of wealth. and
| a wife or two going like herself to Join dear
| ones already there, with homes to well
| come them 10. And Nella did not find
| the drive irksome. since the bulk of the
| conversation between rough old Driver
Bolts and his passengers was abou,
Vance & kinnard, the piucky pioneers OF
Nenango, who had made such good use OF
| their luck and raised thriving town in
the heart of the wilderness, with hotels,
| machine shops, u theater-and churches
| for them as wanted email in the space
| Of six months. AN now thar's dozens
an dozens of derricks round, besides Kin
Hsrd & Vance's." quoth old Bolts, glorify-
| ing the new city. AN moo companies
| buyin' in every day but Vanee's beats EN-
! all. os they deserves it should. Ylt they