Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-02
HOIST With His own PETARD.
ASTORY OFTHEOnCOUNTRIEs
WRITTEN FOB THE EVENING eTAI By
ANNIB lHHNORR
ssHISTi WHAT WAS THATr"
IL "Didn't hear anything, what vast

'Like'st something scufiing along the boards
outside. I'm going to see" And Tim Kinnard,
. tall, dark young fellow, roughly clad in
pioneer garb and wearing . formidable knife
stuck in his belt, picked up his rife from the
corner near by and strobe into the thick dark
ness Of the moonless summer night.
Ned Vance, his ''pard," and . good-losking,
frank faced youth, similarly attired, never
turned his head, but continued to watch the
revolutions Of An iron rod which passed up
through a twelve-inch hole in the door to the
plank ceiling, Q stout cable extending from the
rod to huge windlass near by. The strange
interior was Lit by the glowing smbers Of
furnace fire, aided by Q smoky lamp which
hung from hook in the board wall Strange
forms Of machinery doomed cut Of he ssmi-
darkness.
Outside virgin forest spread around the
shanty for miles. The partners had not seen Q
human face beside their own for month past
Day and night they had toiled and watched and
waited for the reward which. II it came as all;
must come as q dazzling success, which would
make their sufferings seem . mere tribe.
And II it did not come they were ruined cut
right
Last summer Tim Kinnard, . poor farmers
son, had driftsd down here on hunting sxpe..
to drink from q forest pool, and saw . greasy
scum floating on it. Petroleum, e. surs's q
gun" chuckled he. and back home - fast a.
he could travelled his particular friend and
lifelong chum, Ned Vance, into the secret,
and they went into partnership on the spot.
Both were their own masters, owning . few
run down acres Of farm land and the ancient
buildings on them. They sold all they pos
sessed; Ned bade goodbye to his sister, Q
lovely little girl Of eighteen. who was valiantly
supporting herself as q district school teacher
to tighten his burden; secured the costly outfit
necessary to their enterprise, and very quietly
bought and settled down upon . small lot in the
heart Of the pine woods where Tim had stopped
to drink the oily water.
With the help Of some Of the spathetic
dwellers in the woods they got their derrick
built and the machinery set up, and here ever
since they had toiled, patiently boring for the
precious fluid and guarding their doings from
all the world with jealous care. since . pre-
mature discovery would ruin their market
and make all their labor in vain. Let single
greedy speculator, with money at his back,
suspect that there was oil to be had for the
boring in the pine woods Of Venango, and his
derricks would rise like magic on every side Of
their humble pioneer, his army Of men would
find in day what 1t might cost them months
to find, and his oil would glut the market be-
fore they had seen the sparkle Of theirs.
Hitherto no enc had molested them, but now
that certain indications were rousing their
hopes to fever pitch their anxiety increased
in direct ratio, and every sough Of the summer
wind through the trees or creak Of the plank
ing which formed their shanty put them on
the alert
Tim re-sntered after few minutes scout
ing and closed the door. "Twa'nt anything,
unless it might be the old hemlock brushir
agin the buildin," said he, in his soft, pleasant
sssd 4aa his rifle ISss s.n.s he
resumed his patient waiting for the oil to show
itself.
Ned Vance paid no heed Round whirled the
rod, the engine throbbed, and the machinery
clanked its monotonous measure, familiar
in the rough harmony, q sound which brought
the blood to his cheek and the fire to his eve
81 tell ye what. Ned, remarked Tim by and
by, as he thoughtfully filed his pipe, ''h we
ever strike it, Nella'u carryi it OF Ike born
princess, God bless herr Ned started at the
times pictur' her to myself, all rugged out in
silks and jewels, may be drivin' her own little
carriage, an the snug little home we'd build
for her, pillars In front, an verandys for
honeysuckle an SIGH like. Ye mind how fond
she is af howers2 oh. bet - Nslla amt G in
Apparently Ned had forgotten the object Of
his interest Of . minute since, for he was star
ing blankly at his partne..
"Why, Tim," exclaimed he, "do You mean
TO cay that you're sweet on my sister Nella?"
"Didn,t you know that; old fellow, counter
quite full. Give always thought the world of
Nella- 1t was only that was so COMPOUNDED
poor or I'd hev spoke up long ago; but II We
really do make big thing out Of this"
'.Tim, did ye ever hear tell Of q chap called
Joel Hartmann" interrupted Ned, in . low
voice.
'Joel Hartman, that skunk2" retorted Tim,
looking up. with an instant darkening Of the
handsome face. eyes, have-to my sorrow.
What about that pious gentleman
Ned seemed to find some difficulty in speak
ing, but after q curious pause hs stammered
.'How long have you known him?"
About couple Of years back was over to
Clairville to my uncles. You mind2 Well, Joel
Hartman was regular bigbug there; kept
store and did stunnin' business. to all appear
like ile." Ned groaned. zone day Mr.. Harri-
man turns up missin and then the cat was out
of the bag. He'd been workin' his smooth
tongue for all it was worth; had borrowed
money from man, woman and child, me
crowdin round his empty store-yes, even to
the poor little schoolmarm. II the mongrel cur
hadn't blarneyed her bit Of savins out Of her
to invest it, forsooth, an then skipped with
the plumber to swell around as a moneyed man
somewheres else Thunder! II only had the
v
for what he done to the poor little teacher.
When l see her cry thought Of Nella. What
if it had been Nella?''
''Tim, have mercy" burst from his partner
in choking voice, and he looked up to behold
Ned Vance looking pale and haggard and
writhing with grief: Tim could only look his
anxiety. From the sequence Of subjects a
hideous suggestion flashed into his mind. Bold
heart though he was he dared not put the
question in words; "Oh, Tim, I'd only
known about you'll" cried Ned. ''Then when
he came carneyin' round me an scarin' me
about leavin' her unprotected"
"Speak It out, Ned, quickw said Tim, spring
ing to his feet, while pipe, tobacco and pocket
knife battered on the floor unheeded.
$50 he talked her over, too, an I guess she
never mistrusted about you. An she's prom
Used to marry him." finished Ned.
Never q word said Tim Kinnard, but 4 blight
seemed to fall on him. The spirit, courage and
endurance which had crowned his manhood
collapsed in moment. The two "wildcatters''
who had thrown their all into this enterprise
which was on the brink. either Of success or a
ruinous failure, had forgotten it; both hearts
were full Of grief over the fate which threat
ened 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.
a sharp metallic click, click, which suddenly
eliminated In the strong uprush Of An impris-
oned flood, 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 summit of the der