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

beit, picked up his rife from the corner
incar by and strobe into the thick darkness
81 the moonIess summer night.
Ned Vance, his .'pard, and cookbook
Ing, frank-faced youth, similarly attired,
never turned his head, but continued TO
Wafch the revolutions of an iron rod which
parsed up through twelve-inch hole in
The door TO the plank ceiling, a stout cable
extending from the rod to a huge windlass
near by. The strange interior was Lit by
fhe glowing embers Of furnace fire. aided
~ smoky lamp, which hung from hook
Sn the board wall. Strange forms of ma
chinery doomed out of the semi-darkness.
Outside, a virgin forest spread around
the shanty for miles. The partners had
not seen human face besides their own
Tor month past. Day and night they
had toiled and watched and waited for the
reward which, If it came at all, must como
~ daxsling success, which would make
their sufIerings seem a mere trife. And if
= did not come, they were ruined out
right.
List summer Tim Kinnard, poor farm
er's son. had drifted down here on hunt
Ing expedition after moose. One hot day
he stopped to drink from forest pool, and
cav greasy scum floating ON it, 'sPetro-
1enm, q surc's CUNT" chuckled he, and
sback home a. fast as 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 If farm land and the ancient build
inp on them. They sold all they pos
eessed. Ned bade goodby TO his sister, a
lovely little girl OF Is, who was valiantly
supporting herself AZ 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 apathetic
jewellers in the woods they got their der
rick built and the machinery set up, and
here ever since they had toiled, patiently
boring for the precious fluid. and guard
Ing their doings from all the world with
Jealous care. since premature discovery
would ruin their market and make all
their labor in vain. Let q single greedy
speculator, with money at his back, sus-
pect 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 i,
might cost them months to find, and his
oil would glut the market before they had
Been the sparkle of theirs.
Hitherto no one had molested them, bu;
now that certain indications were rousine
their hopes to fever pitch their anxiety in
n
the summer wind through the trees o,
creak of the planking which formed thei,
shanty put them on the alert.
Tim re-entered after n few minutes
scouting, and closed the door. "Twa'nt
anything, unless il might he the old hem
Jock brushin' agin the buildin'," said hi
IN his soft. pleasant drawi. And return
ing hisrific to its corner he seated himself
on rude bench and resumed his patient
waiting for the oil to show itself.
Ned Vance paid no heed. Round
whiricd the rod, the engine throbbcd. and
the machinery clanked its monotonou.
measure. familiar noises all. but Ned wa.
listening To n new note in the rough har
mony, sound which brought the blood
90 his cheek and the fire to his eye.
II tell ye what, Ned" remarked Tim BY
and by, as he thoughtfully filed his pipe
ssif we ever strike il, Nclla'll carry it of
like born princess. God bless heri" Ned
started at the name, and turned his head
90 listen. II sometimes pictur' her to my
self, all rugged out in silks and Jewels
maybe driyin' her own little carriage. an
the snug little home we'd build for her
pillars in front. an verandys for honey
euekie an sieh like. Ye mind how fond
she is of tlowersg Oh, bet We Neila AIM
goin' to tough it round no more after VIZ
Strike 'ile."
Apparently Ned had forgotten the objec,
Of his interest of minute since. for n,
was staring hlankiy at his partner.
why, Tim," exclaimed he. do you
mean to say that you're sweet on my
Didn't you know that, old fellow ?''
counter-9uericd Tim industriously packing
his pipe quite full. "I've always though,
the world Of Nella. 1t was only that |
was so COMPOUNDED poor or I'd hev spoke
up long ago: but If we really do make q
big thing out of this"
Tim, did We ever hear tell of char
called Joel Hartman 7" interrupted Ned. in
. low voice.
"Joei Hartman. that skunk ?h retortcd
Tim. looking up with an instant darken-
Ing of the handsome face. YES, l have
10 my sorrow. What sboG. that pious
gentleman"
Ned seemed TO find some difficulty in
speaking, but after curious pause he
piammered ont:
.'fiow long have you known him ~
About couple of years hack was
over 20 Cla,rviile, 10 my uucle's. you
mind Well, Joel Hartman was reg Ii,
bisbug there, kept store and did stun,