The morning times., 1896-03-15
Casey's
Oil
Well.

w ell.
(Copyr ght, 1896. by Henry Brown)
Six short months had transformed the
tiny village Of "McNcyins Corners into
the busting city of "NcNevin.' The oil
wells did il all. Some lucky proSpector had
discovered the ma eic petroleum in the heart
OF this small Pennsylvania settlement ana
Straig ightwa whole thousands flocked 10
sink wells and build stores ana houses upon
the spot.
Down below wTetChed baCkyards and
tumble-down Sbanties sold for sums which
seemed To little Johnny vMcNcvin the vcrit-
able riches of GolCOnda. Bat no one offered
To buy his hilltop home.
He would go boldly down into the village,
casting all false prrie away, ana seek Tor
employment. Surely something might hc
found for an ctivc boy totio.
Accordingly he trotted down the slope
10 grocery store kept by one of the lew
remaining old residents, Il man deeply in
debtcd 10 his fathers Kindness.
Give you work, eh?' said the grocer,
norunkindly. - Y ou' re
He Could Get Joking, my boy. Your
No work. mother would be an
gryif she heard OF il.
Besides, ! don't need boy. II it's pocket
money you need, here's a half dollar"
Johnny declined the half dollar, and once
more renewed his pilgrimage. All through
the town he was unsuccessful. No one
wanted Il boy of his age.
At last, about sunset he gave up the
quest and turned dejcctedly homeward.
His way led him along the banks of Nc
Ncvin Creek. and lie stopped moment
to watch the wierd light of the young
moon upon the flowing petroleum.
Johnny was watching the green and purple
.l;rrrnt when the sound of persons approach
ing in earnest conversation arrested his
gloomy thoughts. Then two figures ap-
praTed in the moonlight, and halted within
easy earshot across The creek,
The very first words which Tommy
heard from the newcomers told him that
tlIeir conversation bOded no gOOd.
wen get even with old Millgan,P
said one. won't we, Pete
Even with him?" Repeated the other
tand he spoke with a decided foreign ac-
cent?, Il tell you, wejwil destroy every
thing he owns in McNevin.'
Johnny recolieCied that CO.d Miiligan'
was the richest oil producer in tue settle-
mcnt a man who had made millions out or
the McNevin field.
Then and there. TO Joaupy horror. the
man Pete outlined a plan for the dcStruc-
ton OF Miliigan'S oil stores and derrIcks,
aud perhaps for the complete wiping out
oI an McHe'ln, en- NJ What Johnny
more dangerous be -
cause OF its very sim
phGty. 1t has been stated that McNevin
creek was simply Il rivUlet OF liquid pc
trolcum. From the point at which Johnny
stood ii flowed onw ward through the denseSt
part of The settlement and past nearly all
the tanks, storchouse and wells owned by
Mr.. Millgan.
Now, the plotters proposed to set fire 10
the creek at this point aud then escape TO
the hills.
That's great scheme exclaimed the
man who tad spoken first. You're Il
genius, Pete. When viii we begin and
where"
Meet me at this spot on the stroke OF
H." answered Pete But firs. OF all we
must take the oath. Now repeat after me
these words: I, Tom walters. sclemnly
swear TO stand by Pietro Morehi, even If
the road lead, TO death"
Walters repeated the oath, ard, WOrell
having taken similar one, they hUrriedly
parted and disappeared in the darkness.
III.
Then Johnny NIcNevin. his knees knock
ing together from fright, staggered out
of the shade OF the barherry bushes ard
gaZcd with wide-upGn eyes at the moon
lit stream OF oil. so soon TO be used as an
engine Of destruction for doomed McNevin.
John sped down the dirty, Oil-sInclling
street 10 the town hall. There was large
crowd around the door and it took all his
ingenuity ana strength to squeeze through.
The boy singled out Mr. Mnligan talk
ing TO the auctiDncer-nOt imprObaby ma X
ing a private bid for the famous Casey
well-and eagerly begged leave to talk with
him.
What exclaimed the oil magnate:
you here gain my lad? Won't one an
swer do? l can t give you work
Il don't want work. pleaded Johnny,
I've something to tell you. Something
awful. It's about the welis-your wells
En-" cried Mr. Millgan, my wells, YOU
say? This ain't trick 10 ask for work
again, is it?''
Johnny assured him that it was not: and
at last the oil producer, still suspicious,
allowed himself TO BE led into Il corner by
the boy. What Johnny told him soon al
tered his frame of mind. He listened
eagerly to all he had TO say, asked a fe W
questions. for he was Il man of calm and
resclute character and then, with a hoarse
shout of rage, FASTENED to the platform
a the end of the hail, dragging Johnny with
him.
In few bat energetic words he told the
ten or fifteen men in the hall all that Johnny
had described.
Long before II O'Clock that night Mr..
Millgan and ten of the leading citizens
Of McNeyin, all well armed, lay hidden
in the barberry bushes, whence Johnny
had overheard the fire fiends' plot John
ny was there. too. for Mr.. Milligan still
somewhat doubted his vera city.
When Mr.. Milligan's watch pointed to
II, a man came out of the shadows by
the riverside, and Johnny felt the oil
producers hand clasp
They Caught his. The clasp said,
the RaScalS. palmer than words,
You've told the
truth. aud saved us all
For the man was Pietro Morelli, and
in his arms he carried a bundle, which,
as they subsequently, found-contained
10 5 ~ NzAaAtS