Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-06-20

I Without ulOIt ram iihl idot " 40
heavier than anybody thought"
! Now back OF the first picture Lacy
saw was another. Archibald was rid
ing into Franklin to record new
lease. Lacy's creditors were behind
him.
I'D rather have you than Howe pilot
| for me. Lucky for you you fished on
the Allegheny when you were boy.
You know it pretty well.
IN do it. said Lacy, suddenly COM
ing out of his day dream.
An hour later he gave his instructions
to the man who assisted him. He was
TO get another man whom Lacy named,
to take Lacy's place That evening
Lacy went down to the creek where
Hartly's boats were moored. The
small rivulets and brooks had become
reservoirs where they neared the creek.
BY morning at the farthest, rain or
dry, the pond fresh would carry the
barges out.
Lacy worked harder for Hartiy than
he had ever worked for himself. 1t was
his last hope, his last chance. He in
spired the other men. Hartly slapped
his thigh with pride as the work pro-
crossed.
About 4 o'clock the next morning
rain fell again, slowly at first, then
came a downpour. The last shower
| accomplished more in two hours than
! Hartly and the other operators had
! companied in two weeks. Before the
workers on the creek had their break
| fast the signal to cut loose was given.
| One of Hartly's boats rode out
| smoothly, safely. A second fioated on
without obstacle. Now came the last
that Lacy had charge of. 1t was the
most difficult to manage. Unless skill
was displayed now one OF Potts barges
| lying above 1t might stove It in. Sud
denly Lacy beheld two Of Potts boats
swinging into the creek beyond the
control OF the boatmen. Potts, purple
with excitement. leaped on one. His
chief assistant, Bard, strove might and
main to retard the other. There was
crash OF timber, tremendous rush
of water the swirling Of an indie
scrbable mass of leaves. branches and
pieces of boards in eddies Above all
the shouts and commands OF men
could be heard as they struggled with
an ungovernable element.
The yellow, oily water was coming
down in comb over log that had
swung across the creek suddenly. 1t
was held fast there. Below this log
was a long slide Of clear smooth wa
ter.
Lacy saw at once that unless this log
was removed Immediately two OF Hart
ly's boats would be forced against the
opposite side of the creek. in which case
Potts boats would be sure to collide
with them. They would be smashed,
crumpled up, their contents lost
He seized cant hook, caught the
end OF the log, the swift water whirled
the log around, throwing Lacy on his
feet. He fell into the creek grasped
despairingly at the log. then disap-
peared
Now the pond fresh was at its mer-
riest 1t scooped stones from the bot
tom OF the creek, rushed headlong,
tossing its yellow name as it bore the
barges down swiftly to Oil City and
out far into the Allegheny.
When Lacy regained consciousness
he fancied he was still at the waters
edge He heard the steady flow of wa
ter. There could be no installing that
sound He thought he was still at the
waters edge.
How do you feel now"
1t was Watson his assistant, who
stood near
Did they all get out right"
Slick as grease
Where am H."
Where you ought to be. In your
own bunk. Where'd you think you
was9"
II hear water 1t IS water | hear.
How did get--what does 1t mean"
Lacy sat up and stared around him
He felt his head Ii was bandaged
1T means you was nigh gone when
we got you out OF the creek. I'd gone
down to tell you the news"
Lacy was listening now inteutly.
We'll. if that isn't water" He rub
bed his bandaged head Il feel kind of
Eighty There, | hear it plain.
He tried to get up Watson pushed
him back gently,
"One legs sprained. Best not We
brought you up SOS | could tend to
you better. That's oil you hear-oil
from your well, Struck it about sun
down last night. The gravel flew twice
as high as the derrick. The tank
builders will be here in ten minutes.
Never was so tuCkereu out III all my
life as we was making a bank 10 save
the oil last night. Gee-whiz' More n
hundred barrels and oil selling at
eight and nine dollars at the we'll.
Lacy wondered if it was a dream.
Just then Watson backed out of the
shanty awkwardly. He returned sud
denly, kicked some things under his
bunk, Strengthened up the clothes over
Lacy and said in tone of assumed
indifference:
Here's some folks that's come up
to see the oil regions. Came mp yes
terday they said. Been trying to find
YOU
Then Watson backed out and the
face he always saw in his dreams stood
before him Behind her stood her
mother. As she stopped and kissed
him Lacy drew a long breath
1t doesn't seem real. said Lacy, as
he looked up at her.
BuJ there could De no doubt about
the pressure of that soft, warm palm
on his brow.
Last fall the school chilren of Toledo,