Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-06-19

N. j., THURSI
! back. was an unnatural, unreason-
able brute"
Correct" said the conductor frank
| ly.
"Well, she went. For four months
I've been baching it on the farm, grow
ing crabbider every day, and this morn
ing happened to meet young chap in
the store at Pepperdock that knows
my wife's folks. He lives at Dilkport
when he isn't travelling around the
country selling things.
"I spose you've heard from your
wife this morningY he asked me. No.
said 1, with a snap; I hain't.' We'll,
I've just come from home,' said he, and
there was report on the street when
! 1 left that she was liable to die. The
kids all right, though
"'Huh! said l, startled to death.
The Kid! Yes, said he, looking at me
in sort of peculiar way; didn't you
know there was kid born yesterday?'
why, yes, of course l said, shamed
| into the lie. I was that dazed I didn't
know my name for minute
"'Your wife's a fine woman the
young chap went on, me listening like
one in a dream. I sent her a patent
dish washer about six months ago ON
trial. 1t didast suit her. but she didn't
do as most women would have done.
| She wrote me a real nice letter, telling
me that it had disappointed her; that
it wasn't what she'd pictured it. She
! said she wished to go home to Dix
port for visit in short time and that
when she come she'd bring it up with
her, saving me the express charges. l
tell you, fellow in this agency busi-
ness learns to appreciate little things
| like that
"And then in flash I saw it all. The
| letter I'd seen was the one she was
writing about that dish washer. l
| I'd come to town after. / hustled
around and spruced up little and got
somebody to care for the stock, and
and I'm going to get to Dilkport to-
night in spite of blazes; that's all there
is to it."
He left the coach, followed by the
conductor and the salesman, who felt
impelled by sympathy to see him off
on his perilous trip. They climbed
over the freight cars through the blind
ing storm toward the locomotive.
"Look out for the next CARP called
the conductor. 'It's loaded with oil
barrels. Better let me go ahead with
the lantern"
The farmer stopped. "All right" he
said. 'Is there any oil in the barrelsT
"They're full of it. Why"
81 was just thinking that once /
bought a barrel of oil, and on the way
home the sled tipped over in a drift,
and the bung came out of the barrel,
and the oil run on to the snow. 1t was
pitch dark night, and didn't have a
lantern. was in bad shape, but 1
gathered together a pile of straw that
had been in the sled box and lit it with
a match, and the first thing 1 knew
that oil soaked drift was melting"
"By the holy green lighty' exclaimed
the conductor as the others idea be-
came clear to him. do you suppose
we could do it?
"I'd be willing to stand the expense
of three barrels of oil toward trying
| it."
The conductor jumped into the cab
and laid the plan before the engineer,
who had stubbornly refused to leave
the engine until compelled by the cold.
"It might work." said the engineer
after a few minutes deliberation.
"'Tain't like as if we were buried.
We're just tangled up a little; that's
all. If could get a start, I'd go
through. Jim"-addressing the fire
man with sudden energy-"coal up!
Make her humw
The conductor called the two brake
men and the express messenger, and
with the assistance of the two passen-
gers three barrels of kerosene were
rolled from the car and carried to the
front end of the train. The heads of
the barrels were broken in, and the oil
was scattered upon the snow by pail
full and shovelful. Then, when no
more remained, the conductor lighted
a great handful of greasy waste and
threw it upon the drift. 1t sputtered
moment, fiickered, all but went out
The farmer rolled one of the empty
oil soaked barrels within reach of the
burning waste.
"It's no g.
There was a binding glare, followed
by sizzling, kissing roar. The drift
melted as if by magic The flames
licked the drive wheels of the locomo-
tive and reached almost to the cab.
Goal her! Coal herp' shouted the
engineer to the fireman.
The conductor jumped up and down
excitedly, waving his lantern. "All-l-l
aboar-r-rdr' he yelled.
Half an hour later the train pulled
| into Dilkport
| The conductor received a note the
next day. 1t read: "Everything's all
right. She's been getting better from
| the minute got here. l wanted to go
| down to the station to see you, but l
can't seem to tear myself away from
her and the baby. Send me bill for the
oil.''
| To which the conductor replied:
| "Glad to hear you're O. K. We all of
us want to shake hands with you. The
company pays for the oil.''
Taken by Surn.ise
| There are some hospitable creatures