Oxford Democrat., 1902-08-05

"T s'pose you've heard from your
wife this morning.? he asked me. No.
said |, with snap; I hain't.' We'll,
I've just come from home,' said he, and
there was a report on the street when
I left that she was liable to die. The
kids all right, though
"'Huhv said 1, startled 10 death.
The Kidv Yes said he. looking at me
in sort Of peculiar way; didn't you
know there was kid born yesterday?
Why, yes, of course said, shamed
into the lie. l was that daZed l didn't
know my name for minute.
"'Your wifes fine woman the
young chap went on, me listening like
one in q dream. 4 sent her a patent
dish washer about six months ago on
trial. 1t didn't 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 a visit in a short time and that
when she come she'd bring 1t up with
her, saving me the express charges.
tell you, a fellow in this agency busi-
ness learns to appreciate little things
like that
"And then in flash saw it all. The
letter I'd seen was the one she was
writing about that dish washer.
bolted home without getting the things
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 car" called
the conductor Its 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 barrels?'
They're full of II. Why"
81 was just thinking that once
bought 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
lantern. I was in bad shape, but
gathered together pile Of straw that
had been in the sled box and lit it with
q match, and the first thing l knew
that oil soaked drift was melting"
"By the holy green light" exclaimed
the conductor as the others idea be-
came clear to him. "Do you suppose
we could do itY'
"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.
1T might work." said the engineer
after a few minutes deliberation.
"'Tain't like as il we were buried.
We're just tangled up little; that's
all. If I could get start, I'd so
through. Jim"-addressing the fire.
man with sudden energy-"coal up.
Make her hum"
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
great handful of greasy waste and
threw it upon the drift. 1t sputtered a
moment flickered, all but went out
The farmer rolled one of the empty
oil soaked barrels within reach of the
burning waste.
Its no g.
There was binding glare, followed
by a 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.
Coal her. Coal her" shouted the
engineer to the fireman.
The conductor jumped up and down
excitedly, waving his lantern. "All-l-l
aboar-r-rdw he yelled.
Half an hour later the train pulled
into DilkpOrt.
The conductor received n note the
next day. 1t read: "Everything's all
right. She's been getting better from
the minute l got here. l wanted to 30
down to the station to see you. but
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. X. We all OF
us want to shake hands with you. The
company pays for the OIL"