The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-08-21


I've been baching II on the farm. grow
ing crabblder every day, and this morn
ing happened to meet q young chap inI
the store at Pepperdock that knows
my wlfe's folks He lives at DilkpOrt
when he Isn't travelling around the
country selling thlnga
81 s'pose you've heard from your
wife this morningf he asked me. No
said l, with a snap; I hain't' Well.
I've Just come from home, said he, and
there was q report on the street when
left that she was liable to die. The
kids all right, though
"'Huhr said !. startled to death.
THE Kidr Yea said he, looking at me
In sort OF peculiar wayi 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 q minute.
Your wife's a hne woman, the
young chap went on, me listening Ike
one in a dream. I sent her a patent
dish washer about six months ago on
trial. Il 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 Il had disappointed her; that
II wasn't what she'd pictured II. She
said she wished to 10 home to DIX
port FOR n visit In n short time and that
when she come she'd bring Il 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 a fash saw II oil. The
letter I'd seen was the ono she was
writing about that dish washer. !
bolted home without getting the things
I'd come 20 town after. / hustled
around and spruced up little and got
somebody 10 care for the stock. and
and I'm going 10 get TO Dilkport To-
night in spite OF blazes; that's oil there
Is TO IT,"
He left the coach, followed by the
conductor and the salesman, who felt
impelled by sympathy 10 SEQ him on
on his per lous trip. They climbed
over the freight cars through the blind
ing storm toward the locomotive.
"LOok out for the next carr called
the conductor tits loaded with oil
barrels. Better let me so ahead with
the lantern"
Tho farmer stopped. "All right" BIO
said. 'Is there any OIL in the barrelsr
They're full Of II. WhyT
Il was Just thinking that once ]
bought barrel OF oil, and on the way
home the sled tipped over In a drift,
and tho bung came out Of tho barrel.
and the oil run on to the snow. IL was
a pitch dark night, and didn't have n
lantern. / was in bad shape but l
gathered together a pile Of straw that
had been in tho sled box and llt II with
a match, and the flrst thing l knew
that oil soaked drift was melting"
"By the holy green llghtF exclaimed
the conductor as the others idea be-
came clear to him. EDO you suppose
we could do itY'
'I'd be willing 10 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 tho engineer
after few minutes elaboration.
"'Tain't like as II we were buried.
We're just tangled up little; that's
all. II could get start, I'd so
through. Jim"-addressing tho ere
man with sudden energy-"coal upl
Mako her hump
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 10 the
front end Of the train. The beads Of
tho barrels were broken In, and the oil
was scattered upon the snow by pail
ful and shovelful. Then, when no
moro remained, the conductor lighted
a great handful OF greasy waste and
threw II upon the drift II sputtsrod a
moment, hlckered, all but went out.
The farmer rolled one Of the empty
oil soaked barrels within reach OF the
burning waste.
Its no e.
There was a binding glare, followed
by a sizzling. kissing roar The drift
melted as II by magic. The flames
licked the drive wheels OF the locOmo-
tive and reached almost 70 the cab.
Coal her! Coal herr shouted the
engineer to the fireman.
The conductor jumped up and down
eXcltodiy, waving his lantern. "All.l-l
aboar-r-rdr' ne yelled
Half an hour later the train pulled
into Dilkport.
The conductor received a note the
next day. Il read "Everythlng'S all
right She's been getting better from
the minute l got here. wanted to so
down TO the station to see you, but I
can't seem to tear myself away from
her and the baby. Send me bill for tho
OIL"
To which the conductor replied:
"Glad to hear you're o. X. We all Of
as want to shake hands with you. The
companv pays for the OIL"