The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-03-14
Down the
DriII-HOIe

TACK PAISLEY did not know how
u long he had been lying there on
the ground, with his face hidden in
his arms. and he could not have told
of half the thoughts-re joicing, des-
perate, sorrowful-that had been
passing through his brain. The won
der of it was that when at last he
sat up and drew his sleeve across
his eyes and looked about him he
realized that he had somehow been
conscious all the time that boring
had ceased at the new Hub well.
Yet neither the Hub nor any other
gas well on the ridge had been in
his mind when he came out of the
house. OF that he was sure. Great
news, part glad, part terrible, had
crowded out everything else. First,
the doctor had said that Jacks ia
Their had safely passed the crisis of
a long and dangerous illness. Jack
jumped for joy at that.
Then Jacks mother had reported
the Doctors next words, that Mr..
Paisley must have nourishing food
delicacies, chicken She had cried
as she said it, and Jacks face had
paled, remembering his three pet,
Tiny and Hoarsy and Dick. But Jack
knew the money was about gone, and
there was enough of the hero in the
boy to make him stiffen his chin and
answer: Then father must have one
Of my chickens, but ! don't know
which"
At that his courage faltered, and
he rushed out of the house. He could
not choose He would not wait TO
learn which chicken his mother Sc
lected for the slaughter
or course his first Indebtedness
lessened little as the moments went
by. The blessed hopefulness OF
youth came TO his relief. 4 chicken
would not have to be killed for two
or three hours, anyw1y-and some
thing might turn up
Then il was he became distinctly
aware that they had stopped drill
ing at the Hub we'll 4 kind of de-
fensive iEstinct-urging him to guard
against unhappy thoughts-turncd
his feet that way.
He found Eric Sampson the driller,
and Jim Dodd, the tool dresser, sit.
ting and smoking IN philosophic
ease; but Mr., Johnson, the con-
tractor, was stamping back and
forth pausing now and then tc
glance gloomily at the two-and-a-
quartcr-inch drill-lne that hung over
the mouth of the well. The fraycd
end told the whole story-thc rope
had parted
"How deep are you?' Mr., Johnson
demanded.
Jest about $50 feet" was the
driler'S placid answer. Jack noticed
that his calmness seemed to irritatc
the contractor.
"Well, can't you think OF any
thng?' Mr.. Johnson cried. "lIaye
we got 20 lose all our work, and the
tools into the bargain?"
Jack had drawn nearer, lie waited
with interest for the answer.
"Twon't be 80 easy to get 'cm.
You know we're using our l5-nch
Bit and that cuts l6.inch hole
about Wen, the tools are not more
than four inches at the top, and since
the bit isn't fast they must be lean.
ing against the wall, whore there.
about one chance in ten thousand OF
getting slip.sockct over them.
There's stub Of rope sticking up.
too, that would interfere with the
hshiug,tool"
"ilaye you no idea at all that would
help MS, Eric? II seems shame to
abandon the well, Couldn't we dir
the tools out? Two hundred fee,
isn't much"
ayes, It's, when most Of It's blue
limestone I've been thinking ~
way Some would call /, ritky, but
! cant see how"
"Out with Il"
well I'd lower boy down there
md have him take hitch around the
rope.sockct,"
Jack positively shlycrcd his quick
had SO clearly gr0sped
the horror Of u descent into tina,
hole Mr., johnson looked doubtful
"Thats dangerous, suppose n boy
lost his hcnd did something No YOU
couldn't get him out?"
"What could he do2 lie, me tIc
ihc rope round him and I'll guaran.
tee to pull him out"
"What about gas bad mir wutcrp"
owe know thcrc'B no water 10
amount 60 anything, and we haven't