Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-04-23
An Oil Region Romance.

began to run and the bullwheels
quickly hoisted the mudslll from
the bottom of the hole which the
drillers had been digging,
"'Ah me- sighed Jack ] enkins,the
tooldresser, who owned the well, II
we do do not strike coal oil before
~ o'clock today, I will be unable
to pay off the mortgage on the farm
of Peter Swink, whose only daugh-
ter 1 dearly love. Algernou Hard
scrabble Is my deadly rival He
has declared that the mortgage will
be foreclosed at noon today unless
he obtains Miss Grace J. Swink'S
hand in marriage, and that the old
homestead will pass out of the pos
session OF the SWiuk family forever.
Turn on every pound of steam In
yonder boiler he said. hoarsely, by
way of commando the disocedient
driller. Drive the drill with all
the power 10 your pile driver.
We must strike the pay streak
before II or all Is lost. The drill
er only laughed kno Ringly to him
self. He was Jack jenkins secret
enemy and Algernon Hardscrabble
had bribed him Instead OF turn
ing on The steam he hit the pipe
and broke a connection, with a
concealed spike maui. Great vol
ums OF spent steam filled the scene
with hazy whiteness. The temper
screw became limp and lifeless.
There was no hing doing Jack
Jenkins pulled gold watch from
an oil soaked pocket. I: was now
1880 he shrleked 4 have been
tucked. This Is terriblen At that
moment the earth seemed to shiver.
Tnen came a gush of natural gas
aud broken stone from the depths.
The we'll was drilling itself In. In
another moment an amber stream
of petroleum with golden fringe
gushed over the top of the derrick.
The we'll was gusher.
Then the agent of syndicate
arrived on a toamflecked horse.
How much do you want for this
well?" sale the agent to our hero.
Jack was man of few words. You
may have the well and production
for 100000 cash he answered.
Here Is your money, said the agent
In oily tones. Jack took the cash
and signed a receipt.
AT high noon zach appeared at
the farm house where dwelt the
only woman he had ever loved. AL
ready a malicious looking deputy
sheriff was on hand to seize the
farm Algernon Hardscrabble,
mounted on a yellow automobile,
dashed up to the front gate. Il
demand your daughters hand In
marriage or will toreclose the NOR
gage he said In q loud and defiant
voice to the tottering farmer.
"Theu spake Jack jenkins: In
or minute aud 80 SECONDS will
f., eclose your face with fist that
has rever known defeat. How
much does the man owe you, cow
d and villain that you are?'
My mortgage calls for 81 900, said
+ ardscrabble A mere b4gatelle,'
said Jack, as he hurled the money
at the usurer. The latter began to
indulge In back talk, whereupon
Jack led with the left and stung
him on the chin with his right.
Jenkins then strobe into the
house, where his sweetheart was
weeping on her mothers shoulder.
~ by do you weeep!' be asked,
For very ] " she sobbed.
Pm now a rich man. said Jack.
will you be my wife?' Il would
mary you, Jack, dear, if you were
twice as rich,' was all the poor girl
could say.
For a moment they looked
yearningly at one another. Then
he rushed forward, as J. M. Donaviu
does In the play jack Grace
That was all they could say for
moment. Their hearts and mouths
were too full for ntterance. They
were married at Limestone at 6 p
m.
The tenderfoot author having put
the foregoing into words, mopped
his forehead proudly, and took
another pull at the opium pipe he
had borrowed for the occasion. II
au a wonder" he softly muttered
as he uuconsclously fell asleep =
Bradford, Pa, Era.
WOWen and Jewels.
Ytz zo-l- do--o.a ~..os