Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03
B / L L Y

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trenholm hand at Billy's can, that amt nitro
'lycerin!
,e?'
Why that's lard-oil.
'' H mini says Billy. An you been oGn' the
,ngine with it l spose? Yes, l thought so. Well,
) the job III show you tie difference between
ard-oil an nitrogycerin, though they do look
something alike, I'm bound t say. You might
nave found it out for yourself if you drop
bed this stuff anywhere where the works could have
lit it
so Billy got his gun, took the can out in field
got back a respectful distance, told the engineer
keep his eyes open an his ears closed. an put a
oullet through the can. Then the engineer found
'ut the difference Say" and the old man paused
or effect, there wasn't much in the can, for the
engineer had used the most of it; but what there
vas blew hole in the ground big enough t. bury
a team an wagon in
The oil-well tender drew out his pipe placid1y
filled it, and then scratched the match. But
the match didn't ignite
An that match reminds me- he said when
his pipe was going. 90 the time Bed-R Billy
saved derrick an three lives in less than a
second. 1t was well near the Morning-G Glory
Gusher an after the Of Glory fell t ten barrels
day The lower part o the derrick was
boarded IN. In that way, sort o shed was
made, sides an roof an all The place was
chock tull OF vapor OF oil, air an natural gas;
an that's about as inHammable mixture as a
professor O chemistry could make if he tried.
There WASH man about the well who didn't
know that the littlest spark would explode the
gas an wreck the derrick. Every last one O.
them had been warned O the danger; the engine
had been moved way back; an orders had been
given take no fire the derrick. That was
all right but one day there come a stranger
an when a stranger gets near danger spot you
can't never tell what1n happen.
| saw him go in was bound for the shed,
anyhow, t speak t. Bedrock Billy about the
lower casing for Number Six; so | was Just in
time t run my head into danger which | never
care t do ust as | got t the door, the stranger
scratched match l could see it all as plain
as | see you. Everything seemed t. stand still.
There was the stranger with his pipe in his
mouth; he looked if he was mad because
the match hadn't took fire, an he had his
hand drawn back t scratch it on his trousers
again An there was Billy, stoopin down. with
his back t the stranger but close to him.
g You know how quick a man will scratch
match the second time if it doesn't take fire the first?
VEIL then you know how quick something had to be
lone. 1t up t me t do it. Billy's back was
urned; he hadn't seen the danger. Yes, it was up
me; but was struck stiff post. | wasn't near
nough t knock the fellow down. there was no time
jump forward; an there was no time t shout
here wasn't time t do anything. So all | did was
gait for the explosion.
Down come the mans hand again. But the
match didn't touch his trousers. Bedrock Billy
vas too quick He didn't take time t. shout; he
idn't take time t. turn; he just shot his arm out
ehind him the chance O. catchin' that fellow
omewhere. An catch him he dd-right by the
yrist, with such grip that the stranger howled
m mind you, Billy hadn't a thingi But he
ad his man by the wrist, all right; an he looked
owly over his shoulder
So Do you want t die?' says he.
Why, no, my man. says the stranger; not
ct
go Well YOU was pretty near it "a few long