The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-27

I've been baching II on the farm, grow
ing crabbider every day, and this
morning happened to meet young
chap in the store at Pepperdock that
knows my wife's folks. He lives at
Dllkport when he isn't travelling
around the scountry selling things.
at s'pose you've heard from your
wife this morningY he asked me. NO.
said /, with a snap; 4 hain't' We'll,
I've just come from home said he,
and there was report on the street
when left that she was liable to die.
The kids all right though
'Huhr said l, startled TO death.
The kid'l' Yes said he, looking at
me in sort of peculiar way. Didn't
you know there was a kid born yes
terday? why, yes, of course said,
shamed into the lie. ! was that dazed
l didn't know my name for minute.
"'Your wife's n fine woman the
young chap went on, me listening like
one I'm n dream. I sent her n patent
dish washer about six months ago on
trial 1t didn't suit her, but she didr't
do as most women would have done.
She wrote me real nice letter, telling
me that 1t 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 short time and
that when she come she'd bring It up
with her, saving me the express
charges. ! tell you, n fellow I'm this
agency business learns to appreciate
little things like that"
"And then In a fash | saw It all.
| The letter I'd seen was the one she
was writing about that dish washer.
bolted home without getting the thing
| I'd come to town after. | hustled
around and spruced up a 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 itl'
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 carp 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 barrels2'
They're full of It. Why"
IL was just thinking that once l
bought a barrel of oil, and on the way
home the sled tipped over I'm a drift
and the bung came out of the barrel
and the oil run on to the snow. 1t was
a pitch dark night, and | didn't have q
lantern. was in bad shape, but
gathered together a pile Of straw that
had been In the sled box and lit II
with match, aud the first thing
knew that oil soaked drift was melt
ing"
by the holy green llghtT' exclaimed
the conductor as the others idea be
came clear to him. "Do you suppos'
we could do It"
I'D be willing TO stand the expense
Of three barrels Of oil toward trying it.
The conductor jumped into the cal
and laid the plan before the engineer
who had stubbornly refused 20 leave
the engine until compelled by the cold
ut might work." said the enginee
after a few minutes deliberation
"Tain't like as II we were buried
We're just tangled up little; that
all. If i could get start I'd g
through. Jim"-addresslng the fire
man with sudden energy-"coal up
Make her humw
The conductor called the two brake
men and the express messenger, and
with the assistance of the two passen
gers, three barrels of kerosene wert
rolled from the car and carried to tn
front end Of the train. The heads o
the barrels were broken in, and the OF
was scattered upon the snow by pail
full and shovelful. Then, when N,
more remained, the conductor lighted
n great handful of greasy waste an'
threw 1t upon the drift. II sputtered
moment hickercd, all but went out
The farmer rolled one of the empt.
oil soaked barrels within reach of tn
burning waste.
"It's no g.
There was a binding glare, FOLLOWED
by sizzling, Kissing roar The drift
melted as If 10y magic. The flames
licked the drive wheels of the locomo
tive and reached almost to the cab.
Goal her! Coal herw shouted tn
engineer to the fireman.
The conductor jumped up and dow
excitedly, waving his lantern. "All-l-
aboar-r-d" he yelled.
Half an hour later the train pullet
into Dilkport.
The conductor received a note tn
next day. 1t read: "Everythings al
right. She's been getting better iron
the minute | got here l wanted to g
down to the station to see you, but
can't seem to tear myself away iron
: her and the baby. Send me bill for tn
OIL"
To which the conductor replied
"Glad to hear you're o. X. We all o
us want to shake hands with you. Th
company pays for the oil"
= A Long Drawn Out Dinner.
Sir Robert Hart, the veteran inspect