The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-02-17
Natural Gas
AA5&2 BY MARY
Miranda l'''E
Copyrighted 1863. by Associated
Literary Press.


Italians. all with their coats and vests
off and perspiring profusely, was Dor.
Ing an artesian well on his farm.
Suddenly the drill was forced out OF
the ground There followed great
puff Of vapor that had the odor of bad
eggs and sulphur mixed together. Mr.
Perkins had stru natural gas well.
month later Mrs. Perkins was say
ing to him:
Samuel. remember that we spell
our nan,e Park i-n-s; also that n
month hence we sail for Europe.
We've got money. and we've got a
daughter Miranda We are going to
give her chance"
"A chance fer wAlt?" asked the hus-
band. who WAS trying to get used to
wearing a cellar and a coat around the
house.
10 get polished up and to marry
some one worthy OF her. You needn't
'it there thinking that few weeks
ago Miranda was hanging out the
clothes. We've struck natural gas,
and that makes difference. We sail
4 IN four weeks"
u did kinder think we might go to
Niagara Falls for a week or so"- be-
gan Samuel as he rubbed his chin
whats Niagara Falls to people with
money? What are they to Miranda ?
Samuel Parkins. can't you realize that
you struck GASP"
IL know did"
I'VE are climbing for the top Of the
ladder. We can't be kept down.
Haven't you got 1t through your head
yet? It's Europe and polish. It's Eu-
rope and husband for Miranda. If
them Chicago butchers can take their
daughters to Europe and marry them
off to lords and dukes, why can't we?
Isn't natural gas just as high toned
as pork chops? You keep coat on
and your shoes black and get used to
looking like somebody and leave the
! rest to me-"
Mr.. Parkins would rather have sat
on the steps Of the village and related
for the five hundredth time what his
emotions were when he struck gas,
but he was dragged off to Europe.
Miranda betrayed surprising lack
of interest. but Mrs. Parkins did the
thing with all her might. She had ma
tive wit and observation. BY sitting
In corner most of the time and hav-
Ing as little as possible to say the hus-
band and father made out after fash
ion.
in due time he even became inter-
cstcd In things. He became so inter-
csted that one evening after they had
been In London for fortnight he ask
Cd his wife:
Mary. are we hitting the pike all
right"
Hitting the pikew she repeated in
scornful tones. Samuel, cut the pike
and other things out. Miranda and me
are watching ourselves every minute,
ana you want to do the same. Don't
You leave the spoon In the cup when
yon drink your coffee, and don't tuck
your table napkin clear up under your
ears. If you spoil Miranda's chances
I'll never forgive YOU"
but what l want to know Is has
any Teller come around YETI" persist
cd the husband.
- --"N S-NtSlit. but We
different ones looking at her and sorter
edging around. You leave that part of
IL to us, and you tend to yours. When
ever you can, you just drop in a word
about natural gas and millions"
On. l won't spoil nobody's chances.
l didn't want to come at first. but
now that I've got over here l rayther
like 1t. Makes Teller feel as If he
was somebody to have boy ready at
every turn to brush off his coat
Il guess I'd be proud to have n lord
OF duke for son-in-law. That's MI
randa's lowest figger, hain't it? She
halnst coming over here and then take
up with no hayseed?"
ii was Paris after four weeks in
London. and there was continual i'm.
proVement In the family. Miranda
ana her mother picked up as much as
one French word day, and the bus.
band and father left his fears behind
him ana assumed little swagger and
patfohizlng air that sat well on him
lie had struck natural gas at home
simply by accident. He reasoned that
ne might strike husband for Miranda
abroad In the same way. Therefore
whenever he came across any one who
would listen to him and who could
speak English he introduced gas wells
into the conversation.
1t was always in the plural, II was
never one gas WELL but half dozen. (
He also tried his best to make thu
head waiter understand the gas cues.
ton, and If he did not succeed entirely
he at least ELECTED the exclamation:
Gas from the ground mon diem,
And each well s1,O0O,ooo! How YOU
must suffer with so much moneyw
Yes, heap of suffering, but I grit
my teeth and stand it."
When Mrs. Parkins announced that
they were to leave Paris for resort
In the Alps, Mr.. Parkins had his on.
portunity to ask:
Any Teller In sight yet?"
Samuel, hain't you got no polish IN
these last two monthsY demanded the
wife.
OF course I have
Then show some of It. No gentle.
man would speak in that brutal man.