The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-22
Blackie k'n Iick slm I1'


 nngford, thankful to Toad for having turned the tide of that crisis. gained full command of himself and of the crowd. Helming the prov of his much strained craft head on against the waves and cutting them smoothly, he took the men, the solid substantial men of Dougalvilie, right into his conf dencel He explained to them exactly how matters stood; how he had known all along that the mine was a good one; how he had thwarted the dishonest Dougalbobbers in their evil intentions and had worked like a Trojan for the benefit of himself and his beloved citi- gems, and how tomorrow he wanted them to join with him in forming a new company, in which he would give them share for share in exchange for. the stock they now held, and they would turn the magnffcently rich Kim l bely mine into the founda ton of for i tune for every dwelIer in Douga1ville!
 The magic of him got upon them. His voice soothed them like the odor of poppies His presence, big, sleek, richly clad and prosperous, held and satisfied their eyes. His words. round ed. well chosen, aptly and cleverly strung together, stole theirs reason. They answered his smile, they respond ed to his enthusiasm, they cheered him when he finished, and they gnve him until tomorrow to prove what he said! Flushed and triumphant, Walling ford, having cheerfulIy waved upon his way the last handshakfng straggler of his friends and fellow citizens, came in the house, sat down in his chair and trembled like a leaf.
 .sDo you know. for just three pins I'd take the first train out of here and let those happy stockholders run their I own meeting tonorrow.n he declared. There may be fortune in that mine across the track. but it's rather lost its 1 charm for me. don't think I'll ever be able to look up at the big derrick without feeling my spine turning into m icicle.''
 II don't intend to go over and look at 1t at all, ' returned Blackie. I'm I glad didn't See it when got or the train. How did you come out with the houses, Jim 9''
 Mot so badly" said Wallingford, I briEhtening eI've collected nearly $1Oo,000 on the houses and lots I ina zine I must have cleared some $40. 1000 or $50,O00 on the houses alone but my share is invested in the in l stallment plan mining stock I n car rying for the mob that just wanted to hang me.
 .sLet's talk about our families, in v7ted Blackie vvearily. Seems like don't want to hear about mines any more at aIl.v
 4 They were in quiet discussion of their respective domestic affairs when once more Toad Jessop burst in upon them. {
 @Now we do gisl'' he cried, his fists doubled and his nostrils distendedl There's a fright train just pullin' in 4 at the depot. an if we run like Texas down the back way, in the shadow of the houses, we k'n climb her. There ain't second. Start runnin' tel youg'
 Both men were upon their feet and had grabbed their hats.
 i Now, what's the matter 2'' demand ed yvallingford-
 Don't ask me no questions plead ed Toad. -Ole Saghorn is just finish in a speech up on Redeye square, an he's got lem all to believin' that you two jes' gave lem a slick talk to gair time so's youse could sneak out of town. They'll be down here a-sizzlin ia about three minutes, by the way they was howlin', an this time ther. won't be no speeches made. Saghorn he saysv-
 ! . rupted BIaclae. ..I have an inaporfan engagement, and if you two gentlemen will excuse me shall just jog upoI my Sway.''
 Wallingford marweled at how slowl. t he ran for so swift movement of hi, :. legs. He noticed that Blackie wal several houses in advance of him, anS he believed that Toad was dartinl along somewhere In his neigh borhood but he took no accurate observations He was paying very strict attention to the stationary headlight of tha | freight engine and to the rough groun, that he was traversing. It seenne' constantly rising up toward him, ant if he ever let it come up near enougl to hit him in the place which most af fected his breathing well, there wa enough money in the bank to mak
 Fannie and little Jimmie comfortable But he felt that they needed him.
 Just before he reached the track tn train began to move. He saw Blacki run down to meet it and clambe
 upon the first car and leap over it
 edge with the jerky motion of junT ing jack With desperate spurt Wa
 lingford reached the track as tha
 same car came up to him. He made i wild clutch at 1t and marveled to fin
 his hand gripped tightly upon the han
 bar and his foot resting firmly in tn
 iron stirrup. For a couple of minutes
 which seemed as many ages, he hun
 there trying to regain his breath; the1
 summoning all his strength, he brough
 up his other foot, stepped to the bui
 fer, crawled upon the edge ofNthe ca
 and fell in. A groan told him that b
 had fallen upon Blackie, but neithe
 one of them had the energy or tn
 breath to. move for some minute.
 B1ackie was the first to recover, ant
 the car being full of slack coal tha pyramided down into the corners, h managed to wriggle himself out frol