The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-06
/ CHAPTER XVI

Tom Sanders, working on after
noon tower; at Jackpot Number
rhree; the lean. tanned drlller in
eliargeiof operations was wise with
an itncanny knowledge the new
4 conner could not fathom.i For
eight hours at a stretch he stood
oll the platform and watched O
greasy cable go slipping into the
learth.
This spelt romance 10 Jed Burns,
superintendent Of operations,
Though he would never have ad.
omitted 1t Il
3 He was sitting sand through his
fingers when Dave came. To Bot
Hart present at ctSawford's per
aonal representative, he expressed
an opinion.
fright soon now or never.
sandltastes. feels. looks, and smells
like oil. But you can't ever be
sure. An oil prospect Is like q
woman. She will or she won't
YOU never can tell which. Then
& Khes does. she's liable to change
her mind"
Dave sniffdd the pleasing, pun.
gent pdor OF the crude oil sands
His ffiend had told him that Craw-
fotdis fate hung In the balance,
llnless oil flowed very soon IN pay
ing quantities he was a ruined
MI e 80 fo -
= After his shift was over, he rode
70 town with Bob.
Got to look for IN engineer for
the night tower" Hart explained
IS he drew up in front OF the
Guster saloon.
.krhe place hummed with the tur.
blilent life that drifts to every
i. Wild frontier on the boom. Faro
dealers from the Klondike, poker
dealers from Nome, roulette cou-
pierB from Leadville, were all here
10 reap the rich harvest to be
made from investors. field workers,
and operators.
Bob found his man at q faro
table While the cards were being
ahufhedt he engaged him to come
out next evening to the Jackpot
properties.
While Daveewas standing close
the wall he caught sight OF
st1ye Russell.
The cowpuncher looked up and
waved his hand.
Bob Joined them. After a mo-
ments conversation Russell drew
them TO q corner.
Say you heard the news.
Icang tell you that better after
know what Il is," returned Hart
with a grin.
THE stage was held up at Cot
tonwood Bend this morning and
rebbedso $4,000. Tho driver was
killed.
Whose money was IT."
Brad steelman's pay roll and a
ahpment Of gold for the bank"
Any. idea who did it?"
sTha's what I wanta tell you,
Two men were in the. Job, They're
whisperin' that EN- Crawford was
Crawford! Some OF steclman's
lime work in that rumor, I'll bet.
Thass plumb foolish talk. What
evidence does he, claim demands
ed Hart.
EN- deposited ten thousand
with the First National to pay off
i note he owed the bank. Rode
into town right straight to the
bank two hours after the stage
got in. Then, too. seems one OF
Inc hold:ups called tho other one
Crawford.
plant !" said Dave promptly.
"They claim the second man was
page here"
limp! What time d. you say
HI s hold-up took place."
Must "a been about eleven"
Lets Dave out. He was fifteen
miles away, and we can prove 1t
by atyleast six witnesses"
Good. ] reckon En- can put in
an alibi, too"
eI,lisbet he can" Hart promised
thiswith conviction. 81.
Where Is Crawford now?"' ask
ett Dave HE hasn't been arrest
ed, has hep, e
not yet. But he's bein' wat
ched.s
We'd better go to his house
md tank with him." suggested
Hart Maybe he can give Us good
al, abb as you, Dave"
you and ! Will go straight
there decided Sanders.