San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-03
Begin Here Today.

Calvin Gray, enemy of Col. Henr.
Nelson, banker, hires three men 4
watch Nelson's activities in the oil
fields. Gus Briskow strikes oil ant
Gray visits him in his beautiful new
home. Allie Briskow, daughter o
Gus. falls in love with Gray. but h.
loves Barbara Parker. Bud Briskow
Allies brother having been rescued
by Gray from the hands of an adj
ventures, goes to take charge of tho
Briskow oil wells. He phones tC
| Cray telling him that oil is expected
on some land in which Gray has in
terest. Allie goes TO spend few
days with Bud. Now go on with
story:
WAS that Buddy talkin'?"
at was, and he gave me some
good news. He says that well on 81
is liable TO come in any minute, and
it looks like big one" The speak.
er's eyes were glowing, and he ran
on, breathlessly, He says they're bet
ting it will do better than 10000
barrels"
Ten thousand bar'ls:' Briskow
echoed
That's what he said. OF course,
they can't tell thing about it. Bud
dy's only guessing, butt haven't had
a big well yet" Gray took a ner-
vous turn about the room.
I'm going out on tonight's train
and see 1t come inf it does come
in. | told Buddy to stop work: not
TO drop another tool until | arrived.
'Fatted for destruction / like the
sound of that. Ten thousand bar.
rels Ho. III write this day in brass
Why, that lease will sell for a mil
lion. lit may mean the end"
Gray brought himself to with all
effort, hastily he kissed Mrs. Bris-
kow's faded cheek an(k wrung her
husbands hand. A moment later he
was gone.
"Thirty-five," where Buddy was
working. was only a few miles frolr
the Briskow ranch, therefore the
boy was able TO meet his sister at
Ranger and drive her directly to the
old home.
The ranch house seemed very
mean. very insignificant to Allie.
but she slipped into one of her old
dresses and prepared the supper
while Buddy straddled kitchen
chair and chartered upon 10000 top
les of mutual interest.
On the morning of Gray's coming
Allie rode with Buddy over TO 81. 1t
was u wretched, rainy day, and roth
ing is more bleak than rainy day
in drilling camp. Work had been
halted and the men were loafing in
their bunk house. Brother and sister
10 -,
tent.
Gray's trip from the railroad was
more like voyage than motor
journey. for the creek beds, usually
dry. were angry torrents, and the
'dObe flats were quaginircs through
which his vehicle plowed hub deep ;
nevertheless. he was fresh and alert
when he arrived After a buoyant
greeting to Allie, he and Buddy in
spccted the well. then he issued or
ders for work TO be resumed.
Word had gone forth that there
vas something doing on 81. and from
the chaparral emerged muddy motor
cars bringing scouts. neighb0ring lease
owners, and even the members Of a
nearby easing crew.
Supper was jumpy meal, and no.
body had much 10 say. Allie Briskow
least of all. She was silent, intense :;
she curly refused Buddy's offer to
send her home. and when the meal
was over she followed Gray back to
the derrick.
Buddy Briskow was running the
rig. and the dcxterity with which he
handled brake and control rod gave
him pride. He had ted his sister
on bench out Of the way, where
she was protected from the drizzle.
and he felt her eyes upon him. IT
gave him sense of Importance to
have Allie watching him at sucn n
crisis: he wished his parents were
with her.
He ensed the brake and the mas
Sivc bailer slid into the casing as a
heavy she'll slips into the breerh Of
Il cannon. As he further released
his pressure. the cable began to pour
ycrpent-lke from the drum. Buddy
turned his wet. grimy face and
flashed grin at Allie. She smiled