The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-03


NO. no"
IL caught fire"
You mustn't talk Everything Is
All right-all right. honestly. IN tell
you everything. but Just you rcst
now until Buddy comes" There
was magnetism 10 the girls touch
and comfort in her voice,
II was some time later that Gray
opened HIS eyes and spoke In a
more natural voice. saying, How
do happen 20 be here in your
house. Allieg'
we brought you over az day
light, Buddy's gone for doctor
but he'll be back" The girl aycrted
her face quickly and moved toward
tho window.
Il remember being hurt In some
way derrick fell on me. or some
thing, Then the well caught fire
What time Is ~"
ITS afternoon About { o'clock
Buddy II be back. Hell set back
caught quccrly. I "no'l get back
somehow"
"He ought to be at the we'll put
ting IL out, God VIVA. a sight
see II YETI
The we'll Is OUT Allie returned
and seated herself beside the bed,
you probably won't understand It
or beAeyo i'll can scarcely believe
IL myself. FOR us miracle. An
the same, Il IL out. shut in, and
not much damage done. You're not
ruined. either. Tor Buddy says
they're short OF fuel here. and a
gaSser this siae Is worth a good
deal most as much as "A fair oil
we'll"
How can Il be shut ing II WAS
blazing. roaring IA tower Of flame.
The derrick Itself was golns"
Il know. but the s,rangest
thing Allie spoke brcathIessly.
let me do the talking. please, You
remember the drill stems were stand.
ing over iu one corner Well. the
fire drove everybody OF. OF course.
there was no facing t. and they
thought sure they'd have job
have 10 send for boilers and smo,h,
CT IL down with steam. maybe. or
tunnel under or something work
for days. maybe weeks. and spend
fortune Anyhow. they were in a
panic. but when the derrick went
down what do YOU thinkF That
stuck OF drlli stems fell In such a
way as 10 close the gate valve al
the top Of the casing
Gray frowned. he shook hia head.
Impossible. You're trying 20 ease
my mind"
"Of course It's impossible. Hut K
happened. just as I tell you Buddy
had bar fixed in the valve wheel,
Ike a long handle. 20 that hnlf
turn. or maybe a quarter. would
shut Il. Anyhow. those drill stems
caught that bar in falling and closed
tho valve. Somebody said IL hap.
pened once before. to an oil well in
Louisiana
"lt-sounds Incredible" Tho
speaker made an effort 20 collect
himself. ne raised an uncertain
hand TO his bandaEcd head. What
ais me7 recall u lot OF things,
but they're pretty well confused
Allie made known the nature Of
the accident resulting in Grny'a in.
Jury. and he nodded his understand.
ing. 80 Buddy saved my life" lie
smiled. Great boy. Buddy III
know better than TO mix Il with
him again-ho learns too quickly. "
"oh. II was tcrriblel Two been
$3.50 frightened.' Allo Briskow
suddenly lost control OF herself.
bowina her head. she hid her face
In the musty patchwork quilt. Her
shoulders shook. her whole strong
body twitchcd and trembled You've
bbcen awful sick. did the best
could. but"
There. there Gray placed hla
hand upon the girls head; nc took
her palm Ia his and strolsed H.
I'm not worth your tears, child.
And. anyhow. I'm all right again
am. indeed. I'm as well as ever.
so far as ! can tell by the way,
what set the wei afireT"
Buddy things somebody must
have dropped cignret when the
stampede came The girl raised
her face and wiped the tears from
il. 1T doesn't seem possible any.
body would be 80 careless rs 10
smoke near welt that was coming
in. but Just think. Mr. Cray.
those driu stems shut u off Why.
II was the hand OF God!'
1T seems 10. My luck hasn't run
out, that's plain" The speaker