Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-09-11
by special arrangement with Tht
Chicago Tribune Syndicate)
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO


I ONG bit his lip, frowned. then asked
abruptly: Wonder if l could Dor
row the suit?"
all right-but 1 doubt if you can get
into It. You're almost twice as big as
l am. You'd have a few burned spots
If you went into the fire with it."
Longs face darkened with diSap-
But we've got to do some
thing!' he burst out.
It'll take a small man to Yea that
suit Carter said fatty.
The majors as big as l am, and
Charley Watts is bigger yet. Looks
like we're sure out of luck" Long
shook his head gloomily.
Jimmy had been listening and saying
nothing. Strictly speaking it wasn't
his affair. And yet there was
the major who had made a great
He spoke quickly, Wonder if
that suit would fit me?"
You amt fgurin' on trying to reach
that valve, are you?" Long demanded.
If the rest of you have been fig
uring, why not me, too?"
Il didn't think OF it" Long confessed.
1Ou saw ullC lilC. Quiz SOQ lC WILLIE
to try and get through to the valve?"
Let's see the suit" Jimmy asked.
Mabel" Carter ordered his wife, who
had been standing at the foot OF the
bed, get that suit out
She went from the room quickly,
and was back in a few minutes carry
ing with an effort a pile OF dirty, smoke
blackened, oil stained asbestos clothes,
topped by a pair of big clumsy looking
boots. Dropping the boots on the floor
she held out the suit to Long. A gro
tesQue helmet with a glass window in
front was included and a pair of as
beStoS gloves.
Jimmy tried the helmet on his head.
Asbestos flaps came well down over his
shoulders. The thing was clumsy, but
it fitted and he could see out Of the
glass front. He took it off. From the
bed Carter said: THE boots go on
over your shoes. When the snaps are
closed they're freproof. Everything's
there. You'll probably find a clear
space near the pipe that's pretty free
of fire. Guess you can make it all
Long looked at him %anxiously. Will
ing to try it?" he asked.
Jimmy shrugged. I'll do anything
once. Come on. It'll be dark before
Long folded the heavy suit up again,
picked the boots from the floor. I'll
take the outfit if it's all right with
you, Carter" he said. 1.-THE major will
do the right thing by you."
IS all right, old man. Sorry I can't
help you"
A few more words and they got out
of the house with the suit. And as
they ran back toward the plane Long
commented jerkily, Its not going to
be a picnic, but l guess you'll come
through all right"
Jimmy grinned as he painted for
breath. Hope I do" he made answer.
The usual little knot Of onlookers
had gathered around the plane.
"Gusher'S on fire!" Jimmy yelled at
them. Get back out of the way! I'm
to start the motor!"
The take-off was good.
From the air they could see the
smoke better, a great black column Of it
toward the sky and drifting off
in the breeze to form a mile long
plume. They could see also the road
out in the general direction of
the we'll. Many autos were on it head
ing out to see the fire.
The fire had not abated in the Slight
est. 1t had increased, if anything, for
the fountain of oil was continually
spreading a film of fire farther and
away from the derrick.
Jimmy'S heart sank a little at sight
of that great boiling wall of thick
smoke, with the angry red dart OF
flames at the bottom. Now and then
the breeze whirled the smoke aside
and exposed the derrick for a brief
moment. 1t was still standing, at least.
The major and Charley were waiting
outside the ring of fire. They came
the plane as it swooped to
earth and TAXED near. Jimmy stopped
a safe distance away. Even there he
could feel the heat OF the conf1agra-
ton.
The major took one look as Long
and Jimmy climbed out. Couldn't get
he asked, bitter disappointment
in his voice.
For answer Long reached back in
the cockpit and began hauling out the
asbestos suit, helmet and shoes. He
carried them clear of the plane and
dropped them at the majors feet.
Garter has a broken leg" he ex-
planned. 1.-The suit is too small for any
of us to wear. Hardness here has Of
fered to put it on and try to get at
the valve
Once again Jimmy felt the keen blue
eyes of the old man on his face. The
major put a hand on his shoulder.
"You-you'll go in there for me?' he
asked wonderingly.
Jimmy nodded.
"You realize there's quite a lot Of
danger?"
Jimmy nodded again. Forget about
me. I'll do what I can for you"
The major put a stogy in his mouth,
and then took it out again. IF you
do it, win or lose, I'll do what I can
for you," and turned to stare at the
fire.
The first autos had come up. The
occupants jumped out and came toward
the spot where they were standing.
Jimmy ignored them. He, too, was
looking toward the derrick. The sun
was resting on the western horizon,
the last light Of day shining warmly
over the plain.
Long said loudly: "You ought to
know what's on the ground around the
derrick. No use rushing in there with