Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Dec. 12, 1935, edition 1 / Page 14
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PAGE FOURTEEN 9 Fin? Serial Fiction in e*ch) by a m SYNOPSIS: Ben Furlong, a , young but practical oil man and ' driller from the Pennsylvania field, drifted into the Texas oil country, ! broke and looking for work. Filially he fetched up at the Durham Borne where live an elderly aunt, shortly widowed hv the explosion of a powder wagon, ar.d h:r ncice, pretty Dotty Duham . . . Perhaps because of his smile, Betty cooks some food for Ben ar.d while he eats he learns the aunt, in town on business. has art oil man, Tiller Maddcx, sinking an oil well for her . . A short 6 inch boit worked loose from the rigging and is in the bottom of the well. Work has been suspended for days as the crew "fish" for the boit and operating funds dwindle away . . . Fur- j long offers to give a hand, but Maddcx objects . . . Betty insists and overrules Maddox so Furlong fashions a tool which he has just lowered into the well, hoping to fish out the bolt . . . NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY . SECOND INSTALMENT rSn-l nno- Viirvi cuif V? a v.. 1* ~,..J i.uwiij, uti u.7tu uai iu.vj UIU ' 'ci during this operation, and even Maddox could find no fault with the way he did it. When, after what seemed an interminable time, the wire cable began to stream up out of the depths and wind itself in smooth, black layers upon the drum, the two women pressed in upon the derrick floor Out of the well-mouth finally slid the fishing tool: it stopped, hung motionless with the lower end at the level of their eyes. The teeth had j been bent inward, jammed together by the blows from above: inside the basket thus formed and tightly bitten between two of those prongs was a battered six-inch piece of steel. When Furlong had finished washing up he found Betty Duharn waiting for him. 'Come over to the house,'* she said "you must be tired." *i toid you I was lucky," the young man declared with a grin. "Lucky, nothing. You've got sense." 'Simple, wasn't it? I wonder Maddux never thought of It." Betty stirred: impatiently she exclaimed: '*Oh, he's too busy thinking about something?! Say! We've got an extra room, but Aunt Mary says. it wouldn't look right for you toj sleep there. Don't that make you: sick?" How about the barn?" "That's what she proposed. Come on. We'll fix it somehow." 1L was dark; the trail through the! cactus and the mesquite was dim, but] Betty knew it by heart, and whree it3 meanderings were indistinguishable she took Furlong's hand and guided him. 'T suppose you think Aunt Mary's crazy, risking all her money like this," she said. 4*1 sure do." the man "This Uiing will show you the chances she's taking. Suppose that holt had been something else, something we ccuklnt get hold of ? There's a thousand things can happen to a well.'" "I know. But she's?greedy. She always was. Tiller talked her into it after Uncle Joe died, and she wouldn't listen to me " "It's a lot safer to let the big companies do the drilling, and ce satisfied with a royalty." "Some people can't he satisfied," the girl said, quietly Then nftcr a moment. "'Uncle Joe never inl'ided to leave the whole farm to her. 1 hey didn't hitch very well. He said he was going to leave part of it to me, but?I guess he never got around to it. I'it bet Aunt Mary's sorry by this time that she listened to Tiller; ICrazy Water! I Crystals ! ' We have the agency for this famous Mineral Crystal which is proving so generally satisfactory. Let us supply your needs. NEW PBlCfcS - - $1.00 A 80c. Formerly priced $1.08 and $1.58. Get a supply today! WATAUGA DRUG STORE THE REENS-STUR ASSOCIA1 TELEPHONE 84 . PROTECTION FC Joining Fee 25c Each Men !S As Fol Qu. One to Ten Years .1 J Ten to Twenty-nine Years J I luiity to Fifty Years .< | Fifty to Sixty-five Years .< \ " IB each ten O^/iW i ml new forpz. .... Three Prize Short Stories . n._?? L> L? L IMt?r iUNTHOUCT. . . . . > cej ru IXC* there's so many things a driller car. . do to a well." j 1 "Pshaw! Ts he that kind of ajl man?" j: What kind of a man? Men are < all alike, aren't they when they've got reason to be ?" "She better fire him." *1 guess she can't, or daascnt . . Funny my talking this way to you and not knowing you only a few hours I'd better mind my own business. Here we are. You wait while I get a light." They had arrived at the house, and the girl left her companion outside, j She reappeared in a few mir h . a lantern and a couple of patchwork i comfortcrsl These latter she surren-1 dcred to Ben, then led the Way r.o the j barn. j Like most farms in the oil country, j this one had been allowed to run down, av.d with the exception of some chickens a few dispirited cattle there j was no Jive stock left upon it. There? still remained, however, some old fod- I tier; it was dusty and musty, but suitable enough for a bed. and Furlong announced that he was delight oti with these Sleeping arrangements! He set tlie lantern down and walked J to tha door with Betty. There he < said: 'You've been mighty nice to me. I < wish that fishing job had beer, harder." | "Why?" "It would have been, ionger." The gjri's face was dimly illumi- ( rated as she smiled up at Furlong, j She was the prettiest girl he had: ever known and he felt a great liking, a great sympathy for her. The j j clasp of her warm hand as she had < guided him along the dark trail had j j affected him in an unaccountable . i manner. and now it affected him j again in the same way when she l.aid it in his. A sudden recklessness over- i whelmed him and before he knew \ what he was doing he had been for- < ward and kissed her. The girl was startled, but she did not recoil. Curiously she inquired: "Why did you do that?" "I don't know. I?I couldn't help it. I guess. 1 didn't intend to. but? Ben floundered; he felt his face burning hotly. "Tiller tried that and I slapped him. I've known him a long time, too,?-!" Miss Durham shook her head apparently more perplexed at her I own lack of resentment than surprisj ed at Furlong's boldness. *T must j like you pretty well." *T wish you would ?did. I?thing you're wonderful." "Queer!" Betty turned to go. A moj ment later she called back through i the gloom, "I'll call you when breakfast is ready." FUrlong was. not altogether surprised when, on th? following morn-1 ittg, Tiller Maddox offered him a job.j Maddox, it was plain, was acting! upon orders, and he took no pains to i conceal his dislike for Uie new hand; I nev erlheless, Ben accepted the proffer. Aside from the fact that he needed work, his interest in Betty Durham was now sufficient to make almost any sacrifice worth while. In the days thereafter he tried to fathom the peculiar relationship existing between Maddox and the two women, but lie did not succeed very well. The driller, it was evident, had his heart set upon Betty, and in his attempt to win her Mrs. Durham was his ally; nevertheless, for some un | Known reason uie aunt disliked and 1 distrusted the man. About all that Hen could make sure of was the fact I that in some manner not readily ap-1 parent the oil well was being used by 'iladdox as a weapon; hat somehow it had become the stake in a three-cornered game. Furlong and Betty meanwhile mani aged to see a good deal of each other I but they met clandestinely. Neither | of them openly referred to this fact, j and, although the girl pretended that 1 it was her aunt whom she feared, Ben vc-ry well knew that it was Maddox. | No longer, by the way, did he apolo; gize when he kissed her, and their i stolen moments together had become very sweet. Work on the well progressed as rapidly as could be expected. Inch by inch, foot by foot, the heavy steel bits cut through the rock; length after length was added to the casing, and a3 it ncared the level of the oilbearing structure "indications" became evident; occasional sighs and gurgles issued from the well mouth as gas gathered and released itself. Its odors was at times quite strong. It was at this time that Maddotx and Furlong clashed. Some new tackle was being slung DIVANT BURIAL 'ION, INC. . ROONK v r >R THE FAMILY aber . . . Dues Thereafter llows: trter Yearly Benefit 10 .40 J 50 00 ? .80 100.00 W 1.00 100.00 H> 2 40 100.00 VATAUGA DEMOCRAT?EVERY TH1 'up (of four imt&lmeala ' ^ ?t hi? bert. tn^awmtn u?i Ben had been sen. ..,. -j?<11 while p the foreman issued directions from m i below, it was $cavv work. Ben was k,j\ j| forced to cling to the derrick limbers Vv' fe or to balance himself upon a narrow ?r* 8 plank, and his progress at times did jjy 8 uus. sua nit- HMU iiicm. .ucmuv.\ w?w ?|/^ in a surly mood, anyhow, and he be jjr I came profane. Furlong was hot and 1\jJZ irritable. He answered back, where- Jgj? upon the man below flared out an- jvjj* You do like I toil you an' don't argue, or 1 II come up there an' give 2r you a dam' good heating!" Tiie rigging was finally secured in. place and Madrfox was occupying Himself with something else when he felt a hand upon his shoulder turned to find Furlong at his side. St The lattcr's eyes were blazing In a voice ominously harsh and vibrant ?jT with fury he said: "1 came down to get that beating. I want it now." The other members of the crew isy froze in varwua attitudes of startled suspense. The two men started at each other. Furlong was a burly, thick-necked youth; he was as hard as iron and in fW? his gaze at this moment was an evil frL quality quite unexpected. His enmity TOj for the driller had finally foamed Jr. over. In proximity to this flaming | passion Maddox's smoldering dislike gave off no heat; nor at short notice could he fan its embers into a blaze After a brief survey, pregnant with possiblities. he turned his head and i winked at the other men. ta a feebio effort at jocularity, he said: , S* "I told you I'd come up there and. 5jj| give it to you. I never ast you to JSjr come down here an* get it." He guf t\lrj fawed loudly at hi3 own humor and .valked awy. Furlong stood shaking XL* in his tracks. Jgjr That evening Maddox went over to STj? the farmhouse. Evenings in this unruly lanrt, like evenings upon the [i irsert, were coo!, refreshing, beau',. fill. The brazen sky cooled, a blessed Serf breeze plyed through the scrubby j bush ar.d brought faint fragrances | unnoticed at other hours; the har3h J??, outlines of unlovely objects were sof- t tened; birds twittered; Mature filled trY. her lur.gs and took on new vigor. Mrs. Durham was rocking upon the : little front porch, and of her the man j inquired; "Where's Betty?" j "Her and Ben have gone to town " Sffg Maddux, scowled. "1 allowed they g$? "He's gone in to buy himself some gy clothes and she took the car " "He won't r.ced no clothes than he's got, on this job," asserted the STd* driller. "He's all through and washed '"What's happened, Tiller?" W "We had a row. I was a fool to put bJjS him on. in the first place, but his 1 ST week's up Friday." ; ftLj Mrs, Durham ceased rocking; her i Sp sallow face became more yellow. With bJjJ an effort she said: "He's a right smart hand. Tiller, ft/jJ I'd ruther you didn't fire him." "The hell you'd ruther!" Maddox exclaimed angrily. "What you got to Sf say bout it?" |W/? "Why, it's my prop'ty, my well?XT "Y?You know what I mean. He's Si smart, I tell you. Didn't he fish that &/-/J bolt?" Sf "Sure! An' didn't you hire him straight off, so's to spy on me?" i SJjJ "Tiller! It's no such thing. Why *j?p should I spy on you ? What you been i doin' that you need spyin'??" jyr ed Friday night an' he gets off this S? j place the next moriiin". So that's that! Saturday, sometime, the powder wag- ^ < on'll be here an' early Monday the j &,' >? i men are comin' to shoot the well. We j I got a Dig one; I'll bet my lile on that. I can tell! Why. she's makin' gas an' 2T trying her beat to let go. but"?the speaker paused, then finished slowly, ST distinctly?"there ain't agoin' to be no well whatever until I'm took care XT The widow's colorless eyes fixed *ST themselves hypnotically upon the swarthy face of the man before her. Mf" He continued; "I wasn't gcttin' along any too good gpwith Betty before this feller showed up. but since ho came she won't have gP^ nothin' to do with me." '1 did the best I could," Mrs. Dur ham declared, nervously, "hut she J says she won't marry you. She goes fix, hog wild every time I talk about it." 'MF ''There's ways to make a girl marry. You got to make her marry me SfF before that well comes in, or it's just Sj^ like I said?it ain't com in' in!" ly luicr: -gaapea me woman. "You ZTj dassent do?anything to it. Not V? now!" ??ht "Oh, dassent I? Who'll stop mo? 9k ; You won't. That little old bolt r ade W a lot of trouble, didn't it? Well, that's *Jrf no thin'. It just shows how easy it is 9p (Continued Neat Week) One of the most beautiful fields in 9J* Richmond county is the one seeded SjU to alfalfa on the Stanbur-ir Wow i September, 1934. During the first ajrf j year, an average of 1% tons of hay Jy per acre, cured, was harvested. Wj* , Democrat Ads Pay H3# JRSDAY?BOONE, N. C. mSST""* \ ,-?*wnU \ i SAHTA VS, SLEEK, WORN TiRES, IMP AND BAD SERVICIN Dreary CI Are You Ready We have all the other essential ing Car Heaters, Anti-Freeze, cohol, and operate the only Servicing depot in this part of Steam Auto Laundry, Reti Equipment and everything to You will find in our store ma make ideal Christmas Gifts. HODGES ' BOONE, DECEMBER 12, 1935 fl I rARNS ? 11 ROPER LUBRICATION I ^ G WILL MAKE A I M iiristmas | >uring the holiday season :n merriment prevails, and $| ly motor trips are being le, you owe it to yourself , have your car equipped n brand new Guaranteed ODYEARS, and enjoy the efits of safe transportation n over* the iciest surfaces. Ve have a liberal trade-in wance, and qualiy consid- ? i GOODYEARS have jj? er been so low. ?$* > for Winter? j| [ s for winter driving, includ- jg J Zerone, Prestone, and Al- *?? 1 Modern Lubrication and rg the State. reading, Wheel Balancing make a good car stay gbod. | my Accessories which will | See them I I ^ | ITRE CO. II
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 12, 1935, edition 1
14
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