Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Pillar of Flame of his life. In his mail-box was a letter from his mother telling again of the death of the girl’s father, and how her family were pinched financially. -“His insurance had lapsed some time,” she wrote, “and they have got nothing from it. Milly is sick with nervous shock, and can not work, and they are in sad need. I am sure I do not know how they make out’ at all.” Then a little farther on, “I suppose I ought to tell you that her mother is urging her to marry young Arnold. He is around there every night, and his saloon is prosper- ous. I think I would come home, or she may marry him from a sense of duty,’ ’ and so on. - Red went heartsick. All night he tossed around, trying to find some way out. But things looked black, and his thoughts were bitter, desperate. Restless and unhappy, he went down to the well almost as soon as he awoke next morning, for the mere fact of being alone was a strain, and he wished for a crowd to lose himself in. The foreman, Flanagan, was standing staring down the tunnel, and turned at the sound of footsteps. He nodded slightly, then swung ’round again, and continued, as before, looking down the long slope. For a time they stood side by side. “What’s the trouble?” queried Red, at length. “Trouble, is it? Faith, it’s keeping out of trouble that’s making that same,’ re- turned the other, ‘“‘and mall blame to any- body for it.” “What do you mean?” “What do I mean? Why, the tunnel’s made; the pipe’s there; the cap’s by the side of it. But the boy to do the trick, he— begorra, is some other place.”’ “Oh! I see! Nobody wants the job.” “Nobody is right, and ‘small blame to them!”’ And he turned a repellent shoulder. For quite a space the two stood there, gazing down the black hole, then Red turn- ed and looked around at the scene. Off in front was the well, its great mass of flame showing even in the bright daylight; away to the right was the first pool of oil that he had worked so hard to dam, and be- low that, round a bend in the valley a cor- ner of the second one showed. Dotted here and there along the gulch were many der- ricks, while, holding all together, as it might be, were the two walls of the valley. 105 And as he looked, a thought slowly form- ed in his mind, an idea that came with a sudden cold feeling and passed again, leav- ing him chilled and thoughtful. ‘“What’s wrong with the job?” he asked presently, and was surprised to find his voice hoarse and husky. “Death’s what’s wrong with it,” replied Flanagan shortly.” “And what do they offer?” “At first it was five hundred, now it’s two thousand. What it’ll be tomorrow, I don’t know.” Then suddenly swinging on his heel, he fixed his sharp blue eyes on Red, and exam- ined him slowly and carefully. “Don’t be a darned fool,”’ he said at last. “You don’t need money as bad as that.” “T need it terribly, desperately!’ Red blurted out in a shamefaced manner. “I came down here to farm and get independ- ent, but it’s a fool failure. girl! I can’t keep her waiting forever. Her father’s just died.” The foreman turned away again and stood gazing once more down the incline, then swung round suddenly, and there was a different look in those blue eyes. “Lookee here, lad!” he began, “I’m not doing my duty ‘to the company, but I am advising you, begorra, for I hate to see the like of you taking such a chance. It’s a million to one against you coming out of that hole alive. D’ye hear me? I’m no coward, but I got a family, and there’s a bunch of roughnecks round here that’s been up against ’most everything. If weback up, well—no, it’s too much of a chance, I tell you. Forget it, lad, forget it!” Red stood quivering and. anxious. His life! What good was it as a failure? Two thousand dollars! It would give him a new start! Back and forward he swung, then the thought of Arnold with his prosperous saloon came. With a sudden shake, he pulled himself together and looked up. ‘Thank you, Flanagan,” he said simply, *“‘but I guess I’ll take a chance. Things are not so rosy that I can afford to be choice,” he added with a bitter laugh. ‘‘Who do I see about it?” The blue eyes bored into him, then a great hand reached over and rested on his shoulder. © “Made up your mind, lad?” Red nod- ded. “‘Then strike for five thousand, and And there’s a” 4 - a Sere —S =v es ee — i dle oN” ai? ne AWAee: (Sar AN Sar ed he ta Oc ‘ ‘ee - wig {> De a t - - - Sy id - x “a eey ‘ . er, ee t Ht io de i? be PEs ime es ee ee eee eg nd i bats oe VSR / cS) comicboo co NDA ar Ol iy ays or rAd go / POL) es eetee eee | enore f i « s “ : PL e>: | ez >» hf