Jack Ranger's Western Trip Part 24

Just as he grabbed the negro by his kinky wool the conductor, who had been asleep in his berth, emerged. He was struck squarely by the porter, and the two went down in a heap in the aisle, with Mr. Post on top of them.

"What's this all about?" inquired the conductor, as soon as matters had quieted down a bit.

"I've been robbed, that's all," replied Mr. Post, who had partly dressed.

"Tell me about it," demanded the conductor, and then the miner, realizing that he had been a bit foolish, explained the circ.u.mstances.

"Serves you right for trusting a stranger," said the conductor.

"But he said he was able to double my cash," protested Mr. Post.

"I've got to have it back. It will ruin me to lose it."

"Here it is," said Nat, who, with the other boys, had donned his clothes. He thought matters had gone far enough. "We had it for safe keeping," he explained.

"Well douse my safety lamp! Where did you get it?" asked Mr. Post, his eyes big with wonder.

Nat explained briefly, telling how he and his chums had watched Professor Punjab, and had fooled him.

"Say, you boys are all to the good!" exclaimed the miner. "Saved my money for me, that's what you did. I didn't know I could be so foolish until I tried. Well, it will take a slick one to beat me again."

Mr. Post began counting over his roll. Meanwhile the other pa.s.sengers had gathered around, and the story became generally known.

"Smart lads, them," commented an elderly man. "Ought to get a reward."

"And that's what they will, too," put in the miner, overhearing the words. "n.o.body can say Josh Post forgot a good action. Here's a couple of hundred for you."

"No, thanks," said Nat firmly, and his companions shook their heads.

"We can't take money for that. Besides, it was pay enough to fool the professor. We've had dealings with him before."

Mr. Post tried to force the money on the boys, but they refused to listen to him, and he finally understood that there was a higher standard than cash to repay kindness.

"Then shake hands!" he cried heartily, and the boys were almost sorry they consented, for the miner's grip was anything but a light one.

However, he showed how much in earnest he was.

"I'll never forget you boys," he said. "Josh Post never forgets a favor, and if ever you want a friend just you call on me."

The boys thought little of this at the time, but there was an occasion when they remembered it and profited by it.

The excitement over, the boys went to breakfast. Mr. Post insisted on going with them, and in fact he did not seem to want the boys out of his sight. He was continually referring to his narrow escape at the hands of the fake professor. The boys got to like him better as the hours pa.s.sed, for he showed that he had a good heart, beneath a rather rough and repelling exterior.

At noon the train arrived at the center of the Pennsylvania oil region. The evidences of the great industry were on every hand, and the sight of the tall derricks, the refineries, the storage tanks, and the pipes where natural gas was continually burning, were such interesting ones that the lads never grew tired of looking from the windows.

They delayed longer than usual at a small station, and some of the pa.s.sengers going out to see what the trouble was, reported that the locomotive had broken down and that it would take three hours to repair it.

"Here's a chance to get out and see the country," suggested Jack.

"What do you say?"

"Fine," replied John. "I've always wanted to see an oil well."

"Any objection to me going along?" asked Mr. Post, who had overheard the talk.

"Guess not," replied Nat heartily. "Come along."

The four had no sooner alighted from the train than a roughly-dressed man rushed up to the miner, grasped him by the hand, clapped him on the back with a sound like a small explosion, and exclaimed:

"Don't tell me this is Josh Post!"

"All right, Jim Baker, then I'll not do anything of the sort if you don't want me to," was the answer.

"Well land of living! Where'd you come from?" asked Jim Baker.

"Where you going?" demanded Mr. Post, not answering.

"Going to do what I've been doing for the last ten years," was the reply. "Shoot a well."

"So you're not dead yet?" asked Mr. Post.

"The day isn't over," was the answer, "and I've got two big holes to drop the go-devil down."

Then the two friends began to discuss old times with a vengeance, until the miner, suddenly remembering himself called a halt and cried:

"Jim Baker, let me introduce you to three of the best friends I got.

They saved a fool from being parted from his money," and, introducing the boys he explained what he meant.

"You'd better get a nurse," said Mr. Baker sarcastically as his friend finished.

"I've put an advertis.e.m.e.nt in for one. Got to be a good one though, to keep me straight."

"Do you really shoot oil wells, with nitroglycerine, the way I've read about?" asked John Smith of Mr. Baker.

"I sure do, son. Want to see me?"

"I would like to, very much."

"Excuse me," put in Mr. Post. "I think I hear some one calling me,"

and he made as if to hurry away.

"There's not a bit of danger," called Mr. Baker. "Hold on, Josh, better come along."

"Guarantee you'll not blow us up?"

"Sure I will."

"What, give the guarantee or blow us up?" asked Jack with a laugh.

"I guess Josh knows he can trust me," said the well-shooter. "Now if you want to come along I've got room in the wagon, and the first well is only about a mile out. You'll have time to see it before they get the engine fixed."

The boys at once decided they would go. It was a new experience, and, though they realized the danger, they felt comparatively safe with Mr. Baker.