DRILLING AN OIL WELL.
There was no material change in George's condition on the morning after
work had been begun on the oil well. The physicians declared that he was
getting along as well as could be hoped for, and the nurse gave it as
her opinion that he would recover much sooner than any one had believed.
Therefore, the boys were not troubled about their friend more than might
be expected.
On this day, work was begun on the derrick, and, as may be imagined, all
the boys were on the spot to see it, Ralph's belief in the success of
the venture growing stronger and stronger as the framework arose in the
air.
On the third day George's mother arrived, and the boys were thus
relieved of all responsibility, so far as the care of their friend was
concerned.
It was on the evening of the same day that Mrs. Harnett came that
Ralph's father arrived.
After receiving his son's letter, he had thought the matter of
sufficient importance, somewhat to Ralph's surprise, to warrant his
paying a visit to the oil fields, and had written to Ralph to meet him
at Bradford.
Despite the fact that Bob could borrow on the strength of the property
as much money as he needed to carry on the work, he was very anxious to
convince Mr. Gurney of the value of his scheme, and on the day when that
gentleman was to arrive, insisted that Ralph should go to Bradford with
him early in the afternoon, in order that he might be able to arrange
with the gentlemen of whom they were purchasing their supplies to meet
Mr. Gurney, and tell him exactly what they thought of the proposed well.
Thanks to Bob's activity, Mr. Gurney was able to see all those who had
inspected the property on that same evening, and was considerably
surprised by these interviews.
After receiving Ralph's letter, he had thought that possibly the boys
might have a site for a well which would pay to open, and he had come on
believing that it was not a matter of very great importance.
When he had been introduced to Bob, and had heard that young gentleman's
flowery description of the vast amount of wealth which was only waiting
to be brought to the surface of the earth, he was disposed to look upon
it as a visionary scheme, the value of which only existed in the
moonlighter's mind.
Bob had been accustomed to have his statements received in that same
way, and for that reason had arranged for Mr. Gurney to meet those whose
judgment he could fully rely upon.
These gentlemen assured him that the well promised to be a rich one;
that the signs of oil were remarkably good, and that they had no
hesitation in agreeing with Bob, as they had done, to supply anything
which might be needed to open the well.
Thus, even before he had seen the property, Mr. Gurney believed that his
son was in a fair way to enrich himself through his deed of charity.
In the present crowded condition of the Simpson farm-house Mr. Gurney
could find no accommodations for living there, and, since he was to
remain in Bradford, the boys had made their arrangements to remain there
also over night, in order that they might take him out to the oil-well
early in the morning.
On the following day, Mr. Gurney drove out to look at the property. He
saw that the work was well under way, and heard sufficient from the
workmen to convince him of the fact that every one who had seen the
place believed a well would yield plentifully.
Mr. Gurney's business would not permit of his remaining in the oil
region but one day, and when Ralph drove him to the depot that night, he
gave him formal permission to draw on him at sight for all necessary
expenses.
After this, had it been possible, Bob would have hurried the work still
faster along, but he had already urged matters on as fast as possible,
and all he could do was to insist on Ralph, Jim and Dick doing as much
work as one of the laborers, he setting the example.
The days went on all too short for the work that each one wanted to see
done, and wearily for the invalid, who was beginning slowly to recover.
The fever had abated, and with the doctor's permission, the boys had an
interview with their friend, who had descended within the shadows of the
Valley of Death.
On the night when the derrick was completed, the engine placed and
housed, and the drills in position, ready for work, Bob and Ralph had a
long and heated discussion as to whether George should be told of what
was being done.
Bob insisted that he should know nothing about it until the day on which
they struck oil, while Ralph argued that if it was such a certainty that
oil would be found, George should be allowed to share in the pleasure of
digging for it.
Already had the young engineer begun to worry about the loss his
business would sustain because of his illness, and although he had not
spoken of it, Ralph fancied he could see that he was also troubled about
the expense which he must necessarily be under.
All this, Ralph argued, would be taken from George's mind if he was told
of what was being done, and after a long discussion, Bob agreed that the
important news should be told on the following day, provided the
physician agreed that the patient would not suffer from the excitement.
On the following morning, all the boys were at the proposed well before
any of the workmen arrived, in order that they might see the drills
enter the ground, and by the time that important ceremony was over, it
was time for the physician to make his morning call.
When he did come, Ralph told him just what he thought George had on his
mind, in the way of trouble, and then stated what it was he proposed
doing, in case there was no objection to it.
"Not the slightest objection, my boy," said the medical gentleman,
heartily. "Good news seldom kills, and from what I learn, it is only
that which you have to tell. I think, as you do, that it will benefit
the patient, and you have my permission to unfold your budget of news
after I have dressed his wounds."
Half an hour later, the doctor had left the house, and Ralph and Bob
entered the invalid's room, as they had every morning since he had been
able to recognize them.
In reply to their usual inquiry as to how he felt, George said,
gloomily:
"I should feel all right if I only had a little more strength. It is
hard to know that I shall have to lie here a long time, simply waiting
to get strong, and all the business I had succeeded in getting, done by
some one else. But perhaps I couldn't have kept what I had after that
scrape about the glycerine."
"All that is settled, George," said Ralph. "I persuaded them to call
your case the next day after you were hurt, when Bob's case came on. He
and Jim and I told the story exactly as it was, and you were acquitted,
while he was fined ten dollars. I should have told you before, but that
we were afraid of exciting you."
"Such excitement would do me good rather than harm," said George, with a
smile, "for I have worried about that every day I have been here."
"Then I will give you more of the same sort, only better," replied
Ralph, with a meaning look at Bob. "The day after you were hurt, we
hunted for the oil, and Bob found it just----"
"I should say we did find it," interrupted Bob, excitedly, and despite
Ralph's warning looks. "It is the richest spot you ever saw, and there's
a thousand-barrel well there, if there's a drop."
George opened his eyes wide with astonishment, and then closing them
wearily, he said:
"I'm willing to take your word for it that you found signs of oil; but I
would rather hear what some one else thought as to the size of the
well."
"You shall hear," cried Bob, growing more excited, and forgetting all
caution. "I brought Dodd and Mapleson out here, and after they had
looked at it, they said they were willing to advance everything for the
opening. Then we commenced work----"
"You commenced work?" cried George, attempting to raise himself in the
bed, and falling back from sheer exhaustion.
"Yes, George," said Ralph, as he motioned Bob to remain quiet. "Every
one said we'd be sure to strike oil, and Bob has started it for you. He
had nothing to do for a while, and he wanted to surprise you. I sent for
father, and after he had talked with some of the men, he told us we
might draw on him for what money we needed."
George lay perfectly still and looked at Ralph as if he could not
believe that which he heard, and Bob, forgetting himself again, cried
out:
"The derrick's already built, the engine's up, and we commenced drilling
this morning. I tell you what it is, Harnett, before you're able to get
around again, we'll have a thousand-barrel well flowing that you can
call your own; and, as for engineering, why, you needn't worry your head
about that any more, for you'll have all the money you want."