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The Wingham Advance Times, 1935-12-12, Page 6PAGE SIX WINCJI AV.!. ADVANCE -TIMES IN THREE INSTALMENTS SYNOPSIS , , . Young, ambitious and, efficient Donald Fisk of New York, engineer and key field roan for a small oil corporation, is sent into the desert heat of El Centro, S.A., to bring,- in paying wells in a very pro- mising field. He takes his young wife Gloria, with him and together they. endure,, the soul -trying heat and dust in the blazing desert, Against great odds, the drilling has progressed un- til Fisk is certain that oil will be struck, so he makes steamer reserva- tions to take them home and away from the hardships his young wife. has enduredso bravely. Gloria is be- side herself with joy and days too soon starts to pack luggage. Then . NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY. * * * * SECOND INSTALMENT Gloria regained control of herself -with an effort and her flower-like face broke into a smile. "I'll be patient. Only don't let anything happen. As he left the house,. Donald told himself with a pang that he had a sick girl on his hands. Gloria was sicker than she had permitted him to realize and it had taken 'this brief flicker of animation at the prospect of going home to show him just how weak she really was. She was fragile, bloodless, the life and the laughter had gone out of her. As a matter of fact, he had watched it go day by day for months and he had tried vainly to check -it, but never before had he appreciated to what extent she had failed. If anything should happen to her—Don closedhis eyes and refused to face such a thought, Only ten days more, then they would go north to those green fields and cool waters of which she was' forever wistfully speaking. Ten days wasn't long. This certainly was not a woman's country. Least of all was it a coun- try for a lovely, high -bred creature like Gloria, but, Don reflected, it had been this or nothing. Gloria had been willing, nay eager, to marry him, even against her family's advice, and even thoughit had meant exile. Nor had she once complained, at least not until today when it was all over. and she could voice her hatred of this life without hurting him. That was. "like her, to fade away, if need be to di@ by inches at iiis side, without complaint, °ne �h;^_s was sure — without Gloria's loveto strengthen him he 'would never had the courage and the pertinacity to win his fight against the desert. The mere fact that his own money and that of his friends 'was sunk in the El Centro field would not have been, sufficient to keep hirn here. Not by any means. But with a wife like Gloria, a man couldn't quit —he couldn't tolerate failure of any sort. If he and Gloria had been able to get away once in a while it would not have been so bad, but money from the wells which he had somehow managed to drill had gone.; into new equipment, into storage tanks, tank cars, drilling rigs, leases, and the like; for in order to live at all in this busi- ness it had been necessary to expand, road. Gloriahad mastered only a few and as a result production had not quite kept pace with expenditures. It had been the old, heart -breaking story of most so-called successful oil enter- prises—just enough encouragement to render it impossible to let go. But the company had real holdings now, and with the Homestake making five thousand barrels a day, yes, or even one-half that, it would be out of the red in no time and its stock would be .worth a lot, It would be worth so much that Gloria could well afford to give her family the laugh . Some- thing' like a million dollars, that's what it would: mean to them. And Homestake couldn't miss. El Centro wasn't that kind of a pool. Once in- side the limits, a man was as. safe as if .his money were in the Bank of England., Ten days more, then New York with its shops and it lights and its theatres. He'd show Gloria that he wasn'tmerely a -machine eternally thinking, talking dreaming, living oil. He'd prove that he was the wildest, the most extravagant, the most devot- ed lover the world had ever seen. The things he.would buy for her—the love, the tenderness he'd shower upon her! He'd repay her for the faith and .for the courage she had shown. Ten days more! Gloria ate but little supper that night. She attributed her lack of ap- words of the language—this climate robbed women of energy both phys- ical and mental --hence she could not understand what was being said. When Don returned, he forestalled her anxious' query by announcing: "McKay's in some sort of .trouble and I've got to run out there again. Don't worry—it's nothing' much." "What kind of trouble?" Gloria's tired face was suddenly drawn with apprehension. "Some kind of a fishing job—Pedro didn't know just what." Fisk came around the table and kissed his wife. "Don't fret, and dont wait up for me. You know how long everything takes around a well. I may not get it fixed before morning." He smiled reassur- ingly and playfully pinched her ear. "Can't` afford to risk any delay for the sake of a little sleep, eh?" With sinking heart Gloria watched him go, for there had been something in his voicethat belied his cheerful words. This hateful oil business! Its hazards were never ending; there was a malignant genius in the wells that took delight in wrecking human plans and killing high hopes, however well founded. Don returned for breakfast, hot and tired and dirty; he began gruffly: "I was afraid of McKay! He dropped a, tool in the hole." "What does that mean?" "He didn't set up his joint proper- ly, I presume. Anyhow, it means we have to fish it out." "Is that a—a long job?" "Not necessarily; depends on how the stem is cocked and things like that. We're going to take a picture of it—you know, lower a soap mold and take an impression. While they are doing that I'm going to get a few hours' sleep—I .haven't been off my feet all night. Lord,- it's hot!" Fisk lay on his bed all that morn- ing, and he perspired in his sleep. Meanwhile his wife went on with her packing and her unpacking. There was indeed very little to , get ready and it was a foolish waste of effort, but she had to do something with her hands and this occupation gave her the same pleasure she had derived.. from folding and unfolding her doll's clothes for imaginary journeys. She had loved to play that game When she was a tiny girl and she was be- coming very childish of late. Den left ag,el during the .most cruel heat of the afternoon; he re- turned about midnight and gloria'ga- thered from what he told herthat these fishing jobs were tedious at best and that the crew was getting along that its upper end rested against the side of the well, it was not easy to get bold of it, This new drilling would have resulted in a crooked hole fifty or • sixty feet deep and would have left the'obstructing tool ing upon a shelf of rock, By explod- ing asnta1l shot a few feet below this shelf the lost bit could have been dropped in the pocket—sidetracked-- after which the .old shaft could have been carried on. But Fisk declared he was afraid to attempt this rnanoeuver so close, to P the structure. Other oil men had' warned him'against doing so. Twice something of the sort had been tried to the El Centro field and in each in- stance a ruined well •had resulted. The shots had seared the rock -due per- haps to some peculiar characteristic of the formation. Again he told his wife not to worry; new fishing tools were on the way up from the coast. Pedro halted the groaning tnick and called out something in Spanish. petite to excitement, to the anticipa- tion of leaving, but as a matter of truth, Francesca, the one servant they could afford, had been more than usually shiftless that afternoon and the young wife herself had been forc- ed to' prepare the meal. , Any exertion of late had left her upon the ragged edge of utter collapse. Donald's sympathetic remonstrance was interrupted by old Pedro, the wa- ter man. Pedro halted his groaning in reality'' a forty -foot steel shaft truck outside the house and called standing in the bottom of the hole, something in Spanish that took Fisk and it weighed many hundreds 6f s g it was'tipped InasmuchasPP '' into the out nt table and pounds. away from the ab c t ing. "J know. But I can't leave.• I can't without throwing away every- thing we've fought for. The company will ;;o to smash—you understand! I'd chuck it all if it were mine, but the crowd relies on me. They'd nev- er forgive m'e. I'd be a quitter'!" " Gloria tried un, "I suppose so, successfully to check the tears. "My people., too! We wouldn't have our triumph, would' we? ' You mustn't mind me. F i such a baby! I'll be all right'' as soon as I get home." Day after .day the work at the well went on, Many times Fisk was tempted' to. blast, but the men talked hien out of the idea, (Concluded Next Week) • Thurs., December 12, 191$ the public schools; also the iner:cas- upon to face. Trtie we can meet it int; • of teachers' salaries. With the with a confidence unknown to the urban .centres paying high salaries, it previous generation, because we know- is nowis difficult for the rural school to that we ,cad win if we make the ne- hold theirteachers, cessary effort, Reeve Elliott stated he did not see The public provide the money to. the: point of comparing the salaries .equip and maintain clinics and sena; of rural and urban' teachers, The mat- toria, public health nurses and other ter largely ,clepeuded upon the trust- who work day after day seeking ees in the sections.. overcome the disease. The same pub - Motions Presented lic have a perfect right to ask how Bowman-Bryans That we, the their money is used, and what results C : linty Council of 1935, think it a are being attained. wise mo. to have the' magistrate's The remarkable thing about the ive •office moved to the court house, aid success of the campaign against tub,. We recommend to the>. 936 council erculosis is that results have been se - that this matter be taken up at their cured despite the fact that no specific January session. For their assistance means has been discovered to prevent we would ask the county engineer to or care the disease. We rely upon ear- prepare an estimate of the' cost of ly diagnosis and treatment ' of the the work.'Property Committee.' cases and the separation of the sick Bryans-Bowman — That we, the from the well, particularly children; members of this County Council, sb as to prevent the spread of the memoralize the provincial govern- I disease. ment to do all in their power to stop] A common effort which has brought the operation of slot machines' and doctors, nurses, social workers, em- to strengthen the -power of the pres- ployers and employees into this cem- ent Attorney -General in his endeavor Paign .has achieved results. It requir- to stop this means of robbing the in- nocent public of its money. 'Carried, Elliott -Hanley: That this Council petition. the Minister of Highways to. •extend the time for issuing motor ve- hicle ehicle licenses to February 1. Carried. Haake-McNall—That the fees to the technical school •that have been paid by pupils attending from Jane- ary to, July, 1935, be fet'urned by'.the county. Carried. COUNTY COUNCIL DECEMBER SESSION (Continued from Page Two) requests of the Lucknow public lib- rary board and the Huron. Women's Institute for grants. Recognizing the right of Huron County pupils to a technical education the recommendation of the Education Committee that Huron County pupils be permitted. to complete four years of high school or technical education at a technical school providing.it does not exceed four years secondary edu- cation, was unanimously carried. The resolution from Essex County, opposing the abolitipn of county councils, was approved as we feel that the county and townships .councils fill an urgent need of the people of On- tario. Amounts . paid;to the .' :various schools in the county were: Collegiate and high schools, $42,013.02; contin- uation schools, $8,561.79; schools. -ad- jacent to Huron County $5,052.44; to- tal, $55,627,22; committee pay sheets, $61.16; E. C. Beacom under order of Judge Costello, $87.50; Dr. J. M. Field, under order Judge Costello, $87.05; examination fees, $497.67.; equipment grants, $3,147.81; fifth class grants $2,878.69. the The placing of lavatories in basement of the court house was dis- cussed, and the' matter was left for the January session of 1936 council.. Reeve Matheson. felt no •le.gislation could' be passed to force farmers to cut weeds fronting their property. The . Education Committee's report was taken up. ; Reeve Archibald advo- cated the teaching of ` agriculture in "Honey! Honey girl!" her husband tied in agony. "Don't take it like hat!" McKay might have the obstruction out before they arrived—in fact, he might get hold of that big stem at any moment. That was the way with fishing jobs. Don maintained this hopeful atti- tude; in, his wife's presence he' con- tinued to be cheery, but out -at the Homestake, where he spent twenty. out of every twenty-four `hours, he was anything but optimistic. Nor, was he pleasant to get along, with. Under ordinary circumstances he would have refused to be unduly perturbed by the oil game and grappling blindly for a bit stem in the bottom of a steel - lined shaft a quarter of a mile deep• is slow work at best. Sometimes it takes weeks But circumstances were not ordin- ary. catch- ingGloria's heart was set on ca c ing that boat, the days were slipping. past, and Don: could no _longer.' blind as we a well s could be expected himself to the truth that she was ser- For two days his nightly' report aously ill and ought to go. And yet was the same. Had the accident oc- there4 he could'send with was nobody curred earlier, he would have proceed- her, nor could he 'leave until the well uponedfailure to grapple the trou- was in. The ditectors.wouldn►t stand ble mebit stem, to sidetrack the ob- for that, even if. he could bring him- blesom. struction, so he explained. In other self to do such a thing. It so hap-, words he would have drilled past it pened—as it usually does happen —' by allowing the second bit to be de- that not time in the entire history of fleeted by the first. The lost tool was the company's operations could have been more unpropitious than the pre- sent for a mishap such as this. The treasury was low, there were bank loans soon to be met! Nothing less than big, new "Productions" could av- WAR DOESN'T STOP HAILI CELEBRATION Though all the resources of the na- tion are being called upon to defend Ethiopia from invasion ,the anniver- eery of the coronation' of 'Emperor iit S 1taste X waw: cerebrated with regal pomp in Addis Ababa, his cap- ital, The event was commemorated with a state procession ,participated hi by thousands of tribesmen, who flocked t the capital to pay homage' ert a serious crisis. If. he lost the Homestake, the company was wreck- ed. Fisk drove his men without mercy, but is was maddening futile work, this blind grappling, this interminable experimenting with one device' after another. He became irritable and jumpy; his hands shook as he -wiped the stinging sweat out of his eyes; he cursed_ the desert aloud when its heat rendered the work doubly hard. Working on that derrick floor was like working upon a bed of coals. Ev- ery piece of metal that flesh fell upon was hot enough to blister; the stale water that he and his men smilled down their throats was tepid, and ev- en in their sleep they were thirsty., Fisk told his wife grimly one day that they could not make the,. boat. She took the announcement much as she would have taken a blow in the face. It left her pallid and stricken with something infinitely worse than pain. She crept away, and a few min- utes later he found her weeping. She made no sound, there was no expres- sion of grief non her face, but tears of utter •exhaustion were coursing down her cheeks: "Honey! Honey girl!" her husband cried in. agony. "Don't take it like that!" Shetried to smile. "I'm so tired, Don! I've been ,planting so. Oh, Don, I haven't strength left to stand another disappointment!" "We'll catch the next boat, sure." "I've been 'thinking so much about the green glass and the cool waters! I'm so` hot --•so tiredt" risk nodded; his face was work - W. A. CRAWFORD, M.D. Physician and Surgeon Located at the office of the late • Dr. J. P. Kennedy. Phone 150 Wingham, A H&(+LTH SERVICE OF THE CANADIAN MEDICAL rte ASSOCIATION AND LIF.EV''.•11111/ INSURANCE COMPANIES IN CANADA. • TUBERCULOSIS es money, it requires courage, persist- ency and determination. Wecan if we will, make tuberculosis a compar atively rare disease. One way in which everyone may . play a part at this season of the year is to buy and use Christmas Seals. The money you spend on such seals;. is used to strengthen the forces which protect you and yours against a very' ,. real and powerful enemy. To buy seals makes you a participant in the campaign, lining you up with the forces of health and happiness against disease and misery. Questions concerning Health, ad- dressed to the Canadian Medical As- sociation, 184 College St., Toronto,. will be answered personally by let- ter. "The declines of the tuberculosis death rate in this country to one- third accident. . race to third its 1900 level is no On the contrary, it is an outstanding example of man's capacity, in certain measure, to carve out his own terres- trial destiny". In the above words, the director of the National. Tuberculosis Association of the United States introduced his discussiorr of what should. now . be done in the fight against tube"rculosis. There is some real danger lest there be a feeling that the fight . is' won, resulting in a falling 'off of en- ergetic opposition and thus allowing the disease .to regain some of the ground it has lost. Despite the encouraging progress which has been made, tuberculosis is to -day one of the most serious dis- ease problems which we are called An absent-minded jewelry salesman• was getting married. He was.present- ing his bride-to-be with the ring dur- ing the ceremony and he hesitated. Wifh this ring," promptedtied t minister. ter. "With this ring,' nodded the sales- man, "we give a written guarantee, re- minding the customer that the price will be cheerfully refunded if not as represented." MONUMENTS at first cost Haying our factory equipped with the most modern machinery for the exe- cution of high-class work, we ask you to see the largest display of monu- ments of any retail factory in Ontario. All finished by sand blast machines. We import all our granites from the Old Country quarries direct, in the rough. You can save all local deal- ers', agents' and middlemanprofits by seeing us. E. J. Skelton & Son at West End .Bridge—WALKERTON Professional Directory J. W. BUSHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money_ to Loan. Office Meyer Block, Wingham Successor to Dudley Holmes. to their mien ' Here are seen three c photographed hotographed during the celebration. . H. W. COLBORNE. M.D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Medical Representative D. S. C. R. Phone 54. Wingham A R. & F. E. DUVAL CHIROIPRACTORS CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY, North Street — Wingham Telephone 300. i R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office -- Morton Block. Telephone No. 66 Dr. Robt. C. REDMOND M,R.CS. (England) L.R.C.P. (London) PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON F. A. PARKER OSTEOPATH All Diseases Treated. Office adjoining residence next to Anglican Church on Centre St. Sunday by appointment, Osteopathy Electricity Phone 272. Hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R. Vanstone. Wingham Ontario BusinsS ADVERTISE IN THE ADVANCE -TIMES THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD A Thorough knowledge of fart g Stock. Phone 231, Winghttttt. DR. W. M. CONNELL' PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON ,Phone 19. _J..ALVIN FOX Licensed Drugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC - DRUGLESS THERAPY - RADIONIC EQUIPMENT Hours by Appointment. Phone 191. Wingham Directory Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Established 1840, Risks taken on all classes of insur- ance at reasonable rates. Head Office, Guelph, Ont. ABNER COSENS, Agent. Wingham. It Will Pay You to HaAn EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale. See T. R. I3ENNETT At The Royal Service Station. Phone 174W. HARRY FRY Furniture and Funeral Service LESLIE GORDON" Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director Ambulance Service. Phones: Day 117. Night 109. THOMAS E. SMALL- LICE'NSEI) AUCTIONE' 20 Yeats' Experience in, Parm Stack and Implementst. Moderate 1P,lces, P.hette 5.31. •