Part 46 (2/2)

”They slid out while ere taking care of Gabe,” answered Andy ”I guess they thought things were getting too war Rover was correct Diser had lost no ti tiain

A few days later came word from the Spell clailed someith dismay Oil had been reported, and every one connected with the Davenport outfit was of the opinion that the hen shot off would open up big

”Gee! suppose they do strike it rich?” cried Fred

”I don't think they will--not after what the experts said,” answered Jack

”But even Mr Fitch said they sometimes made mistakes,” put in Randy

A few days later the well on the Spell claim was shot off, and this was followed by a flow of oil a to forty or fifty barrels a day

Then it was announced that the Davenport croas going to sink the well several hundred feet deeper and they were also going to put down another well farther up the brook

”I reckon that flow of oil has got 'eilvie, and there was just a trace of envy in his tones ”Well, that's the luck of it You can't tell anything about it,” and he shook his head wonderingly as he went about his duties

So far, there had been no indications of oil at the first hich the Rovers were boring But Mr Fitch had told Jack's father not to expect too much until a depth of at least twenty-five hundred feet was reached

It made the boys feel a little blue to think that the Davenport crowd had been the first to strike oil

”Won't Nappy and Slugger crow over this--especially as their folks have an interest in the well?” re happened which ra as follows:

”Ruth's eyes operated on yesterday Very successful Expert says she will see perfectly”

”Isn't this grand!” cried Jack, his whole face bea with pleasure ”I declare, this is the best news yet!”

”I don't blaer the Stevensons feel relieved”

The telegraave many details But the main feature was that the operation had been entirely successful and that the surgeon in charge had said positively that Ruth's eyes would soon be as well and as strong as they had ever been

”I aratulation,” declared Jack

”Even if she can't read it herself, they can read it to her,” and he hurried off to the telegraph station for that purpose

After that the boys waited anxiously for some sort of development at the Franklin farm Tom Rover and his brother Sao with them, but all had pleaded that they be allowed to remain in Texas

”We want to see the wells shot off and want to see the oil flow--that is, provided it does flow,” said Randy

”We ht as well put in our vacation here as anywhere,” put in Fred

And so the four lads were allowed to remain