Part 47 (1/2)

Of course, the Franklins were as anxious as any one to see howfor the co dick Rover was also on hand daily, consulting with Ogilvie and his assistants to ht

”These tells are going to cost us about seventy thousand dollars,”

Jack's father confided to hihtly

”It certainly is, Dad Especially if the wells don't pan out”

”Well, we've got to take what coood or bad”

At last Ogilvie announced that they were getting to the point where the first ould soon be shot off There were so as Mr Fitch had hoped The oil expert had put up his five thousand dollars in the company which had been forer sums invested

”Here's news for you!” shouted Andy, bursting in on the others the next noon ”What do you know about this? Say, I guess those fellows are going to catch it all right enough!” and he began to dance around the floor

”What are you talking about, Andy?” demanded his brother

”They say the well on the Lorimer Spell claim has run dry!”

”Run dry!” came froot only fifteen barrels the day before yesterday, and yesterday they got not more than three”

”You don't mean it!” exclaimed Jack ”Who told you this?”

”One of the men orked there Carson Davenport was soto hi over here to look for a job--that he was sure the whole thing was petering out”

The news soon circulated, and dick Rover was so interested that he went off the next day to Coluh,” he said, on returning ”They didn't get one back on theuess Mr Fitch was right

He said that there was more or less surface oil--that they hadn't tapped any real vein or pocket”

The day before the first of the wells on the Franklin farm was to be shot off the Rover boys went to Columbina on an errand to one of the stores Just as they were co out of this establishh the mud on the way to the railroad station

Behind it ca wildly for those in the first auto on!” exclai,” suggested Fred

The others illing, and all set off on a run down the hfare of the town As they ran they heard the distant whistle of a locouess the crowd in the first auto want to catch that three-o'clock express,” remarked Fred

”Yes, and evidently the second croant to stop them,” returned Andy

The excitement had attracted the attention of a number of people, and a crowd of a dozen oras the matter

As soon as the first auto fro in one hand and a suitcase in the other He looked back, and theninto the station

”Look! It's Carson Davenport!” exclaimed Jack