In rural parts of the...
Illustration
In rural parts of the country, where farmers buy their gas in bulk, theft is always a concern. Most farmers today lock their tanks, but it wasn't always so. Time was when thieves would carry two five-gallon gas cans to a farmer's tank, fill them up, and carry them off to a waiting car.
Arnold, an old bachelor who lived only a few miles from town, overheard some teenagers talk about stealing gas -- his gas. But he would be ready. Behind Arnold's tanks stood an old shack, used to house old junk from around the yard. Arnold set up a chair just back of the doorway of the shack, and sat there, night after night. Finally one night he heard voices approach the tank. He jumped up and yelled at the would-be thieves to stop. Of course, they dropped their cans and ran to safety. Arnold figured he had heard the last of the thieves, but to be safe, he spent a few more nights in the shack. Nothing.
The thieves were not to be outdone by an old bachelor. Sunday morning when Arnold came home from church, he found a note on his front door that read: "Thanks for the gas." While he was at church, they had driven up to his tank and filled up.
Arnold bought and installed locks on his tank Monday morning.
Arnold, an old bachelor who lived only a few miles from town, overheard some teenagers talk about stealing gas -- his gas. But he would be ready. Behind Arnold's tanks stood an old shack, used to house old junk from around the yard. Arnold set up a chair just back of the doorway of the shack, and sat there, night after night. Finally one night he heard voices approach the tank. He jumped up and yelled at the would-be thieves to stop. Of course, they dropped their cans and ran to safety. Arnold figured he had heard the last of the thieves, but to be safe, he spent a few more nights in the shack. Nothing.
The thieves were not to be outdone by an old bachelor. Sunday morning when Arnold came home from church, he found a note on his front door that read: "Thanks for the gas." While he was at church, they had driven up to his tank and filled up.
Arnold bought and installed locks on his tank Monday morning.
