Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-12-17

nier Vi Satisfaction IN MS aim eyes as
he thought of the fact that the location
OF the real lode was unknown and
that the plans that might reveal II
were far beneath the waters OF the
Pacific. He went inside to the desk
and picked opt Of the locker drawer
the golden key which held his secret
He stared at 1t and read the mum
bers that marked the position Of the
lost vessel. and the chest that held the
plans. Whom could he trust with
this? He looked out of the window
and called to John Dorr
''John" he quavered "I've already
told you little about my finding this
mine and about my old partner"
"Wilkerson?"
"Yes, Wjlkerson; but there Is anoth
or secret. lost the location Of the
mother lode in wreck at sea. The
chest slipped overboard; but find the
wreck and somewhere near it is that
old carved chest. and when you open
the chest The old man suddenly
staggered forward into DORIS arms
81 killed him once" he muttered fee
bly,. and then the silence which pres
ages the wordlessness Of eternity over
came him. John gently laid him down
on the bed and called Ruth
Father she called softly as she
knelt by the bedside
Thomas Gallon stood on the great
divide. but he turned back a moment
to gather his strength. Then he mo
toned with his>gnarled hand for John
The young man stepped quietly for
ward and stopped over.
'My will. Johni leave Ruth The
Master Key. In my desk-bring It'll"
When the desired paper was brought
he whispered:
Read it!'
John Dorr opened the document and
read 1t aloud:
80" l leave all my property to my
daughter Ruth, to come into her full
possession on her eighteenth birthday
direct her never to let go of The Master
Key, which will make my little girl
happy
So ran the last words. The old man
lifted himself still farther up and call
ed for a pen and ink. Then, muster.
ing his failing powers, he wrote in
firm hand the further words:
direct that my daughter keep Harry
Wilkerson as superintendent until she Is
eighteen. | appoint as executor OF this
my last will and testament John Dorr.
THOMAS GALLON.
The pen fell from his fingers, and he
lifted his trembling hand TO his throat
and tore at the string that held the
golden key. 1t broke, and be put the
key in Ruth's lap.
That is the secret" he muttered
John knoYs-and Wikerson. Trust
John" Again he opened his eyes and
motioned toward the desk ''The let
teri" he croaked
Ruth's quick intuition led her to the
desk again, and she found In the same
drawer that had held the will sealed
envelope addressed:
John Dorr;
To be opened on Ruth's eighteenth
birthday. Sooner II her welfare is threat
ened.
Gallon turned his dlmmlng eyes to
Ruth. who took both his chilling hands
in hers.
Child The Master Key keep al
ways near you. Some day"-he chOked
lit will bring you riches. happiness
and love-"
When he first heard that Gallon was
dead Wilkerson was appalled,. He
thought Of the woman In New York
aud regained his courage. This was
case where he must win by brute force
He must Immediately show his author
~. lie who s;ruJA first would Win,
hp Thought, yet Ia The back Of his Goa
s"'Nusncss was 10 realization th9t 10
did ROT know what dier0S'ti0u Gallon
had made oil The property. And where
was that rich vein of gold that would
buy him Jean Darnell. with her velvet
ways and her dark eyes OF topaz
Perhaps because for several years he
had not handled other men, but been
himself mere cog In a great machine.
Wilkerson mistOok the spirit OF the
miners He did not understand that
they had a profound respect for Thorn
ms Gallon
IL must get these people In hand"
thought Wilkerson. land do II quick"
lie spePa the afternoon In making a
schedule a sweeping reduction In
wages THIN he sent f0r Bin Tubbs.
the engineer When hc had come.
;ross lily : soddrn and half lnsolent
The supe( Atendent laughed at him.
''rubbs, what DO van know about
his mlnel"
Well" Tubbs answered. 1.-THE ore
banned out pretty guud for awhile. bui
hey lost the mother lode There ATM
I carload worth "a 'lollartcnm~ ollt ct
acre In three monrhs and fhnt httle
Birl - e. the MN wont nave roth