Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-12-04

N"N"N ~"
ters ont with them"
He peefed anxiOusiy np into tho
young mans face. "You won't desert
her. VIII you. JohnT'
With an inartcuIate growl John
swung out Into the sunshine and e.
bowed bis way through the streaming
throng OF miners just coming or shift.
AheBd Of him be saw wilkerson talk
ing 10 an old miner. who seemed to be
arguing earnestly. he saw the super
intendent and the miner re-enter the
Office. and a moment later Ruth ap-
peared-
As John came to the once door he
heard the sound OF scufIie within
He kicked open the frai, barrier and
stood inside Just IN time 70 see wuker-
son draw gun on the old miner.
drop that gun. you dogr' he below
Cd. and with one leap was at wilker-
sons throat
WiIkerson was no pigmy In strength
and as agile as a panther. He man
aged to land two singing blows on
Johns eye before Dorr drove him up
against the wall. laid his powerful
hands on him and thrust bim to the
door in absolute helplessness. His 6st
was lifted to give the fnal fnishing
blow when be caught sight OF Ruth'a
white face He jerked wilkerson TO
his feet. 6uns him into the corner and
STRIDE silently out.
John, Johni What e the mattsrr'
demanded Ruth.
THAT hound in there discharged mel
am going to leave tonight"
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
You are not going to leave The Mas
ter Key mine. are ron. Johnf And
and Before ne could anrwer her
appeal in words there was Wild roar
down the street aud the tramp OF boot
ed feet.
Get the dynamite and blow the fell
low upf' bawled a couple Of hoarse
voices.
"Get a rope and hang him to the
hoistT' yelled another. Then a full
chorus Of angry cries rose into the
evening air and filed the valley with
raucous sound.
Quickly John drew Ruth aside In the
shelter OF one OF the cottages and said
hurriedly: This must be- stopped.
Ruth. I'll get out there and stop
themr'
Ruth's property was In peril Johns
stentorian voice rang out across the
thronG: "stop. meni stopr' But be
soon saw that the crowd was getting
out OF hand He perceived three or
four Of the tunnel men racing down
the hill to join In the fracas. One of
them. he was sure. had been to the
powder house. He gritted his teeth
and made his last appeal
-Ruth-Ruth Gallonr' he called.
Doubtless none of the miners had mo-
ticed her presence. and when her slen-
der figure emerged from a doorway.
boldly yet modestly out toward the
man who was trying to hold them In
check. there was dead silence. That
silence was poTtentous- In 1t was do
cided the fate OF ''The Master Key"
1t was broken by wild and tumultu-
GUS cueefS as JONI ulpeO NUN on tue
boz. and she held out her slender arms
Ia glrlish entreaty to the men she
knew so we'll
Cowed. yet as ever alert to snatch at
any opening. Wflkerson now came
boldly on the scene Just as he had
bluffed his way many a time before.
he now made play on which he knew
his own safety depended He mount
ed on the box beside Ruth. miss
Gallon has asked me to restore the
former rate of wagesF ne shouted.
ut has been done"
What meant that ominous silence1
What more must he say to those faces
upturned to hist "And have reap
pointed John Dorr to run this mine"
he muttered.
Possibly he hoped that those low,
hoarse tones would not carry far. but
attentive ears caught them MP and
knew their meaning.
Old Tom Kane came through the
crowd. thrust wilkerson or the box
without ceremony and raised his crack