The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1914-11-20

be had never heard before, John Dorr
strobe down the hill. As he crossed the
gulch he saw the door of the bungalow
open. and Ruth appeared
u thought | heard your father call
he said awkwardly.
He WAS calling you,' she answered
quietly, but de went over toward the
dump. think he wants you there
Ruth laid her little hand on John
DORIS brawHy arm. John she said
the swift color rising in her cheeks. Il
don't want to say anything to make
trouble, but father is worried Ee
trusts you; but, you know. we haven't
recovered the lost vein"
John looked her straight in the eye
Leave it to me-"
Her appealing hands crept up his
arms, and for one moment she al
lowed him TO read her soul. She made
a potent plea, directed by the instinct
of woman who is loved John, loob
after him He is doing it for me"
Dorr hesitated moment 1t was
the first thing Ruth had ever asked
him. He felt that he ought to re
spond to this appeal in some most con
vincing way, but he could formulate
no phrase that would express at once
his determination to do everything in
his power to help her father and his
gratitude that she had taken him into
her confidence. so he merely smiled
~ nd 1nyT-T, flla
bill toward the dump beneath the head
end of the spraddling trestle.
She called him back. 81 forgot il
was lunchtime." she said shyly
81 must get down to your father" he
said rather brusQuely.
"Then I'll bring you both down your
lunches to the mine" she said We
can have little picnic all by our
selves
As he went up toward the end of the
trestle Dorr observed that the engineer
running the donkey engine seemed
hardly to know his business.
My dear fellow" he said quietly
you're allowing too much slack on
your cable. 1t is dangerous. Those ore
cars are coming down that trCstle too
fast. If their brakes give way it means
diSaSteri'
whats the trouble:" said Gallon
coming up with q piece of ore in his
hand.
81 was just telling Bill Tubbs that If
he did not keep up the slack on his
cable on those cars he would whip
them over the end of the trestle." said
John.
He turned toward the old man and
said in different voice: You called
me. What is it that you want?"
Look Mt this. John" said the older
man. handing out the piece of ore.
dirt. not gold bearing quartz. | want
to talk to you; I've got something to
say to you
Tnroluntarily John looked down the
street. He saw Ruth coming. swinging
the lunch basket in her hand He 70
melnoereG her shy apreal tEat he
would do the best he could for The /
Master Key"
Il think we had better go into the
mine: we can talk there" he said
"They are setting off blast" Gallon
remarked.
Dorr looked up at the car roaring
past them overhead and said suddenly:
Before anything else you ought to fix
that trestle. Some day a car will go
over on the dump"
Gallon looked up and then glanced at
Dorr. Il guess you're right, John; I've
thought OF that myself Things have
kind of gone at loose ends. Now I'll
see to it myself with your help. be-
cause have something to say to you"
There comes Ruth with n basket of
lunch" said Dorr.
"Oh, yes. When / am away from
the house she often picnics with me
nera In the mine. Say, I'm &C..
Oh the trestle. Have another talk
with Tubbs. He is all right. but he
has got careless. Tell him to keep up
the slack of his cable | tell you.
John, | have wanted to talk to you
for a long time, but first Pm going to
look after that cable. because can