Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-12-10

face OF the girl he loved. swinging a
hundred feet above death IN his strong
arms. safe.
About 1000 miles away a dark and
splendid woman was looking critically
at her mdid. "Elolse" she was saying,
IL don't like TO be walked this early in
the morning ! have told you often
enough about this What do you mean
by disturbing me for mere letterT'
you told me. madame. always to
call you when there was letter in this
handwriting"
The woman under the roseate cover
lets held out her jcweled hand The
maid gave one swift glance at her
mysterious avaricious eyes and van
Ished AS she closed the door after her
the envelope. torn into shreds. fell to
the floor.
Mrs. Darnell sat up alertly and
quickly perused the slow, even script
written on the old fashioned blue lined
paper of a country hotel:
Dear Cousin Jean-slnce you last heard
IIOfT Ino nave IOunU OdllOU. UI1 ltdN-
ing today for Silent Valley His Master
Key" mine is only ten miles from there
Won't he be surprised to see me7 | will
let you know later how our scheme comes
out.
Goodby for now. Keep muml As ever.
HARRY.
When Gallon thought be had killed
Wilkerson he became infected with the
fnoro n loo lla dfeaooa % draod T., hfu
conversation with John Dorr be had
given first expression to his feelings
The young mining engineer on account
Of his youth did not fully understand
that men do not speak of such things
until age-loosener of tongues as well
as of the chords Of life-suddenly op-
presses them-makes them feel help
less, brings them to a realization Of
what the ultimate fact of death means
He had barely caught the appeal In
the old mans voice when he had com.
pretended Ruth's peril.
The old man, with shaking limbs.
had watched the rescue. When he
saw that his daughter was safe be
also perceived the solution of his prob
lem. Here was quick mind needed
to protect Ruth's property. Somewhere
i'm that hill was the richest of Califor
MIA gold. Once more he said to him
self, John Dorr can find the master
key"
Feeling himself too weak to meet the
girl who was now cllnging Imply to
her rescuer and also discerning In his
own slowing pulse that his time was
short. he went down the hill, crossed
the gulch without a word to the won
dering miners and entered the bunga,
low.
A moment later John Dorr entered
with Ruth In his arms. The old man
merely looked up. Always look after
her, John" he said slowly, "and If VIII
kerson comes back
Dorr looked at the old man with pity
In his eyes. "She isn't hurt" he said.
gently putting her down on the couch
Then he Strengthened up. "I'll always
look after her." he promised.
Gallon stared over at the white face
Of his daughter as she lay unconscious
ON the couch. "Humph"- thus ex-
pressing to himself his own compre
tension of the fact that there was
coming such period In his own life.
He went out without a look backward
When be returned the room was empty.
He fingered the books on the table and
fell into a state Of profound thought
He did not hear the door open behind
him.
Ruth, freshly clad and wholly recov
cred from her experience, wondered at
her fathers attitude. She stepped
softly toward him. He did not turn
She went nearer. She laid her soft
hands on his shoulder and then. as If
the fingers of life long fear were touch
ing the very nerves OF his being.
Thomas Gallon slowly twisted his head
by a supreme effort Of will to see the
sight which Of all things in the world
he did not want to see-the face OF his
enemy.
By the magic Of the strange phantas
magoria which represents our mental
processes If we look at them carefully
he did see the face Of Harry Wilkerson.
"A-a-a-hP he breathed. His eyes
closed, compelled to by his troubled
conscience. but he was recalled by a
loved and familiar voice; 1t was Ruth
over him, saying. Father.
father. what is the matter?"
The old man suddenly looked up. still
fearful that he was to see that feared
and hated face. Ruth" he said. and
II struck him that on her face was a
look almost of terror.
He must reassure her. Dread and
fear and terror do not belong In the
o.