The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-12-23

None OF your huslnceA. hnafleu WI
tcrson IAN I've got 20 say Is that
MANAGED to get 10 New York. Now I'm
back after finding out that you made
a strike. the ind you made when we
were partners How did o get back
hcre77
Gallon looked at his enemy with the
simplicity o. an old nan telling Q
proved truth. They were all my
friends he said.
"Friemisi" said wnkerson In a sud.
denly changed voice. and. thrusting his
contorted face close to Gallons. Il
don't care about your friends, but You
better care about the Sae.ny you
made"
For one instant the mme owners
face grew stern and pitiiers. But he
heard u step on the outside porch. and
his face suftened.
"My God. Harry; I did Il for the
girlr'
I The evil soul OF wilkerson Jared be
hind those cold eyes OF his. and FOE
the urst time !n his life he told the
truth OF his Utmost heart. "And | must
have my share Of The Master Key to
buy n woman"
What wOmanT'
Wilkcrson leaned forward. and his
lips Kissed hate ne he returned: "D0
you remember that woman IN Vale
vtstl eve yeers ago-that woman you
thought your little daughter too good
to speak TOT IL was you who drove
her odt OF camp, and now"-he smiled
fatuitously-"she's rich and In New
York. and she hates your
Gallon bowed his head.
what IL IL you want. HarryT" be
whispered huskily.
The other man pulled n paper oct
OF Isis pocket aud threw II on the In.
Bile There's q ccatract For you to
siyn."
At this moment the door opened.
and Ruth entered. she stared a mo-
msnt at the visitor and then looked
%unxiously nc her father, who said:
This is an old partner OF mine,
Ruthy- Harry wilkerson."
Ruth shyly looked at the tall strang.
er ana then shook hands with him.
He held her gentle fingers a second
too tong Her face flushed, and she
retired without n backward glance.
without paying any more attention
TO the old man. who had now subsid.
ed into a chair By the table. wiker-
son walked 10 the window and witch.
ed the slim. girlish figure OF the young
Gil. tripping down the hill. Then he
swung on the old man harshly; well.
I need a job. You need a new super
lntendent, don't your ! guess IN take
the place"
lie stepped quickly % the window
once nor This time he saw Ruth.
with Tom Kane. the old cook. and an
other. 10 front OF the cook house.
Come here. Tom. Who is that talk
ing 10 that sirl OF yoursT' he scid.
Gallon got up heavily from his chair
and walked over 10 the window. and
be could not repress an expression OF
relief. "Oh. that's the mining cngl
neer OF The Master Key John Dorr!'
With n quick swing wilkerson was
back. leaning over the table. He pick
I'd up the paper. Sign herer' he said
insolently.
Gallon made a last faint protest: II
cant do itr'
wilkerson picked up a pen. dipped II
and put IL In the old mans hand
Sign"
Just ns the last letter OF that sigma.
ture. which had so long stood for re-
spectnbility. was blotted at the foot OF
the paper Ruth entered.
"Your father has Just made me su.
p~erintendent Of this mine. I'm his old
partner. you known
Ruth looked at her father with con.
%sternDtion. why why Il thought
John
Thomas Gallon looked up and wiped
his lips. "Yes." be said DULY. II have
nude my old-my old-partner superin.
tendent Of The Master Key"
Il expect wen see a good deal OF
each other from now on" wukersou
said silklly. and with those slim. white
fingers OF his he reached ont and pinch
cd Ruth's cheek,
Ruth did not draw back. she clinch
ed her nrm little hand and Wilkerson
received n blow IN the mouth that
mhde him stagger back,
At the moment that he received tina,
singing blow he heard a movement to
one side Of him. and, with the old In.
stnctiye fear OF Thomas Gallon. he
drew away back with his hand on the
gun at his hip. lie met the daring
eyes oF the old man, who had risen
fram his seat. and understood that un.
III life left that decrepit frame It's mas.
tering passion-the passion which be
could DOT hope to master-w0uld b
love for the girl whom he bad just In
suited.
He made n daring apology, the apollo
gy Of the coward and the liar. Il beg
your pardon. Ruth, bat you used to sii
on my knee when you were a uttis
one"
She merely glanced at him aud went
out Of the bungalow. She did NOT Hes
her fathes rise 10 hls foil height spe