Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-12-18


The superintendent OF the "master
Key" belonged to the type that Is cat
like IN its quickness Of action, based
on intuition rather than on reason.
While Ruth Gallon was carefully con-
cealed. II was more than possible that
Dorr would so stir things up with the
aid Of Everett that all plans TO seize
control OF the mines stock would be
futile. He must not be allowed to go
to San Francisco.
But how TO prevent him7 Wilker.
son pondered this problem tIIl his dark
face was suffused with angry blood
There was no way but the way Of VIC
lence. Among his sensuous appetites
was ncne for blood. but he nerved him
self to bis task and shortly after mid
day called for his horse and rode out.
stating that be was going across the
divide to see about fresh supply Of
wood. In the saddle scabbard he car
ried a short saw.
Spanning an arroyo between two hills
halfway to Silent Valley was a short
bridge OF considerable height IT wan
midafternoon when Harry Wilkerson
threw the bride rein over his poDy's
head and climbed down the hjll slope
TN he was directly under the bridge.
Then he pulled the little saw out Of his
shirt bosom and began work. Fifteen
minutes later he climbed up to the
road. broke the saw In two. flung the
pieces Into the brush and rode away.
He did rot 80 Tar
From his place OF vantage halfway
up the hill he waited. The hour that
elapsed before he heard the coughing
OF the motor seemed an endless success
sion Of deadly seconds. each marked
by stabbing breath. Then he saw
the truck emerge from the cut and COM
mence to rumble heavily down the
slope. John Dorr was driving. With
MIN was one Of the hands.
The heavy truck bumped upon the
bridge, and In the desert silence the
man on the hill saw It quietly sway to
one side ard then plunge downward
TO the rocks below. Before the sound
Of that crash could reach his listening
ears he saw sudden burst Of flame
shoot up dense swirl ofsmoke. Then,
like the faraway cracking of fire.
rame the noise Of the yielding timbers.
followed by dull boom
'sMy Godr' whispered Wilkerson to
himself. "The gasoline tank exploded
and the car is on firelv He crouched
in the brush, waiting to see whether
any one emerged from the gulch. No
one did. The bridge burned fercely
At least no one would ever know the
cause Of this catastrophe. and John
Dorr. would not go to San Francisco.
Instinct told him to fee the scene
But a stronger passion overcame him;
he must see for himself what had hap
pened he mounted bis horse and rode
swiftly down the slope.
The truck had turned completely
over and lay broken and smoldering
across the waterworn powders. VII
kerson could not see two forms; all
he discerned through the eddying
smoke was the body Of John Dorr.
flung some distance from the truck.
his pallid face turned to the blazing
sky.
"DeadI. muttered wilkerson, chilled
with the horror Of the thing he had
done. 1t bit into his very soul. that
scene. until he could not stand It longer
and rode furiously away toward the
other side OF the divide. He must go
on his supposed errand about the wood
and know nothing Of this.
On the crest Of the mountain he halt
ed and looked back. Far below him a
thin curl Of gray smoke marked the
site Of the murder. Knowing that he
was safe, Wilkerson experienced tire
mendous reaction.
He raised himself exultantly in his
stirrups. He was now master OF the
'Master Key" mine.
IA - :