Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-12-17


Vista 6ve years ago--tbat woman you
thought your little daughter too good
10 speak tot II was you who drove
her out Of camp. and now't-he smiled
fatultously-"she's rich and In New
York. and she hates your
Gallon bowed his head
what Is II you want. uarry7" he
whispered huskily.
The other man pulled n paper out
Of his pocket and threw Il on the tn
BILE There's contract for you to
sign"
At this moment the door opened.
and Ruth entered She stared mo-
meut at the visitor and then looked
anxiously at her father. who said:
This Is an old partner OF mine.
Ruthy-Harry wilkerson."
Ruth shyly looked at the tall strang.
er and then shook hands with him
He held her gentle fingers a second
too long. Her face flushed. and she
retired without backward glance.
Without paying any more attention
to the old man. who had now subsid.
ed into a chair by the table. Wilker-
son walked to the window and watch
ed the slim. girllsh figure Of the young
girl tripping down the hill Then be
swung on the old man harshly: "Well.
| need n job. You need n new super
intendent, don't your guess III take
the place"
He stepped quickly to the window
once more. This time he saw Ruth.
with Tom Kane, the old cook. and an
other. In front Of the cook house
"Come here, Tom Who is that talk
ing to that girl Of yours?" he said
Gallon got up heavily from his chair
and walked over to the window. and
be could not repress an expression OF
relief. "Oh. that's the mining engi-
neer OF The Master Key John Dorrv'
With a quick swing Wilkerson was
back, leaning over the table. He pick
ed up the paper. "Sign herev' he said
insolently
Gallon made last faint protest: 81
can't do itr'
Wilkerson picked up pen. dipped it
and put 1t In the old mans hand
"Signp
Just as the last letter of that sigma.
ture. which had so long stood for re-
spectability. was blotted at the foot Of
the paper Ruth entered.
"Your father has just made me su-
perintendent of this mine. I'm his old
partner, you known
Ruth looked at her father with con
sternation "Why - why Il thought
john
Thomas Gallon looked up and wiped
his lips. "Yes." he said duly, 81 have
made my old-my old-partner superin-
tendent of The Master Key"
81 expect wen see n good deal Of
each other from now on" Wilkerson
said silkily. and with those slim, white
fingers of his he reached out and pinch
ed Ruth's cheek.
Ruth did not draw back She clinch.
ed her firm little hand and Wilkerson
received a blow in the mouth that
made him stagger back.
At the moment that he received that
singing blow he heard a movement to
one side of him. and. with the old In
stinctive fear OF Thomas Gallon, be
drew away back with his hand on the
gun at his hip. He met the faring
eyes OF the old man. who had risen
from his seat. and understood that un
til life left that decrepit frame its mas
tering passion-the passion which be
could not hope to MASTER would be
love for the girl whom he had Just In
suited
He made daring apology. the apollo
gy of the coward and the liar Il beg
your pardon, Ruth. but you used to sit
on my knee when you were a little
one"
She merely glanced at him and went
out of the bungalow. She did not see
her father rise to his full height and