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

1 bungalow. There was a glIm.
mer OF satisfaction IN hts dim eyes as
be thought OF the fact that the location
OF the real lode was unknown ind
that the plans that might reveal II
were far beneath the waters OF the
Pacific. He went inside 20 the desk
and picked out Of the locker drawer
the golden key which held his secret
He stared nc It and read the mum
bers that marked the position OF the
lost vessel. and the chest that held the
plans. Whom could he trust with
this7 He looked out OF the window
and called 10 John Dorr.
"John"' he quavered. "I'ye already
told you n little about my finding this
mine and about my old partner"
"Wilkerson7'
Eyes. Wllkerson; hut there Is anoth.
or secret. ! lost the location Of the
mother lode In a wreck nj sea. The
chest slipped overheard. but find the
wreck and somewhere near u Is that
old carved chest, aud when you open
the chest The old man suddenly
staggered forward into DORIS arms.
II killed him once he mgttered fee
bly,. and then the silence which pres
ages the wordlessness Of eternity over.
came him. John gently hid him down
on the bed and called Ruth.
Father she called softly as she
knelt by the bedside.
Thomas Gallon stood on the great
divide. but he turned back n moment
TO gather his strength. Then he mo-
toned with bis gnarled hand for John.
The young nan stepped quietly for
ward and stopped over.
"Aiy will. Johnl leave Ruth The
Master Key In my desk-bring iti'
When the desired paper was brought
be whispered;
READ it,
John Dorr opened h Document and
read II aloud:
''' leave all my property to my
daughter. Ruth. 20 come into her fni
possession On her eighteenth birthday.
direct her never 10 let 20 ot Til Mastei
Key which VIII make my little CIR
happy"
So ran the last words. The old man
lifted himself still farther up and call.
Cd for a pen and ink. Then. muster.
ing hts failing powers. he wrote 10 a
arm hand the further words;
1 direct that my daughter keep Harr,
WllkerHOn as superintendent until she q
eighteen / appoint AZ executor or this
my last will and testament John Dorr.
THOMAS GALLON.
The pen fell from his fingers. and hs
lifted his trembling hand TO his throai
and tore at the string that held th'
golden key. II broke. aud ne put the
key IN Ruth's lap.
THAT IL the secret" ne muttered
"John k~nows-and Wilkerson. TrusI
John" Again he opened his eyes and
motioned toward the desk. ''The let
terri he crooked.
Ruth's quick intuition led her 60 tbs
desk again. and che found Ia the SANE
drawer that had held the win a seaies
envelope addressed.
John Dou;
TO be opened on Ruins eighteenth
birthday. Sooner " her welfare % threat
med.
Gallon turned bis dimmlng eyes Z,
Ruth. who took both his chilling hand
In hers.
"Chfdl The Master Key keep Al
ways near you. Some day"-he choke
lit will bring you riches. happiness
and love"
. :
When he FIRST heard that Gallon wa.
dead Wilkerson wits appalled, ~
thought Of the omn IN New YorI
aud regained his courage. This was
case where he must win by brute force
Tie must immediately show bis author
ny. lie who struck Grst would win
he thought; yet IN the back of his con
seriousness was the realization that h
did not know what disposition Gallo
had made Of the property And when
was that rich vein % gold that w0uli
buy him Jean Darnell. with her velvc
ways and her dark eyes Of topaz
Perhaps because for several yeans n
IA un4 hawNl.l a4ka. - h..a A..