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

and you can make him straigbtep mae
tiers out with them"
He peered anxiously np into the
young mans face. You won't desert
her. will you. JohnT"
With an inartiruate growi John
swung out Into the sunshine and e.
bowed bis way through the strea ming
throng Of miners Just coming OF shift
Ahead OF him he saw Wilkerson talk
ing to an old miner. who seemed to be
arguing earnestly. He saw the super
intendent and the miner re-entei the
office. and a moment later Ruth ap-
peared
AS John came to the office door be
heard the sound OF scufile within.
He kicked open the frail barrier and
stood inside Just In time to see wilker-
son draw a gun on the old miner
Drop that gun. you dogr' he below
ed. and with one leap was at Wilker-
sons throat
Wilkerson was no pigmy in strength
and as agile as a panther He man
aged to land two singing blows on
Johns eye before DOrr drove him no
against the WALL laid bis powerful
hands on him and thrust him to the
6oor in absolute helplessness. His est
was lifted to give the final finishing
blow when he caught sight OF Ruth's
white face. He jerked Wilkerson to
his feet flung him into the corner and
strobe silently out.
John, John! What Is the matterT'
demanded Ruth
THAT hound In there discharged met
I am going to leave tonight"
Her eyes slowly 6lled with tears.
"You are not going to leave The Mas
ter Key mine; are yOn. John? And -
and Before he could answer her
appeal in words there was a Wild roar
down the street and the tramp of boot
ed feet
Get the dynamite and blow the fell
low upr' bawled couple OF huarse
voices.
"Get rope and hang him t. 'he
hoisti' yelled another. Then q iui
chorus of angry cries rose into the
evening air and filled the valley with
raucous sound.
Quickly John drew Ruth aside Ia the
shelter Of one Of the cottages anti said
hurriedly: This must be stopped.
Ruth. I'll get out there and stop
themv'
Ruth's property was in peril. Johns
stentorian voice rang out across the
throng: "Stop, meni Stop" But he
soon saw that the crowd was getting
out OF hand. He perceived three o.
four of the tunnel men racing down
the hill to join In the fracas. One OF
them. he was sure. had been to the
powder house. He gritted his teeth
and made his Iast:appeal.
"Ruth-Ruth Gallonw be called.
Doubtless none of the miners had 10
ticed her presence. and when her slen-
der figure emerged from a doorway.
boldly yet mOdestly out toward the
man who was trying to hold them In
check, there was a dead silence. That
silence was portentous- In 1t was de-
cided the fate Of THE Master Key"
1t was broken by wild and tumultu-
Gus cheers as John lifted Ruth on the
box, and she held out her slender arms
In girlish entreaty to the men she
knew so well
Cowed, yet as ever alert to snatch at
any opening. Wilkerson now came
boldly on the scene. Just as be had
bluffed his way many time before,
be now made play on which he knew
his own safety depended He mount
ed on the box beside Ruth. Miss
Gallon has asked me to restore the
former rate OF wages!' he shouted.
ut has been done"
What meant that omlnous silence7
What more must he say TO those faces
upturned to his? And ! have reap
pointed John Dorr to run this mine"
he muttered.
Possibly he hoped that those low,
hoarse tones would not carry far, but
attentive ears caught them up and
knew their meaning.
Old Tom Kane came through the
crowd, thrust Wikerson or the box
without ceremony and raised his crack