The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-12-26


VISTA ive years ago-that woman yo
thought your little daughter too goo'
10 speas t0i II was you who drov
per out OF camp. and now"-he smile,
tatitously rich and in New
York, ana she hates your M
Gallon bowed his head, ,n.,e.rs
"N'hDt is Il you want. Harry?" ht
whispered huskily
Thp otter mnn pulled paper out
at his pocket and threw 1t on the Ia
l.e There's n contract for you to
SIGN
Al THIS moment the door opened.
ana Ruth entered She stared n mo-
neni Mt the visitor and then looked
nnxiously AT her father who said;
This is nn old partner of mine.
Rnthy Harry Wilkerson."
Ruth shyly looked at the tall strang.
er md then shook hands with him.
He held her gentle fingers second
TOO long Her face flushed, and she
retired without backward glance.
Without paying any more attention
10 the old man. who had now subsid-
cd into u chair by the table. Wilker-
son walked 10 the window and watch
ed the slim girlish figure OF the young
girl tripping duWp the hill Then he
SWUNG on the old man harshly: We'll.
| need job iou need new super.
iEtendent don't you? guess I'll 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 Dorr"
With Il quick swing Wilkerson .!as
back. leaning over the table He pick
ed up the paper. Sign here" he said
insolently.
Gallon made II last faint protest: II
can't do itv'
Wilkerson picked up pen, dipped 1t
and put 1t In the old mans hand.
Sign
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 know!"
Ruth looked at her father with con.
sternation. why - why i thought
john
Thomas Gallon looked up and wiped
his lips. Yes" he said duly, II have
made my old-my od-partner superln-
tendent of The Master Key"
II expect wen see a good deal of
each other from now on" Wilkerson
said silllily. and with those slim, white
lngers of his he reached out and pinch.
ed Ruth's cheek.
Ruth did not draw back. She clinch.
ID her firm little hand and Wilkerson
received n blow in the mouth that
made him stagger back.
At the moment that he received that
singing blow he heard a movement to
me side of him. and. with the old in
tinctive fear of Thomas Gallon. he
lrew away back with his hand on the
,un at his hip. He met the f1nring
yes OF the old man, who had risen
rom his seat, and understood that un-
II life left that decrepit frame its mas
ering passion-the passion which he /,
ould not hope to mnster-would be :
owe for the girl whom he had just In
ulted
He made daring apology, the apollo {
" of the coward and the liar. II beg
our pardon, Ruth. but you used TO sit
n my knee when yon were little i,
me-"
She merely glanced at him and went :
ut of the bungalow. She did not see !
er father rise to his full height and