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

and you can make bin straighten mat
ters out with them"
He peered anxiously mp into the
young mans face. You won't desert
her. will you, John?'
With an inarticulate growl John
swung out into the sunshine aud el'
bowed his way through the streaming
thrc ng of miners just coming Off 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-enter the
Office. and a moment later Ruth ap-
peared.
AS John came TO the office door be
heard the sound OF scufle within
He kicked open the frail barrier and
stood inside just in time to see Wilker-
son draw gun on the old miner.
Drop that gun. you doG" 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 stinging blows on
Johns eye before Dorr drove him up
against the wall. laid his powerful
hands on him and thrust him to the
floor In absolute helplessness. His fist
was lifted TO give the final finishing
blow when he caught sight of Ruths
white face. He terked WilkersOn TO
his feet. flung him into the corner and
strobe silently out
John, John, What Is the ma atterT
demanded Ruth.
That hound in there discharged me!
| am going to leave tonight"
Her eyes slowly filed with tears.
"You are not going to leave The Mas
ter Key mine, are you. John? And
and Before he could answer her
appeal in words there was wild roar
down the street and the tramp of boot.
ed feet.
Get the dynamite and blow the fei'
low upr' bawled a couple of hoarse
voices.
Get rope and hang him TO the
hoist! yelled another Then full
.horus of angry cries rose into the
evening air and filed the valley with
aucous sound.
Quickly John drew Ruth aside in the
shelter of one of the cottages and said
This must be stopped ;
Ruth. III get out there and stop
hemr'
Ruth's property was in peril. Johns
tentoriap voice rang our across the
hrong: stop. men! Stop But be n
oon saw that the crowd was getting u
ut OF hand. He perceived three or
our of the tunnel men racing down
he hill to join in the fracas. One OF
hem. be was sure, had been to the
owder house. He gritted his teeth
nd made his last appeal.
"Ruth-R Gallonp he called. \
Doubtless none of the miners had no
ced her presence. and when her sen.
er figure emerged from doorway. b
1ldiy yet modestly out toward the y
an who was trying to hold them In fl
leck, there was dead silence. That n
ICnNC NAo POt III IL NHo AS Z,
ded the fate of The Master Key"
1t was broken by wild and tumultu-
is cheers as John lifted Ruth on the
*, and she held out her slender arms =
girlish entreaty to the men she
lew so well
Cowed. yet as ever alert to snatch at
~ opening. Wilkerson now came
Idly on the scene. Just as be had
nffed his way many a time before, III
now made a play on which he knew w
5 own safety depended. He mount m
on the box beside Ruth. Miss b,
lllon has asked me to restore the
rmer rate Of wages" he shouted >
has been done" er
What meant that ominous silencef or
hat more must he say to those faces vi
turned to his? And | have reap
inted John Dorr to run this mine. -
muttered.
Possibly he hoped that those low,
arse tones would not carry far, but WI
entive ears caught them up and in
ew their meaning. ha
I'D Tom Kane came through the ad
'wd. thrust Wilkerson Off the box
thout ceremony and raised his crack. w