Evening journal., 1914-12-23
CHAPTER TX.


vhut 10 80. He had wired Dorr OF his
anxiety about her and had received
word In reply that the young engineer I
had received conflicting messages.
Unhappily for the girl. Everett was
called out OF town. And so when he
found himself forced to make hur-
ried trip TO San Francisco her predica-
ment became the more pronousced-
The false Everett George Drake. took I
II upon himself 10 call at the Ritz for
her mail and, returning with word
that there was none for her, Ruth felt
n strange premonitiOn that matters
were not progressing as they should.
Mrs. Darnell found her gazing out OF
the drawing room window, huddled in
a pathetic little heap. detection stamp
ed on features and form
.Dearie." purred the hostess, 'you
look as If you had lost your last friend
on earth. DO cheer up. What Is the
trOuble?"
Ruth turned her head, but remained
I'm the same queer little attitude, reply
ing in plaintive voice
~ do not understand why Mr.. Dorr /
has not written OF wired me. Really |
Mrs. Darnell. I am beginning TO fear
that something has happened TO him.
Mrs. Darrell looked at her searching
". but recovered quickly under the
questioning return gaze.
$40 not worry, Ruth. Everything
will come out all right. Supposing we
take n drive. The air and sunshine
b viii do you n world OF good
} Every minute was one OF delight to
. the unsophisticated girl, and each new
, sight and vista opened new world
l to her inexperienced mind. After
stop at Grants tomb they speeded
downtown, reaching Columbus circle
after a run through Central park. A
y blowout of one OF the tires caused a
, DELAY. Ruth tired OF sitting in the
= car. and, jumping out. she spied fior
u lists window. Before Mrs. Darnell
, could think Of the possibility OF mis-
. carriage OF her well laid plans the girl
u was inside. She purchased violets for
: both and was on her way out when
p she saw a telephone. Intuiuvely, rath'
I or than from any other motive, she
hastily called up MT Everett's Ofice
l To her amazement she learned that hs
y had gone west.
70 Her news was even more startling
~ 70 Mrs. Darnen than It had been t
10 Ruth. Quick action was needed, and
o leaving Ruth IN the car with pre-
'n varicated excuse, the older women wa
" soon phoning to Drake. telling him Z
e 20 west at once and instructing hin
OF 10 meet them in San Francisco, wher
he was TO pose as Everett and contnu
r. CARRYING out the plot TO secure posses
10 sion of Ruths mining property.
De And thus It came about that nv
u. DAYS later found them in the metroI
ar Oils of the Pacific coast where the
We were met by Drake. still posing as E'
Ise erett.
DO The greatest difficulty lay in reconci
go ing Ruth's mind TO the mystery
To- Eyerett's sudden departure after 81
he had seen him at Mrs. Darnelrs q
60, might before. But the cleverness
es. the schemer counterbalanced all doubt
Ino and the girl WINS therefore persuad
'AS to hasten to San Francisco to carry o
her plans.
Accordingly she wired Dor, b
. again "the wires crossed" for,
though he learned that she was s
ing to the western city, he again lear
ed that Everett had failed to come
with her.
Ruth had been gone many da,
when John Dorr received another tel
gram from Everett that made his hea
n stop its regular beat Alone In /
Nm cabin he pored over II as II the
must be some hidden meaning benea
the words. 1t was unbelievable. Al
Hi er all his pain and his very carei
II forethought for her comfort and sal
X ty something had gone wrong. Z
erett was brief:
Ill San Francisco. April
John Dorr, Silent Valley, Cal:
Have been unable to find Miss Gallon.
NIL EVERETT
Hi For awhile his mind refused to We
logically. All that he could think
was little Ruth Gallon. she Of the sl'
u her hands and pure eyes, lost In
great city and piteously seeking a
III miliar face. But he pulled himself
N orously together and called M
II agent at the station.
s "Bin." he said over the telepho
81 ''This is Dorr. l want TO get a "
n through 10 San Francisco"
81 "An right, John; what is itT'
<N John thought n moment and then Z
. tated this message:
Charles Everett. Call Building, San Fr
! liz cisco:
Miss Gallon was TO have gone 10 the
Francis, as I wired you before DORl
After moliing over the problem
felt that he must cOnfide in some o
. OF all the men in the mine he trus
. only Tom Kane. He strobe down
h;ll to the cook shanty and found
old man engaged in his task of PREF
IVA ing the MONDAY meal
E "IOok here. Tom, John said
! rcptly, holding out the telegram.
E haven't said anything before, but r.
EN is lost In San Francisco. I've wi
M& Everett before He can't find her
HN without a word the cook reacl
nv for the yellow slip and read II SLOW
ZIG He glanced up and said with the
Ma most simplicity, II reckon you'd
ter catch this evenings express"
~ SN CONTINUED Tomorrow.
ISEN HANGING