Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-12

ONCE, ana q moment later Ruth 8p3
peared.
As John came to the office door he1
heard the sound Of scuf1la withinl
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 Wiiker{
sons throat.
Wilkerson was no pigmy in strength
and as agile rs panther. He mani
aged to land two stinging blows or
Johns eye before Dorr drove him WI
against the wall. laid his powerful
hands on him and thrust him to thd
floor in absolute helplessness. His ifs
was lifted to give the fnal fnishjn.
blow when he caught sight of Ruth
white face. he jerked WilkerSon I'd
his feet, flung him into the corner and
strobe silently out.
John, John! What is the matter?l
demanded Ruth.
"That hound in there discharged me i
I ana going to leave tonight"
Her eyes slowly filled with tearsI
"You are not going to leave The MasI
ter Key mine. are you. John? And
and Before be could answer he
appeal In words there was a wild ron
down the street and the tramp of boot
ed feet.
sect the dynamite and blow the fei
low upw bawled q couple OF hoars
voices.
sect a rope and hang him to the
hoistv yelled another. Then a ful
chorus of angry cries rose into tbs
evening air and filled the valley will
raucous sound
Quickly John drew Ruth aside In thu
shelter of one of the cottages and said
hurriedly: This must be stopped
Ruth. I'll get out there and stoII
Them
Ruth's property was in peril. johns
stentorian voice rang out across TIL
throng: "Stop. men! Stop!" But bf
soon saw that the crowd was gettins
out of hand. He perceived three Of
four of the tunnel men racing dow
the hill to Join In the fracas. One Of
them, he was sure. had been to thf
powder house. He gritted his tect4
and made his last appeal.
"Ruth-Ruth Gallonv' he called.
Doubtless none Of the miners had MOI
ticed her presence. and when her slen|
der figure emerged from doorway
boldly vet modestly out toward thu
man who was trying to hold them ~
check, there was dead silence. Thai
silence was portentous. In It was De-
cided the fate Of 1.-THE Master Key"
1t was broken by wild and tumultu|
GUS cheers as John lifted Ruth on thu
box. and she held out her slender arm1
in girlish entreaty to the men sh{
knew so well.
Cowed, yet as ever alert to snatch al
any opening. Wilkerson now cam4
boldly on the scene. Just as be had
bluffed his way many time before|
he now made play on which he knew
his own safety depended He mount
ed on the box beside Ruth. "Mis1
Gallon has asked me to restore th(
former rate Of wagesr' he shouted
ut has been done"
What meant that ominous silence
What more must he say to those facet
upturned to his? "And have reapI
pointed John Dorr to run this mine, |
he muttered.
Possibly he hoped that those low
hoarse tones would not carry Tar, but
attentive ears caught them up and
knew their meaning.
Old Tom Kane came through thd
crowd, thrust Wilkerson or the BOZ
without ceremony and raised his crack
ed voice in a yell that brought per!
feet thunder Of cheers from the nninersl
Without waiting to listen for moro
Wilkerson went away with as much
bravado as he could muster to tho
Office
On his way he picked up his gum
which John had flung through the win1
dow, and thrust 1t in the bosom OF hts
shirt. with a meaning glance backward
at John Dorr, who was now helping
Ruth through the crowds toward the
bungalow. followed by yellingI
tramping. laughing. believing coium1
of men.
Once inside the Office Wilkersou
went to his desk and unlocked the
drawer which held that seventh letter
"Some time he muttered meaningly1
A