The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-12-23

feet Of his words. Dropping tho coffee.
pot with n crash on the ton OF the
range. Tom Kane dashed ont of the
door mud into the nearest group Of
miners. rcsticuiating aud laughing hys.
tericaily. Tie said two words and then
rushed back. his bright eyes cleaning
fercely.
THAT the mine for Rufhle,
John.p be Rasped. The miners were
inst going 70 QUIT ouietlike. Now they
viii make wtikcrson take yoo back
and you ran make him straighten mat
tcrs out with them"
He peered anxionsly up into the
young mans face. 'Yon won't desert
her. viii you. JehnY"
With an inarticulate Growl John
swung out into the sunshine and ell
bowed his way through the streaming
throng OF miners Just coming Oh SHIFT
Ahead OF him he saw wllkerson talk.
ing 20 an old miner. who seemed 20 be
arguing earnestly. He saw the super
intendent aud the miner re-enter the
office. and a moment later Ruth sp-
peared.
As John came 20 the office door he
heard the sound Of n scuflie within.
He kicked open the frail barrier and
stood inside just IN time tossee wilker-
son draw a u on the old miner.
Drop that gun. You dogr" he below
cd. sud with one leap was at wllker.
SIMS throat.
wilkerson was no pigmy In strength
and ns agile az a panther. He man
aged TO land two singing blows on
Johns eye before Dorr drove him up
against the wall. laid his powerful
hands on him md thrust him to the
door IN absolute helplessuess. Ills est
was lifted 20 give the dnal finishing
blow when he caught sight OF Ruth's
white face. lie jerked wilkersop "a
his feet. Hung him into the corner aud
strobe silently out
John. joint What Is the mattevT'
demanded Rnth.
That hound in there discharged me
I am going TO leave tonight"
Her eyes slowly filed with tears.
"You are not going TO leave The Mas
ter Key mine. arc yon, Jobn2 And
and Before he could answer her
appeal In words there wits a wild roag
down the street and the tramp OF boot
cd feet
"Get the dynamite and blow the fell
low upr' bawled a couple OF hoarse
voices.
Get o rope and hang him 10 the
hoist!'' yelled another. Then n full
chorus OF angry crles rose into the
evening dir and 6iled the valley with
raucous sound.
Quickly John drew Ruth aside in the
shelter OF one OF the cottages and said
hurrIcdly: This must be stopped,
Ruth. I'll get out there and stop
Them
Rnth's property was In peril. Johns
stentorlan voice rang out across the
throng. stop. menI Stoprr But be
SCOT saw that the crowd was getting
ont OF hand. He perceived three o:
-four OF the tunnel men racing down
the bin 10 Join IN the fracas. One OF
them. ne was sure. had been to the
powder house. lie gritted his teeth
and made bis last appeal.
"Ruth-Ruth Gallong' he called.
Doubtless none OF the miners mad no
ticed her presence. and when her sien'
der figure emerged from a doorway
boldly yet modestly out toward the
mnn who was trying 20 hold them In
check. there vas a dead silence. That
silence was %portentous. In II was de
cded the fate OF THE Master Key"
IL was broken By wild and tumultu.
Gus cheers as John lifted Ruth on the
box. and she held out her slender arms
Ga glrlIah entreaty to the men she
knew so we'll.
Cowed. yet ms ever alert 20 snatch al
any opening. Wilkerson now came
boldly on the scene. just as he had
biunfed his way nan q time before
he pow made n playAon which he knew
his own sifety depended. lie mount
ed on the box beside Ruth miss
Gallon has asked me 90 restore the
former ate OF wagesl' he shouted
at has been done"
What meant that ominous silence
What more must he say 10 those faces
upturned TO hist And 1 have reap
pointed John Dorr TO run this mine
he muttered.
Possibly he hoped that those low
hoarse tones would not carry far. bu'
attentive ears caught them up nns
knew their meaning.
Old Tom Kane came through th'
crowd. thrust wilkerson on the 10,
without and raiscd hts crack
Ell voice IN a yell that brought a PET
feet thunder OF cheers from the miners
without waiting 90 listen for NOR
wilkerson -went AWAv With rs mueI