The Prescott daily news., 1915-06-25
CHAPTER VIII.
Jean Darnell's Ruse.

said pleasant voice.
 (GyMsII Ruth looked up to see a
 S= woman of florid beauty and dressed in somewhat extravagant style looking down at her out of great, taw- ny. velvet eyes. Western bred, Ruth responded amiably to this salutation, though she had not the faintest idea who the woman was.
 "Yes, am Miss Gallon
 q am Mrs. Darnell," said the wom- an. May sit downi 1 am an old friend of your friend, John Doris. He wired me that would find you on this train" The lie was so plausible that Ruth merely blushed, thinking that 1t was one more token of John Doris carefulness of her comfort and safety. To her inexperienced eyes this woman represented the tremendous city to which she was going. Her dress. her manner. her jewels, the evasive per fume that she affected were all strange and impressive to her. She moved over d little to allow Mrs Darnell to sit down.
 John never spoke of you," said Ruth simply. "l did not have the faintest notion that l was to meet any of his friends. Do you live in New York?"
 Yes. live in New York. happen ed to be in Chicago. and through Mir Everett heard from John."
 "Oh, you know Mir. Everettr cried Ruth. He is the man l am going to see in New York" and she went on to tell. as best she could. the gist of her mission.
 It was typical of the woman to whom she was talking that she did not inter rupt this naive narrative. She sat in silken silence, occasionally allowing her great eyes to rest on Ruth's fair face with an assumption of affection. As matter of fact, she was profoundly in terested Life had taught Jean Oar nell great many things. and among them had been the great lesson of self prcseryation-the saving for herself of money. of comfort, of health and of good looks Now it was n question of money, prime among them all and her rather keen wits saw precisely the chances which Wilkerson was taking. She recalled his oft repeated statements that there was money in 'The Master Key and his latest letters implorinG her to help him get control of the stock
 When Ruth ended up with a gentle And so l told John I'd come and see what could do," the elder woman smiled gently Times were not so good with her as they had been. and if Har- " Wilkerson could put this deal through and make money for them all it would simplify many a problem which she duly pondered at night.
 "Mr Everett will meet us at the train" she said briefly. "and then you can tell him all this. Meanwhile, sup pose we talk about something else"
 But l can't think of anything else" said Ruth.
 "Oh. you will.' said Mrs. Darner. You can combine the pleasure of see ing New York with your little busi- ness. Mir. Everett will quickly settle that part of it, and I shall take great pleasure in showing you about Manhat- tan. l presume you are fond of op- era ?''
 "I have never been to the opera" Ruth responded. "I should love to go. but when l do go must go all alone," she went on impulsively. "I think op- era must be like church-one wants to go all by oneself
 Mrs. Darnell turned very slowly and for the first time in many years reveal ed secret thought: Do you know that my only pleasant memories. my dear. are of myself"
 The bitterness of that confession. with all its implication. wholly escaped Ruth's sensitive but inexperienced mind Yet there was something in the tone that warmed her heart to this eff fulgent creature. At least, she was not going into the great city all alone, nor confront Mir. Everett by herself. Mrs. Darnell made her feel that she was cempetently protected.
 When they arrived the next morning at the Grand Central station in New York city Mrs Darnell quietly intro duced her to slim. rather handsome young man. who seemed i'll at ense un- til he had drawn Ruth's companion aside for moment for a chat while the porter collected their luggage,
 "l don't just like this game, he said Tn the first place. Everett Is big man Ill the city, and this Miss Gallon . .Fs fool long. Anyway, can't under