Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-01-22

| He hnltinoly mnmbled over some Of
the legal phrases NJ the beginning. saw
the names Thomas Gallon and Harry
wilkerson prominently displayed. Tie
was impressed lie did not understand
the purport ~ the papers. lie did IN
derStand that Wilkerson was smiling
with the insolrnce Of triumph nchiev.
ed lie grinned slowly and passed the
papers back.
II guess that'H Ok en- he said hus-
kiiy
~ guess Il WILL" was the rejoinder.
Tubbs seemed thoughtful. gancing
out OF the window now and again.
Drake voiced his feeling.
"The sooner you let the miners know
and get things settled the better"
wilkerson licked his dry lips. TIE
battle was ON. He broke the silence
by saying grutily, Call 'em up here.
Bnlr'
Nothing loath. Tubbs went out on
the porch. and his hoarse tones re
sounded through the little valley In
| stantly men appeared from doOrways.
care from dozen places In response
| to that call. Aud women. clutching
their children. peered out TO see what
was In the air.
When the men were gathered before
him Wikerson stepped forward and
commenced 70 speak lie could not
break their sullen silence. and, after a
few words Of generalities. he mustered
his courage and shouted; II am the
owner OF this mine. ] have the deeds
right herer'
The effect OF this was far other than
he had expected. Not a murmur came
from the still. motionless throng. II
was as II they had not heard him. In
a lower tone he repeated It, II am the
owner of the Master Key mine and all
that goes with it!''
lie held up the papers, and Bill
Tubbs looked at them and gravely nod.
ded his head. as much as to say that
he had inspected them and could vouch
Tor their authenticity. Sdll no sound
from the miners.
There Is n quality In the silence Of
the crowd OF earnest men that Is more
questioning than any word could be-
The men who had worked and toiled
for old Tom Gallon. who had been de
ceived and batiied. who had had their
loyalty tested to the utmost. now de-
manded through their imperious ST.
lence that wlkerson open up his mind
to them. IL he was indeed the owner
OF the Master Key" what did he in
tend to dor
You'd better say some more quick
ly." warned Drake in low tone. And
Wilkerson. completely bewildered, set
the match to the powder. He stepped
forward with as ugly look as he
could assume and cried. Now tell me
what you want?"
Instantly the air was hlled with
roars OF rage and disappointment
Fifteen minutes later Harry wilker.
son was sweating within the cabin.
With a shaking hand he poured him
self out a tumbler OF Tubbs' whisky.
He had promised the miners back pay,
steady work. full wages and food. He
must make good. and he did not know
how.
"Tubbs," he said sharply. you must
find out what men we can trust. Say
nothing. but get all the information
you can. IN make II worth the while
Of the men who'll stick by me-"
Again the engineer chuckled fatuous.
ly. They'll all stick by ye," he said
sagely, "s'lOng as ye pay 'em like you
said ye would"
II was late in the afternoon when
Tom Kane appeared on the mail wag-
on. The driver had already Informed
him OF how affairs were going. and
the cook wasted no time. He climbed
down from the high seat jerked his
battered case out of the wagon and
made straight for his shanty. Within
ave minutes he had divested himself
OF his black clothes and donned his
official overalls and apron. Then he
appeared on the porch as calm and un-
concerned as though he had not been
away.
In no time at all couple of dozen
miners had gathered TO shake hands
and swap news, Naturally their big
gest item was Wilkerson's proclama-
tion of ownership.
NJ ihhShtu otOih-
fully. lie derided tho papers, ridiculed
the miners for being fools easily taken
in and stated in set terms that he.
Tom Kane. actually held the place Of
authority.
This soon came 10 Wilkerson's ears.
and he hurried down the hill to stop
what be knew to be dangerous seces-
sion. Instantly the odj cook locked
horns with him. poohpoohed him to
his face. called him names OF peculiar
virulence aud offered 10 fight him on
any terms.
Before ong the camp was In an up
roar. and II was due TO certain cooler
heads that trouble did not ensue inn
mediately. These men insisted that
there was time to settle the dispute of