Evening journal., 1915-03-06


Gsrun -ho faints from fright.
much dynamite had been planted and |
how Wilkerson's men we're actually |
too nervous TO work any longer
He has to fix the fuses and fire the |
shots himself" he said.
True enough. they saw man after
man come down the hill till only Will
kerson was left
Ruth noticed that he worked rapidly
and with an occasional glance down
toward Mrs. Darnell. who stood near
a big rock shading her eyes against
the evening sun.
At last the work was apparently
done. and Wilkerson waved his arms.
At that signal there was a general
rush for cover.
Then the man Strengthened himself
up as If master Of the demons hidden
AT his feet, and waved his hand to the
woman watching him from below;
then he stopped
An instant later there was q terrific
explosion. and a smoky gap appeared
halfway up the hillside.
At the foot of the slope lay the body
OF Wilkerson. tossed there as one
might toss an old hat. The smoke on
( the hin eddied and swirled.
/ No one stirred. There were a dozen
other unexploded shots in that hill
side any Que OF which would likely
bring the topplinE. crest downward.
With white faces they held their
breath. WilkerSons body twitched
slightly. the only moving thing in that
amphitheater
Then there was wild scream. hlled
with terror. with passion. with flaming
and awful desire. and lean Darnell
ran over the rubble toward the smoS-
ing hill, crying:
Harry. Harry"
A dozen men started to run to drag
her back. and q hundred voices NUT
tered warnings that held them in their
tracks
Jean reached the body aud dung her
self on H.: then she rose and stared up
at the great rocky crest
Did she hear the roar Of voices call
ing to her to fee while there was time
Did she see the death that nune
above her II she did she despisec
. it.
In this final cataclysm her wild hear
. broke through the bonds OF this seltlsl
I, existence and flung her full passion
! ed sacrifice on the body of the maj
who had loved her and given her hi
. all--honOr and life.
. In the quick silence they who watch
ed heard a single. full throated cry;
Harry. Harry"
4 Then the mountain roared into th'
air. and the avalanche OF rock poured
over the two lovers in wave after wav'
(. till it had buried them forever.
= And as explosion after explosion
: rocked the earth and filed the evening
1. sky with lurid debris Ruth struggled
from Sir Donad's OBTAINING grasp ant
p. fed into the arms of John Dorr. wher
!, she clung, sobbing
John. john
, Sir Donald looked at John Dorr'
" transfgured face and heard that cry
a. meant for lovers ears alone.
is Very steadily he turned away an
- stared up ut the terrific cataclysr
which had upited both the darlllin
r hearted and golden youth.
- He found the cook beside him. hi
= gray locks streaming in the gusts q
wind from the blasts. He pointed wit
d. his stick to piece Of rock that role
to their feet. and in the dull stillnes
!. that followed the terrific uproar h
said
10 II really believe. Mr.. Kane. that W
or have uncovered the gold we have looI
M ed for so long"
,e And Tom Kane reached down an
10 picked up the nugget and stared at
"a Then he turned to the white faced gel
i, tleman beside him.
1.-The Master Key" the old ma
nj .nuttered.
=, "Yes." returned Sir Donald quiett
- 1T unlocks strange doors"
,ts THE END.