The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-20

"Your sharef" parted Gallon.
"My share said Wilkerson, realiz
ing that he controlled the situation. 81
have returned for my just due!
"Now. listen, partner, ! am going to
stand no nonsense"
what hive you been doing all these
years?" the old man asked duly
"Why haven't you been here beforer"
"None OF your business" snarled VIII
kerson. IAN I've got to say Is that |
managed to get to New York. Now I'm
back after finding out that you made
a strike, the find you made when we
were partners. How did you get back
here2"
Gallon looked at his enemy with the
simplicity OF an old man telling q
proved truth. They were all my
friends he said.
"Friends2' said Wilkerson in a sud.
denly changed voice, and. thrusting his
contorted face close to Gallons. Il
don't care about your friends. but you
better care about the enemy you
made"
For one instant the mine owners
face grew stern and pitiless But he
heard a step on the outside porch. and
his face softened.
my God. Harry; | did 1t for the
girll'
The evil soul or Wilkerson fared be.
nind those cold eyes of his. and for
the first time In his life be told the
truth of his Utmost heart, And | must
have my share of The Master Key to
buy a woman"
What woman"
Wilkerson leaned forward. and his
lips Kissed hate ms he returned: do
| you remember that woman In Vale
| Vista five years %ago-that woman you
| thought your little daughter too good
to speak to? II was you who drove
her out of camp, and ~now"-he smiled
| fatuitously-"she's rich and in New
| York, and she hates your
/ Gallon bowed his head.
what Is it you want, HarryT" he
| whispered huskily.
The other man pulled a paper out
| OF bis pocket and threw 1t ON the ia
| BILE. There's a contract for you to
| sign"
At this moment the door opened,
| and Ruth entered. She stared a mo-
ment at the visitor and then looked
a~nxiously at her father. who said:
This Is an old partner OF mine,
| Ruthy-Harry Wilkerson."
Ruth shyly looked at the tall strang.
| er aud then shook hands with him.
He held her gentle fingers a second
too long. Her face flushed, and she
! retired without a backward glance.
Without paying any more attention
| to the old man. who had now subsid-
| ed into a chair by the table, Wilker-
| son walked to the window and watch.
/ ed the slim. glrlish figure of the young
| girl tripping down the hill. Then be
swung on the old man harshly: well
I need a job. You need II new super
intendent. don't you? | guess I'll take
the place"
He stepped quickly to the window
once more. This time he saw Ruth.
with Tom Kane, the old cook, and nm.
other. In front of the cook house.
Come here, Tom. who Is that talk
Ing to hat girl OF yours?' he said.
Gallon got up heavily from his chair
and walked we to the window, and
he could not repress an expression OF
relief. "Oh, that's the mining engi
neer of The Master Key John Dorr!
With a quick swing Wilkerson was
back, leaning over the table. He pick.
ed up the paper. "Sign herer' he said
i~nsolently.
Gallon made a last faint protest: 81
can't do IT."
Wilkerson picked up a pen, dipped il
and put 1t In the old mans hand
"Signg"
Just as the last letter of that sigma
ture. which had so long stood for re
spectability, was blotted at the foot OF
the paper Ruth entered.
"Your father has Just made me su
perintendent of this mine. I'm his ole
partner, you known"
Ruth looked at her father with con
SteIliduOn why WHY tHouSu
john
Thomas Gallon looked up and wipeC
bis lips. YES" he said DULY, Il have
made my old-my old-partner superin
tendent of The Master Key"
81 expect we'll see Il good deal Of
each other from now on" Wilkersoi
said silkily. and with those slim, white
fingers of his he reached out and pinch
ed Ruth's cheek.
Ruth did not draw back. She clinch
ed her firm little hand and Wilkersor
received a blow in the mouth tina
made him stagger back.
At the moment that he received tina
singing blow be heard a movement t
one side of him, and. with the old In
stinctiye fear of Thomas Gallon, b,
drew away back with his hand on thu
gun at his hip. He met the farins
eyes of the old man, who had riser
from his seat, and understood that un
I'll life left that decrepit frame Its mas
tering ~passion-the passion which b
could not hope to master-woul b
love for the girl whom be had just In
suited.