The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-03-19

morning. But John had hurried her
into a cab, ordered it driven to the
Manx and quickly made arrangements
for Ruth to occupy his room with a
maid to look after her.
"All my clothes are with that horrid
woman" she whispered.
"I'n rig you out, and then We'll go
shopping" was the rejoinder.
With the help Of the maid and the
housekeeper Ruth was presently made
presentable for the street. and John,
in dry clothes and none the worse for
his ducking, met her in the lobby.
=: Il have engaged a taxi by the hour"
. he told her. u think it will rest you
more to get the fresh air and dig
around in the shops among the pref
ties than it will to brood in your own
ROOM"
Ruth hesitated shyly. "But have
no money, john
"Oh" he said blankly, and then a
thought came to him. "Why, here !
am carrying around lot Of the ranch
money which l was going to turn over
to you." -.
Once in the taxi Ruth told him of
her experiences from the time she had
left the mine. John listened soberly,
though once in awhile heavy flush
on his cheeks betrayed his deep seated
anger at the plotters who had not only
tried to deprive her of her mine, but
had finally risked her life and liberty.
"It's all that man Wilkerson," he said
when she had finished. HE caused
your father to make him sunerintend-
ent of the mine and then bounded him
into his grave. He Is your bad angel,
Ruth. But am here now, and I'll
get busy with Everett and finish
things up, and we'll soon be back at
the mine and have things going again"
He answered her questions about the
situation at the Master Key" as tact
fully as he could; he realized that her
nerves were badly shaken. He would
trust to old Tom Kane to hold the fort
in the mountains while he transacted
the necessary business in San Fran
cisco.
He directed the chauffeur to drive
them through the. shopping district,
and while Ruth spent several hours in
replenishing her wardrobe John sat in
the taxi and studied things out. But
he was continually seeing Wilkerson's
dark face before him, and before they
f1 hot ho 1oforOo4o.
ed to find out where he was and what
he was doing.
While Ruth went to her room to
dress for dinner John sat in the lobby
and completed his plans. He did not
observe a slender, quietly dressed
young man with very pale face, who
sauntered in and out with an occasion
al trip to the cigar stand to light a
fresh cigarette. 1t was Henry Pell.
The extinct had spent the day going
from hotel to hotel, searching the reg
listers. 1t was only at last that he
went to the Manx. There he found
the name ruth Gallon" on the regis
ter and below it John Dorr." This
he reported to Wilkerson, who swore
luridly, but emphasized the necessity
of getting hold Of the papers immedi-
.ately.
''And l trust you to do IT, he said
meaningly.
Pell, flushed with drugs, nodded
briskly. "Pll get 'em, all right, Har-
ry," he said, but did not add his in
most thought, which was that. with the
papers once in his own possession, he
could easily get much more from Will
kerson than the 5000 he had promised
when will you have themy' Will
kerson went on impatiently.
Pell smiled family but significantly.
Il know your address, he remarked.
I'll deliver them there when Il get
them
But When?'' growled the other.
Pell flicked his cigarette stub into
the gutter and whistled. Il never
make dates ahead" he said quietly.
"But it won't be long. =
Have you your plan all schemed
out
Pell winked ara naoteA q.