The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-02-19

and You can make him straighten mat
ters out with them"
He peered anxi0usly mp into the
young mans face. lyon won't desert
her, will you. JohnY'
With an inarticulate growI John
swung out into the sunshine and Ell.
bowed his way through the streaming
throng Of miners just coming off shift
Ahead of him he saw Wilkerson talk
ing to an old miner, who seemed to be
arguing earnestly. He saw the super
intendent and the miner re-enter the
Office, and a moment later Ruth ap-
peared
~ AS John came to the Office door be
heard the sound of scuf1e within
He kicked open the frail barrier and
stood inside just In time to see Wilker-
son draw a gun on the old miner.
drop that gun, you dogr' he below
ed, and with one leap was at Wilker'
sons throat
Wilkerson was no pigmy In strength
and as agile as panther. He man
aged to land two singing blows on
Johns eye before Dorr drove him up
against the wall. laid his powerful
hands on him and thrust him to the
door in absolute helplessness. His fist
was lifted to give the final finishing
blow when be caught sight of Ruth's
white face. He jerked Wilkerson to
his feet, flung him into the corner and
strobe silently out
"John, John! What is the matterT
demanded Ruth.
"That hound in there discharged me-
I am going to leave tonight"
Her eye~ slowly filed with tears
You are not going to leave The Mas
ter Key mine. are you. John? And
and Before he could answer bel
appeal in words there was wild roal
down the street and the tramp of boot
ed feet.
"Get the dynamite and blow the fel
low upy bawled a couple Of hoarst
voices.
"Get a rope and hang him to The
hoistv' yelled another. Then a full
chorus Of angry cries rose into thu
evening air and filed the valley witt
raucous sound.
Quickly John drew Ruth aside In tn
shelter of one of the cottages and sait
hurriedly: ''This must be stopped
Ruth. I'll get out there and stol
them"
Ruth's property was In peril. John!
stentorian voice rang out across tn
throng: "Stop, men! Stop!' But b.
soon saw that the crowd was gettinl
out of hand. he perceived three o
! four Of the tunnel men racing dow
the hill to Join in the fracas. One o
them. be was sure, had been to tn
powder house. He gritted his teet]
and made his last appeal.
"Ruth-Ruth Gallonl'' he called.
Doubtless none of the miners had no
ticed her presence, and when her slen
der figure emerged from doorway
boldly yet modestly out toward tn
man who was trying to hold them II
check, there was dead silence. Tha
silence was portentous. In it was de
cdded the fate of 1.-THE Master Key"
It was broken by wild and tumultu
ous cheers as John lifted Ruth on th
! box, and she held out her slender arm
in girlish entreaty to the men sh'
| knew SO well.
Cowed, yet as ever alert to snatch a
any opening, Wilkerson now CAM
boldly on the scene. Just as he hat
bluffed his way many time before
he now made a play on which he knew
his own safety depended. He mount
! ed on the box beside Ruth. mis-
Gallon has asked me to restore tn
former rate Of wages!' he shouted
1T has been done"
What meant that ominous silence
What more must he say to those face
upturned to his? And have reap
pointed John Dorr to run this mine,
he muttered.
Possibly he hoped that those low
hoarse tones would not carry far, bu
attentive ears caught them up ant
knew their meaning.
Old Tom Kane came through tn
crowd, thrust Wilkerson of the bo'
without ceremony and raised his crack