The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-29
"THE MASTER KEY"
BY
John Fleming Wilson
Now being played in moving pictures
Mt the Ruby Theater every
Tuesday night.

likeu tneY WOulu enter SiHk WINS
and make u thorough search.
Not that think Wen find anything
or anybody said one OF the police
men. hut ii never does any harm TO
take a look-sec through Sing Wah's,
and the lieutenant Il coming down
now 10 take charge"
A moment later that officer arrived,
and John Dorr mnde his tale nj on
vincing M possible The lieutenant
seemed dubious
1t isn't like The old rascal TO run
his head into danger that way he In
sisted Il think you are on the wrong
trail Who did you say was the man
who did all thls?"
'wilkerson- Harry Wiikerson," John
answered bitterly.
''Wilkersonf" repeated the lieut. nant.
That puts another color on the mat
ter. Wilkerson and Sing Wah used to
he pals. Thls'll bear looking into.
Come on. mem
With wonderful quickness the officer
disposed his men so that every known
exit was guarded. Then he motioned
to John to follow him and went boldly
M to the shop door and entered.
Followed again n futile parley with
Il Chinese who protested TO know no
language but his own. The lleuten-
ants quick ear caught a sound OF
something moving directly behind the
impassive clerk. Brushing him aside,
he smashed In the door In the parti-
ton and strobe into the hallway be-
yond. John Dorr was close ut his
heels.
long in Johns memory as the strang-
est OF lis life.
BE CAREFUL warned the officer.
The rascnls may start shooting"
Even as he spoke there was a rudy
dash down the dark alleyway. and
Dorr staggered back.
only my arm" be muttered.
Come on. Don't give 'em another
chance at US here. Rush 'emr'
An instant later they stood In the
cylindrical room. John stared about
him. but the lieutenant merely remark
ed. This room was built merely for
tourists consumption. Let me see that
arm OF yoursr'
Examination proved the wound to DO
slight. They glanced up from 1t to see
the doorway swing slowly away as the
room revolved.
Trapped. by smoke.' said the lieu.
tenant. lie laid a warning hand ON
DORIS arm. Keep quiet. We've lost
our directions and we must wait a mo-
ment till We discover where that door
way is."
SO they stood hesitant for a few sec.
onds. A panel slipped open in the
wall and n woman's face appeared for
an instant. Swift as the China woman
was. the police officer was quicker and
he plunged through the shallow panel,
with Dorr at his shoulder.
Once through they paused ia the
scmidarkness to o~rientate themselves.
Finally the lieutenant stepped forward
This way" he said. Il hear voices"
At that very moment there came ul
Z them an unearthly scream. a Shrek
OF pure terror.
Ruth John yelled. ana he and the
officer both plunged forward.
Instead OF the firm footing they ex
pected empty air received them. Tween
ty feet below they struck the water.
Spiuttering and swearing. the police
man helped Dorr to a little ledge thai
ran alongside the tunnel.
The miserable Chink dropped III
into the big sewer" he gasped. I'll
runs into the bay just a little ways
on. Wen have to swim for II. part
ner.r
Dorr looked down at his arm ant
shook bis head. Isn't that a boa
over there?" be demanded. pointins
into the shadow.
Blamed II 1t amt said the lieuten
AMI. much relieved. Well soon b.
out OF here"
In spite OF his wound Dorr insisted
IA rowing. and the officer phiIusoph
ically allowed him to. seating himself
gingerly In the stern OF the little Graf
and Tending 1t OF the brick walls o.
the tunnel with his hands as the swif
current drew them onward.
To John the whole affair seemed lik,
a dream. He saw the great dripping
arches sliding past overhead to joiI
the long vista OF arches that bridget
the glimmering water which splashe.
gently along to the call OF the tide; h
saw the dark bulk Of the lieutenant Il
the stern: he felt the pain Of his wound
he still heard Ruth's wild call for help
But II was ali unrelated. as if eacl
were a fact by itself. isolated. IA
struggled to gather his senses together
Look out!' shouted the policeman
suddenly as the great half cylinde
curved sharply and a blast of fresh al
struck them. Wen be swept out int
the bay: Keep the boat TRIM"
Awakened by this warning. John dc
voted himself to bis oars and d hal
moment later steered their little Graf
out under the piles Of a wharf.
Where to now!' be demanded dully
The lieutenant pointed a thick fore
finger toward another small boat
few rods away There IL Sing Wa
now, by smoke be exclaimed.
John Dorr glanced around. He 6rs
saw the impassiye yisage Of the Oh
nese and then the 6glre cr0uched 1