The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-25

never De uIumlneu with SUNSHINE, ana
Mrs. DarneIl's residence, overlooking
The Hudson. was Of this type. Its dull,
red stone front. marked by windows
that seemed blind to all that went by
was not distinctive In that neighbor
hood. A thousand doors within a mile
would have suggested TO the passerby
nothing more nor less than the great
oak portals within which she lived. To
Ruth Gallon. OF course. the house
seemed tremendously formal and state
ly. Within she found an atmosphere
30 absolutely strange and alien TO all
she had yer known that she shrank
within herself and had nothing TO say
until she had been conducted to her
W room ON the third door and a dis
Greet maid was busy %unpacklng her
things. Ruth felt that society had al
ready laid Its restrictions on her. She
recognized the maid as the gown and
hat policeman
This silent. but exceedingly obtrusiye
personage ha ving retired at last, Ruth
studied her surroundings. When she
had completed her survey she Thought
to herself that there were two things
wanting. One was a silk haired Per
sian cat and the other a flaming color.
ed scarf across the bed that completed
the altogether or an apartment severe.
iy luxurious. Then she tried 10 ana
lyze the odor. delicate yet insistent.
which she was ever afterward TO asso-
ciatc with Jean Darnell and her expe
rfence In New York
At last she traced IL 10 some pallid
towers In the great green and dark red
vase, whose unwholesome beauty was
thar OF plants whose roots have never
been In good. sound soil. They looked
to her much like lilies. whose pads had
tioated ON some dark and opaiescent
pool viscid with odors OF the night
She was still staring at these and
smiling their scent through widened
nostrils when Mrs. Darnell knocked on
the door and entered slowly She had
changed her street gown for a negligee.
which instantly caught the girls ap.
preciative eye.
"You look beautiful" she said quick
iy. Jean DarneIl turned her tawny
eyes on her and smiled family.
II am 10 usually up until noon,' she
responded. "and-l am getting old. my
dear" She threw out her teweied
hands with a sparkling gesture OF halt
comic resignation. Ruth laughed.
John Dorr says everybody gets old
In New York. Don't you like himT'
Mrs. Darnell looked into the clear
eyes OF the girl and almost failed TO
follow her baser instinct. But M that
loose throat she saw the heavy gold OF
The Master Key" AS If II had su-
pernafural powers. the sight OF that
key locked the door or her heart "Of
course ! like John" she said easily
We must get everything fixed up now
George VIII be here-George Everett.
OF course. 1 mean-tonight. ana you
and he can talk the business over"
You know. we simply must have
the money" Ruth returned earnestly.
The mine isn't paying now. but John
knows where we can find the mother
lode again: then wen all be rich"
Abr said Jean Darneli. You're
selling stock. | presumer"
81 wi II ALL" Ruth returned proud
y. ITS my mine. My father left IL
to me when he died" She did no see
the sullen hatred that slowly famed
until Jean Darnell's eyes fairly blazed
In her own room she stood a moment
breathless. Then she tore off her ieecy
uegiigee' In an intensity of silent rage
and despair. seen only by the ~unexcited
eyes OF the god whom she had defed
1t is wickedness. not virtue. which
II theatrical. and at this moment Jean
Darnell flung herself into her evil pas
sion with all the abandon OF the trago-
dian. only her voice was almost IMAM
dible: Tom Gallon. Tom Gallon. dead
though you are. I'll have revenger'
When her fury bad spent itself-and.
Ike all physically indoIent women. she
could not yield long TO emotion-she
prepared her campaign.
First she called up George Drake and
made certain that he would be at her
home for dinner that evening. Then
she called up two old acquaintances
who were always glad to fill empty
chairs at her well set table. This set
tied. she again sought Ruth and per-
suaded her from going down immedl.
ateiy to Everett's Office.
"You must be very tired. my dear"
Mira. Darnell purred. And. anyway.
you know. In New York young ladies
do not 60 about nnescorted TO mems
business Offices. and | cannot 60 with
SOP until tomorrow or next day
THAT will be too late" cried Ruth.
Mn. Darnell opened her eyes wide,
40 II In surprise. MIR. Everett is com
ing 70 dinner tonight" she said sooth-
ingly. "Y0U a talk business to your
content right here"
THAT will be much better" said
Ruth.
When her hostess was gone she
stood by the window trying to think
more calmly Of all that had happened
since she had left "The Master Key"
mine. but one thought was prominent:
What was John DorT doingY' She
recalled that there was three hours
ai9eEsnaa n Tim 4 vas new 2o'cIock