Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-10-28

he admitted.
Il miss him." she said simply. Later
she added thoughtfully. Il think he
was in love with me-"
Wilkerson laughed.
Mrs. Darnell glanced at him with an
expression strange on her handsome
face. Eyes. l I'M sure he loved me-"
In vain," he returned lightly.
Il don't know whether it might have
been wholly in vain after ALL" she
murmured- Life has given me little
love of that kind. 1t seems as if |
had always been a woman who for
mere self protection could not let any
one love me or let myself low him"
Il should not have let you love him."
was the quiet response. II have strug-
gled too hard and fought too long for
you to allow any one else to have
you"
And what does your love mount
to, after all, Harry?" she asked. Tell
me plainly. Has it done either Of US
any good? Will it ever do Us any
good?"
Wilkerson stared out at the dark sea.
and his face grew slowly very cruel.
"Good?" be repeated. "All that l
know is that l love you more than
anything else in the universe. You
love luxury and jewelry and gold and
silk. Because l know what you love l
am trying to get it for you. because I
want you more than l want anything
else. IL think we are even"
"Even?' she said in a suddenly
strained voice. Yes, we are even
you the felon and the murderer, I the
receiver of stolen goods. stolen happi-
ness. stolen life, stolen gold"
When they finally reached San Fran
cisco Wilkerson found her oddly dis
trait She did not know whether to
go to the mine OF to return to New
York.
One moment she was in a tigerish
rage; the next hour she was staring at
the fog haunted hills with eyes that
saw nothing.
He stormed and argued to no pur-
pose. He recalled to her constantly
the fact that he had the deeds, the
master key itself, the plans of the To-
cation Of the mother lode.
She either listened listlessly or drove
him away with furious upbraidings.
| Yet in the end she accompanied him
to Silent Valley.
1t was a bitter moment for old Tom
Kane when the stage drove up and
| Wilkerson and Mrs. Darnell got out in
| stead of John Dorr and Ruth.
He had hoped against hope, and now
his dreams were in ashes, for Wilker-
son instantly took charge, the men, as
| Tom put it tt himself, followed the
| paymaster. and so far as outward ap-
pearance went the Master Key" mine
a firmly in Wilkerson's possession.
Mrs. Darnell here proved herself the
shrewder mind. Though she was little
seen, her influence was potent
And more than anything else she
worked OF Wilkerson so that he did
not use the plans and open up the
rich vein.
wait" she told him. Don't be i'm
patient. Our whole power here is in
the fact that we have the secret Once
that is public we'll likely lose every
thing"
but we ought to be at work before
Dorr gets back" he would argue.
Eyes, and every court in the land
will help him to regain this mine and
it's wealth. Don't you see? Compro-
misev'
'Compromise!" be repeated duly.
"Yes, you fool!'
But how?"
"Wait-wait till John and Ruth get
back. They'll be glad enough to buy
those plans. Harry"
When John Dorr and Ruth arrived
on the following steamer Everett met
! them at the pier and told them the
news as he had gathered it from faith
full Tom Kane. whom Jean Darnell had
insisted should resume his duties as
cook, sagely observing to Wilkerson
that 1t would be well for them to have
not impugn.
Settled in the hotel, Dorr briefly re-
cited the experiences OF the past
months and then bluntly asked, what
are we to doY"
Everett was ready with his answer,
"Compromise!'
The dull red flooded Johns face, and
he bit his lip. Had all his work gone
for nothing?
Everett laid a friendly hand on his
knee. Nov l~isten," he said gravely.
Here is Miss Ruth minus her key,
practically ousted from possession of
her property and, if we are not mis-
taken, unable to lay her hands on her
most precious inheritance-the plans of
the mother lode. They're in Wiker-
sons possession"
And he's digging the gold night and
dayw John burst
With a swift glance to reassure Ruth.
who sat in mournful silence. Everett
wen n
"That is the shrewd part of Wilker.