The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-01-22
THE MASTER KEY
BY
BY JOHN FLEMING WILSON

tSSNg plain to him that he could
not avoid action. The starving men
were in no hunor for words. They
demanded food and wages.
at last he saw that he must dc
something Immediately. He called
some of the leaders into the Office and
with apparent frankness told them he
had known nothing of the situation
and <nat he felt sure Wilkerson was
una ware of il.
what are you going to do?" came
the demand.
This" replied Drake. writing rap.
idly. He showed them the message:
Harry Wilkerson. Los Angeles. Cal:
Come to mine at once. Trouble is brew
ing. DRAKE.
"Will that bring him?" demanded
one of them coldly.
st will. Now who will take it and
send it,"
Two men volunteered to take old
Tom Kane's burros and make the trip,
And while you're in Silent Valley
Drake said, yielding to sudden in
spiration, take this $50 and get some
grub for the camp"
There's still some locked up in the
cook house." said another. Its old
Tom Kane's lookout. so we diGa't ex-
actly feel like taking it, }
Drake turned to Tubbs quickly.
Distribute the food as far as it VIII
60" he said.
Tubbs looked suddenly serious. Il
guess you better leave that to me-" he
said in q low voice. Il know where
it will do the most good" He winked
slyly.
Meantime John Dorr. Everett and
Tom Kane were spending long hours
in discussing what was to be done to
save the Master Key" to Ruth. Tom
once more went over the exact situa-
ton at the mine and asserted that IN
less prompt measures were taken not
only would there be actual distress.
but likely rioting.
You know some of the worst ores
hang with Wilkersoa." he said grim
", ''apd they might at any time take
it into their heads to do a little dyna-
hitting. Dynamiting is mighty dan
gerous stuff around several thousand
dollars worth of machinery. and If
they blew up the workings there
wouldn't be any mine left. you see
81 see," said Everett at last. Not
having the papers. l can't put this deal
the way want TO eventually.
But something must be done on the
spot"
in the way of money!" added Kane
harshly.
Precisely" Everett assented with all
Now I'm going to loan
John DUrr here $1,000 today for the
Master Key mine. Then
John shook his head THAT isn't
business-Iike," he protested.
Everett fixed his keen eyes on him
ANY reason why l shouldn't loan
money to Miss Ruth Gallons manager
and guardian? Any reason why you.
looking after her interests. should re-
fuse help in fixing up her affairs:'
Dorr flushed Il didn't mean it that
way. 1t seems as if l kind of messed
things up myself, and IL thought |
might get 'em set right by myself"
You called on me, and I'm the doc
tor" said Everett authoritatively. He
pulled out his wallet and commenced
out bills. Il came prepared
for this, for thought there might be
an emergency"
But who will take charge Of it!
Who will go to TIE mine?"
The broker la ghed at him. Not
you. You'd be in a fight in three min
utes. specially if Wilkerson turned up.
Tom Kane is our man." He turned on
the old man abruptly. will you take
this money and go?'
The old cook stared at the crisp bills
and then at Dorr. II amt handled
paper worth that much lately" he re
marked. But if you want ME to go
in there and feed them people and gel
EN- back to work and keep things go
ing till John can fix things up here III
go"
On his way to the mine Harry Will
zerson's courage. newly fired by last
with Jean Darnell. COM
to ebb.
Drake and Tubbs received him with
relief. A few words suf-
iced to make the status of affairs
plain. Tubbs looked at his superior
with strained anxiety in his bleared
Eyes. Dull and sodden with liquor as
lie was, he understood perfectly that
depended on the next few
lays. The engineer had lived in min
Dc camps and on the desert all his
ife. and he knew the passions engen-
Tered by the arid mountains and the