Evening journal., 1915-02-04


locomotive whistle, marking the pas.
sage OF an express. The freight would
be due IN two hours He must make it. I
Tom Kane arrived early In the morn
ing TO find the camp In an uproar [
The Mexicans had quietly vanished,
Ruth was mourning the loss Of the
master key, and the sheriff. staring at
the now useless warrant was beyond
words 70 express his chagrin.
John Dorr alone was serene, though
he realized that Wilkerson had again
checkmated him. But the immediate
need of the hour was haste. He i'm.
structed Kane to take charge Of the
mine and directed Ruth TO prepare for
a trip to the coast that afternoon.
Luckily ! copied those figures" he
said grimly.
Two days later John Dorr and Ruth
were steaming up the channel from
San Pedro in a launch fitted with div
ing outfit The skipper Of the launch
remembered perfectly the burning OF
the steamer and, now that he knew
the position where It sank. gave out
great hopes Of finding the hulk.
The sea is shallow there, and the
tides aren't strong enough TO move
her" he stated. THE only thing is.
somebody may have been ahead Of us"
"Wilkerson couldn't be ahead Of us"
John assured Ruth. Il inquired care
fully at San Pedro"
Yet at noon his unspoken fears were
realized. There was another powerful
launch ahead Of them which their cap
tain identified as a diving and salvage
boat from San Diego.
"Then they'll get ahcad Of usr Ruth
inouned. After all our troubley'
The launch captain and the diver
both comforted her by stating that the
given position was not far away, that
It was sometimes a matter of days TO
find wreck even If the approximate
location was known and that at any
rate they would soon be near enough
/ 10 see whether the other craft was
successful.
Two hours later Wilkerson's launch
was swinging easily over the low
swels not mile from the bluff shore,
and they could sec his diver preparing
to 20 down.
Il hope he doesn't find itg' breathed
Dcrr as he urged his own men to great
er speed.
They've struck the spot if those
figures OF yours arc correct" was the
reply. But time will tell"
When the two boats were close to-
gether John saw that Mrs Darnell was
with Wilkerson. He could see the
bronze CLINT of her eyes her eyes filed
with a minging Of triumph and ha-
tred. And that look grew brighter and
more malicious when the diver. coming
up from his first descent, showed a
large bit of wood. evidently from a
wreck. Though they could not hear
ihc words. those on DORIS boat could
understand the directions that were
being given
Get over and send your man down,
quick commanded DOrr.
The captain and the diver glanced a,
each other doubtfully; then the former
shook his head.
mo- he said grudiy. They found
it. and it's theirs by sea law. Anyway
amt going to send my man dowI
when there's danger. as there always
is with two men working under wate
at cross purposes
but they'll get the chest" crieC
Ruth.
"Wait and see said the imperturba
BILE diver
Half an hour later John turned tC
Ruth and said miserably: "Wel. they
have got It. That ends this excursion
"Is that your chest, missyf" demand
ed the captain.
"Yes. yes; my fathers!
"Well." he said slowly. there's moth
ing to hinder US going over and seeinI
what it looks like. is there?' He sig
nailed his engineer and put his helm
: over.
As they ranged alongside the othe
launch Wilkerson raised his face Z
DORIS wrathful gaze and smiled. In
stinctively John put his hand on hi
gun. A rough touch on his shoude
> recalled him.
"This amt any piratical cruise" tn
skipper remarked meaningly. "Tha
man was hired the same as me, ant
we amt got no fight with each other.
"Of course" Dorr agreed willingly
= Then he made a leap for the deck o
u the other boat. intent on regaining tia
chest single handed
= For the moment Wilkerson was para
: lyzed by the boldness of this move, bu
a moment later strong hands had fun
I John back on his own deck and hi
skipper thinking that matters had gon
a far enough, soon put a safe distanc
between the two craft.
r A little later Wilkersons launc
started of down the channel.
70 "Now or never" said Dorr TO tn
captain Of his own boat Don't los
rs sight Of them. must know wher
they land and what they do with tn
IN chest"
ne They're hurrying some, was the r.
ne sponse, but I guess we can keep 'eI
op in view, at least till night comes on"
ID While the moon was lighting up III
smooth waters of the channel ths
night Ruth tried to comfort John Dor
n And as he listened to her gentle word
p and watched the loveliness Of her fac
lr- under the silver beams he forgot al
OIL bitterness i'm his heart and knew som
ed thing of happiness that Wilkerso
lis paving over water soaked rags i'm ra
as ing despair. was never to know.