Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-11
CHAPTER viii.
jean DarneiI's Russ.
~ HIS must be Miss Gallon.
.,lid d pleasant voice.


j s,sid q pleasant voice.
(06SE1N Ruth looked w to see q
woman Of tlorid beauty and
dressed In somewhat extravagant style
looking down at her out Of great. taw-
ny, velvet eyes. Western bred. Ruth
responded amiably to this salutation.
though she had not the faintest idea
who the woman was.
Eyes. I am Miss Gallon"
II am Mrs. Darnell." said the woo-
an. May ! sit dow0 am an Old
friend of your friend. John DORIS. He
wired me that would find you IN this
train" The lie was so plausible that
Ruth merely blushed. thinking thut II
was one more token of John pOrr's
carefulness Of her comfort aud safety.
To her inexperienced eyes this wolnaa
represented the tremendous city tO
which she was going. Her dress. her
manner. her Jewels. the evasiys per-
fume that she affected were all strange
and impressive to her. She moved
over little to allow Mrs. Darnell to
sit down.
John never spoke Of you" said Ruth
simply. Il did not have the faintest
notion that was to meet any Of his
friends. Do you live in New York;"
Yes. live in New York. happen
ed to be in Chicago, and through Mr..
Everett heard from John
"Oh. you know Mr.. Everett" cried
Ruth. "He is the man am going to
see In New York and she went on to
tell as best she could. the gtst of her
mission.
1t was typical Of the woman to whom
she was talking that she did not inter
rupt this naive narrative. She suit IN
silken silence. occasionally allowing her
great eyes to rest ON Ruth's fair face
with an assumption Of affection. Az
matter OF fact. she was profoundly m
terested Life had taught Jean OAR
nell great many things. and among
them had been the great lesson ef self
preservation-tbe saving for herself Of
money. ot comfort, of health and Of
good looks. Now It was a question Of
money, prime among them all. and her
rather keen wits saw precisely the
chances which Wiikerson was taking
She recalled his oft repeated statements
that there was money In The Master
Key" aud his latest letters impioring
her to help him get control Of the stock
When Ruth ended up with gentle
And 20 told John I'd como and see
what could do" the elder woman
smiled gently. Times were not 10 good
with her as they had been. and IL Har-
ry Wilkerson could put this deal
through and make money for them all
1t would simplify many problem
which she DULY pondered ut night.
'Mr. Everett will meet us at the
train," she said briefly. land then you
can tell him all this. Meanwhile. sup
pose we talk about something else"
"But l can't think Of anything else."
said Ruth.
"Oh. you WILL" said Mrs. Darneil.
you can combine the pleasure of SEQ
ing New York with your little bust
ness Mr.. Everett will quickly settle
that part OF 1t. and shall take great
pleasure in showing you about Nanhat-
tan. presume you are FOND q o.
era? ~
II have never been to the opera. :.
Ruth responded. II should love to 60,
but when l do go must so all alone. J"
she went on impulsively. II think op-
era must be like church-one wants to
90 all by oneself"
Mrs. Darnell turned very slowly and
for the first time in many years reveal
ed secret thought: DO you know that
my only pleasant memories. my dear.
are Of myself?"
The bitterness of that confession.
with all Its implication, wholly escaped
Ruth's sensitive but inexperienced
mind. Yet there was something in the
tone that warmed her heart to ths ef-
fulgent creature. At least, she was
not going into the great city all ALONE.
nor confront Mir. Everett BY herssH.
Mrs. Darneu made her feel that she
was csmpetently protected.
When they arrived the next morning
at the Grand Central station IN New
York city Mrs. Darnell quietly intre-
duced her to slim. rather handsome
young man. who seemed III ut eass ~
til he had drawn Ruth's compaAioa
aside for moment for chat while
the porter collected their luggage.
II don't just like this game" be said
I'm the first place. Everett IL big
man in the city. and this Miss Cation
doesn't look to me like girl you could
fool long Anyway. can't under
stand what you are trying to DO. Jean.
You must know what sort Of fellow
Harry Wilkerson is by this time WV
play his hand for hiln?'
II don't notice you holding any
trumps in your hand" she returned
gently. but with faint CLEAN In her
eyes which made MIN draw back.
This is my game, and expect 700 to
play your part. You come on now and
be George Everett. The girl 10 as ig-
norant MS pigeon. Remember what
told you.'
About that stock!" he said sullenly.
Yes. the stock. You understand
that she came to New York simply to
raise money for this mine. You are
supposed to handle the business for
her. If you don't learn all that b to
he learned about The Master Key
mine in the next two days you are
more than the fool take you for"
She drew him back to where Ruth
stood amid the suit cases and hand
bags and said. Miss Gallon. Mr.. Dv-
erett has been telling me that he. too.
has heard from John Dorr about y0ut