Bisbee daily review., 1915-05-09

Nilkerson licked his dry lips The battle was on. He broke the silence | by saying gruny, "Call 'em mp here Bmw e
 Nothing loath Tubbs went out or. the porch. and his hoarse tones re- sounded through the little valley. In- stantly men appeared from doorways. | came from a dozen places in response i to that call. And women. clutching | their children. peered out to see what l was in the air When the men were gathered before him Wllkerson stepped forward and commenced to speak. He could not break their sullen silence. and. after a few words of generalities. he mustered his courage and shouted: "I am the owner of this mine, I have the deeds right here"
 The effect of this was far other than he had expected Not a murmur came from the still. motionless throng. 1t was as if they had not heard him. In a lower tone he repeated it, 'l am the owner of the Master Key mine and all that goes with itr
 Heeheld up the papers. and Bin Tubbs looked at them and gravely nod ded his head. as much as to say that he had inspected them and could vouch for their authenticity. still no sound from the miners.
 There is a quality fin the silence of the crowd of earnest men that is more questioning than any word could be- The men who had worked and toiled for old Tom Gallon. who had been de ceived and bafiled. who had had their loyalty tested to the utmost. now de- manded through their imperious sl- lence that Wilkerson open up his mind | to them. IT he was indeed the owner Of the Master Key" what did he in- 1 tend to do2
 You'd better say some more quick | ly." warned Drake in low tone. And Wililerson, completely bewildered, set the match to the powder. He stepped forward with as ugly a look as he could assume and cried, NOW tell me what you waut?'
 Instantly the air was filled with roars of rage and disappointment. Fifteen minutes later Harry Wilker- son was sweating within the cabin. l With a shaking hand he poured him self ort a tumbler of Tubbs' whisky. ae had promised the miners back pay, steady work, full wages and food. He must make good. and he did not know how.
 "Tubbs.' he said sharply, you must find out what men we can trust. Say nothing. but get all the information you can. I'll make it worth the while of the men who'll stick by me-"
 Again the engineer chuckled fatuous- ly. They'll all stick by ye," he said sagely. "s'long as ye pay 'em like you said ye would
 1t was late in the afternoon when Tom Kane appeared on the mail wag- on The driver had already informed him of how affairs were going, and the cook wasted no time. He climbed down from the high seat. ierked his battered case out of the wagon and made straight for his shanty. Within five minutes he had divested himself of his black clothes and donned his official overalls and apron. Then he appeared on the porch as calm and un- concerned as though he had not been away.
 In no time at all a couple of dozen miners had gathered to shake hands and swap news Naturally their big gest item was Wilkerson's proclama- ton of ownership.
 At this Tom Kane laughed scorn- fully. He derided the papers. ridiculed the miners for being fools easily taken in and stated in set terms that he, Tom Kane. actually held the place of authority
 This soon came to WlIkerson's ears, and he hurried down the bill to stop what he knew to be a dangerous seces- sion Instantly the old cook locked horns with him, poohpoohed him to his face. called him names of peculiar virulence aHd offered to fight him on any terms.
 Before long the camp was in an up- roar. and it was due to certain cooler heads that trouble did not ensue i'm mediately These men insisted that there was time to settle the dispute of ownership forced Wilkerson to with draw his command that Kane leave the mine instantly and managed to bring a semblance of peace out of dis- order. Kane bowed his neck to the yoke of their authority. but dispatched a trusty messenger to the station with a telegram to John to come as soon as possible. Wilkerson resorted to a , scene which was eventually 10 threat. , en the very existence of the Master . Key" He sent Drake south to confer with a desperado whom he knew, who could gather a band of MeNicans like . himself on short notice. ready for any thing that promised loot
 ''rell Jose to be here tomorrow 2 night" he instructed him. "Iu want about twenty men well armed"
 Drake rOae away as from destruc q ton, curslng the luck that had pu b him in the power of such man. e In response to Kanes message JohI I' Dorr, Ruth Gallon and Everett lef
 Beverly Hills for Silent Valley. The! c arrived the third day after the cook e and from the moment they were recog
 nlzed the miners dropped their att tude of sulky waiting and thronge' 'f about their mistress, cheering an'