Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-04


lIA partner In the office Thomas
11|75Sls Gallon slowly went up to the
t2D bungalow. There was glim-
mer of satisfaction In his dim eyes az
he thought Of the fact that the io.ation
Of the real lode was unknown and
that the plans that might reveal II
were far beneath the waters of thu.
Pacific. He went inside to the desk
and picked out of the locker dra wer
the golden key which held his secret.
He stared at 1t and read the mum
bers that marked the position Of the
lost vessel. and the chest that held the
plans. Whom could he trust with
this2 He looked out of the window
and called to John Dorr.
"John!" be quavered. ave already
told you little about my finding this
mine and about my old partner
"Wilkersonr'
er secret. lost the location of the
mother lode In wreck at sea. The
chest slipped overheard: but flnd the
wreck and somewhere near It 10 that
old carved chest. and when you open
the chest The old man suddenly
staggered forward into DORIS arms.
II killed him once" he muttered fee
bly,. and then the silence which pres.
ages the wordlessness Of eternity over
came him. John gently laid him down
on the bed and called Ruth.
"FatherT' she called softly a. she
knelt by the bedside
Thomas Gallon stood on the great
divide. but he turned back q moment
to gather his strength. Then he mo.
toned with hisygnaried hand for John.
The young man stepped quietly for.
ward and stopped over.
my viii. John! leave Ruth Tho
Master Key In my desk-bring itF'
When the desired paper was brought
he whispered:
"Read it!''
John Dorf opened the document and
read 1t aloud:
seer leave all my property to my
daughter. Ruth. to como into her fu,l
possession on her eighteenth birthday. ]
direct her never to let 60 Of The Master
Key which viii make my little gig1
happy"
So ran the last words. The old man
lifted himself still farther up and call.
ed for pen and Ink. Then. muster.
ing his failing powers. he wrote in .
firm hand the further words:
direct that my daughter keep Harry
Wilkerson as superintendent until she II
eighteen. appoint as executor Of this.
| my last will and testament John Dorr,
THOMAS GALLON.
The pen fell from his fingers, and he
lifted his trembling hand to bis throat
and tore at the string that held the
golden key. 1t broke. and he put the
key in Ruth's lap.
'aThat Is the secret" he muttered
"John knows-and Wilkerson. Trust
John" Again he opened his eyes and
motioned toward the desk. 1.-THE let
teri" he croaked.
Ruth's quick intuition led her to tho
desk again. and she found In the same
drawer that had held the win sealed
envelope addressed:
John Dorr:
To DO opened on Ruth's eighteenth
birthday. Sooner IL her welfare 10 threat
ened.
Gallon turned his dimming eyes to
Ruth, who took both his chilling hands
In hers.
"Child! The Master Key keep al.
ways near you. Some day"-he choked
-''it will bring you riches. happiness
and love-"
-
When he first heard that Gallon was
dead Wilkerson was appalled,, He
thought Of the woman In New York
and regained his courage. This was q
case where he must win by brute force.
he must Immediately show bis suthor-
ity. He who struck first would win.
he thought: yet in the back Of hiD con.
seriousness was the realization that he
did not know what disposition. Gallon
had made Of the property. And where
was that rich vein Of gold that would
buy him Jean Darnell. with her velvet
ways and her dark eyes Of toplai
Perhaps because for several years be
had not handled other men. but been
himself mere cog In great machine.
Wilkerson mistook the spirit Of the
miners. He did not understand that
they had profound respect for Thom-
as Gallon.
81 must get these people in hand '
thought Wilkerson. land do It QIlck."
i He spent the afternoon In making q
schedule for q sweeping reduction In
wages. Then he sent for Bill Tubbs.
the engineer. When be had come.
gross. liquor sodden and half insolsnt
the superintendent laughed at him.
''Tubbs. what do you know aboat
this mine?''
WELL" Tubbs answered. .'tbe ore
panned out pretty good for awhile. but
they lost the mother lode. There. ain't
a carload worth dollar come out Of
! here in three months, and that little
girl up on the hill won't have notb-