The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-19

by DIS knees right over the tres
tie. waited for the oncoming car.
Ruth he cried. Ruth, come to
me-"
He sax her turn toward him, bal
ance herself In the swaying ore car
and lift up her arms. He stretched his
own down, and as the mass Of steel
and ore dashed under him. caught her
up. He did not hear the crash that
followed. All he saw was the ~upturned
face of the girl he loved, swinging a
hundred feet above death In his strong
arms, safe.
About 5000 miles away a dark and
splendid woman was looking critically
at her maid. "Eloise," she was saying,
II don't like to be walked this early In
the morning. | have told you often
enough about this. What do you mean
by disturbing me for IA mere letterT'
you told me, madame. always to
call you when there was a letter in this
handwriting"
The oma under the roseate cover
let's held out her jeweled hand. The
maid gave one swift glance at her
mysterious avaricious eyes and van
isbed AS she closed the door after her
the envelope, torn into shreds, fell to
the floor.
Mrs. Darnell sat up alertly and
quickly perused the slow, even script
written on the old fashioned blue lined
paper Of a country hotel:
Dear Cousin ~Jean-Slnce you last heard
from me | have found Gallon. am leav-
ing today for Silent Valley. His Master
Key" mine is only ten miles from there.
Won't he be surprised to see me? | will
let you know later how our scheme comes
out.
Goodby for now. Keep mumi AS ever,
HARRY.
When Gallon thought he had killed
Wilkerson he became infected with the
i%neradicable disease Of dread. In his
conversation with John Dorr he had
given FIRST expression to his feelings.
The young mining engineer on account
Of his youth did not fully understand
that men do not speak OF such things
until age-loosener Of tongues as well
as OF the chords of life-suddenly OPP
presses them-makes them feel help
less, brings them to a realization OF
what the ultimate fact Of death means
He had barely caught the appeal in
the old mans voice when he had com
pretended Ruth's peril.
The old man, with shaking limbs.
had watched the rescue. When he
saw that his daughter was safe be
also perceived the solution OF his prob
lem. Here vas a quick mind needed
to protect Ruth's property. Somewhere
In that hill was the richest OF Califor-
mia gold. Once more he said to him
self, John Dorr can find the master
key"
Feeling himself too weak to meet the
girl who was now clinging Imply to
her rescuer and also discerning I'm his
own slowing pulse that his time was
| short, he went down the hill, crossed
the gulch without a word to the won
dering miners and entered the bunga-
low.
A moment later John Dorr entered
with Ruth in his arms. The old man
| merely looked up always look after
| her, John" he said slowly. land II vii
| kerson comes back
Dorr looked at the old man with pity
In his eyes. "She isn't hurt" he said
gently putting her down on the couch
Then he Strengthened up. I'll Away:
look after her" he promised.
Gallon stared over at the white face
of his daughter as she lay ~unconsciou:
on the couch. "Humph"- thus ex
pressing to himself his own compre
hension of the fact that there wa
He went out without a look backward
When he returned the room was empty
He fingered the books on the table an(
fell into a state OF profound thought
He did not hear the door open behinC
him.
Ruth, freshly clad and wholly recov
cred from her experience, wondered a
her fathers attitude. She stepped
softly toward him. He did not turn
She went nearer. She laid her sof
hands on his shoulder and then. as |
the fingers Of life long fear were touch
ing the very nerve of his being
Thomas Gallon slowly twisted his heat
by a supreme effort of will to see tn
sight which of all things In the worl'
he did not want to see-the face of hi
enemy.
BY the magic OF the strange phantas
magoria which represents our menta
processes IL we look at them CAREFUL,
he did see the face Of Harry Wilkerson
"A-a-a-h!' he breathed. His eye
closed, compelled to by his troubled
conscience. but he was recalled by
loved and familiar voice; 1t was Rutl
bending over him, saying. Father
father. what Is the matter?"
The old man suddenly looked up, still
fearful that he was to see that feare,
and hated face. RUTH he said, an,
1t struck him that ON her face was
look almost of terror.
He must reassure her. Dread an,
fear and terror do not belong In th
| a.