The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-05
THE MASTER KEY
WILSON

: fingers ne t0ucheF the ribbon, bent
over and gently drew ont the key. He
cut the ribbon with one slip of his
! knife and looked at his booty. But
/ the girls immovable and lovely face
| drew his eyes again to her. With u
sweep of his arm he lifted his heavy
hat to her and passed out, silent as a
! cat of his native mountains.
| With the key in his possession VIII
kerson became suddenly his own merry.
| Gus self. He must get away instant
ly, he knew. Kane would be back in
the morning with a warrant. Already
he was being watched by the suspi-
very night.
After Il short conversation with Vi
gas and the appointment of Il future
rendezvous. Harry WilkersOn armed
himself and started laZily down into
the camp to see what was moving.
Nothing stirred. He returned to the
hill camp and thence swiftly and
quietly made his way upward. taking
advantage Of every bush and rock
that might afford him screen.
He was almost to the top when a
sentry challenged him and stepped for
ward.
I'm merely soin' out little ways
for Il walk, WiIkersOn explained.
Not allowed after nightfal," was
the response.
Without further parlcy, Wilkerson
leaped forward. grasped the mans rife
and trippid him. a moment later he
was footing it up to the crest at top
speed, with the sentry's cries for help
urging him on.
Before he could reach the divide a
bullet whizZed by his head. then an
other. He turned madIy and fired rap
idly down into the shadows at his pUr-
suerS. He cursed himself for his fol
~ when a second sentry appeared
above him. drawn by the fash of his
shots to his hiding place. There was
but one refuge. the mine shaft. He
plunged Obliquely downward for it.
Naturally enough, the troopers
thought their quarry was cornered. GCs
WilkersOn drove straight on downward
to an old working. mounted again.
crossed by a disused gallery and final
~ emerged far up the cliff On his
way he had picked up coil of rope.
and when he found himself on the
edge of the precipice and his pursuers
gaining on him he made one end of
the rope fast and speedily started 70
descend. But the distance was too
great. Before lie was halfway to the
bottom he had been discovered, and
be felt the rope being hauled up. In
despair, with Il madmans strength. he
swung far out and then in. dropping
hang of the cliff.
As the rope came free in their hands
the pursuers realized that their prey
had escaped them. They pcered over.
Surely he had foiled the law only to
meet death on the rocks far below.
On his Siddy perch WilkersOn heard
their awed speculatiOns and laughed
silently. Then he crawled away. In
the distance he heard the screech of Il
locomotive whistle, marking the pas
sage of an express. The freight would
be due in two hours. lie must make il.
Tom Kane arrived early i'll 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 to express his chagrin.
John DOrr alone was serene. though
he realized that WilkersOn had again
chcckmated him. But the immediate
need of the hour was haste. He in
structed Kane to take charge of tie
mine and directed Ruth to prepare for
Il trip to the coast that afternoon.
Luckily L copied those figures" he
said 1rimlV