Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-22

certain both Mr.. Reynolds and Sir Don
aid would come after her.
Night came. and abe was still push
ing on. though hungry and weary. In
the darkness she perforce kept to open
paths. and 1t was on one of these that
painting native found her.
"Achmet." she whispered when he
raised his contorted face to hers.
In few words he told her what had
happened. She said curtly. II know
chat. Where is hep
Sir Donald's former servant looked
at her and remembered the strange
ness of things done by white women.
He led the way baek toward the hut.
muttering now and again Of the ter
rible things he had seen.
And while Ruth was thus defying all
precedent and going to the aid Of the
man she loved Wilkerson had found
himself again hemmed in. cut Off in
the darkness from escape to the city.
Though he and Dorr had driven the
hillmen away from the hut and quench-
ed their eagerness of assault. they still
lowered in the little gullies. and on ev-
cry hand the fugitive found himself
confronted by a heard but unseen en-
emy.
He stole back to the hut and peered
in. John was still bound in the chair,
and brakes body lay huddled on the
floor.
He made his preparations quickly,
piling some dried grass and fine rub
bish against one corner of the hut.
When the pile was once alight he
dumped some powder on it and ran
swiftly away. hiding a few hundred
ards back.
The hut took fire slowly. but the
glare accomplished his purpose. 1t
slowly drew the watchers toward 1t.
Satisfied that no one would be spy
ing on him now, but that all would
have eyes only for the fire. he set
forth quickly. careless of the Fact that
John Dorr must be burning alive.
IN the darkness be passed Achmet
and Ruth.
The blaze had almost entirely en-
veloped the hut when Ruth finally
staggered in and with a sob of Joy
cut Johns bonds and half dragged him
through the Swirling smoke into the
open.
When she had done this she prompt
~ tainted s---f -,-..
The smoldering embers were send
ing up blue spirals of smoke into the
morning sky when Consul Reynolds
and Sir Donald spurred their wearied
horses up to where John and Achmet
squatted with Ruth between them,
still but dimly conscious.
Dorr briefly explained his expert
ences and related how Ruth had sud
denly appeared. Just as he had given
up hope.
Sir Donald, kneeling by Ruth's side,
merely patted her hand.
The next morning Mrs. Reynolds laid
down the law in set terms to the party
assembled around the breakfast table.
You must get this young lady back
to America" she said. papers or no
papersr'
John and Sir Donald nodded without
glancing at each other.
Thus it was that a couple of days
later old Tom Kane at the Master
Key" mine received a cablegram read.
ing:
Wilkerson DarnelI aboard steamship Pa
cifc: Frisco. 30th. with papers We fol-
low next steamer. DORR.
Thus it was that the struggle be-
tween Wilkerson and John Dorr was
again transformed to the valley in
which lay the Master Key" mine.
WiIkerson and Jean Darnell. with
the precious papers in their possession.
slipped away hurriedly, taking the first
steamer that sailed.
He had told her about brakes death.
though unable to say how it had hap
pened- Privately he had no regrets.
The young man had served his pur-
pose. and it was by no means doubtful
that Mrs. Darnell would have seen to
1t that he had his reward. for she
liked him as much as It was in her
''He was an awfully good sort" she
said to WilkersOn one night as they
leaned over the rail and watched the
long swells from the bow speed fan
wise into the infinity of the sea.
"Yes, the fellow had his good points.
he admitted.
II miss him." she said simply. Later
she added thoughtfully. II think he
was In love with me-
Wilkersou laughed.
Mrs. DarneIl glanced at him with an
expression strange on her handsome
face. "Yes. am sure he loved me-"
"In vain." he returned lightly.
II don't know whether It might have
been wholly in vain after ALL" she
murmured. Life has given me little
love Of that kind. 1t seems as II /
had always been a woman who for
mere self protection could not let any
one love me OF let myself love him."