The Prescott daily news., 1915-08-07

tShu tO oOs
 You'd better say some more quick ly," warned Drake in low tone. And Wilkerson, completely bewildered, set the match to the powder. He stepped forward with as ugly look as he could assume and cried. Now tell me what you wantY
 Instantly the air was filled with roars of rage and disappointment.
 Fifteen minutes later Harry Wilker- son was sweating within the cabin. With shaking hand he poured him. self out n tumbler of Tubbs' whisky. He 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 1t 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"
 It 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. jerked 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 overaIls 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 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 dcrided 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 Wilkerson's ears, and he hurried down the hill 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 and offered to fight him on any terms.
 I..f., mo sp mn n h. roar, and it was due to certain cooler heads that trouble did not ensue i'm red!ately. 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 il semblancc 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 10 John to come as soon as possible. Wilkerson resorted to scene which was eventually to threat en the very existence of the Master Key" He sent Drake south to confer with desperado whom he knew, who could gather band of MeXicans like himself on short notice. ready for any thing that promised loot.
 Tell Jose to be here tomorrow night" he instructed him. "l'll want about twenty men well armed"
 Drake rode away as from destruc- ton, cursing the luck that had put him in the power of such a man.
 In response to Kane's message John Dorr, Ruth Gallon and Everett left Beverly Hills for Silent Valley They arrived the third day after the cook and from the moment they were recog- nized the miners dropped their atti tude of sulky waiting and thronged about their mistress, cheering and shaking hands. When they had got into the big house Kane arrived, apron and all, to report on the situation
 Its come to a showdown" he re. marked "Wikerson has several of the worthless fellows here and lot of half breeds back in the hills. He knows have that money of yours, and he's promised it to the Mexicans if they help him. You see, Wilkerson will keep his skirts clear that way He can say that 1t was a raid by bandits"
 How soon does all this happen?" drawled John.
 Kane glanced at him curiously. He understood that warning not to fright en Ruth and went on airily. "Oh. reckon just as soon as Wilkerson gets Tubbs weaned from that bottle of his"
 But when Ruth had gone to her own rooms the cook wasted no words in smoothing things over.