The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-02-03
CHAPTER XVII.

~ FA"th " hNA taAA " N""f'
not avoid action. The starving men
were In no humor for woris. They
demanded food and wages.
At last ne saw that he must DO
something Immediately. He called
some Of the leaders into the ONCE and
with apparent frankness told them he
had known nothing OF the situation
and that he felt SUR wilkerson was
unaware OF IT,
what are you going to dor came
the demand.
This" replied Drake. writing rap
idly. lie showed them the message;
Harry wukerson. Los Angeles. Calls
Gene 20 mine at once Trouble ls brew
ms. DRAKE.
"wnl that bring himy" demanded
one Of thcm coldly.
1T viii. Now who will take II and
send it,
Two men volunteered to TAKE old
Tom Kane's burros aud make the trip.
And while you're In Silent valley"
Drake said. yielding 10 a sudden In.
splration, take this $40 and get some
grub for the camp"
There's stu some locked up In the
cook house." said another. Its old
Tom Kanc's lookout. W we didn't ex.
actly feel like taking H."
Drake turned to Tubbs quickly.
Distribute the food as far rs It win
go" he said.
Tubs looked suddenly serious. II
guess you better leave that TO me-" he
said In a low voice. II know where
It VIII do the most good" lie winked
slyly.
Meantime John Dorr. Everett and
Tom Kane were spending long hours
In discussing what was to be done to
save the Master Key" TO Ruth. Tom
once more went owe the exact situa'
ton nj h mine and asserted that un'
less prompt measures were taken not
only would there be actual distress.
hut likely riotng.
"You know some OF the worst ones
hang with Wilkerson." he said grim
~, 'and they might nt any time take
Il into their heads TO do u little dyna'
hitting. Dynamlting Is mighty dan
gerous stun around several thousand
dollars worth OF machinery. and II
they blew up the workings there
wouldn't be any mine left you see"
~ see" said Everett at last. mot
having the papers. I can't put this cenl
through the way I want 10 eventually
But something must be done ON the
spot"
'In the way Of money! added Kane
harshly.
Precisely" Everett assented with al
c~hecrfulness. Now I'm going to Loaf
John Dorr here $1,000 today for the
Master Key mine. Then
John shook his head. '"rhnt ism
business-like," he protested.
Everett fixed his keen eyes on him
ANY reason why l shouldn't LOAF
money 70 Miss Ruth Gallons manage.
and g~uardiani Any reason why you
looking utter her interests, should re
fuse help In fixing up her anairsr'
Dorr flushed II didn't mean ~ tina
way. u seems as n ! kind 81 mcsse'
things up myself. and IL thought
might get 'cm set right by myself"
you called on me. and I'm the doc
tor" said Everett uthorltatively. III
pulled out his wallet and commences
counting out bills. II came prepares
for this. for I thought there might b
an emergency"
"But who win take charge OF It
who win go TO the miner
The broker laughed ut him. "No
; you. You'd 10 IN n eight In three mir
utes. specially II Wiikcrson turned ~
: Tom Kane II our mnn." He turned o
the old man abruptly. win you tax
this money and goT'
Tho old cOok stared ht the crisp bill
aud then nt Dorr. II Amt handle
: paper worth that much lately" he r.
marked. "But II you want me 10 8
IN there and feed them people and &,
J EN- back % work aud keep things q
, Ing TN John can OK things M here L
60"
On his way 20 the mine Harry WI
kersou's couruge, newly fired by a las
, conversation with Jean Dnrnell. con
/, nienced 10 ebb.
Drake and Tubbs received him wit
unaffected relief. A few words 81.
feed 10 make the status OF anaiI
plain. Tubbs looked at his superic
, with strained anxiety In his blenre
eyes Dull md sodden with liquor d
ha was. he understood perfectly tbs
everything depended on the next fe'
days. The engineer had lived In mil
, Ing camps and on the desert all ID
! life, aud he knew the passions ongel
dercd by tho arid inOnntnlna aud u
? rem~orscless desert What would W
0 kersOn do; Was he strong enough
handle these men who were ready Il
: anything. even 10 bloodshed II aroused
! Wllkerson had lost his sense OF fei
! oddly enough. As he had come I'M
: the c up a dozen miners had recO
nized him and scowled. lie had fe
their hatred. and II fed fat the man
9 sinister passion 10 do harm. 60 bur
o 20 destroy. Now he faced Drake NJ
Tubbs arrogantly.
"ft won't be long TIL these cha
u nnd out who's the boss" be sal
c with a significant look at Drake
..If.a nue a.. farunH laaHa aud huu