Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-23

yes or no. When he spoke 1t was
with a dash of his old effrontery.
II understand the proposal" he said,
working his lean. brown fingers back
and forth over a blue print on the
desk. I'VE quit give you the plans.
and you give us"-he suddenly leaned
over and darted a bright glance into
Everett's eyes-"you give us i0hGtT
Everett was prepared for the ques-
ton and answered it promptly. Wen
give you $4,000 cash and won't prose
cute you"
Wilkerson shook his head.
you understand that half this mine
was mine by rights when Tom Gallon
took it for himself by shooting me and
leaving me to die on the desert. Fifty
thousand? Pab"
"And immunity from prosecution"
stated Sir Donald impassively.
Wilkerson swung on him. thrusting
his lean. furious face close to the Eng
lishman's calm. unperturbed counte-
nance.
What have you to do with this" he
snarled.
Faversham did not shift his position
nor change his tone. 'T have Miss
Gallons promise to marry me-"
There was a sudden silence, broken
only when Wilkerson's dry throat ut
tered triumphant croak.
Mrs. Darnell looked at Faversham
with her tawny eyes filled with dull
embers of passion. Everett sat as If
stunned.
$50 John Dorr gets the kicks and
YOU get the halfpence! said Wilker-
Son wildly. II have cursed him, but
al my curses couldn't havL punished
him worse Why" he went on half
Historically. 1.-THE poor fool loves herT
Again silence.
This time Everett broke it, saying
stiffly: you understand our PROPOSE
tion. Do you accept it?"
Mrs. Darnell laid her hand on Wilker-
sons arm, and he seemed to fall into
profound reverie.
They could see the lights and shad-
ows fit over his saturnine visage. the
sparkle of his eyes dying into a mere
dreamy glow. the sudden Tightening
of his thin lips, the working of his
hands.
Finally he reused himself as by an
effort.
II think l ought to have more" he
said quietly. There are signs of gold
on one part of this property which has
never been worked. 1t is nowhere near
the place marked in the plans, as you
will easily see. You understand that
Tom Gallon and l were partners when
he located that rich ore. Never mind.
BygoneS are bygones. But l want
$4,000 and that little claim. 1t may
not amount to anything, but then again
it may. Fifty thousand is soon spent.
A mine is a mine"
"The plans!' demanded Sir Donald.
Wilkerson pulled out of his shirt
bosom an oilskin folded around q
square paper. He laid this on the ia
BILE.
There they are" he said. as though
driven to bay.
Mrs. Darnell's movement of protest
did not escape either Everett or Faver-
sham. They looked at the little packet
that had cost so much agony and
bloodshed.
at is "a gentleman's agreement"
said Sir Donald presently, taking out
his check book.
The money passed, and then Everett
picked up the oilskin packet and put
it in his pocket.
THE deeds and the master key" he
said gently.
Mrs. DarnelPs face became splendid
in its futile rage. She tore the ribbon
from about her throbbing throat and
flung the key on the table
Sir Donald picked 1t up carefully and
rose. At the same moment Everett
pocketed the deeds and started for the
door.
He and Faversham passed out into
the starry night and vanished, leaving
Wilkerson still at the desk fumbling
the check.
Suddenly he reached for pen and ink
and scrawled his name on the back.
Then he silently handed 1t to Jean
Darnell. biting her red lips and moving
almost imperceptibly, like an animal
about to spring.
She took the bit of paper and tucked
it in her bosom. Then she turned on
her companion. He met her fiery gaze
coldly.
"The mother lode is on that little bit
got them to give u.s." he said calmly.
'"The plans Everett has are false"
And the look that she allowed him
to see in her eyes was such as no 9TH
er man had ever seen there. 1t was
as If her tortured and lonely, proud soul
had found its mate in some darkness
made lurid by the flames of hell.
Sir Donald spoke brief good night
to Everett when they had left the Of
fee and turned toward the bungalow,
leaving the other to go up to where
the light burned In John DORIS cabin
and tell him of the events of the even
ing.
He met Ruth at the door and quietly
told her that all was well. She looked
up at him with her great eyes hlled
with unshed tears and he bent over her
a little