Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-01-15

pape.~ the woman said. losing neI
smile.
For some moments Estelle tried e.
get glimpse of the documents The
Italian himself came un the scene and
demanded fun description When
Estrlle said that they had been lost
from the Manx hotel he nodded and
explained that ne had heen removing
the ashes thenfrom when his eye had
heen caught by the folded papers. hut
he still insisted on an accurate de
scrIption. which the maid could not
g:ve. At last she said quietly. The
papers are OF no value 20 you. and !
am authorized to pay good reward
tor them"
At the word reward there was a
change. and the woman demanded to
know how much Il would be.
.EStelle thought rapidly Ii had been
impressed on her that haste was nee.
essary. She decided on offering good
Iy sum. yet not enough to make the
ash nun aud his wife think they were
In possession Of papers of extraordi.
nary value. She pulled out her purse
aud held out 50 The man was taking
H. Ills wife interviewed
"Twenty dOlla." she said cunningly.
Estelle bargnined for some moments
and then said In tone that was de-
cisive. III you show me the papers
and they are the ones ! want III give
you Sl5 and no more"
The deeds were produced. and
glance told her that they belonged to
Ruth. She paid the money and hur-
ried away.
Everett and Dorr had gone over the
situation thoroughly together. and the
broker agreef that he would help out
In putting the Master Key" mine on
its feet again.
IL think ! can do II tomorrow" he
said. Just let me have all the pa
pers. and I'll go over them tonight"
"Ruth has them." John replied
''we'd best go up and get them now"
Ruth received them cheerfully and
promptly went TO her trunk for the
deeds. Her tirst search was not re-
warded. and she lifted puzzled face
to John Then she once more went
through all her belongings. 1t was
fruitless She then remembered the
desk and searched II with the same
result
They're gonef" she stammered.
"Impossibler' said Dorr. "They must
be somewhere here"
NO" she mourned. I've looked
everywhere
Everett was the FIRST to suggest that
no time should be lost In locating the
missing property. he sent for the
evening papers and delved into the
Lost and Found" columns, with the
result that he very soon handed a pa
per to Dorr and pointed ont the adver
tisement which had attracted wilker>
sons attention.
Half an hour later John Dorr turned
away from the ash mans door and
said to Everett: "l'll bet that was one
of Wilkerson's crowd We must no
hfy the police before be can get
away"
They had soon told their difficulties
to the sympathetic ear at headquar-
ters and started back for the hotel
John was in the dumps.
at seems as II everything goes
wrong when try to do something for
that little woman" he growled
81 begin to think myself that you
are playing In hard luck" was the re-
ply. but ! always did like good
fight and this promises to be one IN
stick, John"
They shook hands
They found Ruth and Tom Kane
anxiously awaiting them. John sim
ply stated the case and then turned
to comfort Ruth. he was startled to
see how white she was
Ruth. Ruth" he cried In alarm.
what is the matterT'
There was no answer. She had faint
ed away.
All else was forgotten for the time
being maid and a doctor were
| quickly summoned. and presently
Ruth revived old Tom Kane was
seated beside her patting her hand
"The papers" she moaned.
Don't you worry about the papers" T"
he said promptly. "We'l look after
them"
"But the folks AT the mine-who will
look after themr" she pleaded.
The old cook swore that ne would
do so himself with Johns help. AT