The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-02-08

ded his head. as much as to say that
he had inspected them and could vouch
for their authenticity. Still no sound
from the miners.
There Is a quality In the silence OF
the crowd Of earnest men that Is more
questioning than any word could be.
The mel who had worked aud toiled
for old Tom Gallon, who had been de
ceived and baiied. who had had their
loyalty tested to the utmost, now de
manded through their imperious 81
lcnce that Wilkerson open up his mind
OF the Master Key" what did he in
tend to doi
You'd better say some more quick
ly." warned Drake In Il low tone. And
Wilkerson, completely bewildered. set
the match to the powder. He stepped
forward with MS ugly a look as he
could assume and cried. "Now tell me
what you WANT
Instantly the air vas filed with
roars OF rage and disappointment.
Fifteen minutes later Harry Wilker.
son was sweating within the cabin
With n 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. ana he did not know
how.
"rubbs." he said sharply. you must
find out what men we can trust. Say
nothing. but get all the information
you can. I'll make it worth the while
OF the mcn who'll stick by me
Again the engineer chuckled %fatuous-
ly. They'll all stick by ye." he said
sagely. "s'long as We pay EN- like YOU
said We would"
Ii 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. ierked his
battered cnse ont OF the wagon and
made straight for his shanty. Within
five minutes he had Invested himself
OF his black clothes and donned his
official overallS and apron. Then he
appeared on the porch MS calm and un-
concerned as though he had not been
away.
In no time ut all II couple OF dozen
miners had gathered 10 shake hands
and swap news. Naturally their big
gcst item was WilkerSon's proclama
ton OF ownership.
Al this Tom Kane laughed scorn-
fully. Tie derided the papers, ridlculed
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 Wllkerson's ears.
and he hurried down the hill TO stop
what he knew TO be n dangerous seces-
sion. Instantly the old cook locked
horns with him. poohpoohed him to
his face, called him anne OF peculiar
virulence and offered to fight him ON
any terms.
Before long the camp was In an up.
roar. and 1t was due TO certain cooler
heads that trouble did not ensue inn
mediately. These men insisted that
there was time to settle the dispute of
ownership. forced Wiikerson TO with
draw his command that Kane leave
the mine instantly and managed to
bring n semblance OF peace out OF dis
order. Kane bowed his neck to the
yoke OF their authority. but dispatched
n trusty messenger TO the station with
n telegram 10 John TO come as soon as
possible. Wilkerson resorted 10 a
scene which was eventually to threat
en- the very existence OF the Master
Key" He sent Drake south to confer
with a desperate whom he knew, who
could gather n band or Mexicans like
himself on short notice, ready for any
thing that promised loot.
Tell Jose TO be here tomorrow
night" he instructed him. I'm want
about twenty men well armed"
Drake rode away as from destruc-
ton, curslng the luck that had put
him In the power OF such a a
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 n showdown" he re
marked. "Wilkerson has several OF
the worthless fellows here and n lot
Of half breeds back in the hills. He
knows l have that money of yours. and
he's promised 1t to the Mexicans II
they help him, You see, Wilkerson
viii keep his skirts clear that way.
He can say that it was II raid by
bandits"
How soon does all this happenY p
dra wled John.
(To be continued.)
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