Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-28

remorseIess desert What would WILL
kerson DO? Was he strong enough to
handle these men who were ready for
anything. even to bloodshed If aroused?
Wilkerson had lost his sense Of fear
oddly enough. As he had come into
the camp a dozen miners had recOg-
nized him and scowled He had felt
their hatred. and it fed fat the mans
sinister passion to do harm. to hurt,
to destroy. Now he faced Drake and
Tubbs arrOgantly.
ut won't be long till these chaps
find out who's the boss" he said.
With a significant look at Drake be
pulled out the forged deeds and hand
ed them to Tubbs.
''Those mean that I'm legally the
owner Of the Master Key NINE" he
announced
The engineer peered at them duly.
He haltingly mumbled over some Of
the legal phrases at the beginning. saw
the names Thomas Gallon and Harry
W-iIkerson prominently displayed. He
was impressed He did not understand
the purport Of the papers. He did un-
kerstand that Wilkerson was smiling
with, the insolence Of triumph achiev-
ed. He grinned slowly and passed the
papers back.
81 guess that'll fix 'em" he said hus-
kily.
1T guess it WILL" was the rejoinder.
T,,Lh he thoy1Ohff,11 ole yrofnO
out of the window now and again.
Drake voiced his feeling.
THE sooner you let the miners know
and get things settled the better"
Wilkerson licked his dry lips. The
battle was on. He broke the silence
by saying srufiiy. Call 'em up here.
Bill.'
Nothing loath. Tubbs went out on
the porch. and his hoarse tones re-
sounded through the little valley. In
stantly men appeared from doorways,
came from a dozen places in response
to that call. And women. clutching
their children. peered out to see what
. was in the air.
When the men were gathered before
him Wilkerson stepped forward aud
commenced to speak. He could not
break their sullen silence. and. after a
few words of generalities. he mustered
his courage and shouted: Il am the
owner OF this mine! l have the deeds
right here!'
The effect Of this was far other than
! he had expected. Not murmur came
from the still. motionless throng. 1t
was as II they had not heard him. In
lower tone he repeated 1t. Il am the
owner Of the Master Key mine and all
that goes with it,"
He held up the papers. and Bill
Tubs looked at them and gravely nod.
ded his head. rs 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 men who had worked and toiled
FOR old Tom Gallon. who had been de-
ceiyed and bati1ed. who had had their
| loyalty tested to the utmost. now de-
manded through their imperious ST.
lcnce that Wilkerson open up his mind
, to them. Ii he was indeed the owner
Of the Master Key" what did he in
tend to do?
You'd better say some more quick
| IT," warned Drake in a 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 want?'
Instantly the air was filed 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 tumbIer of Tubs whisky.
He had promised the miners back pay.
steady work, full wages and food. He
must make good. and he did not know
how. .st ?
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