Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-04

VISTA I'VE years agO-tnat woman you
thought your hytle daughter too good
to speak TOT It was you who drove
her out Of camp and now''-he smiled
fatuitously-"she's rich and In New
York, and she hates your
Gallon bowed his head.
what Is It you want Harry7" he
whispered huskily.
The other man pulled a paper out
Of his pocket and threw 1t on the Ia
BILE. '.I,here's a contract for you to
sign"
At this moment the door opened.
and Ruth entered She stared mo-
ment at the visitor and then looked
anxiously at her father. who said:
This Is an old partner Of mine.
Ruthy-Harry Wilkerson."
Ruth shyly looked at the tail strang-
er and then shook hands with him.
He held her gentle fingers second
too long. Her face flushed. and she
retired without backward glance.
Without paying any more attention
to the old man, who had now subsid-
ed into chair by the table. Wilker-
son walked to the window and watch.
ed the slim. girlish figure Of the young
girl tripping down the hill. Then he
swung on the old man harshly: well.
! need a job. You need a new super
intendent, don't you? guess I'll take
the place."
He stepped quickly to the window
once more. This time he saw Ruth.
with Tom Kane, the old cook. and an.
other. In front Of the cook house.
Come here. Tom. Who is that talk
ing to that girl Of yours7" he said.
Gallon got up heavily from his chair
and walked over to the window. and
be could not repress an expression Of
relief. "Oh. that's the mining engi-
neer Of The Master Key John Dorr!'
With quick swing Wilkerson was
back. leaning over the table. he pick
ed up the paper. "Sign here!' he said
insolently.
Gallon made a last faint protest: ~
can't do it!''
Wilkerson picked up a pen. dipped It
and put It In the old mans hand
"Signv'
Just as the last letter of that sigma
ture. which had 80 long stood for re-
spectability. was blotted at the foot Of
the paper Ruth entered.
"Your father has Just made me So
perintendent of this mine. TN bis old
partner, you known
Ruth looked at her father with con
sternation why hy-l thought
john
Thomas Gallon looked up and wiped
his lips. EYES," he said duly. II have
made my old-my 0ld-partner superin-
tendent Of The Master Key"
Il expect we'll see good deal Of
each other from now on" Wilkerson
said silkily. and with those slim. white
fingers Of his he reached out and pinch
ed Ruth's cheek.
Ruth did not draw back. She clinch
ed her firm little hand and Wilkerson
received blow in the mouth that
made him stagger back.
At the moment that be received that
stinging blow he heard movement to
one side Of him. and, with the old in
stinctive fear Of Thomas Gallon. he
drew away back with his hand on the
gun at his hip. He met the 6aring
eyes of the old man. who had risen
from his seat. and understood that I'M
til life left that decrepit frame its mas.
tering passionate passion which he
could not hope to master-would be
love for the girl whom he had just In
suited.
He made a daring apology. the apollo
gy Of the coward and the liar II beg
your pardon, Ruth. but You used to sit
on my knee when you were little
one"
She merely glanced at him and went
out Of the bungalow. She did not see
her father rise to bis full height and