Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-10-07
CHAPTER XIII.
Sir Donald Faversham Volunteers.


Amy YIN his search for the Hindu,
H8s d who had bought the idol con-
RdGMa5T tanning the plans of the moth
s.ssxs1e1 err lode of the Master Key"
mine, John Dorr had ecourse again to
the pawnbroker.
That individuals curiosity was arouS-
cd by now, and he asked a great many
questions, which John answered eva
eively.
When it came to getting Il descrip-
ton of the Hindu the broker could give
but few details.
He laid emphasis on the fact that he
sold rugs and that he looked like any
one of a dozen East Indians frequent
ing 4 Pacific port. He knew of no adj
dress.
With this Dorr had to be content, and
he returned to Ruth to discuss with
her what they should do next.
''If Wilkerson gets it there is IN easy
way to get him." he said in the course
of their conversation.
Chow" demanded Ruth.
"Haye him arrested as a fugitive from
+ justice and held for the county sheriff
and the warrant that Tom Kane swore
out" he replied.
Ruth considered this thoughtfully
and shook her head.
y SIT would mean our going back to
the mine and all kinds of trouble" she
said wisely. Besides, we wouldn't be
any nearer the papers father wanted
me to have"
"That is very true John agreed.
"Well keep that in reserve in case
we discover that he has the idol. Our
only plan, then, is to trace this Hindu.
That will be a hard job"
"Why not put detectives on the
trail?"
II don't think any detective could do
better than myself" was the reply.
"But you can't do it ALL" she argued.
"You can't be looking for this peddler
and keeping an eye on Wilkerson and
seeing to me at the same time"
"The seeing to you is the pleasantest
part of the job" he said laughingly.
81 refuse to delegate that to any one.
OF course you're quite right, though,
about it's being too big an affair for
me to handle alone. I think I'll ask
Everett to join us. Maybe he can sug-
gest something. In wire him, and
hen We'll take Il trip down to the wa
ter front and interview u launchman
again. He seemed to me a pretty level
headed chap, and he'll maybe be able
to put us on the track OF the Hindu if
he took q steamer for the north. as l
strongly suspect he did"
Ruth could not understand why the
peddler should do this. and Dorr eX-
planned that the Hindu evidently had
set great store on the idol. rs he had
not only paid cash, but had given Il rug
ais well in exchange.
HE would know that the thing was
worthless as an article of merchan-
disc" he went on. IN the next place,
he wasted no time i'll getting posses
sion of it once he saw it. | have no
doubt that it is sacred in his eyes-a
god. It was stolen at some fine from
Il temple. What more natural than that
he should see the chance of a great
reward for doing Il pious duty and re-
turning it to its native place."
But that's all guesswork.' Ruth in
sisted practically.
81 know it." he admitted. But Il
good guess is better than nothing to
work on. Let's 60 and see our skipper
person."
The launch captain received them
genially and listened to Johns story.
At its finish he agreed with John that
it was very likely that the Indian had
recognized a native god and would re-
store it to its w temple.
I've visited those eastern ports Il
good deal" he told them. Il know
boys on a lark from the ship will do
just that trick-run off with an idol
for Il curio-and l know the fuss the
heathens make about it too. They'll
80 any length to get back a first chop
god"
Before they left he promised to keep
.an eye open for the Hindu n inform
them if he got the smallest clew. With
this they had to be satisfied, as in
quiries elsewhere developed nothing
helpful.
Everett arrived on the evening train
and after dinner listened to the story
of their adventures with great interest.
When he had asked a few questions
he and John looked at each other.
Finally Everett spoke.
1T might take years to locate that
lode without the exact plans" he said
t~houghtfully. Il don't doubt that your
father, Miss Ruth, spent many a long
hour and day prospecting for it. So
ro ,o,,.A l.o-~ LIZ, -I>.~ 80 -, =, 4I,~
bounds of possibility to recover them.
l think you will have to find your
Hindu"
There is the question of the NINE"
John said soberly. 1T has already
been allowed to go pretty much to
ruin. Tom Kane would do his best, Of
course, but actually We are looking for