The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-04-09

ss5S5sSSi Gallon slowly went up to the
(S5eS$SJ bungalow There was glim.
mer of satisfaction IN his dim eyes as
he thought of the fact that the location
Of the real lode was unknown and
that the plans that might reveal 1t
were far beneath the waters of the
Pacific. He went inside to the desk
and picked out of the locker ORA wer
the golden key which held his secret
He stared at it and read the mum
bers that marked the position of the
lost vessel, and the chest that held the
plans. Whom could he trust with
this? He looked out of the window
and called to John Dorr
john he quavered "I've already
told you little about my finding this
mine and about my old partner"
'WilkersonT'
Eyes, Wilkerson; but there is anoth
er secret. | lost the location of the
mother lode In a wreck ut sea. The
chest slipped Overboard; but find the
wreck and somewhere near it is that
old carved chest, and when you open
the chest The old man suddenly
staggered forward into DORIS arms.
II killed him once" he muttered fee
bly,, and then the silence which pres
ages the wordlessness Of eternity over
came him. John gently laid him down
on the bed and called Ruth.
Father she called softly as she
knet by the bedside
Thomas Gallon stood on the great
divide, but he turned back moment
to gather his strength. Then he mo
toned with his gnarled hand for John
The young man stepped quietly for
ward and stopped over
My will. John! | leave Ruth The
Master Key In my desk bring it!'
When the desired paper was brought
he whispered
Read it,
John porr opened the document and
read 1t aloud
eave all my property to my
daughter, Ruth to come into her fuh
possession on her eighteenth birthday
| direct her never to let go Of The Master
| Key which will make my little girl
happy
So ran the last words The old man
lifted himself still farther up and call
ed for a pen and ink Then. muster
ing his failing powers, he wrote In
tirm hand the further words
| direct that my daughter keep Harry
! Ntlkerson as superintendent until she Is
eighteen. appoint as executor of this
my last will md testament. John Dorr
THOMAS GALLON
The pen fell from his fingers, and he
lifted his trembling hand to his throat
and tore ut the string that held the
golden key 1t broke. and he put the
key in Ruth's lap
That Is the secret" be muttered
John knows-and Wilkerson Trust
John" Again he opened his eyes and
motioned toward the desk THE let
! teri" he croaked
Ruth's quick intuition led her to the
desk again, and she found in the same
drawer that had held the will sealed
envelope addressed:
John Dorr
To be opened on Ruth's eighteenth
| birthday Sooner II her welfare is threat
ened
Gallon turned his dimming eyes to
Ruth, who took both his chilling hands
in hers.
Child! The Master Key keep al
ways near you Some day"-he choked
lit will bring you riches. happiness
and love"
When he first heard that Gallon was
dead Wllkerson was appalled, He
thought of the woman In New York
and regained his courage This was
case where he must win by brute force
he must Immediately show his author
ity. he who struck first would win,
he thought; yet in the back of his con
seriousness was the realization that he
did not know what disposition Gallon
had made of the property And where
was that rich vein Of gold that would
buy him Jean Darnell. with her velvet
ways and her dark eyes OF topaz
Perhaps because for several years he
| mad not handled other men. but been
himself a mere cog in great machine,
WilkerSon mlstOok the spirit of the
miners He did not understand that
they had profound respect for Thorn
as Gallon
81 must get these people In hand"
thought WilkersOn. land do II quick"
He spent the afternoon in making q
schedule for a sweeping reduction In
wages Then he sent for Bill Tubbs,
the engineer When he had come.
gross liquor sodden and half Insolent,
me superintendent laughed Mt him
Tubbs. what do you know about
this miner
Well" Tubbs answered. the ore
panncd out pretty good for awhile, but
they lost the mother lode. There amt
carload worth a dollar come out of
here In three months. and that little
girl up on the hill won't have moth