The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-01-02


woman OF fiorid beauty and
dressed IN somewhat extravagant style
looking down at her out Of great taw-
ny, veiset eyes Western bred. Ruth
responded amiably to this salutation.
though she hid not the faintcst idea
who the woman was.
! Yes. am Miss Gallon"
1 y am Mrs Darnell," said the won.
/ an. May ! sit down? am an old
| friend OF your friend. John DORIS. He
wired me that would lind you ON this
train The lie was so plausible that
Ruth merely blnshed, thinking that Il
was one more token or John DORIS
carefulness uf her comfort aud safety.
To her Inexperienced eyes tins woman
represented the tremendous city tv
which she was going Her dress. her
manner. her jewels, the evaslve per
fume that she affected were all strange
and impressive to her. She moved
over little to allow Mrs. Darnell to
sit down.
John never spike OF you" said Ruth
simply = did NOT nave the frintest
notion that | was 10 meet any or his
friends. DO sou live In New York y
Yes. Eye In .>ew York happen
ed TO be In Chicago. and through MIR.
Everett ! heard from John
"Oh. you know Mr.. Everett cried
Ruth. He is the man am going to
see in New York" and she went on to
tell, as best she could. the gist OF her
mission
1t was typical of the woman to whom
she was talking that she did not inter
rupt this naive narrative. She sat in
silken silence. occasionally allowing her
great eyes to rest Oh Ruth's fair face
with an assumption OF affection. As
matter OF fact she was profoundly in
terested Life had taught lean Oar
nell great many things. aud among
them had been the great lesson OF self
preservation-th the saving for herself of
money. Of comfort, OF health and OF
good looks. Now it was question or
money, prime among them nil. and her
rather keen wits saw precisely the
chances which WiIkerson was taking.
She recalled his oft repeated statements
that there was money In ''rhe Master
Key" and his latest letters imploring
her to help him get control OF the stock.
When Ruth ended up with gentle
And so ! told John Id come and see
what ! could do" the elder woman
smiled gently. Times were not so good
with her MS they had been. and If Har-
ry Wilkerson could put this deal
through and make money for them all
II would simplify many problem
which she DULY pondered at night.
mir. Everett will meet us at the
train" she said briefly. "and then you
can tell him oil this. Meanwhile. sup
pose we talk about something else"
But can't think Of anything else"
said Ruth.
"Oh, you WILL" said Mrs. Darnell.
You can combine the pleasure OF see
ing New York with your little busi-
ness. Mr.. Everett will quickly settle
that part of it. and shall take great
pleasure In showing you about Manhat-
tan. presume you are fond Of op-
era T.
II have never been TO the opera" |
Ruth responded. 81 should love to 60.
but when do so must 60 all alone"
she went on impusively. II think OPP
era must be like church--one wants to
go all by oneself"
Mrs. DarnelI turned very slowly and
for the first time in many years reveal
ed secret thought: DO you know that
my only pleasant memories. my dear. /
are of myselfr'
The bitterness of that confession. I
with all its implication. wholly escaped
Ruth's sensitive but inexperienced
mind. Yet there was something IN the
tone that warmed her heart to this ef-
fulgent creature. AT least she was
not going into the great city all alone 4
nor confront Mr.. Everett by herself
Mrs. Darnell made her feel that she
was cempetentiy protected. I
When they arrived the next morning
at the Grand Centrii station In New
York city Mrs. Darnell quietly intro /
duced her TO slim. rather handsome
young man. who seemed III at ease un,
I'll be had drawn Ruth's companion
aside for u moment for chat while
the porter collected their luggage.
Il don't just like this game" he said
I'm the first place. Everett is n big
man In the city. and this Miss Gallon
doesn't look TO me like n girl you could
fool long Anyway. can't under
stand I, mt you are trying to do. Jean
You must know what sort OF fellow
Harry Wilkerson is by this time Why
play his hand for himY'
''l don't notice you holding any
trutpps In your hand." she returned
gently. but with faint glcam in her
eyes which made him draw back.
This IL my game. and ! expect you 10
play your part You come on now ana
be George Everett. The girl is as ig-