Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-24


Left.
much dynamite had been planted and
how Wilkerson's men were actually
too nervous TO work any longer.
He has to fix the fuses and fire the
shots himself" he said.
True enough, they saw man ;tter
man come down the hill till only VIII
kerson was left.
Ruth noticed that he worked rapidly
and with an occasional glance down
toward Mrs. Darnell. who stood near
big rock shading her eyes against
the evening sun.
At last the work was apparently
done, and Wilkerson waved his arms.
At that signal there was a general
rush for cover.
Then the man Strengthened himself
up as If master of the demons hidden
az his feet, and waved his hand to the
woman watching him from below;
then he stopped.
An instant later there was terrific
explosion, and a smoky gap appeared
nHlIWdy up the ulllSlue.
At the foot of the slope lay the body
of Wilkerson, tossed there as one
might toss an old hat. The smoke on
the hill eddied and swirled.
No one stirred. There were a dozen
other unexploded shots in that hill
side. any one of which would likely
bring the topping crest downward.
With white faces they held their
breath. Wilkerson's body twitched
slightly, the only moving thing in that
amphitheater.
Then there was wild scream. filed
with terror, with passion, with flaming
and awful desire, and Jean Darnell
ran over the rubble toward the smok-
ing hill, crying:
Harry. Harry"
A dozen men started to run to drag
her back, and a hundred voices NUT
tered warnings that held them in their
tracks.
Jean reached the body and flung her
self on it: then she rose and stared up
at the great rocky crest.
ing to her to fee while there was time?
Did she see the death that hung
above her If she did she despised
it.
In this final cataclysm her wild heart
broke through the bonds of this selfish
existence and flung her a full passion
ed sacrifice on the body Of the man
who had loved her and given her his
all-honor and life!
In the quick silence they who watch
ed heard single, full throated cry:
Harry. Harry"
Then the mountain roared into the
air. and the avalanche of rock poured
over the two lovers in wave after wave
till it had buried them forever.
And as explosion after explosion
rocked the earth and filed the evening
sky with lurid debris Ruth struggled
from Sir Donald's OBTAINING grasp and
fed into the arms of John Dorr, where
she clung, sobbing:
John! John"
Sir Donald looked at John DORIS
transfgured face and heard that cry.
meant for lovers ears alone.
Very steadily he turned away and
stared up at the terrific cataclysm
which had united both the darkling
hearted and golden youth.
He found the cook beside him. his
gray locks streaming in the gusts of
wind from the blasts. He pointed with
his stick to a piece Of rock that rolled
to their feet. and in the dull stiffness
that followed the terrific uproar he
said:
II really believe. Mr.. Kane, that we
have uncovered the gold we have look
ed for so long"
And Tom Kane reached down and
| picked up the nugget and stared at 1t.
Then he turned to the white faced gen.
! tleman beside him.
"'The Master KeyF" the old man
muttered.
YES" returned Sir Donald quietly,
1T unlocks strange DOORS"
THE END.