Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-27

and he seemed again to feel the soft
threads Of the web she wove about
him.
She had found him young man at
the precise point where a woman may
either make or mar one for life.
He had been an easy prey for her
tigerish desire for q slave. He had
spent his little money lavishly. upon
her, without thought of other reward
than to be near her, until Wilkerson
had appeared out Of the darkness Of
her past.
Even then he had still been faithful
to her. obeyed her every behest, risked
life and liberty In her service, even
aided Wilkerson in an endeavor whose
success meant that he Drake would
be cast aside az no longer useful.
And now he sat on guard In hut
in q far country among q crowd of
aliens whose very tongue was gibber-
tsh to his ean.
On guard for whom? For what7
That Wilkerson might finally sue
coed aad win Jean Darnell of the
tawny eyes and luxuriant beauty.
In that moment-was It to be tos
late1-Drake came into his own.
The mine and its wealth were as
much his a. Wilkerson's.
The plans were his as much as
Wilkerson's.
Yet the man asleep on the settle had
taken everything to himself and would
continue to do 90.
And Jean7
Drake laughed silently.
He knew her price. He remembered
his last conversations with her, those
half confidential talks when she had
insinuatingly warned him to keep a
watchful eye on Wilkerson.
He had been given to understand
that It was the gold she wished. And
he Drake had the key to that gold
in bis own keeping for the while.
He set his teeth when he realized
how Wilkerson despised him. had
counted him altogether as a mere pawn
in the great game.
He had not even troubled to conceal
from him the hiding place of the
plans!
They were once more within the
idol, for Wilkerson had boosted that he
had put them back and would leave
them there till he reached America
again.
He recalled his words: LET the idol
keep 'em for me. Just as 1t did for
Gallon. It's poor idol that won't
serve two masters"
And the idol lay there wrapped In
the bundle under his feet The price
Of Jean Darnell!
The thought worked in his mind ac-
lively. He could not refrain from fol-
lowing 1t out to its logical conclusion.
Why should 1t be Wilkerson who re-
turned with the plans and claimed her.
Why should he (Drake) continue to
play the slave?
A moment while they slept and the
plans were his; then when Wilkerson
unsuspectingly presented the idol and
pulled out its eye there would be
nothing!
It would be George Drake who held
the master key to Jean Darnell's ava.
ricious heart
So he dreamed, open eyed. staring
into future where he played the
master and not the slave.
And In his waking dream he touched
the bundle and felt beneath the rude
covering the hard contours Of the
image.
Again It ran through his head like a
call: You have the price of happiness
beneath your hand
Slowly he yielded to the temptation
Gradually. with eyes constantly fixed
on the motionless forms of Wilkerson
and Dorr. he got the bundle between
his knees; then he unlaced the fasten
ings TREMENDOUSLY.
The idol came out under his hand
and he stared at It. fascinated by IT.
ugltness and the thought of the secret
that 1t held.
No wonder that at every sight Of Il
natives bowed In abject worship.
It held wealth. power. love. happi
ness!
He shook II softly. Yes, the plans
were still within; he could heas TIN
rustic Of the folded papers.
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