The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-02-12

OIL the COuFCsEf1OuSe:i LIZ TIE lily u De-
followed. All he saw was the upturned
face Of the girl he loved, swinging
hundred feet above death in his strong
arms. safe.
About 5000 miles away dark and
splendid woman was looking critically
at her maid. ''Eloise," she was saying.
II don't like to be walked this early in
the morning. have told you often
enough about this. What do you mean
By disturbing me for a mere letter."
"You told me, madame, always to
call you when there was letter in this
handwriting"
The woman under the roseate cover
let's held out her jeweled hand The
maid gave one swift glance at her
mysterious avaricious eyes and van
lshed. As she closed the door after her
the envelope, torn into shreds. fell to
the floor. -
Mrs. Darnell sat up alertly and
quickly perused the slow, even script
written on the old fashioned blue lined
paper of a country hotel: -.
Dear Cousin Jean-Since you last heard
from me have found Gallon. am leav-
ing today for Silent Valley. His Master
Key mine is only ten miles from there,
Won't he be surprised to see me? I will
let you know later how our scheme comes
out
Goodby for now. Keep mum! As ever.
HARRY. .
When Gallon thought be had killed
Wilkerson he became infected with the
ineradicable disease of dread. In his
conversation with John Dorr he had
given first expression to his feelings.
The young mining engineer on account
Of his youth did not fully understand
that men do not speak of such things
until age-foosener Of tongues as well
as of the chords Of life-suddenly op-
presses them-makes them feel help
less, brings them to realization of
what the ultimate fact of death means
He had barely caught the appeal in
the old mans voice when he had com.
pretended Ruth's peril.
The old man, with shaking limbs,
had. watched the rescue. When he
saw that his daughter was safe he
also perceived the solution of his prob
lem. Here was a quick mind needed
to protect Ruth's property. Somewhere
in that bill was the richest of Califor-
MIA gold. Once more he said to him
self, "John Dorr can find the master
key"
Feeling himself too weak to meet the
girl who was now clinging Imply to
her rescuer and also discerning in bis
own slowing pulse that his time was
short, he went down the hill, crossed
the gulch without word to the won.
dering miners and entered the bunga-
low. s~
A moment later John Dorr entered
with Ruth in his arms. The old man
merely looked up: GO always look after
her, john" he said slowly. land If VIII
kerson comes back. .. -
Dorr looked at the old man with pity
in his eyes. ''she isn't hurt" he said,
gently putting her down on the couch
Then he Strengthened up. "1'll always
look after her," he promised.
Gallon stared over at the white face
Of his daughter as she lay unconscious
on the couch. ''Humph"- thus ex-
pressing to himself his own compre-
. tension of the fact that there was
coming such a period in his own life.
He went out without look backward
When he returned the room was empty.
He fingered the books on the table and
fell into a state Of profound thought.
He did not hear the door open behind
him.
Ruth, freshly clad and wholly recov-
cred from her experience, wondered at
her fathers attitude. She stepped
softly toward him. He did not turn.
She went nearer. She laid her soft
hands on his shoulder and then, as if
the fingers Of life long fear were touch
ing the very nerves of his being,
Thomas Gallon slowly twisted his head
by supreme effort Of will to see the
sight which Of all things in the world
be did not want to see-the face of his
enemy. e..
: By the magic Of the strange phantas.
magorfa which represents our mental
processes if we look at them carefully
he did see the face of Harry Wilkerson.
"A-a-a-h" he breathed. His eyes
closed. compelled to by his troubled
conscience. but he was recalled by q
loved and familiar voice; it was Ruth
bending over him, saying, Father,
father. what is the matter?"
The old man suddenly looked up, still
fearful that he was to see that feared
and hated face. RUTH be said, and
it struck him that on her face was
look almost Of terror.
He must reassure her. Dread and
fear and terror do not belong in the
e.