White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-07

Master Key"
"Your sbare2" parried Gallon.
my shareP' said WilkersoD, reaiiz.
ing that lie controlled the situation y
have returned for my just duel
"Now, listen. partner. ! am going to
stand no nonsense"
what have you been doing all these
yearsY" the old man asked duly
"Whg haven't you been here before?'
"None of your business" snarled WI
kerson "All I've got TO say is that !
managed to get to New York. Now I'm
back after finding out that you made
a strike. the find you made when we
were partners How did you get back
heref"
Gallon looked at his enemy with the
simplicity OF an old man telling a
proved truth They were all my
friends" he said
"Friendsf" said Wilkerson In a sud
denly changed voice. and. thrusting his
contorted face close to Gallons. II
don't care about your friends. but you
better care about the enemy you
made"
For one instant the mine owners
face grew stern and pitiless But he
heard a step on the outside porch. and
his face softened.
my God. Harry. | did II for the
girli'
The evil SOU OF Wilkerson Jared be.
hind those cold eyes OF his. and for
the first time In his life be told the
truth of his Utmost heart, And ! must
have my share of The Master Key to
buy a woman"
"What woman
Wilkerson leaned forward, and his
lips hissed hate as he returned: do
you remember that woman In Vale
Vista five years ago-that woman you
thought your little daughter too good
to speak to? II was you who drove
her out OF camp. and nOw"-he smiled
fa~tuitously -"she's rich and In New
York. and she hates your"
Gallon bowed his head.
what f. ii you want Harry2" he
whispered huskily
oth'i 1hh paiitb u paper oot
Of his pocket and threw 1t on the Ia.
BILE. There's a contract for you to
sign
At this moment the door opened.
and Ruth entered She stared a mo
ment at the visitor and then looked
anxiously mt her father. who said
This is an old partner of mine,
R~uthy-Harry Wilkerson"
Ruth shyly looked at the tall strang
er and then shook hands with him
He held her gentle fingers a second
too long Her face flushed. and she
retired without a backward glance.
Without paying any more attention
TO the old man. who had now subsid-
ed into a chair by the table. Wilker-
son walked TO the window and watch.
ed the slim. girlish figure of the young
girl tripping down the hill. Then he
swung on the old man harshly: well.
I need IA job. Yon need a new super
intendent, don't you? ! guess I'll take
the place
He stepped quickly to the window
OHtc hlOit. DiS ttdit ht pa Noths
with Tom Kane, the old cook. and an
other. In front of the cook house.
Come here. Tom Who is that talk.
ing to that girl OF yours?" he said.
Gallon got up hea Willy from his chair
and walked over to the window. and
be could not repress an expression of
relief "Oh. that's the mining engi-
neer of The Master Key John Dorrl'
With a quick swing Wilkerson was
back. leaning over the table. He pick.
ed up the paper. Sign here!' he said
in~solently
Gallon made a last faint protest: Il
can't do H."
Wilkerson picked up a pen. dipped II
and put II In the old mans hand
"Si.n,"
Just ms the last letter of that sigma
ture. which had so long stood for re
spcetability. was blotted AT the foot OF
the paper Ruth entered.
"Your father has just made me su
~perintendent of this mine. I'm his old
partner. you known"
Ruth looked at her father with con
s%ternation why = why i thought
John
Thomas Gallon looked up and wiped
his lips. Yes" he said DULY. Il have
made my old-my old-partner superin.
tendent Of The Master Key"
Il expect well see a good deal of
each other from now on" Wilkerson
said silkily. and with those slim, white
fingers OF his he reached ont and pinch
ed Ruih's Geek.
Ruth did not draw back. She clinch
ed her firm little hand and Wilkerson
received a blow In the mouth that
made him stagger back.
AT the moment that he received that
singing blow he beard a movement to
one side of him, and, with the old In
stinctive fear of Thomas Gallon. he
drew away back with his hand on the
gun NJ his hip He met the daring
eyes OF the old man. who had risen
from his seat. and understood that M