White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-14

dressed M somewhat extravagant style
looking down AT her out Of great. Jaw
ny. velvet eyes. Western bred. Ruth
responded amiably to this salutation.
though she had not the faintest idea
who the woman n
"Yes. | am Miss Gallon"
II am Mrs Darneil." said the won
an. May ! sit DOWN am an old
friend of your friend. John DORIS He
wired me that | would find you on this
train" The lie was so plausible that
Ruth merely blushed. thinking that 1t
was one more token of John DORIS
~earefulness OF her comfort and safety
To her inexperienced eyes this woman
represented the tremendous city to
which she was going Her dress. her
manner her jewels. the evasive per
fume that she affected were all strange
and impressive to her. She moved
over a little to allow Mrs. Darnell to
sill down.
John never spoke OF you" said Ruth
simply. i did not have the faiDtest
notion that was to meet any of bis
friends. DO you live in New York;"
Yes. | live In New York. ! happen
ed to be in Chicago. and through Mr.
Everett ! heard from John"
'0h. you know Mr.. Everettl' cried
Ruth. lie 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.
II WIS 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 on Ruth's fair face
with an assumption of affection. As
IA matter of fact. she was profoundly In
terested Life had taught lean Oar
nell a great many things, and among
them had been the great lesson of self
preservation the saving for herself OF
money, OF comfort. of health and OF
good looks Now 1t was a question OF
money. prime among them all, and her
rather keen wits saw precisely the
chances which Wilkerson was taking.
She recalled his oft repeated statements
that there WAS money in The Master
Key and his latest letters imploring
her TO help him get control of the stock
And so | told John I'd come and see
what ! could do" the elder woman
smiled gently Times we're not so good
with her as they had been. and II Har.
~ Wilkerson could put this deal
through and make money for them all
IL would simplify many a problem
which she duly pondered at night.
Mr. Everett will meet US AT the
train" she said briefly. land then you
can tell him all 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 bust
ness Mr. Everett will quickly settle
pleasure in showing you about Manhat-
tan. | presume you are fond of op
era z
Il ave never been to the opera"
Ruth responded. Il should love to go.
but when | do go ! must go all alone
she went OF Iimpulsively. II think op
era must be like ~church-one wants to
go all by oneself"
Mrs. Darnell turned very slowly and
for the first time In many years reveal
ed a secret thought: do you know that
my only pleasant memories. my dear.
are OF myselfT"
The bitterness OF that confession.
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 eff.
fulgent creature. Al least. she was
not going into the great city all alone,
nor confront Mr.. Everett BY herself.
Mrs. Darnell made her feel that she
was cempetently protected.
nyA-