The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-01-13

new lead pretty soon" He could not
reprcss sour smile. S'Since the old
rate Of wages has been restored
guess you and ma W lave to do with
out our salaries for awhile"
John looked up and caught himself.
He was in no position TO quarrel Will
this man. "Pay tho men first. of
course" lie said. lie proceeded tn get
into a package Of blucrrints. and mem
Oranda.
Going to lnove:" suggested Wilker-
son.
lin going for trip and thought
i'd look over my notes in the mean.
WHILE" was the response.
WilkcrsOn said no more. He went on
the alert. From Bill Tubbs he learned
that Dorr was going to run into eithcr
Vale Vista or Silent Valley with the
motor truck.
The superintendent Of the Master
Key belonged to The tyne TINT IS eat.
like in It's guickuess Of acti0a. based
on intuition rather than on reason.
While Ruth Gallon was carefully con,
cedled. it was more than possible that
Dorr would 30 stir things up with the
aid Of Everett that all plans to seize
control Of the mines stock would be-
futile He must not besallowed to 80
to San Francisco.
But how to prevent him? Wilker.
son pondcrcd this problem till his dark
face was. sufYused> with angry blood.
There was no way but the way Of VIC
lence. Among his sensuons appetites
vas none for blood. but he nervGd him
self to his task and shortly after mid
t,ay called for his horse and rode out.
stating that. he was going across the
divide to see about fresh supply OF
wood. In the saddle scabbarl he car
ried II short saw.
Spannin: an arroyo between two hills
halfway to Silent Valley was Il short
bridge Of considera lie height. 1t was
nilaftcrnoon when Harry Wilkersoli
threw the bride rein over his pony's
head and climbed down the hill SLOPE
till he was directly under the bridge.
Then lie pulled the little saw out OF his
shirt lioson and began work. Fifteen
minutes later he climbed up to the
road. broke the saw IN two. flung the
pieces into the brush and rode away.
I4o l;1 MT fnr
From his place OF vantage halfway
up the hill he waited. The hour that
elapsed before lie Heard the coughing
of the motor seemed an endless success
sion Of deadly seconds, each marked
by II stabbiny breath. Then lie saw
the truck emerge from the cut and com.
mence to rumble heavily down the
slope. John Dorr, was driving. With
him was one Of the hands. o.
The heavy truck bumped pnon. the
brid.e,-nnd in the desert silence the
man OH the hill saw it quietly sway to
one side and then plunge downward
to the rocks below. Before the sound
of that crash could reach his listening
ears he saw sudden burst Of flame
shoot up a dense swirl OF smoke. Then,
like the faraway cracking OF fire.
came the noise OF the yielding timbers.
followed by a duh BOOM
My God.' whispered WiIkerson to
himself. 1.-The gasoline tank exploded
aud the car is on fire. He crouched
in the Brush. waiting to see whether
any one emerged from the gulch. No
one did. The bridge burned flercely.
At least no one would ever know the
cause OF this catastrophe, and John
Dorr would not 80 to San Francisco.
Instinct told him to flee the scene.
But stronger passion Overcame him:
he must see for himself what had hap
pened. lie mounted his horse and rode
swiftly down the slope.
The truck had turned completely
over and lay broken and smoldering
across the waterworn powders. Will
kerson could not see two forms: all
he dlseerned through the eddyins
smoke was the body Of John Dorr.
flung some distance from the truck.
his pallid face turned to the blazing
sky.
Dead mutteretl Wilkcrson. chilled
will, the horror Of the thing he had
done. 1t bit into his very soul. that
scene. until he could not stand II longer
and rode furiousIy away toward the
other side OF the di:ide. He must go
on his supposed errand about the wood
and know nothing OF this.
On the crest Of the mountain he halt
ed and looked back. Far below him n
thin curl of, gray smoke marked the
site OF the murder. knowing that he
was safe. Wilkerson experienced Il tire.
mendOus reaction.
He raised himself cSultantly in his
stirrups. He was now master Of the
Master Key" mine.
CHAPTER X.
Ia the Heart Of Chinatown.