White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-25

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 as no longer useful.
And now he sat on guard In a hut
in a far country among a crowd of
aliens whose very tongue was gibber-
ish to his ears.
On guard for whom? For what?
That Wilkerson might finally sue
coed and win Jean Darnell OF the
tawny eyes and luxuriant beauty.
In that moment-was 1t to be too
late ?-Drake came into his own.
The mine and its wealth were NJ
much his as Wilkerson's.
The plans were his as much M
Wilkerson's.
Yet the man asleep on the settle had
taken everything to himself and would
continue to do 80.
And Jean?
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 q
watchful eye on Wilkerson.
He had been given to understand
that 1t was the gold she wished. And
he Drake) had the key to that gold
In his own keeping for the while.
He set his teeth when he realized
how Wilkerson despised him, had
counted him altogether as a mere pa wn
In the great game.
He had not eve 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.
keep EN- for me. just as 1t did Tor
Gallon. It's a 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 it out to its logical conclusion
Why should it be Wilkerson who re
turned with the plans and claimed her?
Why should he tDrake) continue to
play the slave?
A momen while they slept and the
plans were his; then when WilkersOn
unsuspectingly presented the idol and
pulled out its eye there would be
nothingl
1t would be George Drake who held
the master key to Jean Darnelrs ava
ricious heart.
So he dreamed. open eyed. staring
into a 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 1t 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 unlaeed the fasten-
ings TREMENDOUSLY.
The idol came out under his hand,
and he stared at It. fascinated by Its
ugliness and the thought Of the secret
that IL held.
Ne wonder that at every sight OF II
natives bowed in abiect worship.
1t held wealth. power. love, happi
ness.
He shook it softly. Yes. the plans
were still within; he could hear the
rustic of the folded papers,
He peered around the hut, and, find
Ing all asleep. he set the idol on his
knee and bent over 1t.
He pulled at the eye which he had
seen Wilkerson draw out. 1t came
with difficulty. Then he held 1t up and
looked into the dark orifice. There
was nothing there.
He was about to throw the idol down
in disgust when a glimmer of some.
thing bright within the head caught
his attention.
He stopped over again and then froze
into immobility. The spirit OF the vile
god was moving within.
The point Of light grew into intense
brightness. Ii approached the dark
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