The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-04-16


What have you TO do with this?" he
snarled.
Faversham did not shift his position
nor change his tone. 81 have Miss
Gallons promise to marry me-"
There was q sudden silence, broken
only when Wilkerson's dry throat ut
tered a triumphant croak.
Mrs. Darnen looked at FaVersham
with her tawny eyes filled with dull
embers Of passion. Everett sat as if
stunned.
so John Dorr gets the kicks and
you get the halfpence" said Wilker-
son wildly. Il have cursed him, but
all my curses couldn't have punished
him worse. Why" he went on half
Historically. "the poor fool loves her"
Again silence.
This time Everett broke it. saying
stifIy: You understand our PROPOSE
ton. Do you accept it?''
Mrs. Darnell laid her hand On Wilker
sons arm, and he seemed to fall into
a profound reverie.
They could see the lights and shad-
ows fit over his Saturnine viSage, the
sparkle of his eyes dying into a mere
dreamy glow. the sudden tightening
of his thin lips. the working Of his
hands.
Finally he reused himself as by an
effort.
Il think | ought to have more" he
said quietly. There are signs of gold
OH one part of this property which has
never been worked 1t is nowhere near
the place marked in the plans. as you
Tom Gallon and l were partners when
he located that rich ore. Never mind.
Bygones are bygones. But L want
$4,000 and that little claim. 1t may
not amount to anything, but then again
il may. Fifty thousand is soon spent.
A mine is a mine"
The plansr demanded Sir Donald.
Wilkerson pulled out of his shirt
bosom an oilSkin folded around Il
square paper. He laid this on the Ia
bic.
There they are" he said, as though
driven to bay.
Mrs. DarnelPs movement of protest
did not escape either Everett or Faver-
sham. They looked at the little packet
that had cost so much agony and
blOodshed.
at is IA gentleman's agreement
said Sir Donald presently, taking out
his check book.
The money passed. and then Everett
picked up the oilskin packet and put
it in his pocket.
The deeds and the master key" he
said gently.
Mrs. Darnell's face became splendid
in its futile rage. She tore the ribbon
from about her throbbing throat and
flung the key on the table
Sir Donald picked it up carefully and
rose. At the same moment Everett
pocketed the deeds and started for the
door.
He and Faversham passed out into
the starry night and vanished. leaving
Wilkerson still at the desk fumbling
the check.
Suddenly he reached for pen and ink
and scrawled his name on the back.
Then he silently handed it to Jean
Darnell. biting her red lips and moving
almost imperceptibly, like an animal
about to spring.
She took the bit of paper and tucked
it in her bosom. Then she turned on
her companion. He met her fiery gaze
coldly.
The mother lode is on that little bit
| got them to give u.s." he said calmly.
The plans Everett has are false"
And the look that she allowed him
to see in her eyes was such as no 9TH
er man had ever seen there. 1t was
as if her tortured and lonely, proud soul
had found its mate in some darkness
made Iurid by the flames of hell.
Sir Donald spoke brief good night
to Everett when they had left the Of
fee and turned toward the bungalow.
leaving the other to go up to where
the light burned in John DORIS cabin
and tell him of the events of the even
ing.
He met Ruth at the door and quietly
told her that all was well. She looked
up at him with her great eyes filed
with unshed tears and he bent over her
a little.
Then he drew out the master key
and put the ribbon over her head until
the dull brass shone ON her white
throat
You are once more the mistress of
the master key" he said gently. land
of my heart"
Something in her expression told him
he had said enough. With a cheerful
word he went away.
But the next day Sir Donald renew
ed his wOoing in such a fashion that
Ruth was sOrely put to it to keep him
from demanding such caresses as her
engagement made him Fightfully ask
for.
The hardest part was that she per-
celved that John Dorr now knew that
she was TO marry Sir Donald.
He did not know, nor ever would,
what that marriage was the price Of
Eyara+f nf aArrco I,oI