Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-14
BISMARCK DAILY TRIBUNE

"NOtnlnX Wucn, S01Q h0ne, putting
his arm about him. 'You had a bad
fall. That bridge never was any too
strong" .lt
"BrIdgeev' said DOR. 1.-THE bridge Ii
gone"
"Sure." said old Tom Kane easily.
;whistling to his burros again. "Y0u
Just come along with me-"
y But l haven't got my coat"
The cook looked at him with swift
understanding. His coat had been In
the seat Of the machine and was burn.
ed. "Trl get you another coat when
we get back to camp" he said com.
fortingly. So they progressed the long
and dusty road back to the "Maeter
Key It. was dark when they ar
rived, and Kane, was able to take his
dazed and, much bruised charge into
the cook shanty without being ,observ-
eds.b any Of the miners. Dorr was
stTl but half c0pactous and willingly
submitted to being put to bed, though
he still protestedAsthat be wanted his
coat. lag sqSS 81 w., Qts.
what % yoa want your coat forr'
demanded Kane;
John opened Shl1 eyes widely, for the
frst time cognizant of his surround,
ings. Then be aeaped from the bed.
.All my money u tn it!'
II Tom aneaesat on the chair beside
him, dish towel. In hand. as a sort Of
emblem Of authority. and demanded In
his careful tones, ss.There wasn't any
thing else In the coat, Johna" Hebent
his white head as II to catch a wills
per. Instead Dorr gave, a raucous
shout: y, = ~ : f.s@I
There was that check from the
mint r.
~ saw you myself give that check to
Wilkerson," said the. cook soothingly.
But that doesn't change matters any.
You've got to get to San Francisco,
and you're busted" Tom Kane pulled
out an old deerskin poke and from 1t
spilled on the table a few hundred dol
lars. sc " -
"Just as soon as, you get able, john"
be said huskily,, you take this money
and get to Frisco. Find Ruth. That's
all that matters-fnd that little girl.
"Hurry!' he whispered. "Wilkerson
is gone. He's been gone since mid
afternoon"
but l am badly hurt" said John
Dorr stupidity. Then Kane under
stood that he must take desperate
measures.
Fifteen minutes later Dorr, was
pounding down the road toward Silent
Valley. His head was roughly band.
aged, his chest had been tightly strap
ped With the ripped wooden blanket,
and In his nostrils was the pungent
odor Of ammonia. He was at last
awake and knew that in his pocket
was a thousand dollars in gold. An
hour later he boarded the Sunset ex-
press and automatically paid bis fare.
bought his Pullman ticket and, not.
withstanding the aperter's earnest in
quiry as to his injuries. went to bed as
silently as he arrived in San Francisco
a day later.
Exultant in his triumph. Wilkerson
,stiaed the small. voiceLof his conscience
and strobe on. One thought now. mas.
tered his every action-he must reach
San Francisco and Jean Darnell.
Jean Darnell!. The woman who stir.
red him to the depths Of his innerm0st
soul. ~ #l'' So ,'3 ' H.
Jean Darnell and the Master Key"
Arrived at the station he sent her a
wire telling of his coming. Two min.
utes later be was aboard, the train. AS
he gazed backward a, bend Of the rails
drew a curtain to bis musings. and he
turned and entered the car. "
s'~F''& =
Upon their arrival in. San Francisco
Mrs. Darnell acted upon her decision
made during the journey-that they
would stop at a less pretentious hotel
than the st. Francis, where the chances
Of her plans being spoiled by chance
meetings with the real Everett or per.
haps John Dorr were too great. And
so they took a taxi to the Manx.
A word with Drake and the older
woman stepped to the desk and in a
firm, bold hand wrote:
- Mrs Darnell and daughter. New
York."
s.. Quickly she turned to, Ruth and. fol.
lowing the lead Of the bellboy, escort.
ed her toward the elevators. J.
No sooner had they removed their
wraps in the luxurious apartments than
a rap at the door interrupted their talk.
See who 1t is," commanded Mrs.
Darnell to her maid. @' ia.
The latter returned with a telegram
from Harry Wilkerson saying that he
was on bis way and would join them
Wearied by the long trip across the
continent, Ruth was glad to retire ear.
", and shortly after the dinner hour
she was tucked in her bed and sleeping
soundly.' "'
Drake FASTENED to the depot and met
Wilkerson, driving him to the Manx
with. all haste. Gss. 81 s.
I'm awfully glad to see you. Har.
r!A" was the ELUSIVE greeting he re.
ceived from Jean.
His heart pounded With the Joy Of it:
After all his scheming and plotting
was worth while. He would win the
mine and the woman also. -.