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

| nHEi.
He stooped over and saw that the
body. buking heavily in the misty
light. still held its vital spark.
"Where is Hickman. the drivcr:"
The cook pcered around and then once
| more bent over the motionless form
OF the young engineer. Witl, great OK.
crtion liz managed to lift him up and
place linn across one Of the pack sad
dies. Johns arm automatically clasp
ling the little animals neck. Seeing
him secure. and coming TO his senses.
Kane went down to the smoltlering re-
mains Of the machine to search for
his companion. One glance was sulii
cient. He quietly went hack and start.
ed his journey toward the mine. His
old hands. scared by years OF cooking.
lpattcd the almost inaniEate form OF
Dorr.
They were almost to the master
Key" mine when Dorr came to himself.
slipped off the pack saddle and stood
up weakly.
What happened?' he muttered.
"Sotlling much." said Kane. putting
his arm about him. You had a bad
fall. That bridge never was any too
strong"
"Bridge!'' said Dorr. "The bridge is
gomez
Sure" said old Tom Kane easily.
whlstling TO his burros again. "You
lust come along with me-
"l,ut haven't got my coat"
The cook looked ut him with swift
understanding. His coat had been in
the seat Of the machine and was burn
cd. "l'lI get y:u another coat when
we get back to camp" he said COM
fortinglyl So they progressed the long
and dusty road back to the Master
Key" 1t was dark when they ar.
rived. aud Kane WIS able to take his
dazed and much bruised charge into
the cook shanty without being observ.
ell by any Of the miners. Dorr was
still but half conscious and willingly
submitted to being put to bed, though
he still protested that lie wanted his
coat
what do you want your coat for?"
demanded Kane.
| John opened his eyes widely, for the
first time cOgnizant OF his surround.
ings. Then he leaped from the bed.
''All my money is in it,
Tom Kane sat on the chair beside
him. dish towel in hand. as Il sort Of.
emblem Of authority, and demanded in
his careful tones. There wasn't amy.
thing else in the coat. john" lie bent
his white head as if to catch Il whis-
per Instead Eorr gave a raucous
shout:
There was that check from the
mint
II saw you myself give that check to
lWilkerson," said the cook sootl!in.ly.
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 derrskin poke and from, 1t
spilled on the table few hundred dol.
lars.
"Just as soon as you get able. John"
he said huskily. you take this money
and got to Frisco Find Ruth. That's
all that matters-fnd that little girl
Hurry" he whispered. "Wilkcrson
lis gone. Hes been gone since mid
Afternoon"
"But am badly hurt" said John
Dorr stupidity. Then Kane under
stood that lie must take desperate
measures.
l lotN vV~O 10
pounding down the road toward Silent
| Valley. His head was roughly band
aged. his chest had been tightly strap
ped with the ripped woolen blanket.
and in his nostris was the ppngent
odor of ammonia. He was ut last
awake and knew that in his pocket
was Il thousand dollars in gold. An
hour later he bearded the Sunset OK
press and automatically paid his fare.
bought his Pullman ticket and. not.
withstanding the porter's earnest in
qniry as to his injuries. went to bed lis
silently as he arrived in San francisco
a day later.
Exultant in his triumph. Wilkcrson
stihed the small voice Of 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 innermost
soul.
Jean Darnell and the Master Key"
Arrived ut the station he sent her a
wire telling OF his coming. Two min
utes later he was aboard the train. As
he gazed backward bend Of the rails
drew curtain to his musings. and he
turned and entered the car.
Upon their arrival in San Francisco
Mrs. Darnell acted upon her decision
made during the journey-that they
would stop ut less pretentions 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 taxi to the Manx.
\ word with Drake and the older
woman stepped to the desk and in a
firm. bold hand wrote:
Mrs. Daruell and daughter, New
York
Quickly she turned to Ruth and, fol
lowing the lead Of the bellboy. escort.