Courier Democrat., 1915-07-15


he said. With unusual formality.
When your father made me superin-
tendent OF this mine | did not realize
that the responsibility was so heavy as
1t is We are not making any money
we are losing money. You can see by
the reports which have here that our
cleanup lately has been far less than
our expenses, and our last one showed
practically nothing We must find the
vein again. To do so we must have
money. There is no money in The
Master Key mine"
That's what father used to say
sometimes" said Ruth quietly. But
he always got It,"
Wtlkerson flushed. "Miss Gallon, I
hope that you don't think that I'm not
doing my BEST l am. John Dorr and
have gone over this matter together.
He agrees with me that we have abso-
lutely lost the vein and that if The
Master Key is to pay anything more
we must find it again.
Ruth's expression softened at the
mention of John DORIS name. What
does he think?" she demanded. What
is the chance Of finding it again?"
IF we run west. Dorr thinks" said
Wilkerson slowly. we'll recover the
vein. but that will cost money, which
we haven't got DO you realize. Miss
Gallon. that the pay roll here is over
$1,000 day: Within week | have
to pay out over $4,000 for the month,
and tell you frankly that when
have paid that there will be no more
money to the account of The Master
Key in the bank in Silent Valley"
Ruth realized that he was speaking
the truth. even iessening the imme-
diateness OF the catastrophe, but her
d1StaSte OF the man was too great to
allow her to discuss the matter with
him in the Intimate way which she felt
was necessary. She must see John
Dorr
She quickly dismissed Wilkerson and
then went to DORIS office herself, meet
ing him at the door. She bore as a
gift small basket OF fruit. Without
preliminaries she said, John, are we
broke?"
He laughed; then his face grew
grave. The mine is not paying" be
said briefly.
But can't we make it pay: What
is the matter?"
Money" said John.
But why money!"
1T will cost $4,000 to drive that
new tunnel" John added as they en-
tered the Office.
But Mr.. Wilkerson just said he was
going to pay over $4,000 to the men,"
Ruth said soberly. IF we have that
much money, why can't we''-
A tenderness flooded DORIS eyes. He
comprehended her helplessness, under
stood why old Thomas Gallon had been
so insistent that he, John Dorr, should
look after her. She was a mere child
He tried to explain the exact situation.
with the result that Ruth finally push
ed him off his high stool, got up on it
herself and wrote in a large, childish
hand right across the face of one OF
his new drawings, Il must raise $10..
00O!"
She swung around to John and asked.
How can get S1O,O00?"
Dorr hesitated. His plan was risky
in view of Wilkerson's attitude, but
after all. the money must be raised
He said quietly: pledge the stock you
own in The Master Key 1 know a
man in New York who will loan you
$4,000 on it" He bent over her ear
nestly. But listen, Ruth. If we spend
the $4,000 and we don't find the moth
er lode. you lose the mine. It's just
like mortgage on farm"
But you wouldn't suggest this If it
weren't the only way out" she said
briefly. Nov, how am to do this?"
you must go to New York and see
George Everett. l will give you let
ter to him. and be will see to it that
you get the extra money we need.
Meanwhile I'll keep the mine going"
Ruth gave him her full eyes, You
don't like Mr.. Wilkerson, do you?"
Il don't trust him." he replied.
At this moment the superintendent
entered the Office and, seeing their two
1CoOS S1OSC SOSSLucI OStl Lue uGSh. ue
scowled
II came to see what we are going
to do about that new tunnel" be said
roughly. II don't like to start in any.
thing can't finish"
Ruth swung around to say quietly:
II am going to New York city to see
Mr.. George Everett, friend of Mr.
DORIS, and l will come back with the
$4,000"
Everett, Everett"-repeated Wilker.
son. who is George Eyerett?"
Despite Johns frowns. Ruth volu-
bly, explained. When she had finished
Wilkerson nodded and said: I'm put
the men to work tomorrow. Dorr. Bet.
ter have your plans ready" He stamp.
ed out
"You had better go this afternoon"
John told Ruth. "There is no time to