The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-02-19

you remember that woman In Vane
Vista five years ago-that woman you
thought your little daughter too good
to speak to? 1t was you who drove
her out Of camp, and now'-he smiled
carbohydrates rich and in New
York, and she hates your
Gallon bowed his head. sa.= j.
whispered huskily.
The other man pulled paper out
of his pocket and threw 1t on the ta-
BILE. 'There's a contract for you to
sign
At this moment the door opened,
and Ruth entered. She stared a mo-
ment at the visitor and then looked
anxiously at her father. who said:
This is an old partner of mine,
Ruthy-Harry Wilkerson.'
Ruth shyly looked at the tall strang.
er and then shook hands with him.
He held her gentle fingers second
too long Her face flushed, and she
retired without backward glance.
Without paying any more attention
| to the old man, who bad now subsid.
ed into chair by the table, Wilker-
son walked to the window and watch
ed the slim. girlish figure Of the young
girl tripping down the hill. Then he
| swung on the old man harshly: "Well.
| | need a job. You need new super.
intendent, don't you? guess III take
! the place.
He stepped quickly to the window
| once more. This time he saw Ruth,
/ with Tom Kane, the old cook, and an
| other, in front Of the cook house.
Come here. Tom. Who is that talk.
ing to that girl Of yours?" he said.
Gallon got up heavily from his chair
! and walked Overt to the window, and
| be could not repress an expression OF
| relief. "Oh. that's the mining engi
/ neer Of The Master Key John Dorrv
With quick swing Wilkerson was
; back, leaning over the table. He pick.
/ ed up the paper. "Sign herev' he said
! insolently.
Gallon made last faint protest: Il
! can't do it!'
Wilkerson picked up pen, dipped 1t
| and put it in the old mans hand
''Sign!
Just as the last letter of that sigma
ture, which had so long stood for re.
| specta bility, was blotted at the foot Of
| the paper Ruth entered.
Your father has just made me su.
| perintendent of this mine. I'm his old
partner, you knowv'
Ruth looked at her father with con
sternation why - why II thought
1 john )
Thomas Gallon looked up and wiped
1 his lips. "Yes," he said duly, II have
made my old-my old-partner superin.
!! tendent of The Master Key @::z.s.e:
/ 81 expect we'll see a good deal of
! each other from now on" Wilkerson
| said silkily. and with those slim. white
| fingers Of his he reached out and pinch
| ed Ruth's cheek.
! Ruth did not draw back. She clinch-
4 ed her firm little hand and Wilkerson
: received a blow in the mouth that
| made him stagger back.
! At the moment that he received that
singing blow be heard movement to
/ one side of him, and, with the old in
stinctive fear of Thomas Gallon. be
drew away back with his hand on the
gun at his hip. He met the 1aring
eyes Of the old man. who had risen
from his seat, and understood that IN
til life left that decrepit frame it's mas.
/ tering passion-the. passion which be
could not hope to master-would be
! love for the girl whom he had just in
suited
! He made daring apology, the apollo
gy of the coward and the liar. Il beg
your pardon, Ruth, but you used to SIT
on my knee when you were a little
one"
| She merely glanced at him and went
out of the bungalow. She did not see
her father rise to his full height and