The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-07-02

to, after all, HarryT' she asked. "Tell
me plainly. Has 1t done either Of Us
any good? Will 1t ever do Us any
good"
Wilkerson stared out at the dark sea,
and his face grew slowly very cruel.
"GoodT he repeated. IAN that
know Is that | love you more than
anything else in the universe You
love luxury and jewelry and gold and
silk. Because know what you love
am trying to get it for you. because l
want you more than / want anything
else. III think we are even"
Even" she said In a suddenly
strained voice. "Yes, we are even
you the felon and the murderer, i the
receiver of stolen goods. stolen happi-
ness, stolen life, stolen goldr'
When they finally reached San Fran
cisco Wilkerson found her oddly dis
trait She did not know whether to
60 to the mine or to return to New
York.
One moment she was In a tlgerish
rage; the next hour she was staring at
the fog haunted hills with eyes that
saw nothing,
He stormed and argued to no pur-
pose. He recalled to her constantly
the fact that he had the deeds, the
master key itself, the plans of the To-
cation of the mother lode.
She either listened listlessly or drove
him away with furious upbraidings.
Yet in the end she accompanied him
to Silent Valley.
1t was a bitter moment for old Tom
Kane when the stage drove up and
Wilkerson and Mrs. Darnell got out In
stead of John Dorr and Ruth
He had hoped against hope, and now
his dreams were In ashes, for Wilker-
son instantly took charge, the men, as
Tom put 1t to himself, followed the
paymaster, and so far as outward APP
pearance went the Master Key" mine
was firmly in Wilkerson's possession.
Mrs. Darnell here proved herself the
shrewder mind. Though she was little
seen, her influence was potent.
And more than anything else she
worked on Wilkerson so that he did
not use the plans and open up the
rich vein.
wait" she told him. Don't be i'm
patient. Our whole power here is in
the fact that we have the secret Once
that is public we'll likely lose every.
thing"
But we ought to be at work before
Dorr gets back" he would argue.
Eyes, and every court in the land
will help him to regain this mine and
its wealth. Don't you seer ComprO-
misep'
COMPROMISED he repeated duly.
Eyes, you foolv'
But howT"
"Wait-wait till John and Ruth get
back. They'll be glad enough to buy
those plans, Harry"
When John Dorr and Ruth arrived
on the following steamer Everett met
them at the pier and told them the
news as he had gathered 1t from faith
full Tom Kane, whom Jean Darnell had
insisted should resume his duties as
cook, sagely observing to WukersOn
that 1t would be well for them to have
a witness whose veracity Dorr would
not impugn.
Settled In the hotel, Dorr briefly re-
cited the experiences of the past
months and then bluntly asked. what
are we to dor
Everett was ready with his answer,
COMPROMISED
The dull red flooded Johns face. and
he bit his lip. Had all his work gone
for nOthing2
Everett laid a friendly hand on his
knee Nov liSten," he said gravely.
Here is Miss Ruth minus her key,
practically busted from possession of
her property and, If We are not mis-
taken. unable to lay her hands on her
most precious INTERCHANGEABLE plans Of
the mother lode. They're in Wilker-
sons possession"
And he's digging the gold night and
dayI" John burst out.
With a swift glance to Teassure Ruth,
who sat in mournful silence. Everett
went on:
THAT Is the shrewd part Of Wilker.
sons play. He knows that the law
will give Miss Ruth here back her mine
and all that 1t contains. 1t would
take time, but as sure as we are sit
ting here, and no one knows 1t better
than he-Justice would strip him Of ev-
cry Ill gotten cent and send him to
prison with his accomplice So what
does he do? Hastily uncover the real
prize? No. He conceals it still and
merely works the original mine"
But we can put him out Of fathers
mine, can't weT' demanded Ruth.
And when we do we shall still be
no wiser as to the location Of the real
gold. All our trouble and expense will
have gone for naught Wilkerson VIII
still hold the secret Of the Master
Key"
"And how are We going to get It
from himf demanded DOrr. clinchlng
his fist.