Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-18

things on the fire they'll burn. This
business won't wait" He smiled mag.
nificenty. And you just leave this
to me. I've been here since the mine
started, and guess can attend to it
from cook shanty to Wilkerson. The
main thing is to find Ruth. know
she's safe, for nobody would hurt that
little girl. But you've got to go to
Frisco and help her. Likely she's
found herself pretty much stranger
got lost in New Orleans once. and !
reckon Frisco is bigger"
"Ill CO." said Dorr promptly. I'm
leave my papers and my new plans in
your charge. Tom
The old man laid his warm hand on
Johns arm. New rlans?" he wills
pered. "Havc you found the mother
lode? Don't say anything to Wliker-
SON."
But he Is the superintendent"
mot Of this shanty. l never trust
an egg until I've broken It,"
In Harry Wilkerson's dark heart
there was what he might in his twist
ed vocabulary have termed happiness
His plans were working out to perfec-
ton. Jean Darnell had wired again
that all was we'll and that she would
have news for him in few days This
meant that she and George Drake had
done their part. But he wondered why
1t was that John Dorr. who must GER
family be anxiously awaiting word
from Ruth, neither said anything nor
displayed sign OF Impotence.
1t did not escape him that Tom Kane
and the young engineer were in con
sultation several times. What were
they planning? He determined to
probe boldly. When Dorr came into
the Office in the afternoon and began to
clear up his desk Wilkcrson asked
quietly. Whats the news from San
Francisco? Has Ruth wired?'
John had been expecting this per
fectly natural question and was ready
with his answer:
"Everything seems to be all right
"Good!' said the superintendent dry.
ly. I'D like to get started on that
new lead pretty soon" lie could not
repress a sour smile. "Since the old
rate of wages has been restored l
guess you and may have to do with
out our salaries for awhile"
John looked up and caught himself.
lie was in no position to quarrel with
this man. PAY the men first. OF
course" he said. Itc proceeded to get
oranda.
Going to move?' suggested Wilker.
son.
lin going for a trip. and thought
I'd look over my notes in the mean
While," was the response.
Wilkerson said no more He went on
the alert From Bill Tubbs he learned
that Dorr WIS going to run into ither
Vale Vista or Silent Valley with the
motor truck.
The superintendent of the Master
Key" belonged to the type that is cat
like III it's quickness of action. based
on intuition rather than on reason
While Ruth Gallon was carefully con.
cealed. it WAS more than possible that
Dorr would so stir things up with the
aid of Everett that all plans to seize
control of the mines stock would be
futile. He must not be allowed to go
to San Francisco.
But how TO prevent him? N'ilker,
son pondered this problem till his dark
face was suffused with angry blood.
There was no way but the way of VIC.
lence. Among his sensuous appetites
was none for blood, but he nerved him.
self to his task and shortly after mid.
day called for his horse and rode out,
stating that he was going across the
divide to see about fresh supply of
wood. In the saddle scabbard he car.
ried short saw.
Spanning an arroyo between two hills
halfway to Silent Valley was short