PAGE TWELVE THE DAILY BRIIISH WHIG, TUESDAY, ARY 16, 1915. THE MASTER KE CHAPTER VIL Wilkerson the Plotter, BEN he bad the ed hi 3 iy, in had received Loin Jean, Dar Bell in New York, telling him of her willingness to finance ber, schgiog, de termined he must be (riends with Jotm Dorr, at least outwardly. Su tig sinoothed out the visible wrinkles in «his face, trying to veil the malicious gleam in bis eyes, and spent (Wo days quietly trying to show tis amiability, not only to the miners, but to Dorr himself. Wilkerson was absolutely certain , that his old partuer, Thomas Gallon, bad really wade a rich tind and that he had lost the location and accepted "The Master Key" as a substitute wm "the hope that by working it thoroughly he might tind the mother jode. In other words, careful manipulation or i Look hers, Wilkerson, mayhe both 'of us have made a mistake" the present mine, painstaking toll la figoritg out the trend of the various Felos, wogld ead te that "particular pot of goid which hid been at the end of Gallons youthful tninbow of hopes, fleeson was deteftulied to be was of "The Makter Key," He necued 0 skied pid of dofin Dorr with wis sugineering knowledge. John Dorr kpew. that there was a fremenduos secret in Gillon's life rep- "ebented by the golden key which be © bad torn from bis/neck apd banded to Ruth when he was dying. 'fbat key Mad Bgures on it He understood that those seratebes on that gulden surface Fepiesented solylhing treweondously Mmportant, and that the old wan bad Pommitted Ruth to his charge and had spoken of Wilkerson: as his former finer aud sald, "Wilkerson knows." What was it that Wilkerson knew? | It was better, thought Jolin, to uccept bls nwiable advances and thereby pos- A ' Bibly gain his confidence und tind out . for Ruth's suke that secret which : mus Gallon bad tuken to his grave. #0 on the second duy after the resto. ation of the old scale of wages and his own Seappointiient. is engineer in ehitrge Jobn went down to tbe office and sald. bluntly: "Look here, Wilker hon, maybe both of us have made a "mistake, I'm sure iny only ain is to 'help out in the promotion of "I'he Mas. ter Rey." 75 Wilkerson received blm amiably. "I'm sure my only interest fn this busi- 'bess 13 fo fetch into good ore. All that We are digging out now is dirt without pay tu it". "think 1 know. where we can strike class stoft," Dorr returned. "There | sure pay rock Af we travel south from that main tunnel. We may bave jo go a couple of hundred feet." Wilkerson looked at him shrewdly. *Ihat will cost money." he remarked. She Sr ne is not ng it's ap to 08 '(0 maki It pay? De remarked. "Nay 1 yt dowo" he said awk wWotioned io 4 chair, And be poll of his pocket a paper covered Whkerson flushed "Alisa Gallon, | fam John Durr aod I ave gone ever this mater together He agrees with wie that we have abso hutely lost the vein and that of Master Key' 1s to pay anything more we must ond it agate." Rulh's espression softened mention of Johny Dorr's nume. "What does be think?" she demanded. "What 18 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. Uo yon realize, Miss Gallon, that the pay roll here is over $1,000 a day? Within a week | bave to pay out over $30,000 for-the month, and 1 tell you frankly that when | have paid that there will be vo more money to the account of "The Master Key' in the bank in Silent Valley," Ruth realized that be was speaking | the truth, even lessening the imme diateness of the catastrophe, but ber | distaste of the man was too. great to | allow ber to discuss the matter with tim in the intimate way which she felt was necessary. She must see John Dorr, She quickly dismissed Wilkerson and then went to Dorr's office herself, meet- ing him at the doot. She Lore as a gift a small basket of fruit. Without preliminaries she said, "Jobn, are we broke?" He laughed; then his face grew | grave. "The mine is not paying," be | said briefly. "Hut can't we make it pay? is the matter?" "Money," said John "But why money?" "It. will cost $10,000 to' drive that new tunpel," John added as they en: i tered the office. "But Mr | going to pay over $30,000 to the men," | Ruth maid soberly. "II we bave tbat wuch money, why entu't we" -- A tenderness flooded Dort's eyes. lle comprehended her helplessness, under stood why old Thomas Gallon bad been [ so insistent that be, John Dorr, should look after her. She was a mere child He tried to ¢xplain the exact situation, | with the resnit that Ruth tinally push. | ed bim off his high stool, got up on ft berself and wrote in a large, childish { band right across the face of one of his new drawings, *'! must raise $10, 000!" She swung around to John and asked, | "How can | get $10.0007" Dorr hesitated. His plan was risky tu view of Wilkerson's attitude, but, { after all, the money must be raised He snid quietly: "Pledge the stock yon own in "I'te Master Key. 1 know a wan in New York who will loan yon $10,000 on 41" fle bent over her evar nestly. "But listen. Ruth. If we spend the $10,000 and ge don't find the woth. | or lode, you lose the mine. It's jnsy | Hike a mortgage on # farm." { "But yon wouldn't suggest this if it weren't the only way oul," she said briefly. "Now, how aw I to do this?" "You must go to New York and see George Everett. 1 will give You a let- ter to him, and he 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 + Zon't like Mr, Wilkerson. do you?} | "1 don't trust bim." be reniied. At this moment the superintendent entered the office and, seeing their two heads close together over the desk, he scowled, "1 came to see what we are going doing wy best at the What roughly. "1 don't like tv start in any thing | can't finish." 2 Ruth swung around to say gnietly: "1. am gaing td. New York city to see Mr. George Everett, n friend of Mr, Dorr's, and | will come back with the $10000." "Everett, Everett"--repeated Wilken son, "who is George Everett?" Despite John's frowns, Ruth volun: bly explained. When she had Guished "John, are we brolat Wilkerson vodded apd the mien to work toiporrow, {lor tave' your plans ren od out. "Iie | See The Motion Pictures of "This Story At The 1 10 De Oiled with suushive ond a famil pope that you dow't uk that Vw not | jar zest of scurrying vver dry Califor nin ou half broken horseflesh "AR right. we'll ride" he said "While. you are getting ready I'll write a letter to George Everett" 1iuth laid gue slender hand on Johu's shoulder. "You're ntways doing things for me, Joun," she sald simply. "Sowe day 'll do something for you" Sbe slipped away without a backward glance. Dorr watched her trip down the bil! toward her own little bnogalow, and it seemed to him us if he held ove end of a golden thread that she was spin ning throngh sunshine. It was an: chored in his heart. That thread would be 3000 miles long beforé she saw good old Everett. He picked up his pen spd wrote rgpidiy: "Master Key" Mine, June - George Everett, 11} Broadway, New York City: + ri George--~When a young, slender, brown eyed, golden haired girl walks into your office and says, "T'm Ruth Gallon." and hands you the papers that she will pave in her little hand bag. please see tbat she gets $10.00. Ever yours, ~~ JOHN DORR. He would have added more. His finer lustinct told him that Ruth should before the: cool headed, rather cold hearted George Everett. He addressed the enveilppe 'and sealed it. 'I'hen he went to the telephone and called ap Wilkerson Sust said be was | { tn become public. to do about that new tunnel," he suid | _{ sage and cactus, the station at Silent Valley. "Bill," he witid quietly after listening | | a moment 19 see if any ong was on the fine, "1 want to send a telegram. Take it over the wire, please. I'll be down in a little while and pay yon" "Sure." floated buck a cheerful voice "I wish K my credit was as good as yours, ten miles away, but it seems as i if | have to be always present when | ask for iv Go ahéad. John!™ "This 1s 11, BIN," said John: George Everett, I} broadway, New York City: Miss Ruth Gallon leaves tonight to see you about "Master Key" stock, Meet her and wire me on her arrival. Take goud care of her gr Tl take care of you. JOHN DORR. 'The operator repeated the message apd involumarily adopted a little of John's savage intonation on the last four words. It woke him up to the fact that be was allowing his feelings He begun to see why it was that men looked at him strafigely at times, when it was a ques- tion of Ruth's interests. He must re strain bimself. The uperator did not hang up imme dintely, but sald besifatingly: "Say. John, there's a wire bere; just came in from 'The Master Key' mine. It does not seeth 10 jibe with yours. Wil kerson sent it." "Pit play. fair," said John to himself, sud he called Vack over the wire, "Bil {y. (hat's yours snd Wikerson's buss ness, not wgne,™ I he had Hsteued: (0 the tenor of the message directed to bave learned what Wilkerson was plot ting. For years Wilkerson bad built up for himself a golden unage in Jean Dar well. Na ove realized better than him: self that she was a creature of appe tite, a lover of silk and velvet. A wo man whose eyes widened at sight of a Persian 'eat. Feminine in every de gree. womanly ip neue. But be bim. self, dominated absolutely, otterly and completely by bls desires, had fallen under ber spell; and be wns going to win. ber, no matter how. 'It 8 a strange thing that when a disbupest man folly yields to an honest passion outhing -will satisfy him but the ut must observance of the ritual uf socie ty. Harry Wilkerson's vision was of walking up the aisle of a great euch tv meet his bride at the altar, Yet he had always thought of her in terms of gold: thot was a contrast-- the pallid. satiny, Blue eyed woman. voluptuous. soft~and his image of ber built of yellow gold, dragged out of the of "The Master Keg" nine. 'This image Was ow before his eyes: Instead of the warm, sun blessed Cali- fornia hills, with their faint scent of , be rm wot follow him in his dreams, But looking over bis shoulder an hour later we read: 3 ©. "Master Key" Mine, June -- Jean Daruell, Astor Hopse, New York Sn eorge Everett a 1m Broadway Sante Fe express Waving rm Tg be the frst to put the whole scheme | Jean Darnell, in New York, be would" CHAPTER VII. Jean Darnell's Ruse. HIS must be Miss Gallon" *tid u pleasaut voice, Uuth Jooked up to see a ------ wowan of florid beduty and "dressed in somewhat extravagant style toukiug down at her out of great, taw- oy, velvet eyes, Western bred, Ruth cesponded amiably to this salumtion, though she tad uot the faintest idea who the woman was. "Yes, | amu Miss Gallon." | "Fam Mrs. Dacpell" sald the wom an. "May |! sit down? [ am an old friend of your friend, John Derr's. He wired me that | would find you on this tin" The lie was so plausible that inth merely blushed, thinking that it way One more token of John Dorr's carefuluess of her comfort dnd safety. To her inexperienced eyes this woman represented the tremendous city to which she was going. Her dress, her manner, ber jewels, the evasive per fvwe that sbe affected were all strange and fwpressive to her. She moved over a little to allow Mrs. Darnell to sit down. "John vever spoke of you," sald Ruth sioply. "1 did wut 'bave the faintest poten that | was to meet any of his friends. Do you live in New York? "Yes, 1 live in New York. J bappeo- ed to be in Chicago, and through Mr, Everett beard from John." "Oh, you kuow Mr. Everett!" cried Ruth. "He is the mau | am going to see in New York," aud she went on to tell, as best she could, the gist of her mission It was (ypicil of the woman to whom | she was talking that she did vot inter | rupt tins puive narrative, She sat in sikenSglvnce, obeasionatly allowing ber great eyes to. rest ou Roth's tair face with ap assumption of affection. As u matter of fact, she wns profoundly in. 1evested uell uw great wany things, and among then bad been the great lesson of sell preservation=the saving for herself of wouney, of comfort, of health and ot good looks. Now it was a ghestion of money, prime among them nll, and her rather keen wits. saw precisely the chances which Wilkerson was taking. Ste recalled his oft repeated statements that there was money in "The Master Key" and his latest letters Haploring tier to belp him get control of the stock. When Ruth ended up with u gentle "And so. | wld Jom I'd come und. see what 1 could do" the elder woman smiled gently. Times were not so good with her as they bad been, and If Har ty Wilkersun couid put this deal through aud make woney for them all it woold simplify many a problem which she dully pondered at night. train," she sald brivity. "ahd then you pose we ail ubout semething else," "But | can't think of anything else," suid Ruth. ' * "Oh, you will," sald Avs. Darnell, "You can combine the pleasure of see- ing New York with yoni tittle busi ness. Mr Everett will quickly settle tbat part of it, and b shall take great pleasure in showing you about MAnbhat- tan, 1 presspine you are fond of op- ern?" "I bave never Leen io the opera" Ruth responded. *1 should love 10 go, but when | do go | must go all alone." she went on impulsively, "I 'think op~ era wust be like churci--one wuuts to gu all by oneself." * Ms. Darnell wrned very slowly aod for the first thine In many years reveal ed a secret thought: "Do you know that my only plensaut memories, my dear, are of myselr?" The bittcruess of thal coufession. with all its hoplication, wholly escaped Ruth's sensitive but inexperienced mind. Yet there was something in the tone that warmed her heart to this ef- fulgent creature. At least, she was not going into the great city all alone, nor confront Mr. Everett by herself. made ber feel that she ted. for a moment for a chat while porter collected their Life had taught Jean Dar "Mr. Hverett will meet us at the cup fell wine ofl this Mesnwhile, sup] , busy broker and, being thoroughly and | temperamentally an actor, feit the ¢hill { of this lack of interest snd wouid cer ! tainly have fallen down ou his part bad be pot been prompted by Mrs. Darnell. He was glad to.hasten away -te. find the elusive taxi The real George Everett got out of his limousine op the corner of Vander bilt avenue and hurried through the revolving doors; brisk, debonair, alett, decided; with that happy style which denies foppery and avoids surveillance. It seemed strange that tie should have a photograph in his hand at which be looked intémtly until be got in the con- course. There be'stopped and, with the picture still in his band, commenced watching the faces of the people thronging through the gates under the vast domes As he waited he frowned slightly. "Why had John Dorr sent him during business bours on a wild goose chase?" He thought of this ar ticulately and then smiled to himself, "4 wild goose!" he muttered. It brought up darkling lakes smooth as quicksilver under the evening sky, and slim, gray, beautiful birds homing downward. The frown left his forehead. "After all it will be good to see some- body from out of doors," he said to himself. Half an hour later he discovered that he had irretrievably missed the ar- rival of the Chicago express and with it Ruth Gallon. He went back into his car and drove to his office. Once there he called his head clerk, an an- cient and fragile man, as 'crisp and i bloodless as the money that passes on | Wall. street. and told him to see at { what botel Miss Ruth Gallon was stop- | ping. Then he wired John Dorr: | 111 Broadway, New York. | John Dorr, "Master Key" Mine, Silent Valley, Cala | Could not find Miss Galion at train. Am | seeking for her, as It is fmportant that | the business be settled immediately. Wire any possible address GEORGE EVERETT. Far out on eighties, an operator was ticking off Wilkerson. It read: % A Wést Eighty-tourth St, New York. Valle Vista, Cal: Everything all right. George met Ruth. particulars. Have seen guise of prospective purchaser of stock. The girl is charming. JEAN DARNELL. Some houses, like some people, should red stope front, marked by windows that seemed blind to all that went by, was not distinctive in that neighbor bood. A thousand doors within a mile would bave suggested to the passerby nothing more nor less than the great oak portais within which she lived. To 'Ruth Galion, of course, the house seemed tremendonsly formal and stute- ly. Within she found an atmosphere 50 absolutely strange and shen to all she had ever known that she shrank within herself and had nothing to say until she bad been conducted to her own room'gn the third floor and a dis creet maid was busy enpacking ber things. Ruth feit that society had al- ready laid its restrictions on ber. She recognized the maid as the "gown and hat" policeman. This silent, but exceedingly obtrusive personage having retired at last, Ruth studied ber surroundings. ¥ When she had completed her survey she thought to herself that there were two thing: wanting. One was a silk taired Per sian cat and the other a flaming colos- ed scarf across the bed that completed the altogether of an apartment severc- ly luxurious. Then she tried to ana- Iyze the odor, delicate yet insistent, which she was ever afterward to asso- ciate with Jean Darnell and her expe- rience in New York. : -+ At last she traced it to some pallid flowers in the great green and dark red vase, whose vnuwholesome beauty was that of plants whose roots have never been in good, sound soil. They looked to her much like lilies, whose pads had floated on some dark and opalescent sunset vistas, | Brondway, above the | another message addressed to Harry i Harry Wilkerson, "Master Key" Mine, via | She is now with me and waiting further | Everett under | never be illumined with sunshive,' and | Mrs, Darnell's residence, overlooking | the Hudson, was of this type. Its dull, | IDEAL - THEATRE, on: Wednesdays and Thursdays | Darnell fung herself toto ber evil pas | slon with all the abandon of the trage { dian, only her voice was alniost thuw | dible: "Tom Gallon. Tom Gallon, dead | though you are, I'll/bave revenge!" | When Hef fury bad spent itsetf--and, i like all physically indolent women; she could, not yield long to emotion--she | prepared her campaign. First'she called up George Drake and made certain that he would be at her | home for dinner tbat evening. Then she called up two old acquaintances who were always glad to fill empty | chairs at her well set tabla. This set- | tled, she again sought Roth and per | suaded ber from going down immedi | ately to Everett's office. "You must be very tired, my dear" Mrs. Darnell puorred. "And, anyway. you know, In New York young ladies do' not go about unescorted to men's | business offices, and I cannot go with | you until tomorrow or next day." | "That will be too late," cried Ruth. Mrs, . Darnell opened ber eyes wide, as if in surprise. "Mr. Everett is com- ing to dinner tonight," she sald sooth- | ingly. "You can talk business to your | heart's content right here." | "That will be much better," said | Ruth. . | hen her hostess was gone she ! stood by the window trying to think more calmly of all that had happened since she had left "The Master Key™ mine, but one thought was prominent: "What was John Dorr doing? She recalled that there was three hodrs' | difference in time, It was now 2 o'clock in New York, and it was only 11 tn Si- lent Valley. Tom Kane would be just | | making his final preparations for din. per, and she could almost smell the odor of his cofige. These bomely de- tails occupied her mind tenderly foran hour; then she caught up and dressed herself for the street again. 3 She bad barely finished when the maid came In with tea, followed by Mrs. Darnell. "My child, what in the world are you going to doY" asked Jean. we'll have tea together" | : | TT I------ "What was esohn Oorr doing? been in New York. and it ecems a shame to waste this tine afternoon. Anyway, | want some fresh air." Mrs. Darnell looked st her thaught- fully ond smiled presently In a way that made Ruth tush. It seemed to convict ber of discourtesy to ber hos tess. "You had best have tea!" and the girl obediently removed her bat and. jacket andssat down. it seemed to her that the rest of the afternoon passed ip fashes of such en- and | terlainment nx she had oever khows. | it wust be remembered that Ruch, He ing iu the mine pearly all her life sibee leaving school, bad not bad the advan. tages or the society of trained, alert. smart, clever women, Mra. Darpell wus very clever aud she used her ev- ery urt to keep Ruth's attention. She suecveded. That night at dinner George Drake, posing 8s George Everetr, suddenty flushéd darkly and turned to the girl M1 his fefr "Miss Gallon," tie said in a whisper, Bushing bis dark eyes to- ward his hostess to see If she wers watching, "I really hope that the trust You put in me you Won't find wispine el. FH do everything | can tv help fou, even If it is funny that | dida't Kbow that Johan Dorr Las red 38 Ruth 6oked at him ve 3 "Look, i "1 was going out for a walk" Ruth | J vesppoded. "You 'know. 1 have never | Every mother should realize that the skin §f her baby is so tender that the secretions of the body often lead to rashes, cruptions, etc., all of which may be removed by Zam.Buk. Scores of restless, crying) babies, upon examination are found to be suffering from some form of skin irrithtion or "heat." Don't let the little one suffer when Zam-Buk will cure! Mrs. k. Hood, of 475 Alexander Avenue, Winnipeg, says: *" Some nasty sores broke out around my baby's « mouth, and despite preparations used, they ed to heal, F took him Beniface hospital and Ire vained there for two weeks. t the end of that time he was no better and we again took him home. I was then advised to try am-Buk, and obtained a supply. effect of the first Tew appli- was very gratifying, and ued with the ule of the @ perseverance re omplete cure." in-Nuk cures eczema; rashes, vorm, chapped hands, seurvy, al rashes, cuts, burns, uloers, charging s, and all =kin injuries and diseases, Ge. box, all druggists and stores, or Zam- Buk Co, Toronto, for price, ¢ - > Air Moistener- "It's Tidme By the Wick" KEEPS THE AIR MOIST HEALTHFUL AND Fill Witty Water (Devdorizers aud. disinfectants may be added 4if desired.) Mang on Radiator Next the Wall Promotes Health and Comfort Prevents Furniture Drying Out Put one in every room SOLD BY David Hall Phones 333, 850. tN 6b Brock se. WOMEN FROM 45 10 55 TESTIFY ham's Vegetable Com- w TotheMeritof LydiaEPink. ~~ ¥)