1‘» CHAPTER xxx. -|_| thought you loved mo tool†CTR had llstened Intently. and now she seemed to draw lwr sell a little out of {be um versatiuu. Her mange of m titude did not go uuobsened. and both Ewrett and Dorr Were puuled. Everett saw that there was another mymery of which he knew nothing uud instantly and In the moat businesslike manner turned to Ruth and aid: “saw. all this subject to your up proVIll. 3113- Ruth. You know you are practically of use.†She looked at Everett steadily and said in a low tone. “1 think Sir Donald Favershaxn should be consulted." *“But he has nothing"- John begun. “He has everything to do with thin plan.“ Ruth said steadily. â€i know he's done a lot." Dorr stain men-d. feeling the ground give under his iwt‘ "but in this matterâ€- "i think Miss Ruth in perfectly right." Everett said quickly. trying not to let the pity he felt for John show in ms L'yvs. "Let us call him. by all moans." Sir Donald had kept himself most discreetly In the background for many weeks‘ Only the constant oversight for her comfort showed Ruth that 51w was never out of his mind. It was a strange conference that met that night In the once. On one side were Harry Wllkerson and Mn. Dar Bell. on the other Everett and Fan-r shun. the‘ latter looktng so mtensely bored that shrewd Mrs. Darnell ln- stantly made up her mind that she and .Wllkerson would have to accept him-r terms. . And now when all must be mad:- plaln and she must llve up to her own pmmlse she steeled herself for the or‘ deal. Sir Donald listened to Everett's plnn and approved It thoroughly. “And now that we have decided what to (10." he concluded. "I think we Ihouid immediately so to the mine and make tbeâ€"ahâ€"the deaL l by no menu: like this aanir. and the sooner it is over with [be better‘" She Could not even think of him without a 111mb of gratitude. “Good." said Everett. much relievvd. “And you and l. Slr Donald. being the third parties. had better handle this deal. Do you agree to that. John?" Dorr ï¬nally agreed to malnuln u strict neutrality 1nd Ruth gratefully accepted the otter to conduct her at In: as 811' Donald and Everett would Judge best. "I'd like to Just get my hands on that fellow once more." was the hoarse re- !ponse. "There would be no further need of this ‘deul' as you call it." Tom Kane received them joyfullv sud informed Ruth that Mrs. Darnell had especially seen to It that the buu [slow {us ready for her. “Yes and the fat would be In are." Everett replied. v.15)“ night they left for Silent VaI lay. - He win full of other news. but both su- Donald and Everett put him on and set about their business. Sir Donald was only too evident!) walling: for formalities to be owr lu- fore be said the few Words uwossur)‘ for him to say As Ruth‘s represunm the. "You. and tho he would In in tho HI: sultry eye: did not meet the gaze of the three who looked to him for an no or no When he spoke It was with I dab of his old ell-outcry. “I understand the proposal." no said. Working his Ieagn. brOWn angers back Ind forth over a blue print on the dusk. "We quit. give you the plum. Ind you give us"-â€"he luddenly leaned our and darted a ought glance intu EVereu‘s eyesâ€"â€you give us I'M!" When Everett had coldly Ind defl- nttely let the situation before them Wilkerson sat motionless and In .1 Race for a moment. EVerett was prepared for the ques- tlou and answered it promptly. "We’ll give you 350.000 cash and won't prose- cute you “ Wilkerson shook his head. "You understand that 0811‘ mm mine was mim- by rights when Tom Gallon took It for himself by shooting the Ind lenvzxx: me to die on the desert Fifty thonwxml? l‘nn!†thonwmd? l‘ï¬h!’~ “And immunity from prosecution." sum"! s‘r [mould lmpnsalvely. V\':.m-rson swung on him. thrusting his loan. turmus face close to the Eng» nahman's calm. unperturbed counte- lance. “What have you to do with this? he Inn-led. l‘uersham did not mm W 90‘!“ Wilkerson himself felt. too. (but hr as at last playing a mime where ul! cards were to be face up on nor change his tune. â€I have 11km Gallou‘u prowl».- m marry me. There Will u aud‘h-x. illvln'v. hrnken only when “'ernum'a (1r) lhruzll ut- tered xi triumphant rmuk. only when Wilkermu'a tir) lhruzll ut- “Wilkenon‘. Impatient u ever." he iered n triumphant rrmlk. told John one afternoon. “He t-nn‘t Mm Darnell ioukc-d at t-nu-rnhum wait on tunneling and IUCD. DUI he'- with her tawny eyw tiih-d wvlh dun going to blow the whole fut-e or bin embers of pusaion. Ewn-u wt mg ii hill r1811! 05'- TOld MI men â€it“ 45'"! x"untied. mite wn hotter thun pick and tunnel." "So John Dorr gets the kick! and? “Well.†said John. “thu Inn} pron 3'00 set the hnlfpeuce!" mid Wilkt-r- all right. At least he'll get I uolluu of non wildly. “l have curred nun; nod-flint formation he bu to deal with " nll my curse- couldnt DzU'e puuuhed i‘ filter that name day Kinelnnouufl‘d him wot-he. Why.“ he went on in" I that Wilkouun we: going to net ufl hfltEflCEHL "the poor fool lures her!" ; the Dismal! buttery of lbotl ever tried Again niienee.- ' in the valley. TN! time Everett bmke It. saying: A. I consequence Fountain. Ruth. ntlmy: “You understand our prop-ml John. Everett Ind many other! not tion. Doyou accept it?" incrou tho gulch toward evening to Mrs. Darnell loukc-d at run-rulmm with her uwuy eyw mn-u wnh duh embers of pusaton. Even-u sul mg 1! stunned. Mn. Darnell lald he: and on \Vllker- Iou‘a arm. Ind he teamed to run lulu a profound reverie. They could lee the lights and sum] ows an over his uturulue Visage. me sparkle or his eye. dying into n mere dreamy slow. the sudden Mgmenmg of his thin lips. the working or his hand; Finally he roused himself as by nu eflort. “I tmnk I ought to have more." he suld quietly. "There are ulgns or gold on one part of (his property wnn-h 'lms neVer been worked. It to nowhere near the place marked to the plans. us you will enslly see. You understand than Tom Gallon and l were pnrtners when be located that rich ore. Never mind. Bygone: are bygonu. But I want 350.000 and that Ilttle chum- It muy not amount to unythlug. but then uxulu It may. b‘lfty thousand In noon event. A mine is a mine." "The plans!" demanded Slr Donald. Wilkerson puUed out of his shirt bosom an ollskln folded around a square paper. He laid (In: on the u:- ble. Mrs. Darnell'l movement or pruteut did not eoctpe either Everett or Puer- ahum. They looked at the lime packet that Ind cost so much agony and bloodshed. “There they are." he laid. us though driven to bay. “H II lâ€"l gentleman's agreement." said Sir Donald presently. taking out Ms check book. The money passed. and men Ewrett ptcked up the ollskln packet and put It In his pocket. Mrs. Damell'u race became splendid In It: futile rage. She tore the ribbun from nbout her throbbing throat and flung the key on the table. Sir Donald picked lt up carefully and rose. At the same moment Everett pocketed the deed: and started for un- door. He and I-‘aversham pllssgd out Into the “any night and vunlsbed. leuvxug Wllkerlon still at the desk fumbling the check. Suddenly he reached for pen and ink and ocrnwkd his name on me back. "The deed- und the master key. said gently. Then he slflntly handed It to Jean Darnell. biting her red lips and moving almost tmpercepubly. like no animal about to spring. She took the bit of paper and tucked it In her bosom. Then she turned on her communion. He met her dery gun- coldly “The mother lode b on mat Hula. M: I got them to give us." he said «.111me "The plans Everett has are mm." And the look that hm- ul|0“rd ulm to see In her eye: was such us no um er mun and ever seen :berv. It was us If her torturvd and lonely. proud mul and found its mute in some darkness made lurid by the drums of bull. He met Ruth at the door and qulvtly told her that all wu Well. She looked up at hlm with her great eyes tilled with unwed team and be bent over he: a llttle. Then he drew out [be master key and put the ribbon over bet head unit] the dull Dru: shone on her white throat. Slr Donald spoke a brie! good night to Everett when they bud left the o!- ï¬ce and turned toward the buugubw. leaving the other to go up to when: the light burned In John Durr‘s cabin and tell hlm of the eweuu or the etch- “You are once more the mistress of the master key.?' he said gently. "and of my heart." Something In her expression told bun be had and enough. Wlw a cheerful word he went away. ' But the next (In: 81: Donald renew ed m. wooing la web I fuhlon (In! Ruth was sorely put to It to keep hlm from demndln; zuch urone. u be: camel“ made him rightfully uk The hardest part was that Ibe per- celved that John Dorr now knew {but she was to marry Sir Donaid. He did not know. nor ever 13011ch- what that martian In the price or. Everett. of coune. had quietly hum duced 81! Donald] Amman of m- new relation to Ruth Into an narrative of what Ind occurred In the 0mm. for. John Ind taken the blow :tecdlly. but he was not one to walk In the dart. He nought out Rum Ind In I few words drew from her the truth. â€â€œNow '0 I" know when we stand." John said bravely. smiling It her. â€That doesn’t alter the matter.‘ he aald comforunxly. “Now l must get to work. l've lot: to do. Wllkeraon has already started work around the spur: and 1 must begin drlvlnz Into the place where your father found that rlch veln. We may drift lnto ll any day.†Naturally enough the two camps kept pretty much to themselves, but Tom Kane carried the gossip to John Don. evidently in an ea'ort to dLstrnct lib mlmi The old cook knew that John‘n hem 7 "But 1-! (bout!!! you loud me too." Ihe murmured. binding. and between his love " be mg mom PARK mass mow!) mm: was tor each of them he run tumult hard pruned to maintain I charm! counte- A. I connoquenco Favorslnm. Ruth. John. Everett and many other: went lcrou the [ulch toward cvonln: to watch the thaw. Old Tom Kane mangled m- In] head doubtfully n be ï¬lmed now They Saw Man AM Man Como Down tho Hill Till Only Wilhnon Wu much dynamite bud been planted and now Wilkemn'l men were Actually too nervouu to work In, longer. At laut the Work was Ipparentlyi done. and Wilkerson waved hi5 arm-.1 A: that signal there wu I general! rush for cover Then the man straightened himselti up as if muster of the demum hidden i ut his feet. and waved min hand to the‘ woman watching him from below: then he stooped An lnsmut later there we: I terrlm'; explosion. and a smoky gap appeared; halfway up the hillside. “He has to ï¬x the (use: Ind are the shout blank-If." he uld. Rum noticed that be worked raptdly and mu: an ocvnuounl glance down toward Mrs. Darnell. who stood near a big rock shading her are. again“ the eveulng sun True enough. they saw min after mun come down the MU till only Wil- kenwn wu IefL At the foot of the slope my the INII)’ of \Vllkersuu. tossed llzvru un one might toss an old ball. The smoke on the DUI eddled nnd swirlvu. XI) ulll‘ surrui, 'l‘hvre \u-n- n dun-n other unexplmlmj wuu m Hm mn- sidu. any one of “'hlt‘b mmm likely bring the tupplluurrest dmumurd With white mm. they tn-Id tlu-lr bn-uth thkt-rsun‘u bod) (“tuned sttghtly. the only movtnx thing In tbut umphltbvuter. ’l‘beu [hr-re Wu: 1: wtld M‘rt‘fllll. nth-d with terror. with passion, with {humus and awful dt-sirv. and Jmu lmrm-H run over [lu- mum. toward the snmk tug lttll. crytng‘ "Harry! Harry!" A dozen mun started to run [0 drug tu-r bill'k. and I hundred vutm mut- ton-d Wnrntnu that held them In ttwtr tmn'kx. Jenn rmlctn-d the body and Gun: [wr- self on H. mm she rose and nun-d up It the greut rocky crest. Did she neur the mar 01 \‘ulm cull- lng to bur to flee while there Wu time? In this ï¬nal muclnm her wild boar! broke through the bond! or this mm existence and dual her I run pun-Ion. ed sacriï¬ce on the body of the man who had lowed her and given nor an Illâ€"honor and life: In th;7(71urlrck “hence they who watch ed heard I uncle. full (hunted cry: Then the mount-In rout. Into an ur. Ind the "lunch. or rock pound over the two Dover-I In I". “at 'l'. c111 it had buried than tonne. ? Very steadily no turned turn I“ ï¬ned up It the ten-10c andâ€. which and united both the darklh‘ hurtod and golden youth. Ho team! the cook beam. bun. ht! my loch ï¬re-min; tn the sum of wind from the Mun. 80 pound with NI Itick to a place of rock that tolled to that: feet. Ind In the dull lull." thlt followed the terriï¬c uprou no And A: explosion that oxplodol rocked the earth and ï¬lled the cum sky with lurid debris Ruth «maid from Sir Donald's deulnln; (rap Ind fled Into the arm of John Durr. who" Ibo clung. sobbing: “John! John?" _31: Donald |00Ied 3: John Don't mmnxured taco ud heard (but cry. meant (or lover's an alone. “I really believe. Mr. Kane. that we have uncover“! the guld we have look- ed for to long." And Tom Rune reached down Ind picked up the nugget Ind stared I! It Then he turned to the white head m- uelnan beside him bld she see above her II It. ‘Tbe Master Key?" the old on muttered. “You." returned su- Donald quad]. '1! unlocks Itrnnxe doom" THE :39 Loft e the death [but nun‘ If the dld the damned A Great Number of PeOple Are attracted by the remarkable values that have been offered “from this ofï¬ce in choice Real Estate. Now 18 the time of the year to make your fselectlons Apartment Building. New; two 6 room a- partments and Baths, Large Living rooms, FirePlaces, Sleeping Porches. Oak Trim. Thru out. Hot Water Heat. Built-In Buffets, Refs. and Kitchen Cabinets. Each Apt. Will 353233, 5:; 3225“ $9500 8 rooms and bath, furnace. modern in every rapect Half down, balance 6m percentontime..‘...,.V....... 6 rooms and bath, lot 50x150. good sized barn, has cement floor, water and electric lights. 820(1) down, and balance ontime. .. Vacant lots in the vicinity of Lin~ coln and St. Johns Aves., per ft. Bungalow 5 rooms and Bath. Hot air heat. ; gum Laundry Garage L01 501C2m Three blocks 12 ms and bath, all improvements inand from N. W. Depot $20000 cash $42“) for 5blocks from the uni- W takesthis .................... vetmty Part cash........,.... 1 acre lots facing on Green Bay Road and Gage Ave ............ 5 room cqttagc, corner lot “01:150. all provements in and paid for. Part $26 cash. balance on time ......... Lot Walker Avenue. per foot St. Johns and Wade Aves. 163 frontage. per ft ................ Forest, Wade St. Johns Aves. ft front, per foot .............. Bungalow. 4 Large rooms and Bath 2 Large porches 819(1) down balance $3850 5 years ..................... House. 8 Rooms and Bath lot lmxl79; Hard- WOod Fin. Hot Air heat. Laundry. All improvements in and paid for. W Part cash ............... House, 8 Rooms and Bah bot 50x185 Hdwd Fin. Hot Water Heat, Laundry. Space for 3 more rooms. improve- ments in and paid for. Pan cash House 6 rooms and Bath. Large attic. de. ï¬nish. Hot air heat. Lot 50x145 Part Cash. Balance on $4500 time. Lot 50x145 N. Greer Bay Road Have daily inquiries for properties, also houses to rent If you wish to sell, or rent, list at this ofï¬ce for quick results. Red Estateâ€"Tu Almaâ€"Wu all nusâ€"Sm Buds Sheridan Bldg, Highland Park Telephogie 63 Hum Put $10 “i $10 é‘.’.$19 House 10 Roomsand Bath. 5 Bed Rooms, "as room and Bath upstairs. Furnace, _ ry and Dumbwaiter Connection bane m ‘ tto Kitchen. 200m. of Porch 2 story , Lot 100x196 Special Assessments Pd. i- ~ 5‘34. énméhflï¬ï¬‚ $3100 Qflm m R atSfl 00 wnbal Hciise 7 rooms and Bath Mwmmmm $3100 De‘lrable building lots 66x132 one block frog! Moraine Hotel will sell very reanon ablg: $533 Wm? .53". $1400 8 liaoms and bath. lot 50x150. stucco ï¬nish. ‘ water heat. hard wood ï¬nish, large a . barn equipped with electric light and 6 «:1st dow'n. .......... et 57ҠLake Forest Labs 311x150,halfmile nonh of N. deppt. Easy payments. Per foot 5 doom and bath, lot 50x150. Ho: air heat. Uprto-datc in every respect. (Am Yum lots 64x150. Two bldcks fromdcpot. Per ft. ' .. Doerï¬dd Tomhip 105cm farm, city improvements good house at? barns. Very reasonable. IOEAcre Farm. Will sell at per (cm V“ at and imp‘rbâ€"veâ€"d-Eell Estate at all p gesandonmostany terms. Hduse 9 rooms and Bath. 4 bedrooms. Hot uir‘heat. Oak trim upstairs. Birchtrim downstairs Tile d bathrpqm, _2 ï¬re M 1 upstairs and! down. Supoo Finish. Lot 50x220 balance on time ......... $7M ' North Chic." 5 foam: and bath Part cash, bahnce on time ............. ‘, balance 6 per cent Luke Bluff $15 to $20 .w‘ $13