'
MONDAY,; JANUARY 18, 1915. -
lx QQAKDr Eron;a czzzzrpD,
.THE
... "W'" w y?i '
Novelized Version of tiw
no Manufacturing Company.
fr; ,v'' ' ' ' ' .
, . CMAPtnrynrr ,
HBN b bad tborragUy
M ui mmod WUicanoa co
ly. In iplte of U lettar ko
bad recelTad from Jeaa Qar
jseu In Mew York.: telling blm of . bar
wiUlngBeaa to finance ner acbeme, de
tennlned be rauat be Manda wltb Job
Don, ' at : leaet . outwardl. Bo 1 be
amootbed oat the vialble vrlnklea In
Mm (ace, trying to veil tbe mallcldoa
'tfaam la hia eye, and apent two dajra
ooletlj tryioi to enow bla amiability,
not only. to tbe aalnera, bat to Dorr
WOkeraon waa : abaolntely " certain
' itbat bla old partner, -Thomaa Gallon,
ad really made a rlcb dnd and that
fee bad loat tbe location and accepted
Tho Maater Key" aa a aobedtnte la
na bop tbat by working It thoroughly
toe might flnt) the mother lode. In
tttber worda. careful manipulation of
.look nar, wiiKtrton, mayoa coin ot
",.(. u have made a miataka."
the present mine, painstaking toll In
ognrlng out the trend ot the varloua
veloa, would lend -to that particular
pot of gold which had been at the end
; of Gallon'a youthful rainbow ot hopes.
WUkeraon waa determined to be maa
ter of "The Maater Key." Be needed
the a killed aid of Jobo Dorr with bla
engineering knowledge. ,:.
John Dorr knew that there waa a
tremendoua aecret In Gallon'a life rep
reeented by tbe golden key which he
bad torn from bla neck and handed to
Both when be waa dying. That key
bad figures on It He nnderatood that
tboee scratches on that golden aurface
represented, something tremendously
important, and that the old man bad
committed Bath to bla charge and bad
spoken ot WUkerson aa bla former
iMurtner and sold, "WUkerson knows."
What waa It that WUkerson knew
H waa better, thought John, to accept
bla amiable adrances and thereby pof1
. elbly gain bla confidence and And out
for Butb'a sake tbat secret which
Tbomaa Gallon bad taken to bla grave.
, So on tbe aecond day after tbe resto
ration ot . the old scale of wagea and
bla own reappointment aa engineer In'
charge John went down to the office
and aald bluntly: "Look here, WUker
son. maybe botb of os bare made a
BQlstake. i;ro care my only aim la to
help oat in the promotion of The Mas
ter Key.' r
WUkerson recetred Mm amiably.
"I'm sora my oaly Interest In tola boat
nesa la to fetch Into good ore. An tbat
wo are digging oat now la dirt without
any pay in It" ,' '. J'' ' .
"1 think 1 know where we can strike
rftnt chtaa stuff," Dorr returned. "There
LJ
J ' 1
I ' Y t,-
1 " 1
MASTER - KEY.
By JOHN FLEMING, WILSON
COPYRIGHT. 191V BY JOHN FLEMING
Motion Picture Pnmi of tlit Saun
lUuttratcd With Photofrtpni rrom
. i l - : -- , , , . , i hi - - -
la sure pay rock If we travel south
from tbat main tunnel. We may bate
to go a couple of hundred feet" v
. WUkersoo looked at him shrewdly
"That will coat money," b remarked.
"Bat Til tak tbla ap with Roth."
Joan looked at him with a faint trace
of the old enmity la bla eyea. He did
not Uk to bear the Srat' name of the
mistress of "Tbe Master Key" on those
. "If tbe mine is not paying If s op to
as to make It pay, be remarked. '"'
i When WUkeraon entered the bangs
low Rath' perceived a great change lo
hla attttude. He was no longer sullen,
and be was evidently worried, fit was
a clean Worry, and abe smiled at blm.
Had not bar father come' In' with that,
expression . on hia face ' many times 1
Sb 'put her chin In tbe cup or hei
hands and asked cbeerrnlly. "What Is
IU Mr. WUkereontV. , . .v - - - -
. "May I alt downr be said, awk
wardly 'Mi r: s.r. T'. J
8 be motioned to a chair, and be pall
ed oat of his pocket a paper covered
with flgnrea. C .
"I think yon oogbt to' khdw Bow
thing are going along. Mias Gallon,"
be aald, With an usual formality.
"When your father made me aupertn
teddent of this mine I did not realise
that tbe responsibility was so heavy as
It la. r: We are not making any money.1
We are losing money, foo can aee by
the reports which 1 have here that our
cleanup lately has oeeo far leas than
oar expenses, and our last one showed
practically nothing. We moat Ond tbe
vein again. . To do so we mast bav
money. :. There, la no money. In The
Maater Key mlne.";: --
That's what ' father used to say
aometlmea," said Ruth quietly. "Bat
ne always got It" : - t
' WUkerson" fluaBed. "Hiss GaUhn, I
I hope that you don't think that I'm not
doing my beat 1 am. AJobn Dorr and
I have gone over this matter together.
He agrees with nfe that we have abso
lutely, lost : the vein and thut If -Tbe
Master Key'' is to pay anything more
we must Ond It again." '
' Ruth's expression softened at the
mention ot John Dorr's name. "What
does be think?" she demanded. "What
la tbe chance of tludlng It again?" :
"If we, run west. Dorr thinks," said
WUkerson slowly, "we'll recover tbe
vein, but that will cost money, wblch
we haven't got Do you realize. Miss
Gallon, that the pay roll here la pver
$l,00O.a day? Within a week i bave
to pay out over $30,000 for tbe month,
and I tell you frankly that; when I
have paid that there will be do more
money to the account of The Master
Key' in the bank in Silent Valley."
- Rutb realized that he was speaking
the troth, eea lessening the imme
dlateness of the catastrophe, but ber
distaste of tbe man was too great to
allow ber to discuss tbe matter wltb
blm in tbe Intimate way wblcb Rbe felt
was necessary. s5be must see John
Dorr. - ''..:,''''
. 8he quickly dlsmlSMea WUkerson and
then went to Dorr's office berselt, meet
Ing blm at tbe door. She bore as a
gift a amall basket ot fruit Without
preliminaries she said. "John, are we
broke?"
.. He laufrbed; then bis face grew
grave. 'The nilue is not paying." be
suld briefly. v:
"But can't we make It pay? VVbui
la tbe matter?"
; "Money." said .lonn
"But why money'" ' -t
"It will cost $10.(100 to drive that
new runnel." .lobu added aa tbey en
tered tbe otttce.
"But Mr. Wilkerxon Just said be waa
going to pay over $.'10,000 to tbe men,':
Rutb aald anberly. "If we bave that
much money, wb? can't we" .
A tenderneSH Hooded Dorr's eyes. Be
comprehended ber helplessness, under
stood why old Thomas Gallon bad been
so. Insistent that be. Jobii Dorr, sbould
look after ber. She was u niere child
He tried to 'explain tbe exact situation,
wltb tbe result Hint Ruth Bnally push,
ed blm off bis htftu stool, got up on It
herself, and wrote In a large, chlidlab
band right' across tbe face of one. ot
WILSON
Nam Produced bjr.tn UntYtraal
uii ncn
tctur Production.
- - - - - i - r - -
kfct nw drawing. "V must nic $10,
00OP
She swung around to John anu nskea.
"How cab I get $10,ffluun ,..' "?;
.: Dorr besltatvd ' Hla plan a rtsky
to view of Wllkci-wn's attituiif.' bat
fter all;" till-" iiuiuey " must tr'raled
He said guii'llv. "Pledge the Murk you
own tti "Tlie Muster key., i miow a
man in New Vdi'k wuii wlii . i. mil yni
$I0.0ini on II ' He immii nvt-t' mr ear
neatlv. ."But l!nten. Kuthy 11 We spend
the 10.!NHi mill we don't Mini tue moth
eV lode, von nisi-the inr.ir Its Jusi
like n uiorigai- on rtirin .
"Hut von won Win l sn!:est this If (l
wcreii'i tin- nii vvii.v iut.'.f she snlil
brli'dv i. "Nuw. now nm I to do this?'-;.
;"Vmi iiinsi en l.i. New Aork and if
Georc Gren-il 1 will nlv yon a lei,
ter to lii lit nnd he' will - to it thai,
you net tut' extra . moiK'i we nwd
Mcanwliile 1 11 kecti Hie niinc ttohig." .
"Ruth gnr lilm W full eyes. -Von
don't like Mr I ' i r' a, da ou ''
4 "I don't l.-u-t Vt" ie Milled
: 'Al this mnmeiit the. superintendent
entered the ottlce iin.i. seeiiiK their tWv
beads close togethei .'-ver tl'r .dk h
scowled. '
"1 came lo lm wi are goluu
to do anon (that li- tunuel. ! he wild
'roiijrhltr ' "I don:(:ake:.tii smrt to any
thlui; I (tint HiiWb
Kuril i-u nun iinxiiid lo kii.v iiuleriy .
"I am linlnu in N" Nork M'lt.v tu er
Mr- ieiiif Hvrntt; si friend ot Ml 1
liorrs iiinl I tCiii .nun- buck with ihc
$Iiiini . ; . . ) :?
. erett I vvclt-rei-clitml Wllker
wm. 'n In- Is i Miirye . Ktertl ; '
Iosillc Iplum rmwiis. Until foHl
lily I'Milnlnwt WIihii Kbc. Iind Mulshed
t "Jonn, ara wt broKe?"
WUkeraon nodded and aald: "I'll pat
the men to Work tomorrow. Dorr. Bet
ter have your plana ready!" He stamp
edout
- "Ton' bad better go this afternoon,"
John told Rath. . "There la no time to
loeeV '
"AU right" abe aald. "TO be ready
tat an hoar."
. John smiled "All right: I'll take
you over In tbe motor track or shall
we ride to Silent Valley V . j
"I've never been to New Tort" abe
aald timidly, and with that Inconse
quential logic which maidens have, ehe
added, "Let's ride. : I'll take Patsy and
yon can ride Black Joe."
'Dorr did not understand at all tbat
In leaving ber borne . for the great
strange city abe wished bet last hoars
to be fUed wltb sunshine and a famil
iar seat of scurrying over dry Califor
nia on half broken horseflesh. '
"All right ' we'll ride." be said.
"While yon are getting ready I'll write
a letter to George Everett"
Ruth laid one Blender band on John's
anonlder. .
"You're always doing things for me.
John," she aald simply. "Some day I'll
do something for you," 8be slipped
away without a backward glance.
Don watched ber trip down tbe hill
toward ber .own little bungalow, and
t jtm
if apemed to htm aa If be held oo end
C a golden thread that she wa pla
cing, through uMhin,. It waa an
eborad la bis beart That thread woald
be . 3.000 ml lea tone before abe aaw
geod old Bverett He picked bp bla
pea and wrote rapidlys ,
"Msstcr Kev" Mtna, 4tme -Oeara
Cvartit, Ul Broadway, Naw (on
City: ' "
Dear Oaorsa Wb a goons, alaadar.
trown ayad. goldea hslrad airi walks tale
your offlc an aaya, 'Tro Huth Oalloa."
aad haiula you tbe papers that aha will
aavt lo her llttla hand baa. please aaa
thM aba aati 110.000. Ever yuura,
- ; JOHN OORlt
'U ,wouio; nave added more. . Hla
dner Instinct told blm that Kntb sbould
be the Drat to put tbe wboi acbeme
before tbe tool beaded, rather cold
beart ed George Everett' Be addressed
tk envelope and aeuled It 'Then be
went to tb telephone and called up
tbe atatloo at Slleut Valley.
' "Bill." he aald quietly after listening
a moment to ae If any one waa on tbe
Une, "1 wnt to send a telegram. Take
It over the wire, pleas.: I'll be down
to a little while and pay you." ' '
"Bare." floated back a Cheerful voice.'
"I wish my credit waa as good as
yours, tenmlles away, bat It see mi a
If I bave to be always present wbea f
ask for It Go ahead, John!" : ' '
"Tbla to tt Bill.'' aald John: y '
B aorta Bvaratt Ul Broadway, Maw I or
City:
ktlaa Jtuth Oallsa leaves tonight as aaa
yea about "Master tCay" stock. Mast ber
and wire ma on her antral Take flood
ear of ber or I'll take ears or yon.
r , r JOHN DOFJl
' The operator repeated the message
and Involuntarily adopted little ot
John's savage Intonation on the Met
four worda. It wok bun op to the
fact that be waa allowing but feelings
to become public He begun to ae
wby It -waa that men looked at htm
trangely at time, when It waa a ques
tion of Rutb a Interestt. He must re
train himself. - '' -' S- :' ;'' :
The oiwnitor did not hang 'U? lain
dlstely,, but wild hexltanngly: ."May.
John, there's a nire here;. Just came
in from Tbe Master Key': mine. It
does not wiii to Jtlie with youm . Wit
kerson sent It" :, H:J4S::f:-A .'k'V'i:'
"I'll play fnlr." snld John to himself
and.be called back over the wire, "Itll
ly, that's yonra and ' WilkerHnn'M. bust
naaa, not mine." It be bad listened tu
tb tenor of the meaHage. directed tu
Jean Darnell, lu New York, be would
bav learned what WUkerson was plot,
ttag. :'- )'". ''"-y y-;:,yyy r;'f-
For. years WUkerson bad built up for
himself a golden Image In Jean Dar
nelt No one realised better than blm
self that, abe waa a creature of app
tit, a lover or silk and velvet A wo.
man wboae eyea widened at algbt of a
PejBlsD cat . jTemintne m every de
free, womanly lb bdHS. . fiut be blm
self, dominated abaolntely, utterly and
completely by bla deairea, had fallen
under ber spell, and be waa goltjg to
win ber, no matter how.. It la a
strange thing that when a dishonest
man finally yields to 'an honest passion
nothing will satisfy blm but the ut
most observance of the rltnal of socie
ty. Harry Wilkerson'a v.hloa waa ojj
waiinng up tne aisie or a great cnorcn
to meet hla bride at tbe altar. . '. :;i:
Tet be bad always thought of her In
terms of gold: that was s contrast
the pallid, satiny; blue eyed woman,'
voluptuous, soft and bis Image of ber
built of yellow gold.- dragged out of
the bowels of 'The Master Key" mine
This Image waa now before bla eyea:
Instead of the warm, sun blessed Call,
fornla bills, wltb their faint scent ot
sage and cactus, he saw a richly fur
nished room, and breathed the odor of
attar of torcs. Let us not follow him
in bis dreams. . But looking over his
shoulder an hour litter we read:
"Master Key" Mine, June
Jean Darnell, Astor House.. New. York
City:
Find George Bverett at 111 Broadway
anil, meet Rutb Gallon in Chicago on
Santa Fe express leaving bere tbla even
ing. Introduce Drake as Everett after
you bave seen Everett and -keep the girl
to yourself until I can arrange matters.
. .' HARRt. ';.
"1 can't send' this through any office
near bere." be thought "so I guess I'D
ride down to Vulle Vista and band It
to the conductor. He can send It from
Los Angeles " ,
Three days later Rutb Gallon settled
aerself In tbo seat of a I'ullmaa that
waa soon to leave Chicago for New
fork. Shu was excited, in crossing
town from one depot to another
through the streets roaring with trnf
8c abe bad beard sounds that had nev
er met her ears before tbe sounds of
the , world'a business wblcb, oddly
enough, seemed to be mostly bniiled
over cobblestones. The faint echo of
tbat noise still rang In ber ears. . It ap
palled ber to think tbat she must dwelt
wltb men who lived in such an atmos
phere; also ahe felt very lonely. She
thought of tbe mine, of Tom Knne In
tbe door of bis cook sbanty, of, the
great ore bucket swinging across tbe
gulch toward the mill, of Jobn, bend
ing over bla blue prints and papers; of
the grave on tbe hill where ber father
lay, still within tbe precincts of Tbe
Maater Key." .' :;'.''',;'..-,'..'':''.
It bad been mo I impressed upon ber
tbat ber mission wits of-vital Impor
tance to the mine, that these tender
emotions flowed Into the same channel
with ber really keen business Instinct
She pulled the key. warm from her
bosom, out of Its hiding place and look
ed at it- '.
...... crtAPTErVjir.
Jean Darnell's Rose.
HI m lent tmiat ha MIm a11nB."
II snld a pleasant voice. -
itutb looked up to see a
woman of Horld beauty and
dressed In somewbut extravagant style
looking down at ber out of great taw
ay, velvet eyea. Western bred, Ruth
responded amiably tb tbla aalutution,
though abe bad not tb faintest Idea
wbo the woman aaa.
"Yea. I aw Mlxa Outloa." '
"I am Mrs. Darnell." eaid'tb wom
an "May I alt down! I am aa old
frleud of your friend, John Dorr. He
wired me tbat I would Ond yon a tbla
train." Tbe lie waa ao plausible tbat
Rnth merely blushed, thinking that It
was one more token of John Dorr's
earefulnew or ber comfort and safety.
To her Inexperienced eyea tbla woman
represented tbe . tremendoua : dry . to
wblcb abe' waa going. Her dresa, bar
manner., ber Jewels, tbe evavlva per
furue that she affected were ull strange
and iuiprewHlvw to ber. . Ube moved
over a little to allow Mrs.: Darnell tu
sit down, ' s ,
. "Johu never ioke of you," aald Rutb
Imply. ") did not have the faintest
notion tbat I wus to meet any of bla
friends. Do yon live In'New fork?" '
"Yes. 1 lire in New York.- I napiieu
ed to be In Chicago, and through Mr
Everett I beard from John."
. "Ob. you know Mr. bvervttr' cried
(tnthi. "He la tbe tuna I am going to
see in New York,". and abe went on to
tell, a Dent ahe could, tbe gist of ber
mission. ( ( ( , ,
It waa typical of the woman to whom
abe waa talking tbat sb did not Inter
rnpr tbla naive narrative. - 8lie sat In
silken silence, occaaloually allowing ber
gtjeut eyea to rest on Butb'a fair face
wltb an assumption of affecdon. ' Aa
a ma i ter or fact, she was profoundly In
terested. Ufa bad uuabt Jeair Dar
Bell a great many thluga, sud among
tbeui bad been tbe great leason or tielf
preservatlon-tb saving for herself of
money, or. eomrot of health and ot
good, looks - Now II waa a qtieatton of
mouey", prime among them all. and ber
rather keen wits aaw ' precisely . Lha
chances which WUkeraon was taking.
She recalled bla oft repeated statements
that there waa mouey In "The Maater
Key" and bis latest letters Imploring
her to Help ntm get control of tbe stock
When Rutb ended up with a gentle
"And so I told John I'd cutne and see
what I . could do," ' the elder woman
amlled gently. Times were not so good
wltb ber aa tbey bad leen, and If Har
ry WUkerson - could , put this , , deal
through and make money for them all
It. wotild almpllfy many a problem
which ah dully pobdered at night. ' ! .
"Mr." Everett will meet us at the
train." ahe aald briefly,: '"and then ,vbu
can' tell blm all tltla. Meanwhile, aup
pose we talk about aometbltig else.!
."But I cau l think of anyiliing else, '
aid Ruifc.;v.s'-::,:';:;:n.:;i.;v;
; Oh, you will.:' said Mm. Diunell.
"You can cohiliine the pleiisure of see
Ing New York;, with. yimr: little, husl
bw. ; il lit Kvt'i vll will quickly "settle
that part of It. nnd I slinll take greiii
pleiisnn.- in slioivliig you ab'.nit Manbai
(sn. -.1 presume y nu n re fund of op
enir ' J
"I have . .never been to the opern.'
lUitli reNpomled. . "I Klmtild love to pj
"Uiil'lvlifii I ulu p I uitist go all Mlone,'
she went on linpiilHlvcly, . v think op
era tUiist lie liltu church -one wanlx to
Uii nil br oneself."
,91m. Darnell turned very slowly and
for the Ill's! time In many years reveal
ed a? secret, thought:: "Do you know that
my only pleasant memories, my dear,
are of myself 7" V
'' The : bitterness of ; tbat confession,
wltb all Its implication, wholly escaped
Rotb'a sensitive i bat Inexperienced
mind. Yet there was something in the
tone that warmed ber heart to this ef
fulgent creature. - At least., she waa
not going Into the great city all alone,
nor confront Mr. Everett by herself.
Mrs. Darnell 'made ber feel tljat : rhe
waa cempeteutly protected.
When they arrived the next morning
at the Grand Central attttton Id New
York city Mrs. Darnell quietly Intro
duced ber to a slim, rather handsome
young man, wbo seemed ill at ease un
til he bad drawn . Ruth's companion
aside for a moment for a chat while
the porter collected their luggage. -
"1 don't Just like this game," he aald
"In the first place. Everett Is a big
man In tbe city, and this Miss Gallon
doesn't look to me like a girl you could
fool long. Anyway, ; I can't under
stand what you ara trying to do, Jean,
too niust know what sort of a fellow
Harry WUkeraon la by tbla time. Wby
play bla hand for blm?" ',..
"I don't notice you holding any
trumps in join hand," she returned
gently; but wltb a faint gleam In ber
eyes which made ' him draw .' back.
"This la my game, and 1 expect you to
play your part Yoa come on now and
be George Everett. Tbe girl la aa ig
norant as a pigeon. Bemember what
1 told yoa." '
"About that stock r' be said sullenly.
'"Yea, the stock... .Yon understand
that she came to New York simply to
raise money for this mlne. You are
supposed to handle the business for
ber. If yoa don't learn all that la to
be learned about The Maater Key
mine in the next two ' days you are
mom than tbe fool I take you for."
She drew him back to where Huth
stood amid tbe suit cases and hand
bugs and aald.: "Miss Gallon. Mr. EV
erett baa been telling me that he. too.
baa beard from John Dorr about your
coming." .'' Vt'-.-::'-y ,. ...
. Butb scanned blm politely. But the
Interest died In ber eyes when she
saw what sort of a man be waa. He
might he a friend of John's; be might
be tbe man to rescue "The Master
Key" from bankruptcy, but be did not
Interest her. . .
: Drake, trying to play tbo part of the
boay' broker and, being thoroughly ind
temperamentally an actor, felt tbo chill
of this lack of interest and would cer
tainly have fallen down on bla part
bad be not been prompted by Mrs.
Darnell. He waa glad to hasten away
to And tbe elusive taxi
' Tbe real. George Everett got out of
UN llteHUcl!3 oil
out avoowfa. 3 1.
revniVg 4jot: I
t
djcH i. with t -Ft a t i
deoiea feccar? a4 av. i t
It warned stmago tuat '? II
a photograph to bla bar 1 at
looked intently until be tc la re t i
course. There b stopped and. wit t
ptcturs sull b) hi band, cvmrnw
watching tbe facee o the p.,
thronging through the gate and &
vast dome. Aa be waited be frownef
lightly. "Why bad John Dorr m (
blm during business boors on a wiu.
goose chaser He thought of thU aa.
llcuhitely and then amlled to bimaa
"A wild - gooawr be ' muttered. ; It
brought np darkilnt aonaet v lata a
lakes amootb aa qulcksllTar nnder t;
evening aky. and Urn. gray, beaatlful
blrtla bonung' down and Tbe frowa
left bin fore bead. . ..!..:;'..: ,
"After all It will be good to ae aoat.
liodr from out ot doora," be aald to
blmselt . x ,-ui
Half an bnur later be discovered tbat
be bad Irretrievably missed the ar
rival of tbe Chicago express and with
It Rath Gallon, He went back into
bis car sud drovuto bla oBce. One
there be railed bla head clerk, an an
cient and fragile man,, aa ertep sud
bloodless aa tbo mouey that paasc oa
Wall street and told blm. to aee at
what hotel MIoh liuth Gallon waa
ping. Then b wired Jobn Dorr:.
- ' m Broadway. New V
Jeha Dorr, "Maatar Ka"' Mlna, aUaat
VaJlev. Oat: ". : - ;
Could at flaw Wlae Qatlen at train. Aw
Seattle tc tor bar. as it a Impeftaat tW
the buslnasa be tattled imnieoMataly. Uram
any paaalMe addraaa.
j UKOKOC aTTWtCTT.
Far oat on Broadway, above tb
Igbtlea. aa operator waa peklng i
another mesMg addressed to Hatvy
Wltkerwm It read. ,:rv:,:-t.
at A Weat aHst-ferta atL Mew tors.
Barry Wiurarana. Maater Kay" aflaa, rial
. Valla Vista. Call
' Bvarythma ah rlawL
ha la now with aad waitsaa fartbar
particulars. Have aaaa cverett aaSM
ulae of proapaotlve parokaaar ef easal
The gut la ehaiwilng.
JKAtt DARN XXI.
Some bouaea, like eome perpaa, abeola)
ever be Illumined eritb aaoahlna, aad
Kn, DarneU'e rasldaac, ovaricoktog
tb Hudson, waa of thla type. Its doll
red eton front, marked by window!
tbat seemed blind to all tbat want by.
waa not dbunctiv In tba nelgbb-;
hood. A thousand doora within a aalwi
would have aoggeated to tbe paaaarby
aotblng asore nor Mat than tb great
oak portala within wblcb abe Uvea. Te
Rutb Gallon, of coun, (b kouae
seemed tremendously forma) and state
ly,. Within sb found an atmoepber
ad absolutely atranx ana alien to an
be bad ever known tbat an ahrann
within herself and bad nothing to aay
nntU abe bad been conducted to bar
own room on tb third door and a tUa
creet maid waa busy unpacking hot
things. Ruth felt that society had air
ready laid Ita restrlctiona on bar. Bbej
recognised tbe maid aa tbe "gown and
bat" policeman.
: Thla silent, but exceedingly obtrusive
personage having retired at last, Rutb
studied ber surroundings. When abe
bad completed ber survey abe thought
to herself that there were two thing
wanting. ! One waa a silk balled Per
alan cat and the other a .flaming color
ed scarf across tbe bed that completed
the altogether of an apartment aevere
ly luxurious. Then she tried to ana
lyre the- odor,, delicate yet insistent,
which ahe was ever afterward to aaao
elate with Jean Darnell and ber expe
rlence In New York.
At Inst she traced It to some pallid
(lowers in the great green and dark red
vase, whose unwholesome beauty was
that of plants wbose roots bave never
been In good, sound soli; Tbey looked
to her much like lilies, whose pads bad
flouted on some dark and opalescent
pool, viscid with odors of the night
Shu- was still staring at these and
snlltltig their scent through , widened
nostrils when Mrs. Darnell knocked on
the door and entered slowly. t3be bad
changed ber street gown tor a negligee,
which Instantly caught the glri'a ap
preciative eye. .:
"You look beautiful." abe aald quick
ly. , Jean Darnell turned ber tawny
eyes on her and snflled faintly. -.
- "1 am not usually up until noon." she
responded, "and-1 am getting old, my
dear." She. threw . out - ber Jeweled
bands with n sparkling gesture of hair
comic resignation. Kuth laughed, i
"John Dorr Buys everybody gets old
m New York. : Dou't you like bUnT"
Mrs. Daruall looked into the clear
eyea of' the girl and almost tailed to,
follow her baser Instinct But at that
loose throat abe aaw tbe beavy gold ot
"The Maater Key." Aa If It bad so
pernntural powers, the eight of that
key locked the door of ber beart "Ot
course I like Jobn," she aald easily
"We must get everything fixed up now.
George will be bere George Everett
of course, I mean-tonight, aad yoa
nnd be van talk the business over."
' "You . know. I we simply most have
the money," Itutb returned earnestly
"Tbe mine lan't paying now, but Joan
know where we can find the mother
lode again: thn we'll all be rich."
"Ah!" said .lesti Darnell. : "You're
selling stock, I presume?" .'
"I own It all," Rutb returned proud
ly. "Ifs my mine. Aly rather left It
to me when be died." 8be did not see
the sullen hatred that slowly flamed
onttl Jean Darnell's eyea fairly blazed
In her own room she stood a moment
breathless. Then she tore off her fleecy
oeglleee In an intensity of silent rage
and despair, seen only by the one xclted
eyea of tbe trod whom the bnd OeBed.
It Is wickedness, not- virtue, whleb
la theatrical, and at this moment Jean
Darnell flung herself into her evil paal
ton wink aU the abondon of the trage
dian, only bar voice was almost inau
(Contkioed wa flaga 4.)