La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959, January 25, 1915, Image 3

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La Grande evening observer., January 25, 1915, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextMONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1915 LA GRANDS EVENING OBSERVER- r THE t n- ' A Novelized Version of the Motion Picture Drama of the Same Name Produced by the Unlverea fttan Manufacturing Compw-.IUuatre.ted WJth Photograph Prom, the Picture Production. (- CHAPTER HC ' - Iff Meter ef the Matter Key Mine. HEN Ruth Gallon ma not call ; upou hiin uod lie found him self; unable to locate her Charles Everett was at a toes ' what to do. He bad wired; Dorr of bis anxiety about .her and bad received -word in reply that tbe young engineer liad received conflicting messages. :' Unhappily for tbe sir!, Everett waa . called out of town. :'.'. And so When be found blmaelf forced to make hur ried trip to San. Francisco her predica ment became tbe more pronounced. , Tba fal Everett George Drake, took It upon himself to call at the Rita for her mail, and, returning with word ; that there was none for her, Butb felt a strange premonition that matters were not progressing as they should. , Mrs. Darnell found her gazing out of the drawing room window, huddled in a pathetic little heap, dejection stamp- ed on features and form. , - "Dearie,': purred the-hostess, "you " look aa If you bad lost your last friend on earth. Do cheer up. What Is tbe . trouble?". , . s . . -. Rath turned her head, but remained -Inibe same queer little attitude, reply ing, in a plaintive voice: , V .-, "I do not understand why Mr. Dorr 'has not written or wired me. Really, Mrs. Darnell, I am beginning to fear that something has .happened to him." Mrs. Darnell looked at her searching ly, but; recovered quickly, under, tbe questioning return go sc. : "Do not worry, Ruth. Everything i will come out nil right Supposing we take a drive The air and , sunshine. . 'Will do you a world of good." . .- : -Every minute was one of delight to the unsophisticated girl, and each new eight and vista opened a new world te ber inexperienced ; mind.. After - a stop at Grant's tomb they speeded -downtown, reaching Columbus circle . after a run through Central park.- A 'blowout of one of the tires caused ri delay. Roth tired of sitting in the car, and, jumping oat, she spied flor ist's window. Before Mrs. Darnell .could think of the possibility of a mis carriage of ber well laid plans the girl iwas inside. She purchased violets for both and was on her way out when she saw a telephone.. Intuitively, ratti er than from any other motive, she hastily called up Mr. Everett's oiUce. .To ber amnsement she learned that be . 'had gone west. .,.-,' .- .' ,- Her news was even more startling to Mrs.; Darnell than it had been to iRutb. Quick action was needed, and, leaving Ruth In tbe car with a pre varicated excuse, the older women was .soon phoning to Drake, telling htm to so west at once and Instructing him : to meet them In San Francisco, where .he was to pose as Everett and continue carrying out tbe plot to secure posses sion of Ruth's mining property. And thus It came about that Ave .. n v. t m . ' i tinm I. mA.Mn. ....J. KIWI . W.I Ilk. ...VM. .U M.V oils of the Pacific coast, where they were met by Drake, still posing as Ev erett. .',; ;.', V. ; The greatest difficulty lay in reconcll . Ing Ruth's, mind to. tbe mystery of Everett's sudden departure after she . had seen bim at Mrs. Darnell's the night before. But the. cleverness of tbe schemer counterbalanced all doubts, and the girl was therefore persuaded to hasten to San Francisco to carry out her plans. . Accordingly' - she wired Dorr, but again "the wires crossed," for, al though he learned that she waa go ing to tbe western city, be again, learn ed that Everett had failed to connect ., With ber. r"..v-;;" . - ;';,;, ' Ruth i had been gone many days . when John Dorr received another tele gram from Everett that made bis heart etop Its regular beat Alone in his cabin he pored over It as If there inust be some bidden meaning beneath the words. It was unbelievable. Aft er all his pain and bis very careful forethought for her comfort and safe- . ty something had gone wrong. Ev erett was brief: San Francisco, April 1 John Dorr, Silent Valley, Cats Have been unable to fled Mlat Gallon. EVERETT. n MASTER. By JOHN FLEMING WILSON COPYRIGHT. 1914. BY JOHN FLEMING For awhile his mind refused to work logically. All that he could think o was little Rath-Gallon, she of the slen der hands and pure eyes, lost In the t-rei.t city and piteously seeking a fa miliar face. But he pulled himself vig orous! together and caiieti. up the agent at the station. . "Bill." he said over tbe telephone. This Is Dorr. 1 want to get a wire tin-ouch to 8aa Franclaeo." ; "Ail sight John: what Is It!" John thought a moment and tben dic tated tbia message:,:.. f '').. Cbarlea Everett, Call Bunding,' San fran- ' ClaCOt- 1 . '.'; ' i - Mtaa Oallon to bave (one to the 8t Prancli, aa wired you before. DORR. ; m- Ruth, Spied a Florist's Window. ' : After moiling over the problem he felt that he must eon Ode In some one. Of all the men In the mine he trusted only Tom Hune. lie strode down tho bill to the cook, shanty and found tbe old man engaged In his task of prepar ing the noonday ineair . .; "Look here,, Tom,"., John said ab-" ruptly, holding out. the. telegram. "1 haven'ttald anything before, but Ruth Is lost in San Francisco., I've wired Everett before, a He "can't flud her." ' .Without a ; word the cook : reached for the yellow clip and read It slowly. . He glanced up and said with the ut most simplicity, "I reckon you'd bet ter catch this evening's express." - "But my work here somebody has got to look after tbe mine and Wllker-son,-.,-'..'sv v:":.,-- Tom. Kane glanced at him and then at the bit of pa pen "I know bow you feel," he muttered, "but I've cooked years enough to know that if you leave ovmeining naa uone wrong, .- l things on the are they'll burn. This business won't wait" Ho smiled mag nificently. "And you just leave this to me. I've been here since the mine started, and I guess I can attend to It from cook sbanty to Wllkersonu Tbe main thing Is to find Ruth. I know she's safe, for nobody would hurt that M It1 " v 5 1, ' ; KEY d - WILSON -IftOe- girt. But y&tfve got to go to Frisco and help her. Likely she's found herself pretty much a stranger. I got lost in New Orleans once, and ! reckon Frisco Is bigger.;., .wV yi7 "I'll go." said Dorr promptly. , 'l'!l leave ray patters and my new plana In your charge.' Tom." : - ; , . The old man laid Ills warm band on John's arm. . "New plans?" he whis pered. "Have you found the mother lode? Don't say anything to Wllker on." "But be Is the superintendent?" "Not of this ahanty. I never trust an egg until I've broken It" : :. s, V V ' e e e e e e ' In Harry Wllkerson'a dark heart there was what be migbt in his twist ed vocabulary have termed happiness. His plans were working out to perfec tion. Jean Darnell: hud wired again that all was. well and that she would have newa for him In a tew days. This meant that ahe and George Drake had don their part But he wondered why It was that John Dorr, who must cer tainly v be , anxiously ' awaiting word from Roth, neither said anything nor displayed a sign of Impatience. ( -: f.' ' It did not escape him that Tom Kane and the young engineer were in con1 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 Wiluerson ; asked quietly, "What's the news from San Francisco? ; Has Ituth wired?" John had been expecting this, per fectly natural question aud was ready with hia answer: : : .. "Everything iunsms to be all right" ; "GoodT said the superintendent dry ly. "I'd like to get started on that new lead pretty soon,?",' He could not repress a sour smile. ( "Since the old rate of wages has been ; restored I guess you and 1 may have to do with' out our salaries for awhile."; .;;, "''."'; ' John looked up and caught himself. He was In no position to quarrel with this . man. "Pay, the men first of course,", ho said. . Ho proceeded to get into a package of blueprints and memoranda.- ; 's ' '' "Going to move?" suggested Wllker son. - - . "I'm going for a trip, and I thought I d look over my notes In tbe mean while," , was the response. : ' . YVUkerson said no more. He went on the alert From Bill Tubus he learned that Dorr was going to run Into either Valle Vista or Silent Valley with the motor truck. , ... The superintendent of tbe ''Master I Key" belonged to the tyie that Is cat like in Its quickness of action, based on Intuition rather than, on reason. While Ruth Gallon was carefully con cealed, it was more thnn possible that Dorr would so stir things up with the aid of Everett that all plans to seize control of the mine's stock would be futile. He must not be allowed to go to San FrouciHco. But; how to prevent him? Wllker son pondered this problem till lils dark face was suffused with , angry blood There wns no way but the way of vio lence. .Among bis sensuous appetites was none tor blood, but he nerved blm self to his task and shortly after mid day called for bis horsg and rode out stating that be was going across .the divide to see about a fresh supply of wood.. , In the saddle scabbard be car ried a Short saw. . ;;; : ;' .:.-.-- v. Spanning an nrroyo betwen two hllla halfway to Silent Valley was a abort bridge of considerable height ft was mldafternoon. when Harry Wllkerson threw the bridle rein over his pony's head and climbed down the bill slope till ho was directly under tbe bridge. Tben be pulled tbe little saw out of his shirt bosom und begun work. Fifteen minutes later, he climbed up to. the road, broke tho saw in two, dung tbe pieces Into the brush and rode away He did not go far.. . ., From his pluce of, vantage haifway up the hill be wuited. The hour that elapsed before be heard tbe couubinc of the motor seemed an endless succes sion of deadly seconds, each marked by a stabbing breath. Tben he saw "ejtnjckeaierge froai the cu&and com- tfeW WrtirUuiV Kkrvfir flown (Be alope. ... John Dorr was driving. With him was one of the hand. The heavy track bumped upon tbe bridge ' and In the desert silence tbe matron the hill saw It quietly away to one aide and then plunge downward to the rocks below: ; Before tbe sound of that crash could react) his listening ears he saw a sudden burnt of flame boot up a dense swirl of smoke. Then, tike the faraway crackling of a Are, (fame the noise of the yielding timbers, followed by a dull boom. ' ; V ; ; "My God!" whispered Wllkerson to blmaelf. "The gasoline tank exploded and tbe car t on Are!" . Be crouched In the brush, waiting to see whether any one emerged from tbe gulch. ; No one did. The bridge burned fiercely. At least no one would ever know the cause of this catastrophe, and John Dorr would not go to San Francisco. ; Inatinct told him to flee the scene. But a stronger passion overcame blm; be must see fur himself what bad hap pened. He mounted his horse and rode wlftly down tbe slope.-;;;' ' The truck had turned completely over and lay broken and smoldering across the waterworn bowlders. . WU kerson could uot see .two forms; alt he ' discerned through the - eddying smoke was the body of John .Dorr, flung some distance from the truck, his pallid face' turned to the blaxlpg sky. ' . , . ; , j4 ;j :f: f-ti'-i; ;: : i ' - v " : -Dead!" muttered Wllkerson, chilled with the horror, of the' thing he had done. It bit Into bis very soul, that scene, until be could net stand t longer and rode furiously away toward the other side of the divide. ,' He must go on his supposed errand about the wood and know nothing of this. , , On the crest ef the mountain he halt ed and looked back. : Far below him a thin curl of gray smoke marked the site of the murder.- Knowing that be was safe. Wllkerson experienced a tre mendous reaction. V;;.-; ".; ? -v'-"?;' . He raised himself exultantly In hia stirrups. . He was now master of tbe "Master Key" mine. CHAPTER X. In the Heart of Chinatown. 1TH quick decision Wllkerson turned hia horse toward Valle Vista. He felt In bU pockets to see how much money he bad.' He discovered that through an oversight he bad put Into his pocket before leaving the office tbe last Ban Francisco mint .check- for something like $8,000. There Waa besides this a couple of hundred dollars. : ! ' He pulled this out stared at It laugh ed and went on "Frisco for mine," aid he. " The evening sun was pouring a pale blue light through a high Paciflc fog when John Dorr came to his senses. : Twenty feet away tbe machine was tntoldcrlng and the smell of oil and varnish lay like a miasma In the gulch; He could hardly breathe. He strug gled painfully up the slope toward the road and then lost consciousness again. It was only for a moment for Tom Kane, desert wise, traveling In tbe cool of the evening, stopped bis burros at the top of the declivity, wondering what the Ore was. He saw that tho brldgo was gone. This might be due to tramps camped In tbe dry bed; of. the creek, not attending to their blase, He led tbe burros off the road and down the slope; only to stop with an exclamation such as he bad not used In years. John Dorr lay there with his ' fingers clutched into tbe gray niMI'l. . . ; . ;;:v ';;;' ;- He stooped over and saw that the body,' bulking heavily in the misty light, still held its vital ripark. "Where is Hickmhn. the driver?' The cook peered around aud then once more bent over the motionless form of the young engineer. With great ex ertion he managed to lift him up and place him across one of the pack sad-; dies, John's arm automatically clasp ing the little animal's neck.. Seeing, him scenre, and coming to his senses. Kane went down to tbe smoldering re mains of the machine 'to search for bis companion. One glance was stiff! cleut. He quietly went back and start-: ed his journey toward the mine, f His old bands, seared by yenrs of cooking,; patted' the almost Inanimate form of Dorr, v"".-'1':":.; . . ": : .-.':.,:y.U They were almost to the "Manter Key" mine when Dorr came to himself, slipped off the pack saddle and stood up weakly.... '. ;-,y ;..,:'.;, . "What happened?" he muttered. "Nothing much," said Kane, putting his arm about him. "You' had n bud fall. That bridge uever wa any too strong." v, '-." ';:- "Bridge!" said Dorr. "The bridge Is gone?".. ; ';.. Sure," said old Tom Kane easily, whistling to bis burros again "Yon Just come along with me." V "But I haven't got my coat" V The cook looked nt him with swift understanding. His cont had been in the seat of the mncblne and wns burn ed. . "I'll get you another coat when we get back to camp." he said com fortlngly. So they progressed tbe long and dusty road back to the "Master Key." It was dark when they ar rived, and Kane was able to take his dazed and much bruised charge Into tbe cook shanty without being observ ed by any of the miners. ; Dorr was still but half conscious and willingly submitted to being put to bed, though he still protested that he wanted bis coat . ;. . '" .; -, -". "Wbut do you want your coat for?" demanded Kane. yv; John opened his eyes widely, for the first time cognlxunt of bis surround ings. Then bo leaped from tbe bed All my money Is In ltl" ', Tom Kane sat on the chair beside blm, dish towel in hand, aa a sort of emblem of authority, and demanded in Ua carefel tonen. "There waan't any- uiageuo m Van Mat. JoUur Heoerit , bis white Mad as it to catch a whis per. Instead Dorr gave a raucom boutt There was that Check from the mint"-. "I saw you myself give that chock to Wllkerson," said the cook soothingly.1 But that doe at change matter any. lYou've got to get to San Francisco, ana you re ousiea,- N.'j.om n.ane puuea out an old deerskin poke and from It spilled ov the table a i'ew hundred dol lars, , , "Just as soon as you get able, John, be said huskily, "you take this money and get to Frtoco. Find Ruth. That's all that matters-rind that little girl. Hurry I" he whispered. "Wllkerson la gone. He's been gone since mid afternoon." , 'But I am badly hurt" said. John Dorr stupidly. Then Kane under stood that - he .i must take desperate measures. Fifteen minutes later Dorr waa pounding dowu tbe road toward Silent Valley. His bead, waa roughly band-; aged; hia chcBt bad been tightly strap ped with the ripped woolen blanket and In hia nostrils , waa tbe pungent odor of, ammonia, . He' was at laat awake and knew that In bis pocket was a thousand dollars tq. gold. As hour later be boarded the Suueet ex press and automatically paid his fare, bought bis Pullman ticket and. not withstanding the porter's earnest In quiry as to bla injuries, went to bed as silently a be arrived In Sen Francisco a day later.--- , Exultant In his triumph, Wllkerson stifled the . small voice of his conscience and strode on. One thought now mas tered bla every action he must reach Ban Francisco and Jean Darnell- - Jean Darnell I The woman who stir red him to the depths of but innermost oul. Jean Darnell and the "Master Key!" Arrived at the station be sent ber a wire telling of hia coming. Two. min utes later he waa aboard the train. As be gaied backward a bend of the rait drew a curtain to hia musings, and he turned and entered the car.' Vpon tbelr arrival In San Francisco Mrs. Darnell acted upon her decision made durjug , the Jouruey that they would atop at a less pretentious hotel than tbe 8t Francis, where tbe chance of ,ber plans being spoiled by; chance meetings with tbe real Everett or per haps John Dorr were too great Aud so they took a taxi to the Mans. , . A., word 'With Drake and the older womaa stepped to the desk and In a Arm, bold hand wrote: "Mrs. Darnell and daughter, : New fork." Quickly ahe turned to Ruth and, fol lowing tbe lead of the bellboy, escort ed her toward the elevator. No sooner had they removed their "The' girl is siok, and we must hurry -". her to a hospital)" ':. wraps ui Vhb luxurious apartments than a rap at tbe door Interrupted their talk. " "See who It Is," commanded Mrs. Darnell to bor maid. Tho latter returned with a telegram from Horry Wllkerson saying that he was. on bis way and would join them soon. ' ; Wenrled by the long trip n cross tbe continent Ruth was glnd to retire ear ly, and shortly after the dinner hour she was tucked in her hod and sleeping soundly. ; Drake hastened to the depot and met Wllkerson, driving him to the Manx with all haste. - "I'm awfully glad to see you, Har ry," was the effusive greeting he re ceived from Jean. , His heart pounded with tbe joy of ltl After all bis scheming and plotting waai worth while. He would wla to mine and tbe woman also. r Tbe mine! The Master Key!" The thought brought him back like the snapping of ii whip. , "Where Is the tjlrl?" he asked almost brusquely. "In there," aud Mrs. Darnell pointed to tbe curtains dividing Ruth's room from the other. Wllkerson started toward the arch way. "Harry!" . He turned. "You mustn't go in there." "Why not?" aiie'sjlfiecJiig-juja'it aw&ke Jier." "::v : i-r ?) ,fr-VT M !, ' V 'lt's, H ed from Drake to Mrs. t ' . let's get down to butc. j. ::. Aa: . . the papers? Have yoa jM t?iji y "Sb: Not hind"- and Mrs. C mdl looked uiHtrehenalvely towatj t i Xnnvy ptualt Imngllitf i ' ' : "Ob; tlutt m uII rltfht, Jena. But imiNt liurrj tli iihlnu up." In lier Imt itulli stlrrml. Tbe mur mur of voice rii me U tier as In ft treti-lih-d driiiin : Whime were they? When linil Hh hfiinl that voice before? Th Before a Oeorway WllkerteA fttopoeO.' K..u..nV .UL.'!'dl... . .....!! '1.1. uvu.j 1 viii-w one luium vu ikt mu .. and the mwinltglit shone on her In a white light ' "I tell you, .lean, you must do aa I say! If we want to get poasoasion ef those paiers and secure tbe mine we must act!" "Wilt you be quietr Mrs. MmetlVi eyea bluxed lu angered resentment -.. What were tbe voice saying? Ruth sat up. listened, allptied from the bed ami tlitoed to lite curtains. ."You'll do ua 1 say or" J ' "Uarrj !" "Oh. i iinie. : old mau. ' What's the urn-' of nil this urpioii'iit?" and Drakej takl Ids Imml on Wllkei-son s arm rc, stialnliml.v, 'I lii'lr e.M-n met Wllker' son calmed hlinself. - " 1 i. : "Oh, till i'U;hl. v A you say." Anil hu slcnpcil in , Iran -unU turned U nr.,iii,il .mm .:. -"..d 'rii'(io in'iiii!" ' . " - 1 . - Wall one -rush- she trio were -.upon r herx- Mi's. P:rmell si'l.i'd tho airriitbted girl and dmagi'il Iter from the phone. Mlic mci earned ' - i'Htini her je'liilj' Slop htfr!"" CVIU JiTiiiuled VMKor-.(Jii i'yJeorgii,:; tor- Uod'ssjiko, do tivUH ihing"' ' . " AMiIpIht IimiicI over the glrl'H tuouth, ' Mr, - Darnell luld her ' hv sheer strength. 'While (tic ninVya cowardly ' -VYilkeiyon KTeiiliii d his coiiimiiuds iu ' ;U louder tone than ilioxu or the gtii had been., , ' Her head fell baclt and her body1 became limp. , "She's fiiliitevll Call u tail af once! ' We must get Iter. out tf this hotel !" " ; , In less thuu live inliiutes they were shootiug down the elevator;'. Auotiler quarter niiuuto and Wllkerson, wlth i: the unconsclouH form of the girl in bla : arms, ber face covered by the cape of the maid, was rushing across the lobby, preceded by Drake. ;- Mrs. Darnell stop ped at the desk long enough to throw down a twenty dollar bill, v "The girl Ih sick, and we must hurry her to a boxpltnl!" ahe innunged to gasp. Before the diiinfouiidcd -clerk or tbe amased giiesta could stop" to act 'they were out of the hotel and in a taxi. The bouse detective sprang from al most out of nowhere mid In a second was speeding after I he fleeing ones, accompanied by another plain clothes man. They sighted tbe first taxi, as It rounded the corner of Powell and Eddy streets . "Keep that cur lu sight and catch It If you can!" ; The chauffeur made answer with Ua foot ' Aa tbe detectives saw the course tho other car was taking they both mur mured, "Chinatown!" j Into the realm of the yellow man shot the auto. ' Before a doorway Wllkerson stopped. Rapt Pause rap! Rap! Pause rapl A face appeared aa the door creaked open, the face of a Chinaman, deeply lined, the almond abaped eye scarcely visible through tbe nearly closed lids.; A signal and a whispered word from Wllkerson. and the door widened the opening, and all passed through. - With a wbtsk It closed. f Around bends and corner and dowu steps, another bend and another flight of stairs. Then along a long corridor. where scarcely a ray of light was visi ble. All tho time the shuttling feet of tbe little yellow man could be heard In the advance. Tben a door stopped the procession. Another series of slguals. Another long wait Tho door opened with a pecu liar rumbling sound. They entered a queerly arranged room. At first glance it seemed very small, but aa the eye traveled around Its walla Ha Strang shape gave one a feeling of fearsome (OtmleWiiJ Hf 1)