MONDAY, 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)