TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1915
3 THE MASTER KEY $
By JOHN FLEMING WILSON
wrote tbe jaeesigei
Charles Irek, tan Pranclaoo, Celt " x
Oo to Silent Valley at cnc and take
charge of "Master Key" Din snttl yon
hear further from me. Am wlrtaff Tost,
nalneer, to thta effect - ' '. -
i, ; ; v HARRT WIUUBMOM. ''
COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY JOHN FLEMING WILSON
A NoyclUed Version of th Motion Picture Dram of the Same Name Produced by the Unlrerte,
IVn Manufacturing Company. Illustrated With Photograph from the Picture Production.
I rJ, -.vw I..,. . ... .........
I 1
CHAPTER XVII.
The Forged Oeede. - -
I HEN the train pulled into to
'Angeles tlie next morning
John Dorr's party got oh",
nud John left Rutb with
Tom Kane, wlillo lio went to engage
an automobile to take them to Beverly
aim, a budutd reconi mended by Ever
ett aa quiet and restorative for shat-
tered nerves. -.-,' rr-v
A they stood there Wllkerson. Mrs.
Darnell and Eh telle also got off the
train, still disguised, mid were hurry
log away when Wllkerson observed
Both and called Joan's intention to
'. Her. ,, ' ,. : Vi, ,
. For an Instant she was nonplused.
Then alio said lu a low tone: "Bo niueb
. the better. We can keep an eye out
on tnera," .:. . .; ',,y ...
. "I must and out where they are go
ing to," . Wllkerson returned, "I don't
live the looks of It." :
i He soon came bock with word, that
they bad ordered the car to take thorn
to Beverly Bills.
After aome inquiry Wllkerson found
the address of a hotel that seemed to
answer tbelr requirements, and they
were soon on their way thither In a
taxi. Within an hour the deft Estclle
had Installed herself and ber mistress
In comfortable salt. Wllkerson took
room near by. Then came the ques
tion ef tbelr disguise.
"There Is no need of wearing tbeui
any lunger." Wllkerson stated. . "If
need be we can put them on again."
Mr. , Darnell laughed . scornfully.
"Yes, and all the hotel people saw us
coae in wltb our disguises on. Wbnt
wlU they . think If they see , entirely
different people occupylug these I
yoomsr
Wllkerson bad already started to re
: wove bis makeup. Now he paused.
Bnt bis reckless nature got the better
pose the crime himself.
fi...'. If
8h 8miled Malloioutly, "Forgeryl"
of him, and he laughed at her fears.
So they both were noon tbelr real
elves nnd sat down to a hearty break
fast lu Mrs. Darnell's rooms.
Tbls ended, Jchu look out the papers
and spent uu hour solus over them
carefully. Wllkerson smoked nervous
ly, but did not iutorrupl her. Whcu
eho laid tlie documents down ho saw
a queer glitter lu her tawny eyes.
"So it has come to the old game,
en?" she said in a low voice. "1
thought you. had hod enough of that."
"Enough of wbatV ho demanded
quickly.
She smiled maliciously. Shu formed
the word slowly nnd precisely: "For
gery!" flls dark face grew pallid, and bis
eyes flashed ominously. "I did It for
yoo that time and no tbauks! But
this is all right. Those deeds ore uon-
utne." ; ,
"They merely assure the property to
Thomas Uallou and bis belrs and as
signs. Whon you found Tom Gallon
at last and bad blm ready to do auy
thing you wanted just as the prlco of
your silence 1 suppose it didn't occur
to yon to have him deed over tho 'Mas
ter Key' mine to yoo, did it?"
"He wouldn't hove done It!" he burst
out furiously. "He shot me once. Ue
would hove ahot we again to save the
mine for the girl."
"Then wbnt good are these papers?"
Gradually he perceived the drift of
ber speech. He looked at her for a
moment dumbly, as If for inntrsotlor
But she was ruthless, lie must
him the papers ... , . ..
He stared nr hem and thun glanced
Herons at Jean. Hho was waiting. He
cursed her under his lireatb. She bad
always liceu waiting wiiitlng for him
to break I he law, to suffer that she
might have comforts and Jewels and
keep unimpaired that' beauty that had
been his downfall. Hut the spell work
ed, as It had worked before. .'V : '
"I'll hare to en out and buy some
blank deeds," he said laboriously. , "I
may have to look Up some other points,
too, about these papers."
As he left the room Jean Darnell
looked after him. 'busy triumph In ber
eyes.'
Estello," she salcl languidly, -you
may dress my hair, r'abnll go to a
matinee (his afternoon. If Mr. Wll
kerson comes, tell lilm I am engaged
till tonight." - .
Life at Beverly Hills was a welcome
change to Ifutli after the strenuous
days that had passed since she left
the "Master Key" mine. -.''
There were not many nt the hotel
and the most prominent figure among
the guests was n tall, carefully dress
ed Englishman, so typically the tourist
mat the old cook Insisted on Identify
ing him on the register.
'I ain't seen many of the new kbids
of people, he explained. "I've been
out in the mine so ninny years that the
styles in real Kent a has kind pf escaped
me. I admire to know just what kind
of birds I'm roosting with." , . ,. .
W ho Is he?" toughed Ruth, as they
gazed out at the rising hills.
He's marked down as Sir Donald
Kuversliniu. and he's from the Brit'
ish Isles." Tom Kane rejoined. "He
Is here for his health, they say.' 1 sup
pose that's why he bits to wear them
white ankle Warmers on his legs."
"Those nre called spats, Tom," said
John, smiling. "Thnt eyeglass Is a
monocle."
"Does he see through It?" Inquired
Kane, with apparent anxiety. "I reck
oned be wan ueui sighted, for I spoke
to him a while ago and he didn't even
ace me."
Oddly enough. Until blushed at this.
Sir Donald had seen her, uud she bad
beeu made nwnre of it Instantly: not
that Sir Donald had been in the slight
est offensive. Ue had merely silently
icsiineu by respectful glances his ap
preciation of the arrival of n very pret
ty woman.
John Dorr saw the blush and inter
preted it rightly. He. too, had ob
served the Englishman's sudden Inter
est in the lovely girl. Kor the first
time be felt a sharp twinge of Jeal
ousy. He had so long been alone lu
Rutb'a regard tliut be hod not ana
lysed his own feelings toward her.
He determined thnt Sir Donald Faver
sham should not Impose his company
on tbem.
The very next morning, when Ruth
and John came out from the hotel
ready for a stroll, Faversbam lay In
wait for the old cook and asked him
for a match for his cigarette.. Tom
reached Into his waistcoat pocket and
pulled out a bunch of block matches,
which be handed out with an air of
doing a sen-Ice to some one be could
not see. Sir Donald looked at the
queer matches, not knowing the pecul
iarities of tho western sulphur article.
She handed)
promptly accepted tbe implied invita
tion to see this specially lovely scene
and 81 r Donald led tbe way, talking
n Itb ber. After an instant' hesita
tion Jobu and Kane followed.
The acquaintance thus made was
destined to have n great bearing on
tbe lives of both Rutb and John. It.
bad ripened Into n genuine liking on
Ruth's part before the dance that nlgbt
wus over. - . ; , - .-
Tbe next morning John and Tom met
Untu walking wltb Sir Donald about
tbe hotel grounds, and tlie young man
could not help showing in both voice
and manner that be wus little pleased
that Rutb Should have so suddenly
taken up with a stranger. ;
: "Remember, she's only a girl," Tom
warned blm, feeling bis mood. "She's
beeu brought up in tbe mountains, and
she's as friendly us a pup. I don't ?ike
tbe way tbe man puts iietticogt on bis
feet and I'm used to being looked at
with two eyes, but Rutb Is all right.
You must remember that young a she
1 and luexperlenced, she has a good
lot uf common sense."
"I suppose It's foolish of me,": John
answered. "But I'm used to activity,
and this dawdling about doesn't suit
me nnd that makes me generally cross
and unreasonable. If 1 only knetf
what Wllkerson was doing! If Everett
would only come!"
The wish was fulfilled that afternoon
wben George Everett turned up and
was warmly greeted by both Kane
and Dorr. After a few words be asked
for Rutb.
"Tou can see that she' ull right"
Johu answered quietly, pointing to ber
as she came up the steps wltb Sir
Douuld. Both were in tennis garb, and
Rutb wa delightfully Unshed.
Sir Donald made a few pleasant re
mark and then excused himself. HI
quick senses told him that Everett
had come oh business nnd that be
would be one too many.
. "I don't know that 1 have anything
new and startling to tell you," Everett
told Rutb In answer to ber question.
"I know n dozen places whero I can
raise tbe money to finance your mine,
but we must have the deeds, paper
and surveys first. And they're gone.
1 understand."
"Yes," Dorr replied bitterly, "1 sup
pose Wllkerson hns them. I ought to
have been on bis trail long ago.
Everett glanced at Ruth nnd saw tlie
discouragement on her face. : He went
quickly on: "However, I've' made tem
porary arrangements wnlcb will re
lieve you of all trouble for the present.
Miss Gallon. I'll tulk over the business
details wltb John nnd Tom Kane."
She brightened nnd laid one band
affectionately on John's arm. "1 knew
everything would come out all right
wneu Johu took hold, she said softly.
For two days Harry Wllkerson work
ed steadily, nnd secretly In his room.
At Inst his task was done. ic
"No one can ever prove tbnt old Tom
Gallon didn't draw that deed himself."
Wllkerson said triumphantly. "And it
makes me tbe owner of tbe 'Master
Key' mine, Jean. And, once In charge.
I'll make ns both woitli millions'
Then" ' ' .
She shrank bnck at the flame in his
gaze upon her.
"Now.' what are yon going to dor'
.' w ... . u BU IJI1UI BlIIVIB, , - , ,
and in spite of himself Kane had to "De delnnnled. attempting to bring tbe
uu ersimou hack into Business chan
nels. ' . ,. . '
He bit his nails savagely. "Drake is
out, all right." he tnld her. "You see.
Kane didn't turn np, t prosecute the
case, and they turned him loose. What
do you say to my wiring him to go and
take charge of the mine while we de
cide Just what to do? He can see
what's going on nnd worn us." .
"Dorr and the rest nrcstjll at Bever
ly Lulls?" she luqiilred.
"Sure!" he said scornfully. "They're
tleing up with some blooded Britisher
they think bus money. They figure on
P.ettiug him to flnaneo them, t reckon.
Aurt I happen to know tbnt Sir Donald
couldn't nuance anybody. We needn't
worry about Dorr." '
Mrs. Darnel) remained in thoughtful
slleuce awhile and then agreed to the
suggestion. Wllkerson Immediately
instruct him to pull off one of the
matches aud strike It When Sir Don
ald choked nud sputtered over an In
hnlatlon of brimstone Tom looked pro
foundly concerned. '
"They're a Icetle strong for some
people," he remarked pityingly.
"Strong!" answered Favemham, wlp
Ing bis eyes. "I should Jolly well aay
they were!"
Their conversation bad attracted
Ruth's attention, and ahe nnd John
both looked back. John smiled faint
ly, but Ruth waa Indignant.
"Tom did thnt on purpose." she said.
"I'm ashamed of bira."
How it hapiiened only Sir Donald
could have told, but within thrwe min
utes be was exchanging -remarks about
the scenery with them all.' "And
there's an awfully Jolly bit Just over
the other way," be said to Ruth.
The . lee was broken, nnd Rutb
Wben be bad sent this and
sage to Tubba be resumed hi gloating
contemplation of bis forged deed,' He
did not see tbe look of burning acorn
on Jean a face a sbe left the room.
'.'-Why. must : I always have to
fools r - sbe murmured bitterly. "A
lovely pair Wllkerson and Drake!"
I Drake did not hesitate wben be re-
1 mlvuil U'llbAMtnn'a lalnnMm CJT . n V.
the next train for Silent Valley and on
arrival there procured a rig and drove
to tbe mine. ..
' On bis arrival be was dismayed to
see that no work wa being done. The
mucbluery was Idle, aud tbe miners
were loafing about the streets or nth
ered lu little sullen groups. They eyed
blm curiously, but wben he asked for
Tubus they made no comment nor ask
ed any questions. ; '-'
Following their directions.' be soou
found himself ou the porcb of what
bad been Jobu Doit's house, - Ue
knocked,, nnd there was shuffling of
neavy boots; then the door opened, and
an uusliaved. bloated faced man asked
him grimly what he wuuted.
Drake produced Wllkerson's wire,
aud instantly the engineer showed re
lief. " v ,
"uome lu: Come in!" , be said
"Come in and hnve.u drink!" "
Tho tnteriur of tlie cabin showed that
Bill Tubus bad apparently been merely
cuiupiug out m nis Dew quarter With
opt regard to the decencies. But Drake
was not squeamish after bis Ions trio
aim suareu a uimn with his host. A
few words served to put tbe situation
before him. ."-,-
xnere am t no money to par tbe
men: tne store s closed; the cook shan
ty ain't running; Wllkerson la nway;
uorr uasii t turned up wltb tbe money
be promised, and I'm Just kind of alt-
ting ou the lid while tbe pot bolls
I m mighty glad to see you: Mavbe
you can do something wltb these fel
lows. I've. done niv best, and 1 can't
uo any more." .-
The words were hardly out of bis
mouth before there was the noise of
boots ou the porch, and Tnbbs smiled
in sickly fashion. , -
"I guess tbey spotted xou right off-
he said. , .
"What do they want?" demanded
mere came a pouuulng on
the door. , " .
; Two miners entered, and Tubbs In
traduced them to Drake.
"This is the new boss, hoys," be said
"Who sent you here?" was tbe first
question asked. -"Wilkerson."
responded Drake.
"Humph!" -
"I'm Just here to take charge tempo
rarily," Drake went ou hastily, uol
liking the ugly tone of the man's
voice. ; .- ,' ;' .
The other man took this information
and ufter digesting It said. "Going to
start up and pay wages?" - . ..
"I'm not acquainted wltb tbe sltuu
tlon yet" was the evasive reply. 1 "I'll
go over things wltb Mr. Tubbs tonight
and then in tbe morning I'll see what
la to be done."
'The first thing is to give us money
and food," was tbe curt answer. The
men stamped out, leaving Drake to
look at Tubbs in some dismay.
Tbe engineer wa so relieved at hav
ing aome one else to bear tbe burden
of responsibility that be refused to be
worried. - .
Have another drink, partner," be
said familiarly, "and forget It till to
morrow." ,
After a very poor meal which Tnbbs
scraped up the two sat down and
smoked. Tubbs' tongue gradually loos
ened under tbe Influence of many more
drinks, and before 10 o'clock brought
up a waning moon Drake knew a great
deal that made bim uncomfortable. He
resolved to shift the burden to Wllker-
scn's shoulders ns quickly as possible.
The next : moral ug did not bring
cheer. His head ached from tbe fumes
of Bill Tubbs' whisky, nud tbe cbill of
the mountain air was not dissipated by
cold breakfast. And before tbe snn
had risen above tbe iienk of the moun
tain the miners bad approached him
with questions. -
THE PEOPLE'S STORE
The Temple of Economy
BEMARKABLE VALUES IN OUR
MEN'S STORE
You know our idea of this store that it
shall be a place where you may come', as
sured of fair dealing that it should be un-:
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lowest possible prices. " We invite everyone
in this community you to share in these
economies. Visit us at any time without
. obligation to buy and you will be cordially
welcome.
NEW WORK SHOES ATI -
$2.50 $3.00 $3.50 and $4.00
NEW DRESS SHOES AT ..::...
$3.00 $3.50 $4.50 and $5.00
made of real leather throughout, gun metal,
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, genuine Oak and belting sole leather. The
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The patterns are as fine as particular men
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EVERY NECESSITY AT A SAVING y
Pine white handkerchiefs at ., ..
5tf 10 and 12 1-2
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heels, solos, and toes at 25
Cotton sox, of long staple cotton, extra ;
heavy weight, come in black and tan, very
- special 10 '
Work sox, heavy weight ........... 5 10
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Fine quality men's suspenders v
- - 15 25 35'
Boys' suspenders .:...... ... ... 10? 15
THE PEOPLE'S STORE
The Store For The People
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But banks Seeds for&La-Grande.
;: (To be Continued Tomorrow.)
LI MFRT
PLANING MILLS
Cor. Greenwood and Madison St
(Successor to Wenaha Lbr. Co )
Can furnish anything you need
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Quality
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