MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1915.
' LA. GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER
PAGE TUZZ
JUL
I 3 THE MASTER KEY & I
J S By JOHN FLEMING WILSON
I A NorclUed Version of the Morton Picture Drams of tha Sama
I mm Manufacturing Company. Illustrated With Photographs from
, .jar uu"UTjuLrTitnn riri " " - - - - n
CHAPTER XIX.
A Message From the Grave.
lILKERSON'S fall from the
ireaue nnu qui ueeu unno
ticed by. IiIh outluws, aud be
fore -oiiv- nup In thn cumn
could miike sura Hint tbe uiun was
dead a couple of the Mexicans bud
quickly slipped down tbe bill to blui.
Tbey found him still allvu. Without
' paying any attoutlou to Jobn Dorr's
-men, who were still doubtful of tbe
outcome of tbe buttle, tbey dragged
their fallen leader away uud up into
their own temporary en nip.
It was not long before Wllkerson re
vived. Be was terribly bruised and
almost Insane from physical pain and
wild rage at his defeat It was with
. difficulty that tbe unsmiling outlaws
restrained him. Their chief took upon
himself the task of making It plain to
Wllkerson that this was no time for
rash and unorganized attack.
. -They have beaten us so far, seuor."
he said quietly, "and you ure very
sick. Tomorrow we shall see."
Tbe next morning's sun bad scarcely
nnplieri the nenks of the mountains
swben Wllkerson stretched ; his stiff.
sore nmos nnu oegun u rrenu rmuiiniK",.
He made It clear to tbe leader of the
Mexican outlaws that they must work
. swiftly.
"It won't be long before the news of
: this fighting gets out and tbe authori
ties take a band," be said. "But If we
can just get this mine Into our posses
sion In the next three days I can blre
you and your men as peaceable work
men and swear that Dorr and bis gang
are trying to take our property nway
by force. 1 I guess my word will be as
... good as his."
"Very , well." agreed the Mexican
after thoughtfully considering the raat
ter, "We can get back Into Mexico In
twenty-tour hours from here. So long
as yon pay tts and let us what do
' you call It loot, my men are with
nii."
Wllkerson covertly studied the des
perado's Impassive visage. Jose Vlgaa
bore a renowned name on tbe border
for daring, shrewdness and wicked
ness. ' He was known as "The Merci
less." For five years he had bad a
price set on his bead, yet because of
the loyalty of his adherent and his
own fearlessness he had escaped.
No man better fitted for a sinister
purpose could have been found. . Yet
mlng'ed with Wllkerson's satisfaction
at having such a tool to his band waa
a dread of the man himself, and hia
calm Insistence on the privilege of loot
ing the camp when it was captured,
gave him a sense of nausea.
After all, they were Americana down
there, In the "Master Key" camp.
Through hia binoculars be could see
Ruth on tbe porch, of tbe bungalow.
Vlgaa, too, saw her. He took no pains
to conceal the cruel Interest In his eyes.
The next few day resulted In little
advantage to either aide. John Dorr
could not reopen the mine nor even
end In for much needed supplies be
cause of the constant menace of tbe
outlaws, who occasionally flred scat
tering shots down Into the gulch as a
warning that they were vigilant
On tbe other hand, Wllkerson found
It impossible to seize the camp with
out precipitating a battle, from which
he shrank. Deeply Involved aa he al
ready waa In crime, be dreaded to
cross the border Une which would for
ever place him beyond the pale and
make him an outlaw.
Instead, he used every method to
put hlnwelf outwardly In the right He
sent plea after plea to tbe sheriff of
the county to come and restore order,
asserting that he had been driven from
his "rightful property by violence and
that the situation was such that, with
out Interference from the authorities,
there would be serious trouble and
very likely bloodshed.
These pleas availed only partially.
The sheriff made a trip total mine,
talked with John Dorr and Tom Kane
and then sought out Wllkerson.
"It looks to me as If this was a case
for the courts," Jbe 5JU4 8,01-T wh-en
fZ7
rzi
COPYRIGHT. 1914. BY JOHN FLEMING
o
Ruth on the Porch of the Bungalow.
be had examined Wlllwson's" forged
deeds. "I knew old Gallon pretty well,
and be thought a sight of that Ruth
girl. Fact la, he told me be Intended
her to have tbe mine and left It to her
la his will. Now yon toddle along
with these papers and want to take It
away from her.". - .:, -.
"Gallon and I were partnera years
ago," Wllkerson Insisted, "we locatea
this mine together, and when 1 cams
back he gave me over my share." .
"But you want It all," the "sherlft
said dubiously.
"Sure; It's all mine," persisted the
other. : "Didn't Gallon use all the mon
ey he got out of it while I was away?
And when we came to a settlement be
found that the mine wouldn't pay half
he owed me."
"I'm simply a peace officer," the
sheriff said finally. "I don't know
who's In tbe right. Tbafa for tbe
court to decide." ' '
""Wasn't I In possession?" demanded
Wllkerson. "Haven't I been driven
out by force, me and my workmen?"
. "From what I've seen of your work
men," was tbe curt response, "I don't
like their looks. And there are tales
going around that Vlgas Is In the
country."
"How can I help who's in tbe coun
try?" demanded Wllkerson, much in
jured. "That's your lookout, not mine.
All I'm asking for Is protection."
The sheriff departed without giving
him any satisfaction, and Wllkerson
determined that be would act Tbe
MAxlana were setting: restless, and
the sardonic Vlgas hinted sharply that
be was impatient
All rlirht" Wllkerson a creed. "We'll
Just go down to the road In the morn
ing and then walk into cue camp.
rjr it to me. I'll almDly aay I've
come back to take charge and yon are
my miners." .
Vlgaa twirled his wiry mustaches.
"And then?"
The men looked each other in the
eye. That evil glance was sufficient
John Dorr and Tom Kane, mean
while, had been In constant consulta
tion. One thing was constantly In their
thoughts..-. .. . .
"Ruth oughtn't to be here Jobn
would aay dismally. "If it weren't for
her we could quickly settle these out
laws, for that'a all they are."
"I reckon nobody would cry at the
Inquest" tbo cook returned, "If we did
pot a few of them. But as you say.
the girl Is here, and that puts fighting
out of the question. Unless they start
It," be added cautiously.
"Wllkerson is bound to make some
kind of a move mighty soon," said
Dorr. "He caelt satisfy those fellows
WILSON -
Nam .Produced by the UnlTarsei
tna tnctura Froaucnon.
"Ruth oughtn't to be here."
of his for lone." .
Yet wben Wllkerson appeared at the
entrance to the camp one morning
with n motley train of followers Dorr
was at a loss to know whnt to do.
Wllkerson was apparently . peaceful
nud expected ' a peaceful reception
His boldness bad almost carried blm
through" when the Ignorance and cu
pidity of ono of Vlgas' men gave Jobn
and Kane the sorely wished for oikmi
ing. ; is '- ; '
The Mexican peered into the win
dow of one of tbe cabins and saw n
gold watch on tbe table. Instantly be
broke tbe glass with the butt of bis
carbine and reached In for his booty.
- Dorr and Kane bad warned tbe mi
ners at the first appearance of Wllker
son that there might be trouble brew
ing, but tbat the first blow must come
from the other side. ;
"Boys," said the old cook, "you
know the sheriff. He's listened to
both sides, and be don't rightly know
which Is the one to take. ' But one
thing Is certain he's got to keep order
and protect human life and our prop
erty. If those fellows make a wrong
move we've got tbe sheriff on our side.
See?".;
They had seen the point with many
mutterlngs. They had quietly prepar
ed themselves for lust tbe occasion
which the Mexican's act now gave. As
the bandit pulled bis arm back wltb
the watch In his hand a revolver crock
ed, and the arm fell shattered to bis
side. And as Wllkerson glanced fu
rlously about blm he saw tbe camp
ready. He cursed the maddened Mexl
can and grasped Vlgas by tbo arm.
"Stop your men!" he implored.
"Don't let them Ore a shot or we are
lost!"
It was too late. : Passions Ions r"
strained now broke out and wlUiiu a
minute a battle was raging between
tbe walls of the gulch.
The miners had tbe advantage. Tbey
fought from the shelter ot their own
cabins, and they were nnlted by
common purpose. Their attackers
were scattered, were divided between
Inat for toot and thirst for blood and
had no sure refuge nor rendezvous
Yet they would eventually have made
the camp untenable had . not tne
thoughtful sheriff prepared a eurprlse
for both parties. .
After consultation with his advisers
In the county aeat he bad appealed to
the governor on the ground that as one
of the opposing forces was Mexican
he felt that a superior authority should
handle so delicate a situation. Tbe
governor bad agreed and ordered i
troop of cavalry to the "Master Key
to preserve order. It was just when
Wllkerson had seen his chance for a
grand coup that the troopers arrived.
Bath, with some of the women, bad
taken refuge In John's house on the
fcuiJWUh.old.Tom. Kanakas thelr body
' - V v ( si'VNr'WW
guard. Wllkerxiin knew that' ir "lie
could capture Ruth he could make hia
own terms. He directed several of his
men to make a detour around tha hill
and effect tbla. Meanwhile be set Ore
to a cabin below to order to distract
the attention of Dorr and bis men.
The ruse bad nearly succeeded but
for Kane'a quickness. Though be bad
not used bla gun for many years, he
had lost none of his old time skill, and
when the marauders made their final
dash on tbe porch of tbe house tbe
cook, with a single glance over his
aboulder, shot from the hip. Hia man
tumbled dead at Ruth's feet, and his
companions sneaked back.
At that Instant tbe cavalry rushed
In, and before five minutes were passed
their commander had separated tbe
combatauts and proceeded to disarm
tneni. . - ";;,
He tbeu callod Dorr and Wllkerson
to blm and curtly stated that bla or
ders were to see tbat there was no
trouble. - "SVbut your quarrel Is 1 don't
know," he mild. .
Wllkerson tried to argue, but nolther
tho otlicer nor the sheriff, who now ar
rlred, vyiilil listen to lilm, Tboy also
turned n denf ear to John Dorr's state
ment of Wllkernon's crimes, Including
tbe kldnapliiK of Ruth in San Fran
cisco.
"If you hare uuythlng ana Inst Wll
kerson." the sheriff asserted, "swear
out a warrant for hhu. I'll serve it
quick ciioiikIi." . ' .j , ;j
With this .lolin must perforce be sat
isfied, but lifter u conference with
Kaiio It was agreed that the letter
should go to the county seat and uinkit
formal complaint and procure h war
rant for Wllkerson's arrest on the
ground of forgery.
."You and I know tbose tfoeds he
flourishes aren't genuine," John said
earnestly. "Let's make It an Issue and
try It In court At any rate, we'll be
rid of blm for awhile."
I know you're right" tbe old cook
assented heartily. "I'll be off today.
With these troopers around the greas
ers won't dare do anything openly.
But keep your eyes open. John! They
will sneak something across If they
can."
"Trust rao for that." waa the reas
suring response. . .
But wben Kane bad gone Dorr re
alized that he was In a nasty predica
ment Wllkerson wns desperately play-
The Cook Shot From the Hip.'
Ing so bold a game tbut it would take
every resource at bis disposal to meet
him successfully'. Rutb must be pro
tected In ber rights. Tbe "Master
Key" mine must remain in ber posses
sion undisturbed. That would be Im
possible until Wllkerson was eliminat
ed. : And that man was after great
stakes; otherwise he would never have
ventured so far. ,
As he debated this Inwardly Jobn
went over in memory all tbe events of
tbe brief period wince o'd Thomiis Oat-
liTllll
TIZ
SORE, TIRED FEET
Oood-bye sore feet, burning feet, swol
len feet, ewoaty feet, smelling feet, tired
feet.
Oood-bye corns, callouses, bunions and
taw spots. Ho
more anoe tight
ness, no more limp
ing with pain or
drawing up your
face in agony.
"TIZ" la magical,
acts right off.
"TIZ" draws out
all the poisonous
exudations which
puff up the fees.
Use "TIZ" and for-
get your foot
misery. Ah I how comfortable your feet
feeL Get a 26 cent box of "TIZ" bow at
any druggist or department store. Donl
suffer. . Have good feet, glad feet, feet
that never swell, never hart, sever get
tared. A yeari foot eosafsrt iptsatiia
f mener refused.
- t 4
ptnff
A
H
U ul
lAiiliin
ill Ullll
ttUNIUU
HP"
0)
Gat tho
- A elate of hot bexuits or nn&ns, a
fresh, nome-baked cake, a loaf of brown:
or nut-bread,' rescues any meal from the
commonplace, and more expensive things
are never missed.
With K C
powder, good results are doubly certain
7 There's economy too, in the cost of K C
m - mm mi U s
)- - " - -I v'1 r -.T ;
Ion bad died, leu v Ins his daughter In
bis charge. Before urn mind's eye rau
the-pictures of the last scenes and
then- 1
Like n flush It i-ntue to him! What
was In tbut letter the old man had so
carefully cherished ami handed him
at tbe last? Had (inllon foreseen some
thing like this mid prepared lor it? In
19 last days had bis ratling powers
concentrated on his single ulin aud
volved n final safeguard for tho "Mas
ter Key?"
Wltb the sealed letter In bis band
John Dorr stared at tbe superscription:
Not to b opened until my daughter's
eighteenth birthday or before then If hr
welfare l threatened.
Quickly he tore the envelope open.
Tbe tnclosure fell out In two portions.
He put them together, with a muttered
ejaculation at bis own carelessness
and read tbe crabbed script: .
- ' 8ilent Valley, Cel.. June fo.
Lime Olrl-Read oarefulty whet I write.
On this depends your future welfare.
The "Master Key" mine discovered by
me five year aco contained a mother
lode of Inestimable worth. The exact lo
cation ot the lode Is written on slip of
paper, which I placed in the head of an
Indian Idol In an old sea chest, which
went down with the ship on which I was
wrecked. -, t
On the master key. the key to that
chest and which you wear on your neck.
Is carved the location where tne venei
went down. Find that sup of paper and
the wealth la yours. Four devoted father,
. THOMAS UALiUUM.
(To be Continued Tomorrow.)
' Notice of Final Settlement .
Notice is hereby given that the un
dersigned Administratrix of the es
tate of John M. Chapman, ' deceased,
has filed with the County Clerk of
Union County, Oregon, her final ac
count as such Administratrix, and tho
Court has set Tuesday, March 9, 1915,
at ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the
County Court room, in La Grande,
Oregon, as the time and place v for
hearing any objections that may be
made to said final account, and for
the final settlement of said estate.
ANNIE CHAPMAN,
: Administratrix,
d 2 8 15 22 S 1 8.
G. W. Gess traveling salesman aad
demonstrator for the Pacific Coast
Sales Co., of Portland is in town and
will make demonstrations . at your
Retail Department---Phone Main 8
For Lumber, Lath
Shingles, Sath and Doors
Ruberoid Roofing
GEORGE PALMER LUMBER CO
D. R. FONG MEDICINE CO.
CHINESE ROOT AND HERB REMEDIES
Cure s Bodily Diseases With Root and Herb Treatment
Phone 762 Free Consultation La Grand
141 e- Adama Ave.
THE FREE SEWING MACHINE
IS GUARANTEED FOR LIFE
F. D. HAISTEN J"'
1
Cost of lavfcj!
the double acting baking
s
homes of a new line of Sanitary house-
hold goods such as the dustless dusters
the Duneon Cedar Polish Mop , also,
the three in one take-down sweeper
rack that we guarantee to be the best
or. the market We sell tha bast elec
tric Cleaners. Parties out of towit
may see Mrs. Gess at 1904 Third St
Adv. 2 28 6tp.
Way Take Ounce. t llaTai !
YotfWatAe Destroyed? t g
by placing, them in the ,
hands of incompetent
workmen this is sure to j
happen. We can refer' j
wrrn rn watches w tiavo
- -
kept in repair for.' over
twenty years and puv
are as good today a
when they loft tlio fft
tory. We ''a ; nothing
but fir .."las." watch,
clock jewelry, re
pairing and guarantee
erery piece 61 work
done. Do hot take any
utxaecessary v. ehances.
we will lend you a good
r time keeper whilst we
repair your own. -:
La Grande's Isadiag Optem
.. etsists . ssal iewatsM . v
J H. Peare & Son
ure, j
and with every machine
we give you a paid up
FIRE INSUEANCE
policy....- if or. FIVE
iYEARS, this insures
you against, less in case
of fire. I have replaced
2 machines here. Sold
on very easy payments.
$1.00 down and $1.00
per week. " v '
Old sewing machines
for sale and rent, all in
good condition.
' . , , a
!
a