Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 55, Decatur, Adams County, 5 March 1915 — Page 2

THE MASTER KEY. CHAPTER IX. Matter of the "Matter Key” Mine. BHEN Ruth Gallon did not call upon him and lie found him- , self unable to locate her | Charles Everett was at a loss ■what to do. He had wired Dorr of his anxiety about her and had received ■word In reply that the young engineer had received conflicting messages. i Unhappily for the girl, Everett was called out of town. And so when he found himself forced to make a hurried trip to San Francisco her predicament became the more pronounced. The false Everett, George Drake, took It upon himself to call at the Kltz for 1 her mall, and, returning with word j that there was none for her, Ruth felt i a strange premonition that matters were not progressing us they should. i Mrs. Darnell found her gazing out of the drawing room window, huddled in a pathetic little heap, dejection stamped on features and form. “Dearie,” purred the hostess, “you look as If you had lost your last friend on earth. Do cheer up. What Is the trouble?" 1 Ruth turned her head, but remained hi the same queer little attitude, replying in a plaintive voice: "I do not understand why Mr. Dorr has not written or wired me. Really, Mrs. Darnell, 1 am beginning to fear that something bns happened to him.” Mrs. Darnell looked at her searchlngly, but recovered quickly under the questioning return gaze. “Do not worry. Ruth. Everything will come out all 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 sight and vista opened a new world to her 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 a delay. Ruth tired of sitting in the car, and, jumping out, she spied a florist's window. Before Mrs. Darnell could think of the possibility of a mis- ( carriage of her well laid plans the girl | was inside. She purchased violets for , both and was on her way out when ( she saw a telephone. Intuitively, rath- < er than from any other motive, she j hastily called up Mr. Everett’s office, i To her amazement she learned that he i had gone west. I Her news was even more startling 1 to Mrs. Darnell than it had been to 1 Ruth. Quick action was needed, and, ] leaving Ruth in the car with a pre- i varicated excuse, the older women was soon phoning to Drake, telling him to | go west at once and Instructing him j to meet them In San Francisco, where he was to pose as Everett and continue , carrying out the plot to secure posses- | sion of Ruth's mining property. 1 And thus it came about that five « days later found them in the metropolis of the Pacific coast, where they were met by Drake, still posing as Ev- i erett The greatest difficulty lay in reconciling Ruth's mind to the myßtery of ( Everett's sudden departure after she ( had seen him at Mrs. Darnell's the j night before. But the cleverness of t _____________________ t 1 sd -few--. * JU 1 f ’ gt- » J i I® i I Ruth Spied a Florist’s Window. ( the schemer counterbalanced all doubts, j 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, although he learned that she was go- , ing to the western city, he again learned that Everett had failed to connect with her. Ruth had been gone many days when John Dorr received another telegram from Everett that made his heart stop its regular beat Alone in his cabin he pored over it as if there must be some hidden meaning beneath the words. It was unbelievable. After all his pain and his very careful forethought for her comfort and safety something had gone wrong. Everett was brief: San Francisco, April 2. John Dorr. Silent Valley, Cal.: Have been unable to find Miss Gallon. EVERETT. For awhile his mind refused to work logically. All that he could think of was little Ruth Gallon, she of the slen- I dor hands and pure eyes, lost in the Fi-eat city and piteously seeking a familiar face. But he pulled himself vigorously together and called up the agent at the station. “Bill,” he said over the telephone. “This is Dorr. I want to get a wire through to San Francisco.” “All right. John: what is it?" John thought a moment and then dictated this message: Charles Everett, Call Building. San Fran- . cisco: Miss Gallon was to have gone to the St Francis as I wired you before. DORR. I

After moiling over the problem he felt that he must confide in some one. Os all the men in the mine he trusted only Tom Kane. He strode down tile hill to the cook shanty and found the old man engaged in his task of prepar ing the noonday meal. “Look here, Tom," John said abruptly, holding out the telegram. “1 haven't said anything before, but Ruth is lost in San Francisco. I’ve wired Everett before. He can’t find her." Without i. won! the cook reached for the yellow slip and read it slowly. He glanced up and said with the utmost simplicity, "I reckon you’d bet ter catch this evening's express.” “But my work here—somebody has got to look after the mine and Wilkerson”— Tom Kane glanced at him and then at the bit of paper. “I know bow yon feel," be muttered, "but I've cooked years enough to know that if you leave j R Something Had Gone Wrong. things on the Are they’ll burn. This business won't wait” He 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 shanty to Wilkerson. The main thing is to find Ruth. I know she's safe, for nobody would hurt that little girl. But you've 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 1 reckon Frisco is bigger.” “I’ll go,” said Dorr promptly. “I'll leave my papers and my new plans in your charge, Tom.” The old man laid his warm hand on John's arm. “New plans?" be whispered. "Have you found the mother lode? Don't say anything to Wilkerson.” “But he is the superintendent?” “Not of this shanty. I never trust an egg until I’ve broken it.” In Harry Wilkerson’s dark heart there was what he might in his twisted vocabulary have termed happiness His plans were working out to perfection. Jean Darnell bad wired again that all was well and that she would have news for him in a few days. This meant that she and George Drake had done their part. But he wondered why It was that John Dorr, who must certainly be anxiously awaiting word from Ruth, neither said anything nor displayed a sign of impatience. It did not escape him that Tom Kane and the young engineer were in consultation 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 Wilkerson asked quietly, “What’s the news from San Francisco? Has Ruth wired?” John had been expecting this per fectly natural question and was ready with his answer: "Everything seems to be all right.” “Good I” said the superintendent dryly. “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 I may have to do without 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,” he said. He proceeded to get into a package of blueprints and memoranda. “Going to move?” suggested Wilkerson. “I’m going for a trip, and I thought I'd look over my notes in the mean while," was the response. Wilkerson said no more. He went on the alert. From BUI Tubbs he learned that Dorr was going to run Into either Valle Vista or Silent Valley with the motor truck. The superintendent of the "Master Key" belonged to the type that Is catlike in Its quickness of action, based on intuition rather than on reason. While Ruth Gallon was carefully concealed. it was more than 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 Francisco. But how to prevent him? Wilkerson pondered this problem till his dark face was suffused with angry blood There was no way but tbe way of violence. Among his sensuous appetites was none for blood, but he nerved him self to his task and shortly after mid day called for his horse and rode out. stating that he was going across the divide to see about a fresh supply of wopd. In the saddle scabbard he cur ried a short saw • •»•••• Spanning an arroyo betwen two hills halfway to Silent Valley was a short

bridge of considerable height. It was midafternoon when Harry Wilkerson throw the bridle rein over his pony’s head and climbed down the hill slope . till he was directly under the bridge. . Then be pullul the little saw out of his 1 shirt bosom and began work. Fifteen I minutes later be climbed up to the | road, broke the saw in two, flung the pieces into tile brush mid rude away. He did not go far. From his place of vantage halfway up the hill he waited. The hour that •lapsed before lie beard the coughing of tbe motor seemed an endless succes slon of deadly seconds, each marked by a stabbing brenth. Then he saw the truck emerge from the cut and coni tneiice to rumble heavily down the slojie. John Dorr was driving. With him was one of the hands. Tbe heavy truck bumped upon the bridge, and in the desert silence the num on the bill saw it quietly sway to one side mid then plunge downward to the rocks below. Before the sound of that crash could reach his listening ears be saw a sudden burst of flame shoot up a dense swirl of smoke. Then, like the faraway crackling of a tire, came the noise of the yielding timbers. foUowed by n dull boom. "My God!" whispered Wilkerson to himself. “The gasoline tank exploded and the car is on fire!” He crouched in the brush, waiting to see whether nny one emerged from the 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. Instinct told him to flee the scene But n stronger passion overcame him. he must see for himself what had hap petted. He mounted his horse and rode swiftly down the slope. The truck had turned completely over und lay broken and smoldering across the waterworn bowlders. Wilkerson could not see two forms; all he discerned through the eddying smoke was the body of John Dorr, flung some distance from the truck, his pallid face turned to the blazing sky. “Dead!” muttered Wilkerson, chilled with the horror of the thing he had done. It bit into his very soul, that scene, until he could not stand it 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 of 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 he was safe. Wilkerson experienced a tre mendous reaction. He raised biinself exultantly in his stirrups. lie was now master of tbe "Master Key” mine. CHAPTER X. In the Heart of Chinatown. W* - ITH quick decision Wilkerson turned his horse toward Valle Vista. He felt in bis pockets to see how much money he had. He discovered that through an oversight he had put,. into his pocket before leaving the OfflvO the last San Francisco mbit check for something like $3,000. There was besides this a couple of hundred dollars. He. pulled this out. stared at it, laugh ed and went on. “Frisco for mine,” said be. The evening sun was pouring a pale blue light through a high Pacific fog when John Dorr came to his senses. Twenty feet away the machine was smoldering 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 the cool of the evening, stopped bis burros at the top of the declivity, wondering what the fire was. He saw that the bridge was gone. This might be due to tramps camped in tbe dry bed of the creek, not attending to their blaze. He led the burros off the road and down tbe slo|ie, only to stop with an exclamation such as he had not used in years. John Dorr lay there with bis lingers clutched into the gray marl. He stooped over and saw that the body, bulking heavily in the mist) light, still held its vital spark. “Where is Hickman, the driver?' The cook peered around and then once more bent over the motionless form of the young engineer. With great ex ertlon he managed to lift him up and place him across one of tbe pack sad dies. John’s arm automatically clasp Ing the little animal’s neck. Seeing him secure, and coming to bis senses. Kane went down to the smoldering remains of tbe machine to search for his companion. One glanee was sufli clent He quietly went back and start ed his Journey toward tbe mine. Ills old hands, seared by years of cooking, patted the almost inanimate form <>t Dorr. They were almost to the “Master Key” mine when Dorr came to himself, slipped off the pack saddle and stood up weakly. , “What happened?" he muttered. ’ 1 “Nothing much.” said Kane, putting ’ . his arm about him. “You had a bad fall. That bridge never was any too strong.” “Bridgel" snld Dorr. “The bridge Is gone?” “Sure." said old Tom Kane easily. 1 whistling to his burros again "You just come along with me ” I “But 1 haven't got my coat." . The cook looked at him with swift “ understundiyg had been in the seat of tire machine and was burn ed “I'll get you another coat when we get back to camp.” he said com fortingly. So they progressed the long i and dusty road back to the "Master t j Key.” It was dark when they ar

I ; rived, and Kane was able to take hl* dazed uud much bruised charge Into the ciHik shanty without being observed by any of tbe miners. Dorr was still but half conscious and willingly submilted to being put to bed, though I he still protested that be wanted bis ■ coat “What do you want your coat for?” demanded Kane. John opened his eyes widely, for the first time cognizant of his surroundlugs. Then he leaped from the bed "All my money Is In It!” Tom Kane sat on the chair beside him. dish towel in hand, as a sort of emblem of authority, and demanded iu his careful tones, "There wasn’t anything else in the coat, John?" He bent his white head as if to catch a wills per. instead Dorr gave a raucous shout: “There was that check from the mint"— “I saw you myself give that check to Wilkerson," said the cook soothingly. “But that doesn't change matters any. You’ve got to get to San Francisco, and you’re busted.” Tom Kane pulled out an old deerskin poke and from It spilled on the table a few hundred dol lars. “Just as soon as you get able, John,” he said huskily, “you take this money and get to Frisco. Find Ruth. That's all that matters—find that little girl. “Hurry!” he whispered. “Wilkerson Is gone. He's been gone since midafternoon.” “But I am badly hurt” said John Dorr stupidly. Then Kane understood that he must take desperate measures. Fifteen minutes later Dorr was pounding down the road toward Silent Valley. Ills head was roughly bandaged, his chest hnd been tightly strapped with the ripped woolen blanket, and In his nostrils was the pungent odor of ammonia. He was at last nwake and knew that In his pocket was a thousand dollars In gold. An hour later he boarded the Sunset express and automatically paid his fare, bought his Pullman ticket aud, not withstanding the porter’s earnest inquiry as to his injuries, went to bed as silently ns he arrived in San Francisco a day later. Exultant in his triumph, Wilkerson stifled the small voice of his conscience and strode on. One thought now- mas tered his every action—he must reach San Francisco and Jean Darnell. Jean Darnell! Tbe woman who stir red him to the depths of his innermost soul. Jean Darnell and the “Master Key!” Arrived at the station he sent her a wire telling of his coming. Two min utes later he was aboard the train. As he gazed backward a bend of the rails drew a curtain to his musings, and be turned and entered the car. «»»»»»» Upon their arrival in San Francisco Mrs. Darnell acted upon her decision made during the journey—that they would stop at a less pretentious hotel than the St. Francis, where tbe chances of her plans being spoiled by chance meetings with the real Everett or perhaps John Dorr were too great And so they took a taxi to the Manx A word with Drake and the older woman stepped to the desk and in a firm, bold hand wrote: “Mrs. Darnell and daughter. New York.” Quickly she turned to Ruth and. fol lowing the lead of the bellboy, escort ed her toward the elevators. No sooner bad they removed their * , ii > ... A p-* ■■■ • “The girl is sick, and we must hurry her to a hospital!" wraps in the luxurious apartments than a rap at the door interrupted their talk. “See who it is," commanded Mrs Darnell to her maid. The latter returned with a telegram from Harry Wilkerson saying that he was on bls way and would Join them soon. Wearied by the long trip across tbe continent, Ruth was glad to retire ear ly, and shortly after the dinner hour she was tucked in her bed and sleeping soundly. Drake hastened to the depot and met Wilkerson, driving him to the Manx 1 with all haste. “I'm awfully glad to see you. Har ry.” was the effusive greeting he re j.'eived from Jean. His heart pounded with the joy of It! After all his scheming and plotting

was worth while, lie would win tbe mine und the woman also. The mine! The Master Key!” The thought brought him back like the snapping of a whip. "Where is tbe girl?" he asked almost brusquely. “In there." and Mrs. Darnell pointed to the curtains dividing Ruth’s room from the other. Wilkerson started toward the archway. "Harry!” Ho turned. "You mustn't go in there.” “Why not?" “She’s sleeping—you'll awaken her.” “Ob, nil right!” He paused und looked from Drake to Mrs. Darnell. "Well, let’s set down to business. Where are the papers? Have you got them yet? "Ssh! Not so loud"— and Mrs. Dur noil looked apprehensively toward the heavy plush hangings. "Oh, that’s all right, Jenn. But we must hurry this thing up." In her bed Ruth stirred. The murmur of voices came to her as in a troubled dream. Whose were they? Where bad she heard that voice before? The “K'W -i ■ BW' -? .4 Before a Doorway Wilkerson Stopped. '.eavy one? She turned on her skle and the moonlight shone pn her iu a white light. “I tell you, Jean, you must do as I say! If we want to get possession of those papers and secure tbe mine we must act!” “Will you be quiet?” Mrs. Darnell's eyes blazed in angered resentment. What were the voices saying? Ruth sat up. listened, slipped from the bed and tiptoed to tbe curtains. "You'll do as I say, or”— "Harry!” “Oh, come, old man. What's the use of all this argument?" and Drake laid his hand on Wilkerson’s arm restrainingly. Their eyes met. Wilkerson calmed himself. “Oh. all right As you say.” And he stepped to Jean and turned her around to him. Slam! Bang! “Hello, hello!" With one rush tbe trio were upon her. Mrs. Darnell seized the affrighted girl and dragged her from the phone. She screamed. “Stop her yelling! Stop her!" commanded Wilkerson. “George, for God's sake, do something!” With her hand over the girl's mouth, Mrs. Darnell held her by sheer strength, while the always cowardly Wilkerson screamed his commands In a louder tone than those of the girl had been. Her head fell back, and her body became limp. "She's fainted! Call a taxi at once! We must get her out of this hotel!" In less than five minutes they were shooting down the elevator. Another quarter minute and Wilkerson, with the unconscious form of the girl in his arms, her face covered by the cape of tbe maid, was rushing across tbe lobby, preceded by Drake. Mrs. Darnell stopped at the desk long enough to throw down a twenty dollar bill. "The girl is sick, and we must hurry her to a hospital!" she managed to gasp. Before the dutnfounded clerk or the amazed guests could stop to act they were out of tbe bote! and In a taxi. The house detective sprang from almost cut of nowhere and iu a second was speeding after the fleeing ones, accompanied by another plain clothes man. They sighted the first taxi as it rounded the corner of I’owell and Eddy streets. "Keep that car In sight, nnd catch It if you can!” The chauffeur made answer with his foot As the detectives saw the course the other car was taking they both murmured, “Chinatown!’’ Into the realm of the yellow man shot the auto. Before a doorway Wilkerson stopped. Rap! Pause—rap! Rap! Pause—rap! A face appeared as the door creaked open, the face of a Chinaman, deeply lined, the almond shaped eyes scarcely visible through the nearly closed lids. A signal and a whispered word from Wilkerson, nnd the door widened the opening, and nil passed through. With a whisk it closed. Around bends nnd corners and down

... of siairs. 1 b«“ " loug . 111!llt was vlslwhere scarcely « rl ‘> b , ltß i ui ; f<*t >' f b!e. All tbe tlul ® J 1 Ju lu the little yell®* uinu the advance. process' oll - ' Then a door f , s >' Another series of sig ■ |n . ( . u . The door Har rumbling sound. 1 ' fir st g"' n, ' e } queerly arranged room. eyo It seemed ' cry h* •• J (tg strnnP o • trlivelt .d around “ r fl . ars otue sham, gave one a“ 1 lvU . ly cylapprehension. It was <.« t Indrical. . ch | na . Wilkerson at a sign ft chl . , man laid Kuth on nes e woman shutll ” l ‘ Lcav ing her I® of the yellow man. • ber9 the charge of the orlen ak the* returned the way■the} I- gan FraQ . On the arrival of Dorr “ cisco he was met . , qrtc( ] the ‘ ferry, and Wetber tl.ey s«rtea search for Flrat they * ‘wXnd sore from Ms narrow Jcape of the night before. I o rJU. ready to retire to his room im mdlng to purchase wearing apparel the next Desiring to put some of hls effects away, he tried to open to dr» ser drawers and discovered them to be locked. He sent for a key, and to amazement, on opening one drawers he discovered Ruths pope to tbe mine. _ He made speedy inquiry at the office and from tbe clerk and the detective learned of the getaway of Mrs. r nell and her party. Drake in the interim secured quarters for tbe quartet, and still i Kuth !n secure hiding, well guarded . I the watchful Wah Sing, a former I smuggling partner of Wilkerson In the days of tbe “opium ring.” they walked to the lodging house and settled themselves to await further developments. BROOK FISH. Why They Do Not Get Carried Away Out Into Deep Waters. If you watch a school of minnows in some stream that has a strong and swift current you will see that they always bead upstream. Tbe reason is plain. Only by constantly swimming against the current can the brook fish remain a brook fish and not finally be carried out to sea, as tbe brook empties into a river, aud tbe river empties into the ocean. But we cannot suppose that the brook fish knows that this will happen if it weakly allows the stream to carry it along. Tbe young minnow is born with the instinct to resist the flow of the brook. Tbe most natural supposition would be that tbe instinct amounts to a tendency to pWih against the pressure of the water, but experiments have shown that it is not the sense of touch, but tbe sense of sight that plays tbe important part Tbe Instinct of tbe brook fish is not to swim against tbe current, but to keep near the same “scenery" on the bunks or bottom of the stream. Tbe experiments that proved this were performed some years ago by Professor E. I*. Lyon. He put some little fish into a bottle filled with water and corked the bottle, which be then placed In an aquarium, whose sides had seaweed upon them. When he moved the bottle along by the wall all tbe fish crowded to tbe hinder end of the bottle. Os course there was no current in the bottle. Tbe fish were trying to keep alongside that part of the seaweed covered wall that was opposite them before the bottle was moved. In another experiment the professor reversed the conditions. He made a wooden box with -wire netting at each end. Its bottom he covered with sand and its inner sides with seaweed. Then lie put the fish into this box and placed it in a stream. As long as tbe box was kept still the fish beaded against the current, but as soon as the box was allowed to float away in tbe stream the fish inside it swam in any direction. While the box was still the •fish, unless they made head against the stream, were carried along past their landmarks on the sides and bottom of tbe box. But when the box floated along with them they carried their landmarks with them, aud so they made no opposition to beta*’ swept along by tbe stream.-Youths Companion. Left Handed Men Not Defective As left handedness is an inherited characteristic, apparently behaving as Mendelian recessive, it is interesting to note the belief of some investigators that it is one of the stigmata of de-en-eracy says the Journal of Heredity Bardeleben is quoted In German p eri . odicals as saying: “That a few great men. such as Leonardo da Vinci, were left handed does not neutralize the prevalent belef in all ages that left handedness Implies a substandard subject The percentage of left banded recroits is but G.B; of school children sZwb,!t higher. These figures are very decep. five, however, for of the left h.„Z children who become right handed percentage Is some 2G. This added tn the persistently left, tanded.’rate XblyT After pointing out that the Kibbon and orang outang are as a rule S handed and the gorilla and chlmrnn ihysically inferior. meDta "y or (Continued next week)

TIMBER, COAL AND farm lands, lii the equitable climate of East Tea. nessee. Too far south for long, cold winters and too far north for long hot summers. Climate very healthful. Malaria unknown. Our specialties are; Small farms, garden and fruit plots. We can fnrnis.ii some fme tracts of timber. H interested send for print- !(| list of bargains and descriptive lists of the country and its advantages. The U. S. Realty Co., Hairiman, Tenn. SEE KELLY The METROPOLITAN MAN Fop first class insurance Adult and Children. Ages 1 day to 65 years. JESSE KELLY. ITS TIME TO BOOK YOUR SALE FOR SPRING I have been crying sales in this county a good many years and feel that I can get the high dollar for you. I ave conducted hundreds of successul sales which ought to convince any icrson that I can do as I say. It is now time to book your spring ale and I will be glad to give you a .ate...l speak German, Swiss and nglish. Book your sale now. John Spuhler

&W.HEN IN I I -VISIT THkNtW ‘ palace! THEATRE I ON.EASIWA3iI,«IOf.Si. ■ uUST OFF CA'.HF'vN ■ MM • <v-M » The perf -ct ... I PIAYHCUZ ■ absolutely I r FIREPROOF OPEN mRYAHf R NOCN P’ 250 ||| ■f EVERY FVLN.K'G V•: I? IM KEITH | VAUDtVLLEI PRiCtS-10-25-iS-Sp_2sCT§jJ

Slow and Steady wins Suppose your savings account with us when started shows only a dollar to your credit. Suppose you make a practice of adding to it a dollar every week— EVERY week. ■ Suppose that you continue this i.or three or four years—i See what a nice ,tidy sum of money will be yours at the end of that time, counting the interest which your money earns. ’ And the chances are that the school- ' mg which you give yourself > n Oi ‘ der to deposit a dollar EVERf , week during that time will be j worth more to you in the future t than the money saved. I Suppose then you begin this wet- } with a dollar. ) j 1 t ] FIRST national bank r DECATUR, INDIANA - Members Federal Reserve Association.