Phoenix tribune., 1922-12-02

big form entered-Harry-tO stand
silent moment, then to come for
ward and lay a hand on the other
mans shoulder.
Don't let it get you, Boy" he said
sOftly-for him. tits going to come
out all right. Everything comes out
all right-if you amt wrong yourself"
81 know. Harry. But it's an awful
tangle right now"
''Sure it is. But it amt as if sane
person 'ad said it against you. Therell
never be anything more to that; Far
rell1 ave 'er adjudged insane if it
ever comes to anything like that.
She'll never give no more testimony.
I've been talking with Im-'e stopped
in just after you came upstairs. It's
only a crazy woman"
"But they took her word fo- it.
Harry. They believed her. And they
gave the verdict-against my father +"
81 know. l was there, right beside
you. l card it. But it'll come out
right. some way"
There was a moment of silence,
then gripping fear at the heart of
Fairchild
Just how crazy is she, Harry"
"'Er? Plumb daftI OF course. as
Mother 'Oward says, there's times
when she's straight-but they don't
last long. And, If she'd given 'er tes-
timony in writing, Mother 'OYard
says it all might ave been different
and we'd not ave 'ad anything t6
worry about"
'In writing?"
Eyes, she's 'arfway sane then. It
seems 'er minds disconnected, some
wye. don't know 'ow-Mother
Oward's got the ole lingo, and every.
body in town knows about it. When
ever anybody wants to get anything
real straight from Crazy Laura, they
make 'er write it. That part of 'er
brain seems all right. She remem-
bers everything she does then and 'ow
crazy it is, and tells you all about It.
Notice 'ow fiustered up she got VIII an
the coroner asked 'er about that
boOkT
81 wonder what it would really
tell %
Harry chuckled.
Nobody knows. Nobody's ever
seen it. Not even Squint Rodaine 1
guess it's a part of 'er right brain that
tells 'er to keep it a secret I'm going
to bed now So re you. And you're
going to sleep. Good night"
He went out of the room then, and
Fairchild, obedient to the big Cornish
mans command. sought rest. But it
was a hard struggle. Morning came.
and ne Joined Harry at breakfast, fac
ing the curious glances of the other
boarders, staving off their inquiries
and their lily couched consultations
For. in spite of the fact that it was
not voiced in so many words, the con-
yiction was present that Crazy Laura
had told at least a semblance of the
truth, and that the dovetailing Incl
dents Of the past fitted into we'll
connected story for which there must
be some foundation. There were
those who were plainly curious; there
were others who professed not to be-
lieve the testimony and who talked
loudly of action against the coroner
for having introduced the evidence of
woman known by every one to be
lacking in balanced mentality. There
were others who, by their remarks,
showed that they were concealing the
real truth of their thoughts and only
using cloak of interest to guide
them to other food for the carrion
proclivities of their minds.
An hour later Harry, wandering by
the younger mans side, strove for
words and at last uttered them.
81 know it's disagreeable," came
finally. 'But it's necessary. You
avent quit?''
'Quit whatT'
''The mine. You're going to keep
on, amt your"
Fairchild gritted his teeth and was
silent. The answer needed strength.
Finally it came.
Harry, are you with me?"
81 amt stopped yeti"
'"Then that's the answer. AS long
as there's bit of fight left In us, we'll
keep at that mine"
Harry hitched at his trousers.
They've got that blooming skeleton
out by this time. I'm willing to start
ANY time you say"
The breath went over Fairchild's
teeth in long slow intake. He
clenched his hands and held them
trembling before him for a lengthy
moment. Then he turned to his part
ner.
'Give me an hour" he begged. 'Tn
go then-but it takes a little grit
to
'Who's Fairchild hereT A messen-
ger boy was making his way along the
curb with telegram. Robert
stretched forth hand in surprise.
81 am. Why?"
The answer came as the boy showed
forth the yellow envelope. Fairchild,
wondering, read: