American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-08-19
CHAPTER VII,


and stand gaspng And before he
could speak. new voice had cut In.
one full Of excitement. tremulous
anxious.
"Drownedi Where's his bodyr"
How do known" Squint Rodaine
turned upon his questioner. Guess
It's at the foot OF the shaft. All I
saw was his hat. whst're you 30 in.
terested fort"
The Questioner, small. goggle-eyed
and given to rubbing his hands, stared
a moment speechlessly.
"He-he bought a diamond from
me this mornIng-on the installment
planw
Rodaine smiled again In his crooked
fashion.
THAT'S your own fault, SAM" he
announced CURLY. III he's at the bot
tom Of the shaft your diamonds there
too. All know about II 10 that
WA coming down from the Silver
Queen when ] saw this fellow 20 into
the tunnel Of the Blue Poppy. He was
all dressed up. else don't guess
would have paid much attention to
him. Hut as II was, kind Of stopped
to look. and seen II was Harry Har-
kins. who used to work the mine with
this'--he pointed to Fairchild--"this
fellows father About minute later.
I heard yell, like somebody was In
trouble, then a big splash. Naturally
I ran In the tunnel aAd struck a
match. About twenty feet down. !
could zee the water was all riled up,
and new hat was floating around on
top oft. That's all I know. You can
do - you please about your diamond.
I'm Just giving you the information"
Hs turned sharply and went on
then. while Sam the jeweler. the rest
OF the lolterers clustered around him,
looked apDeallngly toward FaIrchild.
wnarii we dO7" he walled.
Fairchlld turned. II don't know
about you--but I'm going to the mine y
1T won't do any good bodies don't
6oat. II may never hoat-if II gets
caught down In the timbers some
where's"
Have to organize q bucket bri
FADE" II was a suggestion from one
Of the crowd
"why not borrs the Argonau,
pumpf They amt using IT,"
go get III Go get itw This time
II was the wall Of the little jeweler
"Tell 'em Sam Herhenfelder sent you
They'll let you have It."
Another suggestion. still another
Soon men began TO radiate, each on I
mission. The word passed down tn,
street. More l0lterers--a silver mine
spends great part Of his leisure tim,
In simply watching the crowd go by
hurried to Join the excited throng
Groups. en- route TO the picture show
decided otherwise and stopped I,
learn OF the excitement The crow,
thickened. Suddenly Fairchild locke,
up sharply nj the sound of feminin
voice.
whats the matterT'
Harry HarkIns got drowned" Al
too willingly the news was dispersed
Fatrchild's eyes were searching now q
the haIf-light from the faint stree
bulbs. Then they conferred. II wa
Anita Richmond. standing at the edg
OF the crowd, questioning minel
while beside her was a thin. youthful
counterpart >of hard.faced fatheI
Maurice Rodaine. Just a moment 0
queries, then the miners hand pointe
to Fairchild as he turned toward heI
TITS his partner"
She moved forward then and Fail
child went to meet her.
I'm sorry" she said. and extende
her hand. : FairchIld gtpped II q
gerly.
THANK you. But II may not be q
bad as the rumors."
Il hope not" Then quickly oh
withdrew her hand. and somewhs
mustered, turned as her companio
edged closer. Maurice. this In Nj
Fairchild." she announced and Fail
child could do nothing but stare. Sh
knew his name A second more an
| II was exDlainpd. "Nv fnthar kuaw M