Phoenix tribune., 1922-12-02
CHAPTER XIII.

Fairchild did not show the item TO
Harry. There was little that it could
accomplish, and besides, he felt thai
his comrade had enough to think
about. The unexpected turn of the
coroner's inquest had added to the
heavy weight of Harrys troubles: il
meant the probability in the future Of
a grand jury investigation and the
possible Indictment as accessory after
the fact in the murder of "Sissie'
Larsen. Not that Fairchild had been
Influenced in the slightest by the tes-
timony of Crazy Laura the presence
of Squint Rodaine and his son had
shown too plainly that they were con
aected in some way with it, that, in
fact, they were responsible An op-
portunity had arisen for them. and
they had seized upon It, More. there
came the shrewd opinion of old Moth
er Howard, once Fairchild and Harry
had reached the boarding house and
gathered in the parlor for their con
sultatiOn:
Amt it what l said right in the
t.eginning| Mother Howard asked
She'll kill for that man, if necessary.
It wasn't as hard as you think-all
Squirt Rodaine had to do was to act
nice to her and promise her few
things that he'll squirm out of later
on and she went on the stand and
lied her head off"
But for a crazy woman"
'Laura's crazy-and she amt crazy.
I've seen that woman as sensible and
as shrewd as any sane woman who
ever drew breath. Then again. I've
seen her when I wouldn't get within
fifty miles of her. Goodness only
knows what would happen to a person
who fell into her clutches when she's
got one of those immortality streaks
on"
"One of those whatT' Harry looked
up in surprise.
Immortality. That's why you'll
find her sneaking around graveyards
at night, gathering herbs and taking
them to that old house on the George
vile road, where she lives, and brew
ing them into some sort of concoction
that she sprinkles on the graves. She
believes that it's a sure system of
bringing Immortality to a person
PoisOn-that's about what it is'
Harry shrugged his shoulders.
''Poison's what she isl" he ex-
claimed. "Ain't 1t enough that I'm ac-
used of every crime in the calendar
without 'er getting me mixed up in a
murder? And" this time he looked
at Fairchild with dolorous eyes
low re we going to furnish bond this
time, if the grand jury indicts me?"
I'm afraid there won't be any"
Mother Howard set her lips for a
minute, then Strengthened proudly.
'Well, guess there will It's bond
able-and I guess I've got a few
things that are worth something-an
a few friends that I can go to. don't
see why | should be left out of every
hing, just because I'm womanr
"Lor' love your Harry grinned, his
yes showing plainly that the world
was again good for him and that his
roubles, as far as a few slight
'harges of penitentiary offenses were
oncerned, amounted to very little in
lis estimation. Harry had habit of
living just for the day. And the sup
port of Mother Howard had wiped
out all future difficulties for him. The
fact that convictions might await him
and that the heavy doors at Canon
City might yawn for him made little
difference right now. Behind the great
bulwark Of his mustache, his big lips
spread in a happy announcement of
Joy. and the world was good
Silently, Robert Fairchild rose and
left the parlor for his own room. Some
way he could not force himself to
she'd his difficulties in the same light.
airy way as Harry. Looking back he
could see now that his dreams had
led only to catastrophes From the
very beginning, there had been only
trouble, only fighting, fighting, fight
ing against insurmountable odds
which seemed to throw him ever
deeper into the mire of defeat. with
every onslaught The Rodaines had
played with stacked cards, and so far
every hand had been theirs. Fair
child suddenly realized that he was
Ill but whipped, that the psyche
logical advantage was all on the side
If Squint Rodaine, his son, and the
crazy woman who did their bidding
More, another hope had gone glimmer-
ng; even had the announcement not
come forth that Anita Richmond had
given her promise to marry Maurice
Rodaine, the action of a coroner's
jury that night had removed her from
hope forever. A son of a man who
has been called a slayer has little
right to love woman, even if that
woman has a bit of mystery about
her. All things can be explained
but murder!
1t was growing late but Fairchild
did not seek bed Instead he sat by
the window staring out at the shad-
ows of the mountains, out at the free