The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-07-11

, l<O. -.
- swell, there wasn't any need to-"
But Mother Towards sudden embar-
rassment, her change Of color, told
Fairchild it wasn't the truth. "He just
had a little bad luck out here, that
was all. His-his mine plnched out
just when he'd thought he'd struck 1t
rlch-or something like that" -, !,
Are you sure that is the truth?'' Y
For a second they faced each other,
Robert Fairchild serious and intent,
Mother Howard looking at him with
eyes defiant, yet compassionate. Sud.
denly they twinkled, the lips broke
from their straight line. into a smile,
and kindly old hand reached out to
take him by the arm. 49,. g.. u. 81 4,
'Don't you stand there and try to
tell Mother Howard she don't know
what she's talking about" came in
tones Of mock severity. "Hear me?
Now, you get up them steps and wash
up for dinner. Take the first room on
the right. It's a nice, CHEEKY place"
In his room, Fairchild tried not to
think. His brain was becoming too
crammed with queries, with strange
happenings and with aggravating mys-
ticisms of the life into which his IA.
TIERS death had thrown him to per-
NIT clearness of vision. Even in
Mother Howard he had not been able
to escape it; she told all too plainly,
both by her actions and her words
that she knew something of the mys-
terry Of the past-and had falsified to
keep the knowledge from him.
It was too CALLING for thought. Rob-
ert Fairchild hastily made his toilet.
then answered the ringing Of the din
ner bell, to be introduced to strong
shouldered men who gathered about
the long tables; Cornishmen. who
talked an "h-less" language, ruddy-
faced Americans. and tsprinkling Of
English. all Of whom conversed about
things which were to FairchiM as so
much Greek-ofs "levels" and "stopes"
and witness Of "skips'' and man
ways" and ."rlses," which meant moth
ing to the man who yet must master
them all, If he were to follow his am
bition. sIsa@- III. = ''~
Robert Fairchild spoke but seldom,
except to acknowledge the introduce
lions as Mother Howard made him
known to each of his table mates. But
it was not alo0fness; from the first,
the newcomer had liked the men
about him, liked the ruggedness, the
mingling of culture with the lack of
it, liked the enthusiasm, the muscle
and Drawn, liked them all-all but two.
Instinctively, from the first men,
ton of his name. he felt they were
watching him, two men who sat far
in the rear of the big dining room.
older than the other occupants, far
less inviting in appearance. One was
small, though chunky in build, with
sandy hair and eyebrows; with weak,
filmy blue eyes over which the lids
blinked constantly. The other, black
haired with streaks Of gray, powerful
in his build, and with walrus-like
mustache dropping over hard lips, was
the sort of antithesis naturally to be
found in the company Of the smaller,
sandy complexionsd man. Who they
were, what they were, Falrchild did
not know, except from the general
attributes which told that they too fol:
lowed the great gamble Of mining. But
one thing was certain; they watched
him throughout the meal: they talked
about him in low tones and ceased
when Mother Howard came near; they
seemed to recognize In him someone
who brought both curiosity and innate
enmity to the surface. And more !;
long before the rest had finished their
meal, they rose and left the room, in
tent, apparently, upon some important
mission.
After that, Fairchild ate with less
of a relish. In his mind was the GER
tainty that these two men knew him
or at least knew about him-and that
they did not relish his presence. Nor
were his suspicious long in being full
filled. Hardly had he reached the
hall, when the reckoning eyes Of
Mother Howard signaled to him. In
stinctively he waited for the other
diners to pass him, then looked eager
ly toward Mother Howard as she once
more approached. ..
II don't know what you're doing
here" came shortly, but want t."
Fairchild Strengthened. "There isn't
much to tell you," he answered quiet
ly. MY father left me the Blue Poppy
mine in his will. I'm here to work It,"
"Know anything about mining2"
mot a thing"
"Or the people you're liable to have
to buck up against7'
Every little"
"Then, Son." and Mother Howard
laid a kindly hand on his arm, what
ever you do, keep your plans to your
self and don't talk too much. And
what's more, IL you happen to get
into communication with Blindeye
Bozeman and Taylor Bill, lie your
head of. Maybe you saw 'em, sandy
haired fellow and 4 big man with a
black mustache. sitting at the back
Of the room?" Fairchild nodded.
"Well, stay away from them. They
belong to 'SQuint' Rodaine. Know
him?"
She shot the question sharply.