The Holbrook news., 1922-10-13
CHAPTER VIII

The news caused Fairchild to recoIl and stand gasping. And before he could speak, a new voice had cut in. one full of excitement, tremulous, anxious.
 Drowned? Where's his body?"
 How do I know?" Squint Rodaine turned upon his questioner. Guess It's at the foot of the shaft. All saw was his hat What're you so in- terested for?"
 The questioner, small, goggle-eyed and given to rubbing his hands. stared 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 curtly. "If he's at the bot tom of -he shaft. your diamonds there too. All know about 1t is that was coming down from the Silver Queen when I saw this fellow go into the tunnel of the Blue Poppy. He was all dressed up. else I don't guess I would have paid much attention to him. But as 1t was, kind of stopped to look, Gnd seen 1t was Harry Har- kins. who used to work the mine with this"-he pointed to Fairchild-"this fellows father. About a minute later, heard a yell, like somebody was in trouble. then big splash. Naturally l ran In the tunnel and struck match. About twenty feet down, could see the water was all riled up, and a new hat was floating around on top of 1t. That's all I know. You can do as you please about your diamond. I'm just giving you the information"
 He turned sharply and went on then, while Sam the jeweler, the rest of the loiterers clustered around him. looked appealingly toward Fairehild.
 "What'll we do?" he walled.
 Fairchild turned. q don't know about you-but Pm going to the mine"
 Tt won't do any good-bodies don't float. It may never float-if 1t gets caught down in the timbers some where's"
 Have to organize a bucket bri- gade." It was a suggestion from one of the crowd.
 "Why not borry the Argonaut pump? They ain't using It."
 "Go get 1t! Go get itw This time 1t was the wall of the little jeweler. ''Tell lem Sam Herbenfelder sent you. They'll let you have it."
 Another suggestion, still another. Soon men began to radiate, each on a mission. The word passed down the street. More loiterers-a silver miner spends a great part of his leisure time in simply watching the crowd go by hurried to join the excited throng. Groups, en route to the picture show, decided otherwise and stopped to learn or the excitement The crowd thickened. Suddenly Fairchild looked up sharply at the sound of feminine voice.
 What's the matter?"
 Harry Harkins got drowned" All u. Fairchild's eyes were searching now in the half-light from the faint street bulbs. Then they centered. It was Anita Richmond, standing at the edge of the crowd, questioning a miner, while beside her was thin, youthful counterpart of a, hard-faced father, Maurice Rodaine. Just moment of queries, then the miners hand pointed to Fairchild as he turned toward her.
 "It's his partner"
 She moved forward then and Fair child went to meet her.
 "Pm sorry," she said, and extended her hand. Fairchild gripped it ea- gerly.
 'Thank you. But it may not be as bad as the rumors."
 'T hope not" Then quickly she withdrew her hand, and somewhat fiustered. turned as her companion edged closer. Maurice, this is Mr. Fairchild," she announced, and Fair child could do nothing but stare. She knew his namel A second more and 1t was explained: My father knew his father very we'll"
 q think my own father was ac- quainted too," was the rejoinder, and the eyes of the two men met for an instant in conflict. The girl did not. seem to notice.
 q sold him a ticket this morning to the dance, not knowing who he was. Then father happened to see him pass the house and pointed him out to me as the son of former friend of his. Funny how those things happen, isn't it?"
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