The Dolores star., 1922-11-17

| person 'ad said 1t against you. ThereH
never be anything more to that; Far
relll ave 'er adjudged insane If 1t
ever comes TO anything like that.
| She'll never give no more testimony.
I've been talking with 'lm-'e stopped
in just after you came upstairs. It's
only crazy woman"
But they took her word for 1t,
| Harry. They believed her. And they
| gave the verdict-against my father y
II know. l was there, right beside
you. ! card 1t. But it'll come out
| right, some way"
There was a moment of silence.
then gripping fear ut the heart of
| Fairchild.
Just how crazy is she. Harry7'
"'Er? Plumb daft 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 'Oward
says II all might ave been different,
and we'd not ave 'ad anything to
worry about"
"In writing?"
"Yes. she's 'arfway sane then. 1t
seems 'er minds disconnected, some
wye. don't know 'ow-Mother
'Oward's got the ole lingo, and every
| body in town knows about II. 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 1t is, and tells you all about 1t.
| Notice 'ow fiustered up she got when
| the coroner asked 'er about that
book7'
81 wonder what 1t would really
tell?'
Harry chucklcd.
Nobody knows. Nobody's ever
seen it. Not even Squint Rodaine. l
guess It's a part of 'er right brain that
| tells 'er TO keep 1t a secret I'm going
TO bed now. So re you. And you're
| going to sleep. Good night"
He went ont of the room then, and
| FHirchild. obedient to the big Cornish
mans command sought rest. But 1t
was hard struggle Morning came,
and he 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
viction was present that Crazy Laura
| had told at least semblance of the
| truth, and that the dovetailing Incl
1pnfS nf tho tttaI M
connected story for which there must
be some foundation. There were
those who were plainly curious; there
were others who professed not to be-
| lleve 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 a cloak Of interest to guide
them to other food for the carrion
proclivlties of their minds.
An hour later Harry, wandering by
the younger mans side. strove for
words and at last uttered them.
II know It's disagreeable," came
finally. But It's necessary. You
'aven't quit?"
Quit whatT
1.-The mine. You're going to keep
on. amt you?"
| Fairchild grltted 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. wen
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 FalrchIld'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. "Tll
go then-but 1t 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:
please come to Denver at once.
Have most important information for
you.
''R. V. BARNHAM,
H. & r. Building"
A moment of staring, then Fairchild
passed the telegram over to Harry for
his opinion. There was none. To.
gether they went across the street
and to the office Of Farrell, their at.
torney. He studied the telegram long,
Then:
II can't see what on earth 1t means