The Hope pioneer., 1922-11-02
Il know, Harry. But it's an awful
tangle right now"

| never De anything more 10 tnat; Far.
refill ave 'er adjudged insane If it
ever comes to anything like that.
| She'll never give no more testimony.
I've been talking with rm-'e stopped
In just after you came upstairs. It's
only a crazy woman"
"But they took her word for It,
Harry. They believed her. And they
gave the verdict-against my father!"
II know. I was there, right beside
you. card it. But It'll come out
right, some way"
There was a moment Of silence,
then gripping fear at the heart Of
Fairchild.
"Just how crazy is she, Harry7"
"'Er7 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 it all might ave been different,
and we'd not ave 'ad anything to
worry about"
"In writing"
Eyes, she's 'arfway sane then. It
seems 'er minds disconnected, some
wye. I don't know 'ow-Mother
'Oward's got the 'ole lingo, and every
body in town knows about it. 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 it is and tells you all about 1t.
Notice 'ow flustered up she got when
the coroner asked 'er about that
book?"
II wonder what it would really
ten?"
Harry chuckled.
"Nobody knows. Nobody's ever
seen 1t. Not even Squint Rodaine. I
guess It's part of 'er right brain that
tells 'er to keep 1t secret! I'm going
to bed now. So re you. And you're
going to sleep. Good night"
He went out Of the room then, and
Fairchild, obedient to the big Cornish
mans command, sought rest. But it
was hard struggle. Morning came,
and he Joined Harry at breakfast, fac
ing the curious glances of the other
boarders, staving of their inquiries
and their lily couched consultations.
For, in spite Of the fact that 1t was
not voiced In SO many words, the con-
vtction was present that Crazy Laura
had told at least a semblance of the
truth, and that the dovetailing incl
dents of the past fitted into we'll
connected story for which there must
be some foundation. There were
those who were plainly curious; there
were others who professed not to be-
lieve the testimony and who talked
loudly Of action against the coroner
for having introduced the evidence of
a 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
proclivities 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 what?
"The mine. You're going to keep
on. amt you?"
Fairchild gritted his teeth and was
silent. The answer needed strength.
Finally 1t came.
Harry, are you with me7"
II amt stopped yeti"
"Then that's the answer, As long
as there's bit Of fight left in us, wen
keep at that nine"
| 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 Fairchild's
teeth in a 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. "1u
60 then-but 1t takes a little grit
to-,
"Who's Fairchild here7" A messen.
ger boy was making his way along the
curb with a telegram. Robert
stretched forth hand in surprise.
II amS 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,
| n. & 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
unless there is some information