The Dolores star., 1922-11-03
Copyright BY Little, Brown & Co.

| AldIHttl lltLI tIt StuIl. Anu u.ilIlSt
the wishes Of the person who hired
me for this work. I--well, l brought
the evidence. Here, take glimpse
and then throw 1t away, tear 1t up,
swallow 1t. or do anything you want
to with II, Just 50 nobody else sees it.
Ready? Look"
He drew forth small visiting card.
Fairchild glanced. Then he looked
and then he sat up straight In bed.
For before him were the engraved
words
"N.iss Anita Natalie Richmond"
| While across the card was hastily
written. In hand distinctively femi-
nine:
.Mr. Ftiirchild: This Is my good
,riend. He will help you. There is
no fee attached. Please destroy.
Anita Richmond"
"Bu-but l don't understand"
You know Miss-er-the writer OF
this card, don't your"
! But why should she-?"
| Mr.. Farrell grinned broadly.
Il see you don't know Miss-the
writer of this card at all. That's her
nature. Besides-well. all she's got
! 20 do with me is crook her finger and
I I'll jump through. Tm-none of your
business. But, anyway, here l ON"
fairchiId could not restrain laugh.
| There was something about the man,
about his nervous, yet bOyish way of
| speaking, about his enthusiasm, that
wiped out suspicion and invited con
fidence. The owner of the Blue Pop
py mine leaned forward.
But you didn't finish your sentence
| about-the writer of that card"
You mean-oh-well, there's moth
ing to that. I'm in love with her. Been
| in love with her since I've been knee
| high to duck. So re you. Sos every
other human being that thinks he's
a regular man. Sos Maurice Rodaine
| Don't know about the rest of you
| but | haven't got chance. Don't let
It bother you. The problem right now
is to get your partner out of Jail. How
much money have you got?"
! "Only IA little more than two thous-
and"
Not enough. There'll be bonds on
| four charges. A. the least, they'll be
around a thousand dollars apiece
Probabilities are that they'll run
around ten thousand for the bunch
How about the Blue Poppy?"
| q don't know what it's WORTH"
| Neither do I. Neither does the
| judge. Neither does any one else
u. Etsn 4,
and dollars. That'll do the trick. I'd
suggest now that you get up seize your
deeds and accompany me to the palace
of justice. Otherwise, that partner
| Of yours will have to eat dinner in
a place called In undignified language
the hoosegOw
Soon Fairchld was dressed and
walked hurriedly up the street with
the voluble attorney. A half-hour
| more and they were before the court.
| FairchiId, the lawyer and the jail-worn
| Harry. his mustache fluttering In more
| directions than ever.
Not guilty, Your Honor" said Ran
| doiph 2. Farrell. MAY ! ask the ex-
| tent of the bond?'
The judge adjusted his glasses and
| studied the information which the dis
trict attorney had laid before him.
"In view of the number of charges
and the seriousness of each, I must fix
an aggregate bond of five thousand
dollars. or twelve hundred fifty dollars
| for each case"
"Thank you; we had come prepared
| for more. Mr.. Fairchild, who is Mr..
| Harkins partner, is here to appear as
| oondsman. The deeds are in his name
alone. the partnership existing, as l
| understand 1t, upon their word Of hon
| or between them. l refer, Your Honor,
to the deeds of the Blue Poppy mine.
| Would Your Honor care to examine
them?"
His Honor would. His Honor did.
| For a long moment he studied them,
| and Fairchild, in looking about the
| courtroom, saw the bailiff in conversa-
| ton with n tall. thin man, with squint
| eyes and scarmarked forehead. A
moment later, the judge looked over
| his glasses.
"BailiTw
"Yes, Your Honor"
HaVe you any information regard
| ing the value of the Blue Poppy min
ing cIaims?"
"Sir. ] have just been talking to
| Mr.. Rodaine. He says they're well
worth the value of the bond"
"How about that, Rodaine?" The
| judge peered down the courtroom.
They'll do" was his answer, and
the judge passed the papers to the
clerk of the court.
"Bond accepted. I'll set this trial
| for November H."
"very well, Your Honor" Then he
turned with a wide grin to his clients.
'That's all until November"
Out they filed through the narrow
aisle of the courtroom. Fairchild's
knee brushing the trouser leg of
Squint Rodaine as they passed. At
the door. the attorney turned toward
l thoy,, tho,, nut fnrtb m hnnJ