The Holbrook news., 1922-12-08

Back they went along the drift tun nel now, coughing slightly as the sharp smoke of the dynamite cut their lungsNa long journey that seemed as many miles in.tead of feet. Then with a shout Fairchild sprang for ward and went to his hands and knees.
 It was there before him-all about him-the black, heavy masses os lead silver ore. great, heaping, Gve-ton pile of 1t where 1t had beep thrown out by the tremendous force of the explosion. It seemed that the whole great floor of the cavern wes covered with It, and the workmen shouted with Fairchild as they seized bIta of the precious black stuff and heid it to the light for closer examination.
 'Look!" The voice of coe of them was high and excited. "You can see the fine streaks of silver sticking out {! It's high-grade and plenty of itr'
 But Fairchild paid little attention. He was playing in the stuff, throwing it in the air and letting it fall to the floor of the cavern again, like boy with new sack of marbles, or a child with Its building blocks. Five tons and the night was not yet over! Five tons, and the vein had not yet shown its other side!
 Back to work they went now. Again through the hours the drills bit into the rock walls, while the ore car clat. tered along the tram line and while the creaking of the block and tackle at the shaft seemed endless. In three days, approximately forty tons of ore must come out of that mine-and work must not cease.
 Morning, and in spite of the sleep laden eyes, the heavy aching in his head, the tired dropping of the shoul- ders, Fairchild tramped to the board ing house to notify Mother Howard and ask for news of Harry. There had been none. Then he went on, to wait by the door of the Sampler until Bittson. the owner, should appear, and drag him away up the hill, even be fore he could open up for the morning.
 'There 1t is" he exclaimed, as he led him to the entrance of the cham Der. 'There it Is; take all you want of it and assay it!"
 Bittson went forward into the cross cut, where the men were drilling even at new holes, and examined the vein. Already 1t was three feet thick, and there was still ore ahead. One of the miners loked up.
 "Just finishing up on the cross-cut," he announced, as he nodded toward his drill. i've just bitten into the foot wall on the other side. Looks to me like the veins about five feet thick as near as can measure It."
 And" Bittson picked up a few samples, examined them by the light of the carbides and tossed them away -"you can see the silver sticking out I caught sight of a couple of pencil threads of it in one or two of those samples. All right. Boy!" he turned to Fairchild. "What was that bargain we made"
 It was based on two hundred dol lars-a-ton ore. This may run above or below. But whatever 1t is, I'll sell all you can handle for the next three days at fifty dollars ton under the assay price,"
 You've said the word. The trucks will be here in an hour if we have to shovel a path all the way up Ken lucky gulch."
 He hurried away then, while Fair child and the men followed him into town and to their breakfast. Then. recruiting a new gang OF the promise of payment at the end of their three day shift, Fairchild went back to the mine. But the word had spread, and others were there before him.
 Already fifteen or twenty miners were assembled about the opening of the Blue Poppy tunnel, awaiting per mission to enter, the usual rush upon lucky mine to view its riches. Be hind him, Fairchild could see others coming from Ohadi to take look at the new strike, and his heart bounded with happiness tinged with sorrow. Harry was not there to enjoy 1t all; Harry was gone, and in spite of his every effort, Fairchild had failed to find him.
 Some one brushed against him, ana there came a slight tug at his coat. Fairchild looked downward to see passing the form of Anita Richmond. A moment later she looked toward him, but in her eyes there was no light of recognition. nothing to indicate that she had just given him a signal of greeting and consratulation. And yet Fairchild felt that she had. Then, ab- sently, he put his hand into his pocket.
 Something there caused his heart to halt momentarily-a piece of paper. He crumpled 1t in his hand, he rubbed his fingers over 1t wonderingly; 1t Lad not been in his pocket before she had passed him. Hurriedly he walked to the far side of the chamber and there, pretending to examine a bit of ore, brought the missive from its place of secretion, to unfold 1t with trembling fingers, then to stare at the words which showed before him:
 "Squint Rodaine Is terribly worried about something. Has been on an aw- ful rampage all morning. Something critical is brewing, but I don't know what. Suggest you keep watch on him. Please destroy this"
 That was all. There was no signa- ture. But Robert Fairchild had seen the writing of Anita Richmond once before!
 CTO BE CONTINUED)