The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-08-31

had found an echo, had started pull
satlng something within him that he
never before had known:
1T is the blood of an adventurer"
And II seemed that Robert Fair
child needed no more than the knowl-
edge to feel the tingle Of II; the old
house suddenly became stuny and
prsonllke as he wandered through IT,
Again and again pounded through his
head the fact that only n night of
travel intervened between Indianapo-
lis and ST. Louis; within twelve hours
he could be in the Office Of Henry
Beamlsh. And then
A hurried resolution. A hasty pack
Ing Of travelling bag and the cashing
of check at the cigar store down on
the corner. A wakeful night while
the train clnttered along upon its
journey. At last:
I'm Robert Fairchild," he said. Ms
he faced white-haired, Cupld-faced
man in the rather dingy Offices in the
Princess building. A slow smile
spread over the pudgy features of the
genial-appearing attorney, and ne
waved a fat hand toward the Offices
extra chair.
"Sit down, Son." came casually.
needn't have announced yourself.
I'd have known you-just like your IA
ther, Boy. How is he?" Then his
face suddenly sobered. I'm afraid
your presence is the answer. Am l
right?"
Fairchild nodded grayely. The old
attorney stared out of the window TO
the grlmy roof and signboards Of the
next building.
"Perhaps it's better So" he said at
last. did he get any cheerler be-
fore-he went?"
"No. Afraid of every step on the
veranda, of every knock at the door"
Again the attorney stared out of
the window.
"And you? Are you afrald2"
"Of whatT"
The lawyer smiled.
81 don't know. Only" and he
| leaned forward-"it's just as though
were living my younger days over
| again this morning. 1t doesn't seem
any time at all since your father was
sitting just about where you are now,
| and CAD, Boy. how much you look like
he looked that morning! The same
| Eray-hlue eyes the same dark hair,
| the same strong shoulders, and good,
manly chin, the same build-and look
| Of determination about him. The call
! Of adventure was I'm his blood and
| he sat there all enthusiastic, telling
me what he iplended doing and ask
! ing my advice-although he wouldn't
have followed 1t If l had given It..
Back home was baby and the woman
he loved, and out West was sudden
wealth, waiting for the right man to
come along and End It. Gad" White
! haired old Beamish chuckled with the
memory of II. "Then four years later"
the tone changed suddenly, "he came
| back"
"What them" Falrchld was on
the edge of his chair. But Beamish
only spread his hands.
"Truthfully, Boy, | don't know. l
have guessed-but l won't tell you
what. All know is that your father
found what he was looking for and
was on the point of achieving his ev-
cry dream. when something happened.
Then three men simply disappeared
from the mining camp, announcing
that they had failed and were going
t. hunt new dggings. That was all.
One of them was your father"
"But you said that he'd found"
SILVER running twenty ounces to
the ton on an eight-inch vein which
gave evidences of being only the be
ginning of a bonanza! know. be,
cause he had written me that, month
before"
"And he abandoned it,"
He'd forgotten what he had writ,
ten when | saw him again. didn't
question him. He went home then
after giving me enough money to pay
the taxes on the mine for the next
twenty years, simply as his attorney
and without dlvulging his where
abouts. ! did 1t. Eight years or Sc
later l saw him in Indianapolis. He
gave me more money-enough fol-
eleven or twelve years"
"And that was ten years agoT Rob
ert Fairchild's eyes were reminiscent
81 remember was only a kid. H'
sold of everything he had, except thu
house."
Henry Beamlsh walked to his SAFE
and fumbled there a moment, TO re
turn at last with few slips OF paper
Here's the answer" he said qui
etly. "the taxes are paid until 1922"
Robert Fairchlld studied the re
ceipts carefully-futilely. They tolC
him nothing. The lawyer stood look
ing down upon him; at last he laid I
hand ON his shoulder.
BOY" came quickly, 'I know jus
about what you're thinking. I've spen
a few hours at the same kind OF a jol
myself. and I've called old Hepr!
Beamish more kinds OF a fool thai
/ you can think of for not coming righ
out fiat-foOted and making Thornton