The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-09-28
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER lat Thornton F%airchild's
death his son Robert learns there has
been a dark period in his fathers life
Which FOR almost thirty years has caused
him suffering: The secret is hinted at
IN a document left by the elder Fair
child, which also informs Robert he Is
now owner of a mining claim in Colo
RADIO, and advising him to see Henry
BeamiSh, a lawyer.
CHAPTER II.-Beamish tells Robert his
claim, a silver mine, is at Ohadi, thirty
eight miles from Denver. He also warns
him against a certain man, "Squint' RO-
dame, his fathers enemy. Robert decides
to go to Ohadi
CHAPTER III.-on the road to Ohadi
parently in a frenzy Of haste, to change
g tire on her auto. When she has left,
the sheriff and a posse appear, in pur-
suit of a bandit Fairchild bewildered,
girl had taken.
CHAPTER Tv.-At ohadi Fairchild is
warmly greeted by Mother Howard
sake.
Don't you stand there and try to
tell Mother Howard she don't know
what she's talking about {" came in
tones of mock severity. Hear me?
Now, you get up them steps and wash
up for dinner. Take the first room on
the right. It's a nice, CHEEKY place"
In his room, Fairchild tried not to
think. His brain was becoming too
crammed with queries, with strange
happenings and with ~aggravating mys-
ticisms of the life into which his ia
theirs death had thrown him to per-
NIT clearness of vision. Even in
Mother Howard he had not been able
to escape 1t; she told all too plainly,
both by her actions and her words,
that she knew something of the mys-
terry of the past-and had falsifed to
keep the knowledge from him.
1t was too CALLING for thought. Rob-
ert Fairchild hastily made his toilet,
then answered the ringing Of the din
ner bell, to be introduced to strong
s~houldered men who gathered about
the long tables; Cornishmen, who
talked an "h-less" language, ruddy-
faced Americans, and a sprinkling Of
English, all Of whom conversed about
things which were to Fairchild as SO
much Greek-of levels and 'stopes"
and "winzes," of "skips' and man
ways" and "~rises," which meant moth
ing to the man who yet must master
them all, If he were to follow his am
bition.
Robert F%airchild spoke but seldom,
except to acknowledge the introduce
lions as Mother Howard made him
known to each Of his table mates. But
1t was not, aloOfness; from the first,
the newcomer had liked the men
about him, liked the ruggedness, the
mingling of culture with the lack of
1t, liked the enthusiasm, the muscle
and Drawn, liked them all-all but two.
Instinctively, from the first men
ton Of his name, he felt they were
watching him, two men who sat far
In the rear of the big dining room,
older than the other occupants, far
small, though chunky in build, with
sandy hair and eyebrows; with weak,
hlmy blue eyes over which the lids
blinked constantly. The other. black
haired with streaks of gray, powerful
In his build, and with a w~alrus-like
mustache dropping ove hard lips, al
the sort of antithesis naturally to be
found in the company of the smaller,
sandy complexiOned man. Who they
were, what they were, Fairchild did
not know, except from the general
attributes which told that they too fol-
1nvro1 thu rrno% rorrhlo nP pojrfr~ DIT
one thing was certain; they watched
him throughout the meal they talked
about him In low tones and ceased
when Mother Howard came near; they
seemed to recognize in him omeone
who brought both curiosity and innate
enmity to the surface. And more;
long before the rest had finished their
meal, they rose and left the room, In
tent, apparently, upon some important
mission.
After that, Fafrchild ate with less
Of a relish. In his mind was the GER
tainty that these two men knew him.
or at least knew about him-and that
they did not relish his presence. Nor
were his suspicious long in being full
filed. Hardly had he reached the
hall, when the reckoning eyes of
Mother Howard signaled to him. In
stinctively he waited for the other
diners to pass him, then looked eager
y toward Mother Howard as she once
more approached.
here" came shortly, 'but I want to-"
Fairchild Strengthened. There isn't
much to tell you," he answered quiet
". my father left me the Blue Poppy
mine In his will. In here to work it."
"Know anything about miningT
"Not a thing"
"Or the people you're liable to have
70 buck up againstT
"very little"
'"Then, Son." and Mother Howard
laid a kindly hand on his arm, 'what-
ever you do, keep your plans to your
self. and don't talk too much. And
what's more, If you happen to get
into communication with Blindeys
Boxeman and Taylor Bill, lie your
bsad off. Maybe you saw 'em, a sandy
haired fellow and a big man with 4
black mustache, sitting at the back
06 the room?" Fairchild nodded.
"Well, stay away from them. They
belong to 'Squint' Rodaine. Know
hlmr'
She shot the question sharply.
Again Fairchild nodded.
i've heard the name. Who In hep
A voice called to Mother Howard
from the dining room. She turned
~~voU Than 1onnoA ~tron - Drho~k