The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-10-26

S6ssi rs part q -W right BRAN that
tells 'er to keep it q 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 a hard struggle. Morning came,
and he Joined Harry at breakfast, fac
Ing the curious glances Of the other
boarders, staving off their inquiries
and their lily couched consultations.
For, In spite Of the fact that it was
not voiced in SO many words, the con-
viction was present that Crazy Laura
had told at least a semblance of the
truth, and that the d%ovetailing Incl
dents of the past fitted into a 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-
heve 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 quitT'
"Quit whatT"
"The mine. You're going to keep
on, amt your"
Fairchild gritted his teeth and was
silent. The answer needed strength,
Finally it came.
Harry, are you with mel"
II amt stopped yet"
"Then that's the answer. AS long
as there's a bit of fight left in us, Wen
keep at that mine."
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 q lengthy
moment. Then he turned to his part
ner.
"Give me an hour" he begged. It'll
go then-but it takes a little grit
to"
"Who's Fairchild here?" A messen-
ger boy was making his way along the
curb with a telegram. Robert
stretched forth a hand in surprise.
II am. Why7"
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:
Il can't see what on earth it means,
unless there Is some information
about this skeleton or the inquest. If
l were you. I'd CO."
but supposing it's some sort of
trap?"
mo matter what it Is. 60 and let
the other fellow do all the talking.
Listen to what he has to say and tell
him nothing. I'd go down on the noon
train-that'll get you there about two.
You can be back by 10 80 tomorrow"
mo e can't" it was Harry's inter-
ruption as he grasped a pencil ano pa
per. "Tve got a list of things a mile
long for i'm to get. We're going after
this mine 'ammer and tongs now!
When noon came, Robert Fairchild.
with his mysterious telegram, board
ed the train for Denver, while in his
pocket was a list demanding the out
lay Of nearly a thousand dollars: sup
plies of fuses, of dynamite, of drills,
of a forge, Of single and double jack
sledges, Of illuminate caps-a little of
everything that would be needed in
the months to come, II he and AIRY
were to work the mine. 1t was only
a beginning, a small quantity of each
article needed, part of which could be
picked up In the junk yards at a rea-
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