The Holbrook news., 1922-10-27

made cache near the mouth of the Blue Poppy mine would be sufficient in the eyes of any jury. The evidence | was both direct and circumstantial. To Fairchilds mind, there was small chance for escape by Harry, once his case went to trial.
 Down the dark street the man wan dered, his hands sunk deer In his pockets, his head low between his shOulders-only to suddenly ealvanize into intensity, and to stop short that he might hear again the voice which had come to him. At one side was ! a big house-a house whose occupants he knew instinctively, for he had seen the shadow of woman, hands out stretched. as she passed the light strewn shade of a window on the sec ond floor. More, he had heard her voice, supplemented by gruffer tones. And then 1t came again.
 It was pleading, and at the same time angered with the passion of a person approaching hysteria. A bark ing sentence answered her, something that Fairchild could not understand. He left the old board sidewalk and crept to the porch that he might hear the better. Then every nerve within him tangled, and the black of the dark ness changed to red. The Rodaines were within; he had heard first the cold voice of the father, then the rasp- Ing tones of the son, in upbr8iding. More, there had come the sObbing of woman; instinctively Fairchild knew that 1t was Anita Richmond And then:
 It was her voice, high, screaming. HySteria had come-the wild, racking hysteria of a person driven to the breaking point:
 Leave this hOuSe-hear me! Leave this house! Can't you see that you're killing him? Don't you dare touch ms leave this house! No-I won't bs quiet-I won't-you're killing him, tell you-!"
 And Fairchild waited for nothing more. lunge, and he was on the veranda. One more spring and he had reached the door, to find it un- locked to throw it wide and to leap into the hall. Great steps, and he had cleared the stairs to the second floor. Dimly, as through red screen, Fair child saw the frightened face of Anita Richmond, and on the landing, front ing him angrily, stood the two Ro- daineS. For moment, Fairchild dis regarded them and turned to the sob- ping, disheveled little being in the doorway.
 "What's happened?"
 "They were threatening me-and father!" she moaned. But you shouldn't have come in-yOu shouldn't have"
 q heard you scream. I couldn't help 1t. heard you say they were killing your father"
 The girl looked anXiOusly toward an inner room, where Fairchild could see faintly the still figure of a man out lined under the covers of an old fashioned four-pOster.
 ''They-they-got him excited. He naQ dnOliler SlrOke. l-l COulun stand 1t any longer"
 You'd better get Out," said Fair child curtly to the ROdaines, with suggestive motion toward the stairs. They hesitated moment and Maurice seemed about to launch himself at Robert, but his father laid restrain ing hand on bis arm. A step and the elder Rodaine hestated.
 "Tm only going because of your father" he said gruffly, with a glance toward Anita. "I'm not going be- cause"
 "Oh, I know. Mir. Fairchild shouldn't have come in here. He shouldn't have done 1t. Pm sorry please go."
 Down the steps they went. the old CT man with his hand still on his sons arm; while, white-faced, Fairchld awaited Anita, who had suddenly sped past him into the sick-room, then was wearily returning.
 Gan I help you?" he asked at last.
 "Yes," came her rather cold answer, only to be followed by quickly whis- pered Forgive me-" And then the