Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-10-20


his estimation. Harry had habit of
living just for the day. And the sup
port of Mother Howard had wiped
out all future difficulties for him. The
fact that convictions might await him
and that the heavy doors at Canon
City might yawn for him made little
difference right now. Behind the great
bulwark of his mustache, his big lips
spread in happy announcement OF
Joy, and the world was good.
Silently, Robert Fairchild rose and
left the parlor for his own room. Some
way he could not force himself to
shed his difficulties In the same light,
airy way as Harry. Looking back he
could see now that his dreams had
led only to catastrophes. From the
very beginning, there had been only
trouble, only fighting, fighting, fight
ing against insurmountable odds,
which seemed to throw him ever
deeper into the mire of defeat, with
every onslaught. The Rodalnes had
played with stacked cards, and so far
every hand had been theirs Fair
child suddenly realized that he was
all but whipped that the psyche
logical advantage was all on the side
| Of Squint Rodaine, his son, and the
crazy woman who did their bidding.
More, another hope had gone glimmer-
Ing; even had the announcement not
come forth that Anita Richmond had
given her promise to marry Maurice
Rodaine the action of coroner's
jury that night had removed her from
hope forever. A son of man who
has been called slayer has little
right to love woman. even If that
woman has a bit of mystery about
her. All things can be explained
but murder
It was growing late, but Fairchiid
did not seek bed. Instead he sat by
the window, staring out at the shad-
Ows of the mountains. out at the free,
pure night, and yet at nothing. After
a long time the door opened. and a
big form entered-Harry-t0 stand
silent moment, then to come for
ward and lay a hand on the other
mans shoulder.
Don't let it get you, Boy" he said
softly-for him. ITS going to come
out all right. Everything comes out
all right-if you amt wrong Yourself"
81 know, Harry. But it's an awful
tangle right now"
Sure it is But 1t amt as If sane
person 'ad said 1t against you. There'll
never be anything more to that; Far
refill ave 'er adjudged insane If 1t
ever comes to anything like that.
She'll never give no more testimony.
I've been talking with line stopped
in Just after you came upstairs. It's
only crazy woman"
"But they took her word for 1t,
Harry. They believed her. And they
gave the against my father|
81 know. / was there, right beside
you. / card it, But it'll come out
right some way"
There was a moment of silence,
then a gripping fear at the heart of
Fairchild
Just how crazy is she, Harry" 7
"'Er? Plumb daft OF course, as
Mother 'Oward says, there's times
when she's straight-but they don't /
last long. And, If she'd given 'er tes- /
timony in writing, Mother 'Oward
says 1t all might ave been different,
and we'd not ave 'ad anything TO
worry about"
"In wrlting2'
Eyes, she's 'arfway sane then. It
seems er minds disconnected, some
wye. don't know 'ow--Mother
'Oward's got the ole lingo. and every
body in town knows about It, When
ever anybody wants to get anything
real straight from Crazy Laura, they
make 'er write it, That part of 'er
brain seems all right. She remem-
bers everything she does then and 'ow
crazy 1t is, and tells you all about 1t.
Notice 'ow fustered up she got when
the coroner asked er about that
book?"
81 wonder what 1t would really
tellY
Harry chuckled.
Nobody knows. Nobody's ever
seen it, Net even Squlnt Rodaine. l
guess It's a part of 'er right brain that
ellis 'er to keep 1t secret Pm going
o bed now. So re you. And you're
yoing to sleep. Good night"
He went out of the room then and
obedient to the big Cornish
mans command. sought rest But it {
vas hard struggle. Morning came,
md he Joined Harry at breakfast, fac {
ng the curious glances of the other '
'oarders, stavlng off their inquiries
nd their lily cOuched consultations. '
FOR, in spite of the fact that it was '
ot voiced in so many words, the con-
lotion was present that Crazy Laura I
ad told at least semblance of the s
ruth, and that the doyetailing incl c
ents of the past fitted into a we'll
story for which there must I
e some foundation. There were 4
hose who were plainly curious; there
'ere others who professed not to be
eve the testimony and who talked v
,udly of action against the coroner 0
Or having introduced the evidence of c
woman known by every one to be &
licking In balanced mentality. There