The St. Charles herald., 1922-10-28
By Courtney Ryley Cooper
Richmond to Mr.. Maurice Rodaine, the
wedding to come probably in the late
fall"
CHAPTER XIII.
copyrigh, BY Little. Brown & Co.

CHAPTER XIII.
Fairchild did not show the item to
Harry. There was little that it could
| accomplish, and besides, he felt that
| his comrade had enough to think
about. The unexpected turn of the
cOroners inquest had added to the
heavy weight of Harg's troubles; it
meant the probability tn the future of
grand jury investigation and the
possible indictment as accessory after
the fact in the murder of "Sissie"
Larsen. Not that Fairchild had been
influenced in the slightest by the tes
timony of Crazy Laura the presence
Of Squint Rodaine and his son had
shown too plainly that they were con-
nected in some way with it, that, in
fact, they were responsible. An op-
portunity had arisen for them, and
they had seized upon it. More, there
came the shrewd opinion of old Moth
er Howard, once Fairchild and Harry
had reached the boarding house and
gathered in the parlor for their con-
sultatiOn:
"Ain't 1t what I said right in the
beginning?" Mother Howard asked.
She'll kill for that man, If necessary.
1t wasn't as hard as you think-all
Squint Rodaine had to do was to act
nice to her and promise her few
things that he'll squirm out of later
on. and she went on the stand and
lied her head of"
"But for crazy woman"
'Laura's craZy-and she amt crazy.
I've seen that woman as sensible and
as shrewd as any sane woman who
ever drew breath. Then again, I've
seen her when wouldn't get within
fifty miles Of her. Goodness only
knows what would happen to person
who fell Into her clutches when she's
got one Of those Immortality streaks
on"
Zone of those whatT' Harry looked
up in surprise.
Immortality. That's why you'll
find her sneaking around graveyards
at night, gathering herbs and taking
them to that old house on the George
Vile road, where she lives, and brew
ing them into some sort of concOctiOn
that SIZE sprinkles on the graves. She
believes that it's a sure system of
bringing Immortality to a person.
POison-that's about what 1t is"
Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"Poison's what she isl" he ex-
claimed. saint it enough that I'm ac-
cused of every crime in the calendar
without 'er getting me mixed up in a
murder? And" this time he looked
at Fairchild with dolorous eyes
"'ow re we going to furnish bond this
time, If the grand jury indicts me?"
"I'm afraid there won't be any"
Mother Howard set her lips for q
minute, then Strengthened proudly.
"Well, guess there will! It's bond
able-and I guess I've got a few
things that are worth something-and
few friends that can 60 to. l don't
see why l should be left out Of every.
thing, just because I'm woman?"
"Lor' love you!" Harry grinned, his
eyes showing plainly that the world
was again good for him and that his
troubles, as far az few slight
charges Of penitentiary offenses were
concerned, amounted to very little in
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 mHstache, his big lips
spread in happy announcement OF
Joy, and the world was good.
| Silently, Robert Fairchild rose ant
left the parlor for his own room. Some
way he could not force himself tt
shed his difficulties in the same light
airy way as Harry. Looking back HI
could see now that his dreams hat
led only to catastrophes. From tht
very beginning, there had been onl!
trouble, only fighting, fighting, fight
ing against insurmountable odds
which seemed to throw him eve
deeper into the mire of defeat, will
every onslaught. The ROdaines hat
, played with stacked cards, and so fa
. every hand had been theirs. Fair
child suddenly realized that he wa
all but whipped, that the psyche
; logical advantage was all on the sid
of Squint Rodaine, his son. and TIN
, crazy woman who did their bidding
: More, another hope had gone glimmer
ing: even had the announcement no
: come forth that Anita Richmond ha'
/ given her promise to marry Maurice
: Rodaine. the action Of coroner
Jury that night had removed her from
hope forever. A son Of man VIII
, has been called a slayer has littl
right to love a woman, even II tina
! woman has a bit Of mystery abou
: her. All things can be explained
/ but murder!
t It was growing late, but Fairchil
/ did not seek bed. Instead he sat b
E the window, staring out at the shad
+ ows Of the mountains, out at the free
: pure night, and yet at nothing. Afte
e long time. the door opened. and
i big form entered-Harry-to stan
II