American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-10-07


"I'n CO."
Silently they trudged into town and |
to the little undertaking shop which |
also served as the Office Of the coro-
ner. They made their report, then ac-
companIed the officer. together with |
the sheriff, back to the mine and into !
the drift There once more they |
clambcred through the hole in the |
cave-in and on toward the beginning |
Of the stope. And there they pointed
out their discovery.
A wait for the remainder of that |
day-a day that seemed ages long, a |
day In which Robert Falrchild found |
himself facing the editor Of the Bugle. |
and telling his story. Harry beside
him. But he told only what he had
found, nothing of the past. nothing Of
the white-haired man who had waited
by the window. cringing at the slight
! est sound on the old, vine-clad veran-
da, nothing Of the letter which he had
found in the dusty safe. Nothing was
asked regarding that; nothing could
be gained by telling It. In the heart
Of Robert Fairchild was the convic-
tlon that somehow. some way. his IA.
Their was innocent, and in his brain
was a determination to fight for that
innocence MS long ms 1t was humanity
possible But gossip told what he did
not.
| There were those who remem-
bered the departure of Thornton Fair.
/ child from Ohadi. There were others
1 Oh thnN In n
center of the rig was man, appar.
emily "Slssie" Larsen. And they asked
questions They cornered Harry, they
shot their queries at him one after
another. But Harry was adamant
II amt got anything to sye And
there's an end to IT."
Late that night, as they were en-
gagged at their usual occupation Of re-
lating the varied happenings Of the
day to Mother Howard. there came n
J knock at the door. Instinctively, Fair
child bent toward her:
"Your names out Of thls-as long
as possible"
She smiled In her mothering. know
ing way. Then she opened the door.
there to find deputy from the
} sherlffs Office.
They've impaneled Jury up at the
courthouse" he announced. "The
coroner wants Mr.. Fairchild and Mr..
HarlSins to come up there and tell
what they know about this here skele-
ton they found"
II was the expected. The two men
went forth, TO find the street about
the courthouse thronged, for already
the news of the finding Of the skele-
ton had Travelled far, even into the
little mining camps which skirted the
town. Everywhere were black crowds
under the faint street lamps. The
= basement Of the courthouse was illu-
minated; and there were clusters Of
n curious persons about the stairways.
. Through the throngs started Harry
and Fairchild, only to be drawn aside
by Farrell, the attorney.
'Tm not going to take a part In
this unless have to-" he told them.
ut will look better for you II 1t isn't
!, ! necessary for me to make an appear
ance. How do you know but what
Thornton Fairchild was attacked by
= this man and forced to kill In self-de.
Tense? It's penitentlary offense fol-
man to strike another, without sui
: ficlent justification, beneath ground
: And had Sssle Larsen even SO mucf
. as slapped Thornton Fairchild. thai
u man would have been perfectly JUST
fed In killing him to protect himself
Guide yourselves ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
will be there only as spectator. un
=. less events should necesstate some
% thing else"
=. They promised and went on, some
- what cnlmer in mind, to edge thei
way to the steps and to enter tn
basement of the courthouse. tn
coroner and his jury, composed OF 81
miners picked up haphazard along tn
@. street-acc0rding to the custom Q
" coroners in general-were alread
present. SO was every person VIII
III possibly could cram through the dooI
of the big room. To them all Fai
he child paid little attention-ali b'
three.
he They were on back seat In II
nj long courtroom-Squint Rodaine an
- his son, challSier, yet blacker tina
We ever, while between them sat an o.
ny woman with white hair which stra
gled about her cheeks, woman VII
deep-set eyes, whose hands wander'
m now and then vaguely before her;
&c wrinkled woman, fidgeting about
Ter her seat, watching with craned ne'
fa- those who stuffed their way with
nix the already crammed room, her ey
cd. never still, her lips moving eonstaI
we ", as though mumbling some nev'
ending rote. Fairchiid stared AZ M
rk. then turned to Harry. -.
"Who's that with the Rodainesf
alta Harry looked furtively' cra
Laura--his Wife"
"But-"