The Holbrook news., 1922-11-17
MIR. BARNHAM

SYNOPSIS.-At Thornton Fair child's death his son Robert learns there has been a dark period in his fathers life which for almost tnir- ty years has caused him suffering. The secret Is hinted at in docu- ment left by the elder Fairchild. which also informs Robert ne IS now owner of a mining claim Tn Colorado, and advising him to see Henry Beamish. a lawyer. Beamish tells Robert his claim. a silver mine, Is at Ohadi, thirty-eight miles from Denver. He also warns him against certain man, "Squint" Rodaine, his fathers en- emy. On the road to Ohadi rom Denver Fairchild assists a girl. ap- parentiy in a frenzy of haste. to change & tire on her auto. when she has left. the sheriff and @ posse appear, in pursuit of a bandit. Fairchild bewildered, misleads them as to the direction the girl had taken. At Ohadi Fairchild Is warm ly greeted by Mother" Howard. boarding house keeper. for his fatn- CTS sake. From Mother Howard. Fairchild learns something of the mystery connected with the disap- psarance of "Sissle" Larsen. his fathers co-worker In the mine. He meets the girl he had assisted, put she denies her Identity She Is Anita Richmond. Judge Richmond's daughter. Visiting his claim. Fair child Is shadowed by a man he recognizes from descriptions as 'SQuint" Rodaine Back in Ohadi, his fathers old friend. Harry Har- kins, a Cornishman, summoned from England by Beamish to help Fairchild. halls him with joy. The pair find the mine flooded and have not sufficient funds to have 1t pumped dry. Later in the day ''Squint" Rodaine announces that he practically saw Harkins fall Into the flooded mine. and evidently Is drowned. Harkins being a general favorite, the entire population turns out to clear the flooded mine. When the work is practically done. Harry appears. apparently surprised al tne turmoil. It had been a shrewd trick on his part to get the mine pumped out without cost to him. self or Fairchild. and the men take it as a good joke. Fairchiid learns that Judge Richmond Is dying. and that he and Anita are in the power of the Rodaines. They begin. as partners. to work the mine. In their hearts both fear Larsen was killed by Thornton Fairchlld and his body buried by a cave-in which destroyed the mine. At the "Old Times Ball'' Fairchild dances with Anita, to the discontinue of Maur- Ice Rodaine. son of "Squint." sup posed to be engaged to the girl A bandit holds up the dance and shoots a merrymaker. Maurice Ro- daine claims he recognized the bandit as Harkins. The latter is arrested. Fairchild interferes to save Anita from the bullying of the two Rodaines. and Is mystified at Anita's apparent ingratitude. Fairchild puts up the claim as bond. and secures Harry's release from jail. They are offered s50.0O0 for the claim, by an unknown party. but agree to disregard 1t Clearing. the mine. they come to where they fear to find Larsen'L remains A skeleton. in a miners costume. which Harkins identifies as Larsen. is there. and there seems little doubt that Thornton Fairchild was a murderer. Fair child informs the coroner of the discovery of the skeleton. At the inquest Crazy Laura" castoff wife of ''Squint" Rodaine. and an ac- knowledged imbecile. gives damag- ing testimony against Thornton Fairchild.