The Hope pioneer., 1922-09-14

to escape It; she told all too plainly
both by her actions and her words,
that she knew something of the mys-
terry Of the past-and had falsified to
keep the knowledge from him.
1t was too CALLING for thought. Bob.
ert Fairchild hastily made his toilet,
then answered the ringing Of the din
ner bell, to be introduced to strong
shouldered men who gathered about
the long tables; Cornishmen, who
talked an ''h-less" language, ruddy-
faced Americans, and sprinkling Of
English, all of whom conversed about
things which were to Fairchild as so
much Greek-of "levels" and "stopes"
and "winzes," of "skips' and "man-
ways" and "rises." which meant moth
Ing to the man who vet must master
them all, if he were to follow his am.
bition.
Robert Fairchild spoke but seldom.
except to acknowledge the introduce
tions as Mother Howard made him
known to each of his table mates. But
1t was not aloofness; from the first,
the newcomer had liked the men
about him, liked the ruggedness, the
mfngling Of culture with the lack of
it, liked the enthusiasm. the muscle
and Drawn, liked them all-all but two.
Instinctively, from the first men
tion of his name, he felt they were
watching him, two men who sat far
in the rear of the big dining room,
older than the other occupants, far
less inviting in appearance. One was
small, though chunky in build, with
sandy hair and eyebrows; with weak,
filmy blue eyes over which the lids
blinked constantly. The other, black
haired with streaks of gray, powerful
In his build, and with a walrus-like
mustache dropping over hard lips, was
the sort of antithesis naturally to be
found in the company Of the smaller,
sandy complexioned man. Who they
were, what they were, Fairchild did
not know, except from the general
attributes which told that they too fol-
lowed the great gamble of mining. But
one thing was certain; they watched
him throughout the meal; they talked
about him in low tones and ceased
when Mother Howard came near; they
seemed to recognize in him someone
who brought both curiosity and innate
enmity to the surface. And more {;
long before the rest had finished their
meal, they rose and left the room, in
tent, apparently, upon some important
mission.
After that, Fairchild ate with less
of relish. In his mind was the GER
tainty that these two men knew him
or at least knew about him-and that
they did not relish his presence. Nor
were his suspicious long in being full
filled. Hardly had he reached the
hall, when the beckoning eyes of
Mother Howard signaled to him. In
stinctively he waited for the other
diners to pass him, then looked eager
ly toward Mother Howard as she once
more approached
II don't know what you're doing
here" came shortly, :"but want to-"
Fainehild Strengthened. "There isn't
much to tell you," he answered quiet.
~. my father left me the Blue Poppy
mine in his will. I'm here to work it."
"knOw anything about mining?"
'Not thing"
a"Or the people you're liable to have
to buck up against?"
every little"
"Then, Son." and Mother Howard
laid a kindly hand on his arm, "what-
ever you do, keep your plans to your
self and don't talk too much. And
what's more, If you happen to get
into communication with Blindeye
Bozeman and Taylor Bill, lie your
head off. Maybe you saw 'em, a sandy
haired fellow and big man with
black mustache, sitting at the back
of the room?" Fairchild nodded.
"Well, stay away from them. They
belong to 'SQulnt' Rodaine. Know
him?"
She shot the question sharply.
Again Fairchild nodded.
1--WE heard the name. Who is hep
A voice called to Mother Howard
from the dining room. She turned
away. then leaned close to Robert
Fairchild. "He's miner, and he's al
ways been a miner. Right now, he's
mixed up with some of the biggest
people in town. He's always been a
man to be afraid of-and he was YOUR
fathers worst enemy!"
Then, leaving Fairchild staring after
her, she moved on to her duties In
the kitchen.