The Hope pioneer., 1922-11-09
"s2eo,ooo!"

child's death his son Robert learns
there has been a dark period In his
fathers life which for almost thir-
ty years has caused him suffering.
The secret Is hinted at in q docu-
ment left by the elder Fairchild.
which also informs Robert he is
now owner Of mining claim in
Colorado, and advising him to see
Henry Beamish. q lawyer. Beamish
tells Robert his claim, a silver
mine. is at Ohadi. thirty-eight
miles from Denver. He also warns
him against q certain man.
"Squint" Rodaine. his fathers en-
emy. On the road to Ohadi from
Denver Fairchild assists girl. ap-
parently in frenzy Of haste. to
change tire on her auto. When
she has left, the sheriff and posse
appear, in purusit of bandit.
Fairchild bewildered, misleads them
as to the direction the girl had
taken. At Ohadi Fairchild is warm
ly greeted by Mother" Howard,
clearinghouse keeper, for his faith
er's sake. Fron Mother Howard,
Fairchild learns something Of the
mystery connected with the disap-
pearance Of "Sissie" Larsen, his
fathers co-worker in the mine. He
meets the girl he had assisted, but
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 cd 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 it
pumped dry. Later in the day
"Squint" Rodaine announces that he
practically saw Harkins fall into
the flooded mine. and evidently is
drowned. Harkinasbeing a general
favorite, the entire population turns
out to clear the flooded mine. When
the work is practically done, Harry
appears, apparently surprised at
the turmoil. 1t 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
1t as a good joke. Eairchild learns
that Judge Rich1rond is dying, and
that he and Anita are in the power
of the RodainsS. They begin, as
partners, tn work the mine. In
their hearts both fear Larson was
killed by Thornton Fairchild 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 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 $4,000
for the claim, by an unknown
party, but agree to disregard it.
Clearing the mine. they come to
where they fear to find Larsen's
remains. A skeleton, in a miners
costume. which Harkins Identifies
rs Larsen. Is there, and there
seems little doubt that Thornton
Fairchild was murderer Fair
child informs the coroner of the
discovery of the skeleton. At the
inquest Cray Laura" castoff wife
Of "Squint" Rodaine. and an ac-
knowledged imbecile, gives damag-
ing testimony against Thornton
Fairchild. The jury returns ver-
dict that Larsen came to his death
at Thornton Fairchild's hands.
Anita's engagement to Maurice Ro-
daine is announced. Fairchild is
summoned to Denver to receive
important information" about his
mine.