The Raymer enterprise., 1922-12-28

turn to his advantage, darkness when
seemed to call to him to throw his
arms about the girl at his side. 10
crush her to him, 10 seek out with an
instinct that needed no guiding light
the laughing, pretty lips which had
caused him many a day Of happiness
many 8 day of worried wonderment'
| He stroye TO talk away the desire
but the grinding of the wheels in the
narrow shaft denied that. His fingers
twitched, his arms trembled as ne
sought to hold back the muscles, then
yielding to the impulse, he started
"Da-a-a-g-gone II :"
"Whats the matterT
"NOthing."
But Fairchild wasn't telling the
truth. They had reached the light
| just at the wrong. wrong moment out
of the skip he lifted her. then inquired
the way to the sherlff's office of this,
new county. The direction was CIV
en-. and they went there. They told
their story. "You say Bardwell and
your partner went out on the Ohadi
road to head the young 'un off:'
"Yes Do you think"
But noise from without cut Off the
conversation. Stamping feet sounded
on the steps, the knob turned. and
Sheriff Bardwell, snow-whitc, entered.
shaking himself like great dog. us
he sought TO rid himself of the effects
Of the blizzard.
Hello. Bardwell. what'd sou find?'
"No matter how much person dis.
! likes another one-it's. it's-always u
! shock"
Anita came closer "You mean that
he's dead?" The sheriff nodded. "He
must have rushed his horse too hard.
When we got to him he was just about
gone-tried to stagger to his feet when
We came up, but couldn't make 1t, Kind
of acted like he'd lost his senses
through fear or exposure or something
Asked me who was, and said Bard.
well. Seemed to be ticklsd TO hear
my name-but he called II Barnhain.
Then he got up on his hands and knees
and clutched at me and asked me II
I'd drawn out all the money and had
It safe. just to humOr him. said
had. He tried to say something after
that, but 1t wasn't much use. The first
thing we knew he'd passed out. That's
where Harry Is now-took him over
to the mortuary. There isn't anybody
named Barnham, is. thereT'
"Barnham?" The name had awak.
ened recolectlons for Fairchld; "why
he's thedellow that"
But Anita cut In.
Hes a lawyer in Denver. They've
been sending all the income from stock
sales to him for deposit. II Maurice
asked II he'd gotten the money out,
1t must mean that they meant to run
with all the proceeds. Wen have to
telephone Denver"
! The message went through. Then
the two sheriffs rose and looked ut
their revolvers.
"Now for the tough one" Bardwell
made the remark, and Mason smiled
grimly. Fairchild rose and went to
them.
"May / go along?"
"Yes. but not the girl. Not this
time"
Anita did not delnur. FalrchIld
walked to her side.
"You won't run away" he begged.
"rll be right here" she answered
and with that assurance, he followed
the other two men out into the night.
Far down the street, where the
rather bleak outlines Of the hotel
showed bleaker than ever In the frigid
night, a light was cleaning In a sec
ond-st0ry window. Mason turned to
his fellow sheriff.
"He usually stays there. That must
be him-walting for the kid"
The three entered. Tiptoeing, they
went to the door and knocked. A high
pitched voice came from within.
THAT you, Maurice?"
| Fairchild answered in the best ml-
tation he could give.
'Yes. I've got Anita with me-"
Steps, then the door opened. For
Just second Squint Rodaine stared
at them in CHASTITY. sickly fashion.
Then he moved back into the room,
still facing them.
"what's the idea q thls?" came his
forced query. Fairchild stepped for
ward.
"Slmply to tell you that every
things blown up as far as you're
concerned, Mr.. Rodaine."
"You needn't be so dramatic about
II. You act like I'd committed a mur-
der! What We done that you
should"
Just minute. wouldn't try to
act innocent. For one thing, l hap
pened to be In the same house with
you one night when you showed Crazy
Laura, your wife, how to make people
Immortal. And Wen probably learn q
few more things about your character
when we've gotten back there and
interviewed"
| He stopped his accusations to leap
forward, clutching wildly. But in
vain. With lunge, Squint Rodalne
had turned, then. springing high from