The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1922-11-09

! forty years ago. Don't you want To
buy ticket? It's the last one I've
set 7" she added prettily.
-when's II to ber'
"A week from tomorrow night. Are
you going TO be here that longY
She realized the slip OF her tongue
and colored slightly. Fairchlld. recov-
cred now. reached into pocket and
carefully fingered the bills there.
Then. with quick motion, as he
drew them forth, he covered a ten
dollar bin with a one.dollar note and
thrust them forward.
'Yes. III take the ticket
She handed II 10 him. thanked him.
and reached for the money. As II
passed into her hand. a corner OF the
ten-dollar bill revealed itself, and she
hastily thrust II toward him as
though 10 return money paid by mis-
take. Just as quickly. she realized
his purpose and withdrew her hand.
"ohl" she exclaimed. almost in a
whisper. Il understand" She flushed
and stood a second hesitant. nustered.
her big eyes almost childish as they
looked up into HIS "You-you must
think I'm a cadw Then she whlrled
and left the store, and a slight smile
came 10 the lips OF Robert Fsirchild
as he watched her hurryins across the
street. He had won a tiny victory. at
least.
With a new enthusiasm. a greater
desire than ever 10 win out In the
fight which had brought him 10 Ohadi,
he hurried TO the courthouse and the
various technicalities which must be
COPIED with before he could really call
the Blue Poppy mine his own.
II was easier than he thought. A
few signatures. and he was free 20
wander through town 10 where oilers
had pointed out Kentucky gulch and
to begin the steep ascent up the mar.
row road on tour Of prospecting
that would precede the more legal and
more safe system OF q surveyor.
The ascent was almost sheer In
places. for In Kentucky gulch the
hills huddied close 10 the little town
and rose In precipitous incllnes al
most before the city limits had been
reached. lie stepped aside 20 allow
the passage OF ore.lsden automobile
trucks. loaded until the springs had
nattened and until the engines howled
with their compression as they sought !
10 hold back their burdens on the
steep grade. And II was ms he stocd |
there, watching the big vehicles travel
down the mountain side. that Fair !
child caught n glimpse OF human
hgure which suddenly darted behind
clump OF scrub pine and skirted fsr
10 one side. taking advantage OF every
covering. A new beat came into
heart. He took 20 the road
again. plodding upward. seemingly
man entirely bereff OF suspicion. A
quarter Of mile he went. half
Once. MS the road turned beside
great rock. he eought its shelter and /
looked back. The figure still was fol.
owing. running carefully now along
he bank Of tho stream in an effort
10 gain as much ground ms possible
before the return OF the rond 20 open
erritory should bring the necessity OF
'nution again.
A mile more. then ngaln in the shell
err OF rocks. he sweryed and sought
lldlng place. wntching nnxl0usly from
lis concenlment for evidences ~ dis
'overy. There were none The shad.
'wer came on. displaying more and
more caution ~ h. approached the
ocks glnncing hnrriedly about him
= be moved swiftly from cover 20
over rloser--closer- then Fairchlid
oppressed gnsp. The mnn WIS o,d.
linost white.hnired. with hard. knot.
ed hands which seemed 10 stand ont
rosa his wrists fhia and wlry with
he resiliency that outd0or. murdered /
MUSCLES often give 20 age. ard with
face uiat held Fairchlid almost hyp-
otized. n WIS like hawks: hook
cnked, coiOriess tcalcless In all *.
reEsions save that ~ malicious
Hnscity the eyes were sinnfed until
hey resemhled those of some fanins
l. Chinese image. while just shove
be eurying nose o biue.whife srnr
IN strnivhi up The forehead squirt
odaine'
80 be WIS on tho trail already
ainchild watched Lin pass nsal
round The corner 90 the rocks and
and . moment N apparent bewiiGer
.rfii ~ h. surveyed ihe rrornd De-.
~ BIN A mrmhiing curse and ~
eut on be rautierr rait described
aiiins hr'atlt along ne -uffN boni
srstrewn ofnA foaanf eap.nv hoie
The hlil Aardig furifne away
here b. errfefed ~ ground eHre
'li}. bert nni starred hard ~ fbe
10. 1Fraf sr far trace ~ faot
tnfs and 7ni'ne rHnf. turned Slowly
"a iooted intniiy al about hini
ircfriiy BE- approached the n.oufb ~
q tunnel ard starred within Then
sfraiebfened and Niih another
ance about hiD. hurried N % d
Heb leading away from the r0ad. :
20 the hills Fairchiid las and
rtcbed him until be was or of sight.