The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-12-28
darkness which Fairchiid longed to

|
the laughing, pretty lips which had
caused him many a day of happiness,
many a day of worried wonderment.
He strove to talk away the desire
but the grinding of the wheels in the
narrow shaft denied that. His fingers
twitched, his arms trembled as he
sought to hold back the muscles, then,
yielding to the impulse, he started
"Da-a-a-g-gone IT."
whats the matterT
Nothing"
But Falrchild 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 sherlfrs office OF this,
a 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 offf"
ayes Do you think"
But noise from without cut off the
conversation. Stamping feet sounded
on the steps, the knob turnsd, and
Sheriff Bardwell, snow-white, entered.
shaking himself like great dog. as
he sought to rid himself of the effects
of the blizzard.
"HellO, Bardwell, what'd you findT
"No matter how much a person dis
likes another one-it's, it's-always a
| shock"
Anita came closer "You mean that
| he's deadY" 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 tickled to hear
| my name-but he called 1t Banham.
! 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 it wasn't much use. The first
thing Ne knew he'd passed out. That's
where Harry is now--took him over
to the mortuary. There isn't anybody
named Barnham, is there?"
"Barnham" The name had awak-
ened recollectlons for Falrchlld; "why
he's the fellow that"
But Anita cut in.
Hes a lawyer in Denver. They've
been sending all the income from stock
sales to him for deposit. If 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 at
their revolvers.
"Now for the tough one" Bardwell
made the remark, and Mason smiled
grlmly. Fairchild rose and went to
them.
"May go along?"
"Yes, but not the girl. Not this
time"
Anita did not demur. Fairchild
walked to her side.
"You won't run away" he begged.
an 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 blenker than ever In the frigld
night, light was cleaning in sec
ond-story window. Mason turned tc
his fellow sheriff.
"He usually stays there. That must
be him-waiting for the kid"
The three entered. Tiptoeing, they
went 10 the door and knocked. A high
pitched voice came from within.
THAT you. Mauricer'
Falrchild answered In the best imi
tation he could give.
"Yes I've got Anita with me-"
Steps, then the door opened Fo,
just a second Squlnt Rodaine stareC
.. at them In CHASTITY, sickly fashion
Then he moved back into the room
still facing them.
"What's the idea of thisY' came hi
forced query. Fairchild stepped for
: ward.
"Slmply to tell you that every
things blown up as far as your
! concerned, Mr.. Rodaine"
, "You needn't be 30 dramatic abou
II. You act like I'd committed mur
der What We done that yol
: should"
Just a minute. I wouldn't try I,
: act innocent. For one thing, / hap
pened TO be In the same house witt
you one night when you showed Graz,
+ Laura. your wife. how 10 make peopl
. immortal. And Wen probably learn
few more things about your characte
! When we've gotten back there an,
interviewed"
He stopped his accusations to leal
forward, clutching wildly. But II
vain. With lunge, Squint Rodaln
had turned, then, springing high from
the floor, had seemed TO double in tn
air as he crashed through the big pan
of the window and out to the twenty
| foot nlunpa which amoIfaa hin, uu.