The Meeker herald., 1922-11-25
7 know. Harry. Ba. IT'S an awful

never be anything more to that; Far.
reilf ave 'er adjudeed insane II II
ever comes to anything like that
She'll never give NO more testimony
I've been talking with line stopped
In Just after you came upstairs. IT.
only crazy woman"
But they took her word for II,
Harry. They believed her. And they
gave the verdict-against my father r.
II know. was there, right beside
you. card II. But it'll come out
right. some way"
There was inOment Of silence,
then q gripping fear at the heart Of
rairchlld.
''Just how crazy In she. Harryr
"'Erf Plumb daft! OF course, a.
Mother Onward says. there's times
when she's straIght-but they don't
last long. And. II she'd given 'er tes-
timony In Writing. Mother Onward
says 1t all might ave been different.
and we'd not ave 'ad anything to
worry about
''In writingf''
ayes, she's 'arfway sane then. II
xeems 'er minds disconnected. some
wye. don't know 'ow-Mother
'Oward's got the ole lingo. and every
body in town knows about II. When.
ever anybody wants to get anything
real straight from Grassy Laura, they
make 'er write II. That part Of 'er
brain seems all right. She remem-
bers everything she does then and 'ow
craxy 1t 10. and tells you all about It.
Notice 'ow hustered up she got when
the coroner asked 'er, about that
bookr'
II wonder what 1t would really
teli1"
Harry chuckied.
Nobody knows. Nobody's ever
seen 1t. Not even squint Rodaine. I
guess It's a part Of 'er right brain that
tells 'er to keep It a secret I'm going
to bed now. So re you. And you're
going to sleep. Good night"
He went out Of the room then. and
Fairchild. obedIent to the big Cornish
mans command. sought rest. But II
was hard struggle. Morning came,
and he Joined Harry at breakfast, fac
ing the curious glances Of the other
boarders. stavInG on their inquiries
and their lily couched consultations.
For, In spite Of the fact that It was
not voiced in 20 many words. the con-
victlOn was present that Crazy Laura
had told at least a senblance Of the
truth. and that the dovetaillng Incl
dents Of the past fitted into q we'll
connected story for which there must
be some foundation. There were
those who were plainly curious: there
were others who protested not to be-
lleve the testimony and who talked
loudly Of action against the coroner
for having introduced the evidence Of
a woman known BY every one to be
lacking in balanced mentality. There
were others who. BY their remarks,
showed that they were conceallng the
real truth of their thoughts and only
using q cloak of Interest to guide
them to other food for tho carrion
proclivities Of their minds.
An hour later Harry. wandering BY
the younger mans side. strove for
words and at last uttered them.
II know It's disagreeable," came
finally. "But it's necessary. You
'aven't quitf'
"Quit whntf'
''The mine. You're going to keep
on. amt your"
FaIrchlld gritted his teeth and was
silent. The answer needed strength.
Finally 1t came.
Harry, are you with mei'
II amt stopped yeti"
Then that's the answer. Az long
as there's bit Of fight left In US, wen
keep at that mine"
Harry hitched at his trousers.
They've got that blooming skeleton
out by this time. I'm willing to start
any time you say"
The breath went over Fairchild's
teeth In long. slow intake. He
clenched his hands and held them
trembling before him for q lengthy
moment. Then he turned to his part-
ner.
''Glve me an hour" he begged. "I1l
60 then-but It takes q little grit
to-
"Who's Falrchild herer" A messen-
ger boy was making his way along the
curb with telegram. Robert
stretched forth q hand In surprise.
II am. Whyr
The answer came a. the boy showed
forth the yellow envelope. FIirchild.
wondering. read:
please come to Denver at once.
Have most important information for
you.
.R. v. BARNHAM,
N. 4 b. BUILDING"
A moment Of staring. then Fairchiid
passed the telegram over to Harry for
his opinion. There was none. To
gether they went across the street
and to the ONCE Of Farrell. their at
torney. He studied the telegram long.
Then:
II can't see what on earth It means,
unless there - some information
about this skeleton or the inquest. II