The Dolores star., 1922-10-20
CHAPTER TX

Fairchild went back into the tunnel,
spun the hywheels of the gasoline en-
gines and started them revolving
again, that the last OF the water might
be drained from the shaft before the
pumps must be returned to their own
ers.
Several hours passed. then Harry
returned, minus his gorgeous clothing
and his diamond ring, dressed in min
ing costume now. with high leather
boots into which his trousers were
tucked, and carrying a carbIne lantern.
Dolefully he looked Mt the vacant fin
ger where once a diamond had spar
ked. Then he chuckled.
sam took II back" he announced.
And l took part of the money and
paid 1t out for rent on these pumps.
We can keep 'em MS long as we want
'em. It's only costing about n fourth
of what it might Of. DrOwnlng's
worth something" he laughed again.
FaIrchild Joined him, then sobered.
ut brought Rodaine out of the
bushes" he said. "Squlnt threatened
us after they'd hauled you down town
on the rail"
Harry winked jovially.
"Aln't 1t just what | expected? It's
better that wye than to ave i'm snoop-
in around"
They chuckled together then; It was
something to know that they had not
only forced Squint Rodaine to show
his enmlty openly, but it was some
thing more to make him the instru-
ment of helping them with their work.
Harry looked down the hole, stared
lntently at nothing, then turned to the
rusty hoist
'Ere's the thing we've got to fix
up now. This ere chiv wheels all
out OF gear"
"What makes your face so red?"
Fairchlld asked the question as the
be-mustached visage of Harry came
nearer to the carbide. Harry looked
up.
Mother 'Oward almost slapped 1t
OF" came his rueful answer, "For
not telling 'er what was going to do,
and letting 'er think got drownded.
But 'ow was to know?"
Fairchild absently examined the en-
gines. and pumps, supplying water to
the radiators and filling an oil Gun
or two. Then he turned swiftly, yoic-
ing that which was uppermost In his
mind
When you were here before. Harry,
did you know n Judge Richmond?"
"Yeh." Harry paved his mustache
and made a greasy. black mark on his
face. "But don't think want to
know i'm now"
"Why nOt?"
Es mixed up with the Rodaines.' -
"HOw much?"
They own 'im-that's all"
There was silence for n moment. II
mad been something which FaIrchIld
iad not expected. If the Rodaines
owned Judge Richmond, how far did
that ownership extend? After long
time, he forced himself to n Statement
i Know his daughter. She sold me
ucRet to Dance" Fairchild care
luliy forgot the earlier meeting
Ihen we've happened to meet several
times after that. She said that her
father had told her about met
seems he used to be a friend OF NV
own father"
Harry nodded.
so e was. And a good friend. Rut
mat was before things 'appened-like
they've 'appened in the last ten yeors
Not that | know about 1t OF nv own
knowledge. But Mother 'Oward-sbe
knows a lot"
But what's caused the changer
What-?"
Hnrry's intent gaze stopped him.
ow many times ave you seen
Judge Richmond?"
u haven't ever seen him"
you won't-if Mother ,Oword
knows anything. 'E amt able to COT
out. 'E's sick-apopIexy-a stroke
isodaine's taken advantage of IT,"
"How?
ow does anybody take adyantape
or somebody that's sick? 'Ow doo.
anybody get old on person,
Through money! Judge RIcbmond
ad a lot OF 1t. Then e got sick. Ro.
daine, 'e got old of that money No1
Judge Richmond as to ask I'm ",
every penny he gets-and . doa. vho.
Rodaine says" "'
But 4 Jvdgs-