The Dolores star., 1922-11-17
CHAPTER XIII.

Sr'FNF SN N'ii.
Fairchild did not show the item TO
| Harry. There was little that II could
accomplish, and besides. he felt that
! his comrade had enough to think
about. The unexpected turn of the
coroners inquest had added to the
| heavy weight of Harry's troubles; 1t
meant the probability in the future of
a grand jury investigation and the
| possible Indictment as accessory after
| the fact in the murder of "Sissie"
Larsen. Not that Fairchild had been
| Influenced in the slightest by the tes-
! timony of Crazy Laura; the presence
| of Squint Rodane and his son had
shown too plainly that they were con-
nected in some way with II. that, in
| fact, they We're responsible. An OPP
portunity had arisen for them. and
| they had seized upon 1t. More. there
came the shrewd opinion of old Moth
er Howard. once Fairchlld and Harry
had reached the boarding house and
| gathered In the parlor for their CON
| Sultation:
"Aiu't II what ! said right In the
| heginning?" Mother Howard asked.
| shell kill for that man, If necessary.
| 1t wasn't as hard as you think-all
Squint Rodaine had to do was to act
nice 10 her and promise her a few
things that he'll sQulrm out OF later
on. and she went on the stand and
| lied her head OFF"
But for a crazy woman"
'Laura's Crazy-and she amt crazy
! I've seen that woman as sensible and
as shrcwd as any sane woman who
| ever drew breath. Then again. I've
| seen her when l wouldn't get within
fifty miles of her. Goodness only
knows what would happen to n person
who fell into her clutches when she's
| got one OF those Immortality streaks
| on"
"One of those what7" Harry looked
| up in surprise.
immortality. That's why you'll
| find her sneaking around graveyards
at night, gathering herbs and taking
them 10 that old house on the George
| Vile road, where she lives and brew
| ing them into some sort of concoction
| that she sprinkles on the graves She
| believes that it's sure system of
| bringing immortality to person.
| Polson-that's about what It Is"
| Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"POisOns what she isl" he ex-
claimed. Amt 1t enough that I'm ac-
cused of every crime in the calendar
without 'er getting me mixed up in Il
murder? And" this time he looked
at Fairchild with dolOrous eyes
SOW re we going to furnish bond this
time, If the grand jury indicts me?"
I'm afraid there won't be any,"
Mother Howard set her lips for
minute, then Strengthened proudly.
well, guess there will It's bond
able-and l guess I've got few
things that are worth something-and
a few friends that can go to. I don't
see why I should be left out Of every
thing, just because I'm a womanw
''Lor' love you!" Harry grinned, his
| eyes showing plainly that the world
was again good for him and that his
troubles, rs far as a few slight
charges of penitentiary offenses were
concerned, amounted to very little in
his estimation. Harry had a habit of
living just for the day. And the sup
| port of Mother Howard had wiped
out all future difficulties for him. The
| fact that convictions might await him
and that the heavy doors at Canon
| City might yawn for him made little
| difference right now. Behind the great
| bulwark Of his mustache, his big lips
| spread in happy announcement of
| joy, and the world was good
Silently, Robert Fairchild rose and
| left the parlor for his own room. Some
way he could not force himself to
| shed his difficulties in the same light,
airy way as Harry. Looking back he
could see now that his dreams had
led only to catastrophes. From the
very beginning, there had been only
trouble, only fighting, fighting, fight
ing against insurmountable odds,
which seemed to throw him ever
deeper into the mire Of defeat, with
every onslaught. The Rodaines had
| played with stacked cards, and SO far
every hand had been theirs. Fair
child suddenly realized that he was
all but whipped that the psyche
logical advantage was all on the side
of Squint Rodaine, his son, and the
crazy woman who did their bidding.
More, another hope had gone glimmer-
ing; even had the announcement not
come forth that Anita Richmond had
given her promise to marry Maurice
ROdaine, the action Of coroner's
jury that night had removed her from
hope forever. A son of man who
has been called slayer has little
right to love a woman. even II that
woman has a bit of mystery about
her. All things can be explained
but murder!
1t was growing late, but Fairchild
did not seek bed. Instead he sat by
the window, staring out at the shad.
ows of the mountains, out at the free
| pure night and vet at nothing Affay