The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-08
(Continued from last issue)
CHAPTER XIX

r. .CHAF ZEN AN
He stopped and Anita, laughing at
her posture, clambered upon his back,
her arms about his neck. ,Fairchild
found himself wishing that he could
carry her forever, and that the road to
the sherlff's office were twenty miles
away. instead of two! But her voice
cut in on his wishes.
II can walk now. We can get along
so much faster!". came her plea. ''rl
hold on to you-and you can help me
along"
Fairchild released her and she seized
his arm. Once, as they floundered
through knee-high mass, Fairchild's
arm went quickly about her waist
and he lifted her against him as he
literally carried her through. When
they reached the other side, the arm
still held its place-and she did not
resist. Some way, after that, the
stretch of road faded swiftly. Almost
before he realized it, they were at the
outskirts Of the city.
Grudgingly he gave up his hold up
on her, as they hurried for the side
walks and for the sheriff's Office. There
Fairchild did not attempt to talk-he
leftsit all to Anita, and Bardwell, the
sheriff, listened. Taylor Bill had con-
fessed to the robbery at the Old Times
dance and to his attempt to so ar
range the evidence that the blame
would fall on Harry. Taylor Bill and
work In q crOss-cut tunnel which led
to. the property of the Blue Poppy
mine, .:and one of them, at least, had
admitted. that the sole output Of the
Silver Queen had come from this THEY
ing encrOachment. Then Anita COM
pleted the recital-of the plans Of the
Rodaines to leave and Of their depart
ures for Center City. At last, 'Fairchild
spoke, and told the happenings finch
he had encountered in the ramshaCkle
house occupied by Crazy Laura. It
was sufficient. The sheriff reached
for the telephone. T.. go, =.
.'SaNo need for hurry" he announced.
"Young Rodaine can't possibly make
tina. trip in less than two hours. We've
got plenty Of Mme-hello-Central?
Long distance, please. What's that?
Yeh-Long Distance. Want to put in
a. call for Center City," A long wait,
while a metallic voice streamed over
the wire into the sherlff's ear. He
hung. up the receiver. Blocked" he
said shortly. "The wires down."
but there's the telegraph"
It'd take half an hour to get the
operator out Of bed-office is closed.
Nope. Well take the short cut. And
we'll beat him there by half-hour!"
Anita started.
J , "You mean the Argonaut tunnel?"
Eyes. Call up there and tell them
to get motor ready for us to shoot
straight through. We can make 1t ut
thirty miles an hour, and the skip in
the Reunion mine will get us to the
surface In Ave minutes. The tunnel
ends sixteen hundred feet under
ground, about a thousand feet from
Center City," he explained. as he noted
Fairchild's wondering gaze. "You stay
here. I'll be getting my car warmed
up to take us to the tunnel"
A humping sound came from with
out. Harry entered with his two
charges, followed shortly by Bardwell,
the sheriff, while just beneath the Of
flee window a motor roared in the
,>~roooo 40 as>va r,, inc IN
"A moment more and steel door
Changed upon the two men, while the
officer led the way to his motor car.
There he looked quizzically at Anita
Richmond, piling without hesitation
into the front seat.
"You going too?"
II certainly am" and she covered
her intensity with n laugh, "there
dire number Of things that want
to say to Mr.. Maurice Rodalne-and
Haven't the patience to waltz
Bardwell chuckled. The doors Of
tho car slammed and the engine roared
louder than ever. Soon they were
,churning along through the driving
SNOW toward the great buildings of
the Argonaut Tunnel company, far at
the other. end Of town. There men
awaited them, and tram motor, to-
gether with its operator. The four
pursuers took their places on the
benches of the car behind the motor.
The trolleyfwas attached. Then clat-
tering over the frogs. green lights
flashing ftpm the trolley wire, the
speeding Journey was begun.
Three miles, four, five, while Anita
Richmond held close to Falrchill as
the speed became greater and the
sparks from the wire above threw their
green, vicious light over the yawnlng
stretch before them. A last squirt,
slightly, down-grade, with the motor
pushing the wheels at their greatest
velocity; then. the cracking of cleo
tricity. suddenly ceased, the motor
slowed. in its progress. finally to stop
~ greasy being faced them and Bard
well, the sheriff, shouted his mission
"Got to catch some people that are
making a getaway through Center
City, Can you send us I'D In the skip?