The St. Charles herald., 1922-09-30


| trying not to believe it."
II hope it isn't true" Her voice was
low and serious. "Father was talking
| to me-about you. And we hoped you
| two would succeed-this time"
Evidently her father had told her
more than she cared to relate. Fair
| child caught the infection in her voice
but disregarded it.
II owe you an apology" he said
bluntly.
"FOr what?"
LAST night. I couldn't resist 1T
| forgot for a moment that you were
there. But IL hope that you'll be-
lieve me to be a gentleman, In spite
of It,"
She smiled up at him quickly.
81 already have had proof of that.
| II am only hoping that you will be-
lieve Newell, that you'll forget some
thing"
| "You mean"
"Yes," she cOuntered quickly, rs
though to cut off his explanation. ut
seemed like a great deal. Yet it was
nothing at ALL would feel much hap
pier II l were sure you had disre-
garded It,"
Fairchild looked at her for long
time, studying her with his serious
blue eyes. wondering about many
| things, wishing that he knew more of
women and their ways. At last he
said the thing that he felt, the straight
| forward outburst of a Straightforward
man:
you're not going to be offended If
I tell you something?"
Certainly not"
"The sheriff came along just after
you had made the turn. He was look
ing for an auto bandit"
"A what?" She stared at him with
wide-open. almost laughing eyes. "But
you don't believe"
"He was looking for a man." said
Fairchild quietly. IL told him that
l hadn't seen anything but-a boy. 1
was willing to do that then-because
1 couldn't believe that a girl like you
would" Then he stumbled and halt
ed. A moment he sought speech while
she smiled up at him. Then out 1t
| came: IL don't care what 1t was.
II like you. Honest, do. liked
you so much when I was changing
that tire that didn't even notice it
when you put the money in my hand.
well, you're not the kind of girl
who would do anything really wrong.
II might be q prank-Or something
like that-but it wouldn't be wrong.
$3.50 there's an end to it."
Again she laughed softly, in a way
tantalizing to Robert Fairchild, as
though she were making game of him.
what do you know about women p
she asked finally. and Fairchild told
the truth.
'.Nothing."
Then" the laugh grew heartier.
finally, however, to die away. The
girl put forth her hand. "But won't
| say what l was going to. 1t wouldn't
sound right. hope that IL live up
to your estimation Of me. At least
I'm thankful to you for being the man
| you are. AuU 1 WOn AOi get:
And once more her hand had rested
4 in his-a small, warm, caressing thing
n spite of the purely casual grasp
Of an impersonal action. Again Rob-
ert Fairchild felt a thrill that was new
to him, and he stood watching her un-
til she had reached the motor car
which had brought. her to the big
curve, and had faded down the hill.
Then he went back to assist the sweat
ing workmen and the anxi0us-faced
Sam Hefbenfelder. The water was
down seventy feet.
That night Robert Fairchild sought
q few hours sleep. Two days after the
town still divided - attention be
tween preparations for the Old Times
dance and the progress In the dewater
ing Of the Blue Poppy shaft. Now
. and then the long hose was withdrawn
J and dynamite lowered on floats to the
surface of the water, far below, a cop
per wire trailing it. A push Of the
plunger, a detonation, and wait Of
long moments; 1t accomplished moth
ing, and the pumping went on. II thu
earthly remains of Harry Harkin.
! were below, they steadfastly refuset
| | to come to the surface.
Il The water had fallen to the leve
: Of the drift, two hundred feet down
the pumps now were working on tn,
| | main flood which still lay below.
ii A day more and day after that
The water was now only few fee
| high In the shaft; It meant that th'
whole great opening, together With TIT
! drift tunnel. soon would be dewatere,
to an extent sufficient to permit o
; exploration. Again the motor car
ground up the narrow roadway. Out
E side the tunnel the crowds gathered
j Fairchild saw Anita Richmond an,
) | gritted his teeth at the fact that youn
I Rodaine accompanied her. Farther Il
I the background. narrow eyes watch
: ing closely. was Squint Rodaine. An,
( still farther-
II Fairchild gasped ~ he noticed tn
! figure plodding down the mouptail
. side, He put out q hand. then, seizin
!. the nervcas .Herbenfelder by tn
j shoulder, whirled him around
ri 81 Ook ~ he exclaimed "LssOk there