The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-10-12
CHAPTER x


The Rodaines were on the sidewalk
when Fairchild came forth from the
Richmond home, and true to his in
structions from the frightened girl. he
brushed past them swiftly and went
on down the street, not turning at the
muttered invectives which came from
the crooked lips Of the older man, not
seeming even to notice their presence
as he hurried on toward Mother How
ards boarding house. In his creaky
bed he sought to think, but in vain.
After hours, daylight began to streak
the sky. Fairchild. dull, worn by ex-
element and fatigue, strove to rise,
then laid his head on the pillow for
just a moment Of rest. And with that
perversity which extreme WEAKNESS
so often exerts, his eyes closed, and
he slept-to wake at last with. the
realization that 1t was late morning,
and that some one was pounding on
the door. Fairchild raised his head.
"Who Is it?"
mo one you know-yet. I've come
to talk to you about your partner.
May I come imp
"Yes." Fairchild was fnlly alive
now to the activities that the day held
before him. The door opened, and a
young man, alert, almost cocky In man
ner, with black, snappy eyes showing
behind horn-rimmed glasses, entered
and reached for the sole chair that the
room contained.
my names Farrell" he announced.
randolph p. Farrell. And to make
q long story short, I'm your lawyer. -.
my lawyer?" Fairchild stared. II
haven't any lawyer in Ohadi. The
only"
"That doesn't alter the fact. Tn
your lawyer, and I'm at your service.
And I don't mind telling you that it's
just about my first ase. Otherwise
I don't guess I'd have gotten it."
"Why not?" The frankness had driv-
en- other queries from Fairchild's
mind. Farrell, the attorney, grinned
cheerily.
Because I understand It concerns
the Rodaines. Nearly everybody has
a little money stuck into their enter
prises. And seeing I have no money
at all, I'm not financially interested.
And not being interested, I'm wholly
just, fair and willing to fight 'em to
q standstfll. Your partners in JAN,
as I understand II. Guilty or not gull
tyr"
"Wa-wait a minutei Who hired
you" Then with a sudden inspira-
ton: Mother Howard didn't go and
do this?" ~. ~. ;
"Mother Howard? You mean the
woman who run the boarding housef
Not at all" ~
But" y
"Tm not exactly ut liberty to state"
Suspicion began to assert itself.
''Under those conditions, ! don't be-
iieve-n ,
Don't say It'll Don't get started
| along those lines. I know what you're
thinking. Knew that was what would
happen from the start. And against
the Wishes of thepersonnN who hired
me FOR this work, JI-well, I brought
the evidence. Here. take a glimpse
and then throw it away. tear It up.
swallow It, or do anything you want
to with IT, Just so nobody else sees 1t.
Ready2 Look liza n
He drew forth q small visiting card.
FairchiId glanced, Then he rocked
and then he sat up straight in he'd.
For before him were the engraved
words. @
..Miss Anita Natalie Richmond
While across the card was hastily
written, In q hand distinctively femi-
nine N
.Mr. Fairchild: This Is my good
friend. He win help you. There ID
no fee attached. Please destroy. \
Anita Richmond
.Bu--but I don't understand
You know 'Miss-er-the writer Or
this card. don't your
But Why should she-9 4
Mr.. Farrell grinned broadly.
=" q You don't know Miss-the
writer Dc this card &C III. That's her
! nature. Besides--well, m she's rot
% 40 with me III crook sher finger ana
IN Jump through. Tm-nore of your
business But anyway, hera 4 ams'
Fe...rchild could mot Restrain ] hugh.
There was something about the nm.
shout Mn nervous, ~ b0ylsh way ~
speakinG, about hls enthuslasm. TINT
wiped out suspicion ma Invited cen
1d4ncs. The cVner N ~ HIM Ron
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