The Meeker herald., 1922-11-11

usual. bobted her gay bad
lis like her. Soa-- she announced
at last SHE'S 4 good girl Eve known
her ever since she vas q little tad no.
big cough TO walk And sh< loves
her father.
But
-She iores her father. Isn't tina,
enough! The Rodaines have me
noney-apd they have almost every
thing that Judge Richmond owns It's
easy enough to gueas what they've
done with lifted II up 20 that he
can't touch II Until they're ready for
him to do II. And they're not going
TO DO that until they've gotten what
they want
which htr
Anita! Any fool ousht to be able
to know that. That stroke last night
| was the seeood one for the Judge
There usually amt any more after
| the third one. Now. emit you see why
Anita Is willing to do anything on
earth just to keep peace and Just to
fort snd happiness In the las, days of
his life. You've got TO remember that
he ci,'t ike an ordinary father that
700 can 90 tn anh tell all your trou-
bles to. He's laying next door to death.
and Anita. Just Ike any woman that's
got Q great. big. good heart In her.
Is willing to face worse than death
to help him. It's as plaip to me as
the nose 90 Hnrrys face
(which is quite plain" agreed Fair
child ruefuIly. Harry rubbed the H.
beled proboscis, paved at bis mus
tsche and ndsefed in bis chair.
Il understand that. all right" he
announced at last. But why should
anybody want to buy the miner
II brought Fairchild to the realiza-
ton Of . new development. and he
brought forth the letter. once more to
| stare At 1t.
Fifty thousand dollars II q lot Of
money" came At last.
"And what Them Mother Howard,
still looking through uncolored glasses.
took the letter and scanned 1t you
two amt quitters. are your
100. ls?' Harry bristled.
A6, yObs yoa kCt yOuE
selves Q piece Of paper and write to
Denver and take the offer. II you
ain't-keep on fighting"
II believe you're right. Mother How
ard" FairchiId had reached for the
letter again and wns staring At 1t as
though for inspiration. That amount
| Of money seems to be 4 great deal.
Still. II . person will offer that much
for a mine when there's nothing In
sight to show its value. 1t ought to
mean that there's something dark In
the woodpIIe and that the things
worth fighting out. And personally
speaking. I'm willing to nght!"
II never quit In my life!" Harry
Strengthened In his chair and his mus
tache stuck forth pugnaciously. Moth
er Howard looked down at him.
pressed her lips. then smiled.
.No." she announced. except to run
away like . whipped pup after you'd
gotten . poor lonely boarding house
keeper In love with you."
Mother Onward. I'll"
But the laughing. gray.haired wom-
an had scrambled through the door
way and slammed the door behind her,
only TO open 1t 4 second later and poke
her head within.
Needn't think because you can hold
up 4 dance hall and get away with II,
you can use cave-man stun on met"
she admonished. And In that one sen.
tence was all the conversation neces-
sary regarding the charges against
Harry. as far a. Mother Howard was
concerned. She didn't believe them.
and Harry's face showed that the
world had become bright and serene
again. He swung his great arms AZ
though to Loosen the big muscles Of his
shoulders. He pecked ut bis mus
tache. Then he turned to Fairchild.
"weil." he asked, "whst do We do7
Go up to the mine-just like nothing
'ad ever 'sppened!'
Exactly. Wait until I change my
clothes. Then we'll be ready to start.
I'm not even going to dignity this let
ter by replying to II. And for one
principal reason" he added-"that
! think the Rotiaines have something
to do with t."
wv 6O!
II don't know. ri be ready In q
moment"
An hour later they entered the
mouth Of the Blue Poppy tunnel. once
more TO start the engines and to re-
sumo the pumping. meanwhile strug-
Cling back and forth with timbers from
tho mountain side. ~ they began the
task Of rehabiIitating the tunnel where
II had caved In Just beyond the shaft.
Hour after hour they tolled, until
rf'e gray mists hung low over the
mountain tops. until the shadows
heightened and twilight fell. The en-
gines ceased their chugxing. the cough
Ing swirl Of the dirty water a. II came
from tho drift, far below, stopped.
Slowly two weary men logged down
the rutty road to the narrow. winding
aphtAh IAA p<xss.h