The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-09-21

muck, the torch extlnguished now. A
moment Of watchfulness from the
| cover Of the darkness, then Harry
pointed. on the opposite hill. the fig.
| ure of a man had been outlined for
| just n second. Then he had faded
And WIN the disappearance Of the
! watcher, Harry nudged his partner In
the ribs and went forth into the
brighter light. An hour more and
they were back in town. Harry
! reached for his mustache again.
go on down TO Mother 'Oward's."
he commanded. "I've got TO wander
around and say 'Owdy to what's left
Of the fellows that was ere when
was. It's been twenty years since I've
been away. you know" he added, "and
the shaft can wait"
FairChld obeyed the instructions.
looking back over his shoulder as he
walked along toward the boarding
house, to see the big figure of his com.
panion lettering up the street. on the
beginning Of his Homecoming tour.
The blocks passed. Falrchild turned
through the gate Of Mother Howards
boarding house and went to his room
to await the call for dinner. The
world did not look exceptionally
good TO him; his brilliant dreams had
not counted upon the decay of more
than a quarter Of a century, the slow.
hut sure dripping Of water which had
sccped through the hills and made
the mine one vast well. instead Of the
free open gateway to riches which he
had planned upon. An hour of thought
and Fulrchild ceased trying to look
into the future, Obeying, instead, the
inslstent changing of the dinner bell
from downstairs. Slowly he opened
the door Of his room. trudged down
! the stalrCase--then stopped I'm bewil-
derment. Harry stood before him. in
all the splendOr that a miner can
know
He had bought a new suit. brilliant
blue almost electric in its flashiness.
nor had he been careful ms to STYLE.
The cut of the trousers was somewhat
along the lines of fifteen years be-
fore, with their peg tops and heavy
cuffs Beneath the vest, glowing.
watermelOn-pink shirt glared forth
from the protection Of a purple tie.
A wonderful creation was on his head.
dented in four places, each separated
with almost mathematical precision.
Below the cuffs of the trousers were
bright, tan, bumptOed shoes. Harry
was a complete picture OF sartorial
elegance, according to his own dreams.
What was more, to complete Il all,
upon the third finger of his right hand
was n diamond bulbous and yellow
and throwing off dull radiance like
the sicw Of burnt-out arc light; full
of flaws, II Is true, off color to n great
degree, but a diamond nevertheless.
And Harry evidently realized II.
"Aln't | the cuckoo?" he doomed, 65
Fairchlld stared at him. "Ain't II
'ad To ave outfit, and
at might as well be now!" he par
APPRAISED, to the tune Of the age
whlteneG seXtctte from "FIoradora."
And look at the sparkler! Look
at it,"
"But-but how did you do lt?" came
gasplngly. II thought"
"Instsllments" the Cornishman
burst out. "Ten per cent down and
the rest when they catch me. Install
mentsw He jabbed forth heavy
finger and punched Fairchlld in the
ribs. "Where's Mother 'Oward7 Won't
| knock 'er eyes out2"
Falrchlld laughed-he couldn't help
lt-ln spite of the fact that five hun.
dred dollars might have gone long
way toward unwatering that shaft.
Harry was Harry--he had doae enough
in crossing the seas to help him. And
already, in the eyes OF Fairchild,
Harry was swiftly approaching that
place where he could do ro wrong.
you're wonderful, Harry" came at
last, The Cornishman Puffed with
pride.
"rm cuckoow be admitted.
"Where's Mother 'Ow3rdi Where's