The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-09-18

Copynsha b. Little, Brown d o.
I" E must ave.

"And that there might not have
been any killing connected with Lar
sen at all? Why couldn't Larsen have
been knocked out by a flying stone
just like you were? And why-T
"'E might Of, Boy" But Harry's
voice was negative. 1.-THE only thing
about 1t was the fact that your father
'ad a bullet ole in is' cad" Harry
leaned forward and pointed to his own
scar. at 1T right about ere, and
glanced"
But the gun? We didn't find any"
"'E 'ad it with i'm. It was Sissie
Larsen's. No, Boy, there must ave
been a fght-but don't think that I
mean your father murdered anybody.
If Sissie Larsen attacked i'm with a
gun, then e 'ad a right to kill. But
as I've told you before-there wouldn't
ave been a chance for m to prove is
story with Squint working against
i'm" He ceased and perked his head
toward the bottom of the shaft, listen
ing intently. Didn't you ear some
thing?"
Il thought so. Like a woman's
voice"
'Listen-there 1t is againr'
"Mr. Fairchild!'
They ran to the foot Of the shaft,
and FairchiId cupped his hands and
called:
"Who wants me?"
Its me-" The voice was palmer
nova voice that Fairchild recog-
nized Immediately.
"Pm-I'm under arrest or some
thing up here" was added with q
laugh. 1.-THE guard won't let me come
down."
"Wait, and I'll raise the bucket for
you. All right, guard" Then, blink
ing with surprise, he turned to the
staring Harry. Its Anita Richmond"
he whispered.
The bucket was at the top now. A
signal from above, and Fairchild low
cred it, to extend a hand and to aid
the girl to the ground, looking at her
with wondering, eager eyes. In the
light of the carbide torch, she was the
same boyish-appearing little person he
had met on the Denver road except
that snow had taken the place of dust
now upon the whipcord riding habit
and the brown hair which caressed
the corners of her eyes was moist
with the breath of the blizzard. Some
way Fafrchild found his voice, lost for
| a moment
"Are-are you In trouble2"
mo" She smiled at him.
I ~s1.IaA H. to-
blizzard. How did you get up hereT
She shrugged her shoulders.
81 walked. Oh" she added, with 6
smile, st didn't hurt me any. The
wind was pretty stiff-but then Tn
fairly strong. I rather enjoyed it."
"But what's happened-what's gone
wrong? Can help you with anything
/ Or"
Then it was that Harry, with roll
of his blue eyes and a funny waggle
Of his big shoulders, moved down the
drift toward the stope, leaving then
alone together. Anita Richmond
watched after him with smile, wait
ing until he was out of hearing dis
lance. Then she turned seriously.
were" came quietly. ut was the
only chance 1 had to see you. II
maybe I was little lonely or-o
something. But, anyway, I wanted t.
see YOU and thank you and"
THANK me? For what?'
For everything For that day OF
the Denver road, and for the nigh
of no
came to help me- II haven't had al
easy time. Most of the people know
are afraid and-some of them aren'
to be trusted. And-you-well, / knew
the ROdaines were your enemies-an
I've rather liked you for It,"
THANK you. But" and Fairchild'
voice became bit frigid-'I haven
been able to understand everything
You are engaged to Maurice Rodaine.
II was. you mean"
Then"
'My engagement ended with my fe
theirs DEATH came slowly-and ther
was catch in her voice. He wante
tit was the one thing that held tn
Rodaines off him. And he was dyin
slowIy.-it was all I could do to hel
him. and l promised. But-when b
VENT felt that my-my duty We
over l don't consider myself boun
to him any longer"
you've told Rodaine SOP
Not yet. He's coming after me {
midnight. We're to go away som
where
"Rodaine? Impossibler
They've made all their plans. /
: wondered if you-if you'd be som
where around the hOuse-if you d
I'll be there. I understand" Fai
child had reached out and touch'
her arm. "I-want TO thank you f
the opportunity. Ives, I'll be there
| l.nmp with q short la11rh "a