The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-18
CHAPTER VIII


and stand gaspng. And before he
could speak. a new voice had cut in,
one full of excitement, tremulous,
anxious
Drowned? Where's his body?"
"How do I know?" Squint Rodaine
turned upon his questioner. Guess
it's at the foot of the shaft All
saw was his hat What're you so in
terested fOr?'
The questiOner, small, goggleeyed
and given to rubbing his hands, stared
a moment speechlessly
''He-he bought a diamond from
me this morning-on the installment
plan!'
Rodaine smiled again in his crooked
fashion.
That's your own fault, Sam" he
announced CURLY. eff he's at the bot
tom Of the shaft. your diamonds there
too. All know about it is that I
was coming down from the Silver
Queen when saw this fellow go into
the tunnel of the Rlue Poppy. He was
all dressed up. else | don't guess l
him. But us it was. | kind of stopped
to loot, and seen it was Harry Har-
kinS. who used to work the mine with
ti2is"-hc pointed 70 Fairchfld-''this
fellows father. About a minute later.
| heard &" y"ll like somebody was in
trouble then a big splash. Naturally
ran in the tunnel and struck a
match. About twenty feet down,
could see the water was all riled up,
and new hat was floating around on
top of it. That's all know You can
do as you please about your diamond
I'm just giving YOU the information
He turned sharply and went on
then. while Sam the iewe1er. the rest
of the lOiterers clustered around him,
looked appealingly toward Fairchild.
"What'Il we do?" he walled
Fairchild turned. 81 don't know
about you-but I'm going to the mine u
at won't do any good-bodies don't
float. 1t may never f1oat-if it gets
caught down in the timbers some.
where's"
Have to organize a bucket bri.
gade." 1t was q suggestion from one
of the crowd.
"Why not borry the Argonaut
pump? They amt using it"
"Go get it! Go get t." This time
| 1t was the wall of the little ieweler
"Tell 'em Sam Herbenfelder sent you
They'll let you have it."
Another suggestion, still another
| Soon men began to radiate. each on 9
| mission. The word passed down the
| street More loiterers-a silver miner
spends a great part of his leisure time
in simply watching the crowd go by
| hurried to join the excited throng
| Groups, en- route to the picture show
decided otherwise and stopped tt
learn of the excitement The crowC
! thickened. Suddenly Fafrchild looked
up sharply at the sound of feminine
voice.
/ whats the matter?'
4 "Harry Harkins got drowned" AL
4 too willingly the news was dispersed
Fairchild's eyes were searching now IL
the half-light from the faint stree
bulbs. Then they conferred. 1t wa
Anita Richmond, standing at the edge
of the crowd, questioning a miner
while beside her was a thin. youthful
counterpart of a hard-faced father
Maurice ROdaine Just a moment O
queries, then the miners hand pointed
to Fairchild as he turned toward her
"Tt's his partner"
She moved forward then and Fair
child went to meet her
I'm sorry" she said. and extende,
her hand. Fairchfld gripped it ca
gerly.
Thank you. But it may not be a
bad as the rumors'
81 hope not" Then quickly sh
withdrew her hand. and somewha
f1ustered. turned as her companion
edged closer Maurice this is MI
Fairchild." she announced, and Fair
child could do nothing but stare Sh
knew his namei A second more ant
It was explained: my father knew hi
father very we'll"
81 think my own father was &C
+ quainted too" was the rejoinder, an,
the eyes of the two men met for al
instant in conflict The girl did no
seem TO notice.
81 sold him a ticket this morning t
J the dance, not knowing who he was
Il Then father happened TO see him pas
the house and pointed him out to m