The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-17
CHAPTER VII

tence in his fathers letter regarding
someone who would hurry to his aid
when he needed him, the references
of Beamish, and the allusion of Moth
er Howard to a faithful friend.
Again the heavy voice doomed:
"You know me now, eh?'
'YOu bet! You're Harry Harkins !"
"'Arkins it is, l came just as soon
as got the cahlegram!"
1.-THE cablegram?"
"Yeh." Harry paved at his won
derful mustache. "From Mr.. Beamish,
you know. f sent it, Said you'd
started out ERE all alone. And l
couldn't stand by and let you do that.
So ere | am!'
"But the expense, the long trip
across the ocean. the"
"'Ere l am - said Harry again.
"Afn't that enOugh?"
They had reached the veranda now.
to stand talking for a moment, then
to go Within where Mother Howard
awaited. eyes glowing, in the parlor
Harry flung out both arms.
"And 1 still love you'll" he doomed,
as he caught the gray-haired, laugh
ing woman in his arms. Even If you
did run me off and wouldn't go back
to Cornwall"
Red-faced, she pushed him away
and slapped his cheek playfully; it
was like the tap of a light breeze
against granite. Then Harry turned.
"'Ave you looked at the mine?"
The question brought back to Fair
child the happenings of the morning
and the memory of the man who had
trailed him. He told his story, while
Mother Howard listened, her arms
crossed, her head bobbing, and while
Harry, his big grin. still on his lips,
took in the details with avidity. Then
the grin faded
LES go up there" he said quietly.
This time the trip to Kentucky
gulch was made by skirting the town
soon they were on the rough, narrow
roadway leading into the mountains.
A long time they walked, at last to
stop in the shelter of the rocks where
Fairchild had Swallowed his pursuer
and to glance carefully ahead No
one was in sight. Harry jabbed out
big finger.
"That's it," he announced, straight
a'eadw
They went on, Fairchild with a grip
| ping at his throat that would not
down. This had been the hope of his
father-and here his father had met
what? He swerved quickly ant
stopped, facing the bigger man.
Harry" came sharply, 81 know
that I may be violating an unspoker
promise to my father But l simply
can't stand it any longer What hap
pened here? There was some sort Of
tragedy"
Harry chuckled in concealment
Fairchild thought, of something h,
did not want to tell him.
81 should think So The timber.
gave way and the mine caved in"
mot that! My father ran ava,
from this town. You and Mothe
Howard helped him. You didn't conn
back. Neither did my father. Even
tually it killed him."
"So?" Harry looked seriously an
studiously at the young man. al
didn't write me of'en."
"He didn't need to write you. Yo1
were here with him-whep it han
pened."
4 'No-" Harry shook his head. 8
was in town. What's Mother Howar
told your
"a lot-and nothing"
II don't know any more than st
does
But"
Friends didn't ask questions
those days." came quietly. ''I migl
ave guessed if I'd wanted to-but
didn't want to-"
But if you hadT'
Harry looked at him with quiet, bl,
eyes.
what would you guessF'
Slowly Robert Fairchild's gaze we
: to the ground. There was only OF
y possible conjecture: Sissie Larsen hi
: been unprecedented by woman. 81
= sic Larsen had never been seen aga
In Ohadi.
II would hate to put It in
words" came finally. Harry slapp
him on the shoulder
''Then don't. It was nearly thir
wears ago. Let sleeping dogs lie TIA