The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-22
CHAPTER tx


spun the fiywheels of the gasoline en-
gines and started them revolving
again, that the last of the water might
be drained from the shaft before the
pumps must be returned to their own
ers.
Several hours passed, then Harry
returned, minus his gorgeous clothing
and his diamond ring, dressed in min
ing costume now, with high leather
boots into which his trousers were
tucked, and carrying carbine lantern.
Dolefully he looked at the vacant fin
ger where once diamond had spar
killed.. Then he chuckled.
"Sam took it back" he announced.
"And / took part of the money and
paid it out for rent on these pumps.
We can keep 'em as long as we want
'em. It's only costing about fourth
of what 1t might Of. Drowning's
worth something" he laughed again.
Fairchild Joined him, then sobered.
"It brought Rodaine out of the
bushes" he said. "Squint threatened
us after they'd hauled you down town
on the rail-"
Harry winked jovially.
"Ain't it just what l expected? It's
better that wye than to ave i'm snoop-
in around"
They chuckled together then; it was
something to know that they had not
only forced Squint Rodaine to show
his enmity openly, but 1t was some
thing more to make him the instru-
ment of helping them with their work.
Harry looked down the hole, stared
intently at nothing, then turned to the
rusty hoist.
"'Ere's the thing we've got to fix
up now. This ERE chfv wheels all
out Of gear"
"What makes your face so redr'
Fairchild asked the question as the
be-mustached visage Of Harry came
nearer to the carbide Harry looked
up.
Mother 'Oward almost slapped it
| off" came his rueful answer. "For
not telling 'er what l was going to do,
and letting FER think / got drownded
But low was / to known"
| Fairchild absently examined the en-
gines and pumps, supplying water to
the radiators and filing an OIL cup
| or two. Then he turned swiftly, voic-
ing that which was uppermost in his
mind.
when you were here before, Harry,
| did you know a Judge RichmondT'
"Yeh." Harry paved his mustache
and made greasy, black mark on his
face. But I don't think / want to
know i'm now"
"Why notT'
"'E's mixed up with the Rodaines"
How much?"
"They own 'im-that's ALL"
There was silence for a moment It
had been something which Fairehild
had not expected. If the Rodaines
| owned Judge Richmond, how far did
that ownership extend? After a long
time, he forced himself to a statement
81 know his daughter. She sold me
ticket to a dance" Fairchild care
fully forgot the earlier meeting.
Then we've happened to meet several
times after that. She said that her
father had told her about met
seems he used to be a friend Of my
own father
i Harry nodded.
$50 e was. And a good friend. But
that was before things 'appened-lfke
they've 'appened in the last ten years
Not that Il know about 1t of my OWE
knowledge. But Mother 'Oward-she
knows a lot"
But what's caused the change
| What-f'
Harry's intent gaze stopped him.
SOW many times ave you seer
: Judge Richmond?"
Il haven't ever seen him."
"You won't-if Mother 'Owart
knows anything. e amt able to ge
out. Els sick-apoplexy-a stroke
Rodaine's taken advantage OF it,
Howl"
low does anybody take advantag,
of somebody that's sick2 'Ow doe.
anybody get a old on a person
Through money! Judge Richmon,
: 'ad a lot of It, Then e got sick. Ro
dame e got old of that money. Nov
: Judge Richmond as to ask Inn 70
t every penny he gets-and e does wha
4 Rodaine says"
al but judge"
Judges Ia like anybody else whel
they're bedridden and only arr thei
faculties working. The GIRL 80 Noths