American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-10-07

nervousness. "Squlnt Rodaine don't
even recognize 'er on the street-much
less appear In company with 'er.
Something's 'appening!"
"But what could she testify tot"
SOW should l known" Harry said
II almost petulantly. Il dldp't even
know She"
"Oyez. oyer, oyer II was the
baillff, using q regular district-court
introduction Of the fact that an In.
quest was about to be held. The crowd
ed room sighed and settled. The cOrO-
ncr stepped forward.
1--WE are gathered here tonight to
inquire into the death Of man sup
posed to he l.. A. Larsen, commonly
called 'Sissie whose skeleton was
found today In the Blue Poppy mine.
As sworn and true. members of the
coroner's jury. ! charge and command
you In the great name of the sovereign
state Of Colorado. to do your full duty
In arriving at your verdict"
The jury. half risen from the chairs,
some with their left hands held high
above them. some with their right.
swore In mumbllng tones to do their
duty, whatever that might be. The
coroner surveyed the assemblage.
First Witness" he called out |;
Harry Harkinsw
Harry went forward, clumsily seek
Ing the witness chair He was ques-
toned regarding nothing more than
thx m OF hA hAAxv
tificatioD by means Of the watch, and
the notification Of the coroner. Fair
child was called to suffer no more
from the queries OF the investigator
than Harry. There was n pause. II
seemed that tie inquest was over A
few per; 'e hogan to move toward the
| door--uiny 20 uar. ,ne cUrU1icr y
voice had sounded again:
'Mrs. Laura ROdaine"
Prodded to her feet by the squirt
eyed man beside her, she rose and.
laughing In silly fashion, stumDied to
the aisle. her straying hair, her ragged
clothing, her big shoes and shuffling
gait all blending with the wild, eerie
look Of her eyes. the constant MUNICH
Ing OF the almost toOthless mouth
Again she laughed. In q vacant, EN-.
barrassed manner, as she reached the
stand and held up her hand for the
administration Of the oath. Fairchild
leaned close to his partner.
AT least she knows enough FOR
that"
Harry nodded.
"She knows lot, that ole girl. They
say she writes down In a book every
thing she does every day. But what
can she be ere to testify TOT"
The answer seemed to come In the
! questioning voice Of the coroner
,, "Your name, pleaseT'
laura Rodaine. Least, that's the
name go by. My real maiden name
Is Laura Masterson, and"
,, "Rodalne win be sufficient. You
! agei'
81 think It's sixty-four II had IN!
book l could tell. /"
"YOur book?"
ayes, / keep everything In book
}, But II isn't here. ! couldn't bring It..
"Ine guess VIII ne suHi''oh' -" ~
= case. You've lived here u good man
: years. Mrs. RodaineT'
!, "Yes. Around thlrty-fve. Let's Sc
= yes. I'm sure It's thirty'five. My DO
y was born here-he's about thirty an
: we came here five years before that
!. "I believe you told me tonight thf
= you have habit Of wandering aroun
10 the hillsT'
!. Eyes, I've done that--l do II rigl
aiong--Fve done II ever since my hu
!. hand and l split up--that was Just
- little while after the boy was born
"sunicient merely wanted 10 g
tnblish that fact w wnnfnr'ng abou
did you eva anJ --..''e' lNeiI'
three or four years ago or ~. TN