Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-09-15

| tunnel, SIlulDg alot g In the greasy
muck, the torch exit nguished now. A
moment OF watchfulness from the
cover of the darkness, then Harry
pointed. On the opposite hill. the fig
ure Of man had been outlined for
| just a second. Then he had faded.
And with the disappearance of the
watcher. Harry nudged his partner in
the ribs and went forth into the
brighter light. An hour more and
they were back in town. Harry
reached for his mustache again.
go on down to Mother 'Owards s."
he commanded. "Tve got to wander
around and say 'owdy to what's left
of the fellows that was ere when
was. It's been twenty years since I've
been away. you know" he added, land
the shaft can wait"
Fairchild obeyed the instructions,
looking back over his shoulder as he
walked along toward the boarding
house, to see the big figure OF his COM
panion lettering up the street. on the
beginning of his homecoming tour.
The blocks passed. FairchIld turned
through the gate of Mother Towards
boarding house and went to his room
to await the call for dinner The
world did not look exceptionally
good to him; his brilliant dreams had
not counted upon the decay OF more
than quarter of century, the slow.
but sure dripping of water which had
seeped through the hills and made
the mine one vast well. instead of the
free open gateway to riches which he
had planned upon. An hour of thought
and Fairchild ceased trying to look
into the future, obeying. instead, the
insistent changing of the dinner bell
from downstairs. Slowly he opened
the door of his room, trudged down
the staircase-then stopped in bewil-
derment. Harry stood before him, in
all the splendor that a miner can
know.
He had bought a new suit, brilliant
blue, almost electric in its flashiness,
nor had he been careful as to style.
The cut Of the trousers was somewhat
along the lines of fifteen years he
fore, with their peg tops and heavy
cuffs. Beneath the vest, a glowing,
shirt glared forth
from the protection of a purple tie. /
A wonderful creation was on his head,
Tented in four places, each separated
with almost mathematical precision. |
Below the cuffs of the trousers were
bright, tan, bump-toed shoes. Harry
vas complete picture of sartorial
elegance, according to his own dreams
What was more, to complete it all.
Ipon the third finger of his right hand
vas diamond. Dubious and yellow
md throwing off a dull radiance like
he glow of a burnt-out arc light full
# flaws, it is true, off color to a great
legree, but a diamond nevertheless.
md Harry evidently realized Ii.
"Aint I the cuckoo? he doomed, as
'airchild stared at him. "Ain't I?
ad to ave outfit, and
1T might as well be nowI' he par
phrased, to the tune of the age
sextette from ''Floradora."
And look at the sparklerl Look
t itp
"But-but how did you do it?" came
aspingly. Il thought"
'Tnstallments !" the Cornishman
urst out. "Ten per cent down and
he rest when they catch me. INSTALL !
lents~ He jabbed forth heavy
niger and punched Fairchlld in the
BIS. where's Mother 'Oward? Won't
knock 'er eyes outP' {
Fairchild laughed-he couldn't help I
lin spite of the fact that FIVE hun
red dollars might have gone a long '
ay toward unwatering that shaft.
AIRY was Harry-he had done enough
crossing the seas to help him. And 6
ready, in the eyes of Fairchild. '
AIRY was swiftly approaching that /
lace where he could do no wrong. t
you're wonderful, Harry" came at
st. The Cornishman pulled with t
ride.
I'm cuckoo" he admitted.
Mother 'oward7 Where's t