The Raymer enterprise., 1922-11-16
II know. Harry. But it's an awful

"Sure II Is. But II amt as II a sane
person 'ad said II against You. There'll
never be anything more to that; Far.
refill ave 'er adjudged insane II II
ever comes to anything like that.
She'll never give no more testimony.
I've been talking with 'im-'e stopped
in Just after you came upstairs. It's
only crazy woman"
But they took her word for Il,
Harry. They believed her. And they
gave the verdict-agaInst my father r.
Il know. ! was there, right beside
you. card II. But It'll come out
right. some way
There WIS a moment Of silence,
then a gripping fear at the heart Of
| Fairchild.
Just how crazy Is she, Harryr'
"'Er? Plumb daft. OF course. as
Mother Onward says. there's times
when she's straight-but they don't
last long. And. II she'd given 'er tes-
tImony In writing. Mother 'Oward
says II all might ave been different.
and we'd not ave 'ad anything to
worry about"
in writing7"
Eyes. she's 'arfway sane then. It
seems 'er minds disconnected. some
wye. l don't know 'ow-Mother
'Oward's got the ole lingo. and every
body In town knows about II. When
ever anybody wants to get anything
real straight from Crazy Laura, they
make 'er write II. That part Of 'er
brain seems all right. She remem-
bers everything she does then and 'ow
crazy II is, and tells you all about 1t.
Notice 'ow fiustered up she got when
the coroner asked 'er about that
| bOOkr
81 wonder what It would really
telIw
Harry chuckled.
Nobody knows. Nobody's ever
seen It. Not even Squint Rodaine.
guess It's part Of 'er right brain that
tells 'er to keep II a secret I'm going
70 bed now. So re you. And you're
going to sleep. Good night"
lie went out Of the room then. and
Falrchlld. obedIent to the big Cornish.
mans command, sought rest. But II
was a hard struggle. Morning came
and he Joined Harry at breakfast. fac.
Ing the curious glances Of the other
boarders, staying of their Inquiries
and their lily couched consultations.
For, In spite Of the fact that II was
not voiced In SO many words. the con-
victlon was present that Crazy Laura
had told at least a semblance of the
truth, and that the dovetalling Incl
dents Of the past fitted into we'll
connected story for which there must
be some foundation. There were
those who were plainly curious; there
were others who professed not to be.
lleye the testimony and who talked
loudly Of action against the coroner
for having introduced the evidence Of
woman known by every one to be
lacking In balanced mentality. There
were others who. by their remarks,
showed that they were concealing the
real truth Of their thoughts and only
using q cloak Of interest to guide
them to other food for the carrion
proclivities Of their minds.
An hour later Harry. wandering by
the younger mans side, strove for
words and at last uttered them.
II know It's disagreeable," came
finally. "But it's necessary. You
'avent quit7"
Quit whatT
"The mine. You're going to keep
on, amt you7"
Fairchlld gritted his teeth and was
silent. The answer needed strength.
Finally II came.
"Harry, are you with mer'
II aln't stopped yeti"
"Then that's the answer. As long
as there's bit Of fight left In us, we'll
keep at that NINE"
Harry hitched at his trousers.
They've got that blooming skeleton
out by this time. I'm willing to start
any time you say"
The breath went over FalrchIld's
teeth In long, slow intake. He
clenched his hands and held them
trembling before him for a lengthy
moment. Then he turned to his part.
ner.
"Glve me an hour" he begged. "r1l
90 then-but It takes a little grit
to"
"Who's Fairchild here?" A messen-
ger boy was making his way along the
curb with. telegram. Robert
stretched forth hand In surprise.
II am. Whyf'
The answer came as the boy showed
forth the yellow envelope. Falrchild.
wondering, read:
"please come to Denver at once.
Have most important information for
you.
"R. v. BARNHAM,
n. 4 r. Building"
A moment of staring. then Fairchild
passed the telegram over to Harry for
his opinion. There was none. To.
gether they went across the street
and to the Office Of Farrell. their at.
torney. He studied the telegram long