Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-09-22

women and their ways. At last h,
said the thing that he felt, the straight
forward outburst of a straightforward
man:
you're not going to be offended II
1 tell you something's
Certainly not"
"The sheriff came along just after
you had made the turn. He was look.
ing for an auto bandit"
"a what?" She stared at him with
wide-open, almost laughing eyes. 'But
you don't believe"
HE was looking for a man." said
Fairchild quietly III told him that
l hadn't seen anything but-a boy. l
was willing to do that then-because
l couldn't believe that a girl like you
would" Then he stumbled and halt
ed. A moment he sought speech while
she smiled up at him. Then out it
came: II don't care what 1t was.
II like you. Honest, 1 do. l liked
you so much when l was changing
that tire that I didn't even notice it
when you put the money in my hand.
well, you're not the kind Of a girl
who would do anything really wrong.
1t might be prank-or something
like that-but 1t wouldn't be wrong
$3.50 there's an end to it,"
Again she laughed softly, in a way
tantalizing to Robert Fairchi1d, as
though she were making game of him.
"What do you know about women?"
she asked finally, and Fairchild told
the truth.
Nothing"
"Then-" the laugh grew heartier,
finally, however, to die away. The
girl put forth her hand. "But I won't
say what was going to. 1t wouldn't
sound right. hope that II live up
to your estimation of me. At least
I'm thankful to you for being the man
you are. And l won't forget I"
And once more her hand had rested
in his-a small, warm, caressing thing
in spite of the purely casual grasp
of an impersonal action. Again Rob
ert Fairchild felt thrill that was new
to him, and he stood watching her I'M
til she had reached the motor car
which had brought her to the big
curve, and had faded down the HILL
Then he went back to assist the sweat
ing workmen and the anxious-faced
Sam Herbenfelder. The water was
down seventy feet.
That night Robert Fairchlld sought
a few hours sleep. Two days after the
town still divided its attention be-
tween preparations for the Old Times
dance and the progress in the dewater-
ing of the Blue Poppy shaft. Now
and then the long hose was withdrawn,
and dynamite lowered on floats to the
surface of the water, far below, a cop
per wire trailing it. A push of the
plunger, defamation, and a wait of
long moments; 1t accomplished moth
ing, and the pumping went on. If the
earthly remains of Harry Harkins
were below, they steadfastly refused
to come to the surface.
The water had fallen to the level
of the drift, two hundred feet down;
the pumps now were working on the
main flood which still lay below.
A day more and a day after that.
The water was now only a few feet
high In the shaft; it meant that the
whole great opening, together with the
drift tunnel, soon would be dewatered !
to an extent sufficient to permit of
exploration. Again the motor cars
ground up the narrow roadway. Out ,
side the tunnel the crowds gathered. |
Fairchild saw Anita Richmond and |
gritted his teeth at the fact that young |
accompanied her. Farther in |
the background, narrow eyes watch |
ing closely, was Squint Rodaine. And |
still farther
Fairchild gasped as he noticed the
figure Flooding down the mountain
side. He-put out hand, then, Selling
the nervous Herbenfelder by the
whirled him around.
'T.ook I" he exclaimed Look there
Didn't tell you Didn't I have a
hunch?"
For, coming toward them jauntily,
slowly, was a figure in beaming blue,
a Fedora on his head now, but with
the rest of his wardrobe intact, yellow,
bump-toed shoes and all. Someone
shouted Everybody turned. And as
they did so, the figure fastened it's
pace. moment later, booming
voice sounded, the unmistakable voice
If Harry Harkins:
81 syel What's the matter over
here? Did somebody fall INF"
The putting Of gasoline engines
,eased. A moment more and the CUR
cling cough Of the pumps was stilled,
While the shouting and laughter Of
,reat crowd sounded through the hills.
\ leaping form went forward, Sam
to seize Harry, to pat
lin and paw him, as though in assur-
nee that he really was alive, then to
,rasp wildly at the ring on his finger
sut Harry waved him aside.
"Ain't paid the installment on it7'
. demonstrated. whats the rum
us?' a 10Th
Fairchild. with Mother Howard. ooth
angling happily. was just behind her-
enfelder And behind them was