The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-26

"5ond Aecepted-I'II Set This Trial
for"
the judge passed the papers to the
clerk Of the court.
Bond accepted I'll set this trial
for November H."
Very well, Your Honor Then he
turned with a wide grin to his clients
That's all until November"
Out they filed through the narrow
aisle of the courtroom. Fairchilds
knee brushing the trouser leg Of
Squint ROdaine as they passed. At
the door, the attorney turned toward
them, then put forth a hand.
Drop in any day this week and
We'll go over things he announced
cheerfully. 'We put one over on his
royal joblots that time, anyway. Hates
me from the ground up. Worst we
can hope for is conviction and then
Supreme court reversal. I'll get him
so mad he'll fill the case with errors.
He used to be an instructor down at
Boulder, and / stuck the pages of d
lecture together on him one day. That's
why asked for an early trial. Knew
he'd give me late one. That'n let us
have time to stir up a little favorable
evidence, which right now we don't
possess. UNDERSTANDABLE money that
comes from the mine is held in escrow
until this case is decided. But I'll ex-
plain that. Going to stick around here
and bask in the effulgence of really
possessing a case. S'longw
And he turned back into the court
room, while Fairchild, the dazed Har-
~ stalking beside him, started down
the street
COW do you figure it?" asked the
Cornishman at last.
WHAT"
''Rodaine. e 'elped us out!"
Fairchild stopped. 1t had not oc-
Cured to him before. But now he
saw it: that if Rodaine, as an expert
on mining, had condemned the Blue
Poppy, it could have meant only one
thing, the denial of bond by the judge
and the lack of freedom for Harry.
fairchild rubbed a hand across his
brow
Il can't figure it," came at last.
And especially since his son is the
accuser and since l got the best of
them both last night"
Got the best of EN-? You?'
The story was brief in its telling.
And it brought no explanation of the
sudden amlability displayed by the
cro0ked-faced Rodaine They went on,
striving vainly for a reason, at last to
stop in front of the post office. as the
postmaster leaned out of the door.
Your names Fairchild, isn't itT'
| asked the person of letters.
yes
Thought so. Some of the fellows
said you was. There's been letter
for you here for two days.
For me?" Vaguely Fairchild went
| within and received the missive, a
| turn address. He turned it over and
over in his hand before he opened it
| then looked at the postmark-Den-
yer. At last:
"Open it, why don't your
Harry's mustache was tickling his
ear, as the big miner stared over his
shoulder. Before them were figures
and sentences which blurred for mo-
ment, finally to resolve into:
''Mr. Robert Fairchild,
| "Ohadi, Colorado.
Dear Sir:
st am empowered by client whose
name I am not at liberty to state, to
make you an offer of 1000 for your
property in Clear Greek county, known
as the Blue Poppy mine. In replying,
kindly address your letter to
| BOX $50, Denver, Colo"
Harry whistled long and thoughtful-
| ly.
That's a ole lot of money!!
IAN awful lot, Harry. But why was
the offer made? There's nothing 20
base it on. There's"
Then for a moment, as they stepped
out of the post Office, he gave up the
| thought, even of comparative riches
Twenty feet away, a man and a glrl
were approaching, talking as though
| there never had been the sngntes'
trouble between them. 1t was Maurice
Rodaine and Anita Richmond; they
came closer, her eyes turned toward
Fairchild, and then
She went on, without speaking. WIN
out taking the trouble to notice, ap
parently, that he had been standing
there.
After this, there was little converse
ton until Harry and Fairchiid nae
reached the boarding house. Then
with Mother Howard for an adviser
the three gathered in the old parior
and Fairchild related the events OF
the night before, adding what nae
happened at the post office, when AMI
ia had passed him without speaking
Mother Howard, her arms folded al
usual, bobbed her gray head.
! Its like her, Son." she announced
at last. shes a good girl. I've KNOW
her ever since she was a little tad no
big enough to walk. And she love-
her father