The Ordway new era., 1922-11-03
MR.. BARNHAM

SYNOPSIS.-At Thornton Fair
child's death his son Robert learns
there has been a dark period in his
fathers life which for almost thir-
ty years has caused him suffering.
The secret is limited at in docu-
nnent left by the elder Fairchild.
which also informs Robert he is
now owner of q mining claim In
Colorado. and advising him TO see
Henry Beamish. a lawyer. Beamish
tells Robert his claim, a silver
mine, is at Ohadi. thirty eight
miles from Denver. He also warns
hinl against certain man,
'1SVuint' Rodaine. his fathers en-
einy. On the road 10 Ohadi from
Denver Fairchild assists a girl, ap-
pareutly IN a frenzy Of haste, TO
change a tire on her auto When
she has left. the sheriff and posse
appear. in pursuit OF a bandit
Fairchild bewildered. misleads them
as TO the direction the girl had
taken. At ohadi Fairchild Is warm
Iy greeted by Mother" Howard.
boarding-house keeper. for his faith
er's sake. From Mother Howard.
Eairch ID learns something OF the
mystery connected with the disap-
pearance OF "Sissie'' Larsen, his
fathers co-worker in the mine. He
meets the girl he had assisted, but
she denies her identity. She is
Anita Richmond. Judge Richmond's
daughter. Visiting his claim. Fair
child is Swallowed by man he
recognizes from descriptions as
'Squint" Rodaine Back in Ohadi.
his fathers old friend, Harry Har-
kins, a Coruishman, summoned
from England by Beamish to help
Fairchlid. halls him with joy. The
pair md the mine flooded and have
not sufficient funds TO have il
pumped dry. Later in the day
''Squint" Rodaine announces that he
practically saw Harkins fall into
the flooded mine, and evidently Is
drowned. Harkins being a general
favorite, the entire population turns
out to clear the flooded mine When
the work is practically done. Harry
appears apparently surprised AT
the turmoil IL had been a shreWd
trick 0u his part TO get the mine.
pumped out without cost to him
self or Fairchild. and the men take
IL AS a good joke FaIrchIld learns
that Judge Richmond is dying. and
that ne and Anita are in the power
of the Rodaines, They begin. as
partners, to work the mine In
their hearts both fear Larsen was
killed by Thornton FairchilI and
his body buried BY a CAVERN which
destroyed the mine. AT the "Old
Times Bali F'alrchilG dances with
Anita. 20 the discontinue of Maur-
ice Rodalne. son of "Squint," sup
posed to be engaged to the girl.
a bandit holds up the dance and
shoots a merrymaker. Maurice Ro-
daine claims he recognized the
bandit as Harkins. The latter is
arrested. Fairchild interferes to
save Anita from the bullying of
the two Rodaines. md is mystifled
at Anita's apparent ingratitude
Fairchild puts up the claim as
bond. and secures Harry's release
from Jail. They are offered $4,000
for the claim. by an unknown
party. but agree to disregard 1T
Clearing the mine. they come to
where they fear to find Larsen's
remains. A skeleton, in miners
costume. which Harkins Identifies
as Larsen. is there, and there
seems little doubt that Thornton
Fairchild was a murderer. Fair
child informs the coroner of the
discovery of the skeleton. At the
inquest Crazy Laura" castoff wife
of "Squint" Rodaine. and an ac-
knowledged imbecile, gives damag-
ing testimony against Thornton
Fairchild.