American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-08-05

denly they twInkled. the lips broke
from their straight line into smile.
and kindly old hand reached out to
takeohim by the arm.
Don't you stand there and try TO
tell Mother Howard she don't know
what she's talking about I" came In
tones Of mock severity "Hear mel
Now. you get up them steps and wash
up for dinner. Take the frst room on
the right It's nice. CHEEKY place"
In his room. Fairchild tried not 70
think. His brain was becoming too
crammed with queries. with strange
happenings and with aggravating mys.
ticisms Of the life into which HIS n.
Tiers death had thrown him to Der.
NIT clearness Of vision. Even In
Mother Howard he had not been able
to escape II (; she told all too plainly.
both BY her actions and her words,
that she knew something Of the mys
terry Of the past--and had falsified to
keep the knowledge from him.
II was too CALLING for thought. Rob
ert Fairchild hastily made his toilet,
then answered the ringing Of the din.
ner bell. to be introduced to strong.
shouldered men who gathered about
the long tables; Cornishmen, who
talked an "h-less" language. rudy
faced Americans, and a sprinkling Of
English, all Of whom conversed about
things which were to Fairchild a. 10
much Greek--of 'levels" and Slopes"
and witness" Of "sklps" and "man-
ways" and rises" which meant moth
ing to the man who yet must master
them all. II he were to follow his am
bltiOn.
Robert Falrchild spoke but seldom,
except to acknowledge the introduc.
tons as Mother Howard made him
known to each Of his table mates. But
i was not aloofness; from the first,
the newcomer had liked the men
about him. liked the ruggedness. the
mlngling Of culture with the lack Of
II, liked the enthusiasm. the muscle
and Drawn. liked them all-all but two
Instinctiveiy. from the first men,
ton Of, his name, he felt they were
watching him, two men who sat far
In the rear Of the big dining room.
older than the other occupants, far
less inviting in appearance. One was
small, though chunky In build. with
sandy hair and eyebrows; with weak,
nlmy blue eyes over which the lids
blinked constantly. The other. black.
haired with streaks Of gray, powerful
In his build, and with q walrus-likc
mustache dropping over hard lips. was
the sort Of antithesls naturally to be
found In the company OF the smaller,
sandy complexioned maA. Who they
were, what they were. Fairchild did
not know, except from the general
attributes which told that they too fol-
lowed the great gamble of mining. But
one thing was certain; they watched
him throughout the meal; they talked
about him In low tones and ceased
when Mother Howard came near they
seemed to recognize In him someone
who brought both curiosity and innate
enmity to the surface. And more /;
long before the rest had finished their
meal. they rose and left the room. in
tent, apparently, upon some important
mission.
After that, Fairchild ate with less
Of u relish. In his mind was the GER
tainty that these two men knew him
or at least knew about him-and that
they did not relish his presence Nor
were his suspicious long In being full
filed. Hardly had he reached the
hall, when the beckonlng eyes of
Mother Howard signaled to him. In
stnctlvely he waited for the other
diners to pass him. then looked eager
ly toward Mother Howard as she once
more approached
II don't know what you're doing
here" came shortly. "but ! want to-"
Fairchlld Strengthened "rhere isn't
much TO tell you" he answered quiet
fy. my father left me the Blue Poppy
mine In his viii. I'm here to work it,
"Know anything about minngT
"Not thing"
"Or the people you're liable to have
to buck up agalnstf"
"very little"
A''hf anu sAoth'' Atp"uib
laid kindly hand ON his arm. "what.
ever you do, keep your plans to your
self and don't talk too much. And
what's more, II you happen to get
into communication with Blindeye
Bozeman and Taylor Bill. lie your
head of. Maybe you saw 'em, a sandy
haired fellow and big man with q
black mustache, sitting at the back
OF the roomf" FairchIld nodded
swell. stay away from them. They
belong to Squint' Rodaine. Know
| himi"
She shot the question sharply
Again Fairchild nodded.
"Pve heard the name. Who il her
A voice called to Mother Howard
from the dining room. She turned
away. then leaned close to Rober,
Fairchild. Hes miner, and he's al
ways been miner. Right now, he,
mixed up with some Of the biggest
people In town. He's always been {
man to be afraid of--and he was YOU
fathers worst enemyw