The Ordway new era., 1922-11-03
'I know. Harry. But It's an awfui
tangle right now

person 'ad said 1t against you. There II
never be anything more TO that; far-
refill ave 'er adjudged insane II IL
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. II
only crazy woman"
But they took her word for IT,
Harry They believed her. And they
gave the verdict-against my father
II know. l was there, right beside
you. card 1t. But it'll come out
right. some way"
There was moment of silence
then a gripping fear at the heart of
| Fairchild
Just how crazy is she, Hnrry?"
"'Er? Plumb daft, OF course, ms
Mother Onward says, there's times
when she's straight-but they don't
last long. And, If she'd given 'er tes-
timony in writing Mother 'Oward
says it all might ave been different,
and we'd not ave ad anything 10
worry about
"In writing?"
"Yes. she's 'arfway sane then. 1t
seems 'er minds disconnected, some
wye 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 1t. That part of 'er
brain seems all right. She remem-
bers everything she does then and 'ow
crazy 1t is and tells you all about IT,
Notice 'ow hustered up she got when
the coroner asked 'er about that
book?'
81 wonder what it would really
ten?"
Harry chuckled
Nobody knows. Nobody's ever
seen it. Not even Squint Rodaine. l |
guess It's part of tr right brain that
tells 'er TO keep 1t a secret I'm going |
TO bed now. So re you. And you're |
going to sleep. Good night"
He went out of the room then, and |
Fairchild, obedient to the big Cornish |
mans command, sought rest. But 1t |
was n hard struggle. Morning came, |
and he Joined Harry at breakfast, fac
ing the curious glances of the other |
boarders, staving off their inquiries
and their lily couched consultations. |
For in spite of the fact that it was
not voiced in so many words, the CON
viction was present that Crazy Laura
had told at least a semblance of the
truth, and that the dovetailing Incl
dents of the past fitted into we'll |
connected story for which there must |
be some foundation. There were |
those who We're plainly curious; there |
were others who prOfessed not to be- |
lieve the testimony and who talked |
loudly of action against the coroner
for having introduced the evidence of
a woman known by every one to be
lacking in balanced mentality. There
were others who, by their remarks,
showed that they We're concealing the |
real truth of their thoughts and only |
using 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.
81 know it's disagreeable," came |
finally. But it's necessary. You
'aven't quit?"
"Quit whatY"
"The mine You're going to keep
on amt you?"
Fairchild gritted his teeth and was
silent The answer needed strength.
Finally it came.
Harry, are you with me?"
81 amt stopped yeti"
"Then that's the answer. AS long
as there's bit of fight left in us, Wen
keep at that mine"
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 Fairchild's
teeth in long, slow intake. He
clenched his hands and held them
trembling before him for lengthy
moment. Then he turned to his part
ner.
Give me an hour" he begged. 'I'll
go then-but 1t takes little grit
to"
who's Fairchild here?" A messen-
ger boy was making his way along the
curb with telegram. Robert
stretched forth a hand in surprise.
81 am. Why?'
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,
III. X. Building"
A moment of staring, then Fairchild
passed the telegram over to Harry for
his opinion. There was none. To-