The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-03
(Coutinued from Last issueN

T."And two hundred dollars to the
TOM added Fairchild, laughing. mo
wonder Rodaine wanted it."
''I'll sye sol" A long time Of con-
gratulatory celebration, then Harry
led the way to the far end of the great
cavern. "'Ere 1t Isl" he announced,
as he pointed to what seemed to both
of them never to be anything more
than q assure in the rocks. Its the
thing that saved my life"
Fairchild stared into the darkness Of
the hole in the earth, narrow crack
in the rocks barely large enough to al
low q human form to squeeze within.
He Laughed.
fG@"You must have made yourself
pretty small, Harry"
"VVhat? When I went through there?
Sye, could ave gone through the eye
Of q needle. There were six charges
Of dynamite just about to 60 off behind
mer'
. Again the men chuckled as they
looked at the assure, natural, usual
thing in a mine, and often leading, as
this one did. by subterranean breaks
and slips to the underground bed Of
some tumbling spring. Suddenly, how
ever Eairchild whirled with thought.
&4t.Harry! I wonder-couldn't it have
+heen possible for my father to have
escaped from this mine in the same
way2': (: :,
gle must ave-" I
sand that there might not have
been any killing connected with Lar
sen at all? Why couldn't Larsen have
been2knocked out by flying stone
just like you were7 And WHY" I,
s,''E might off, Boy" But Harry's
voice was negative. 1.-THE only thing
about it, was the fact that your father
'ad sa':bullet ole In is cad" Harry
leaned forward and pointed to his own
scar. 1T 1T right about ere, and
glanced,
''But the gum We didn't find any,"
"1'E .ad 1t with i'm. It was Slssie
Larsen's., No, Boy, there must ave
been 4 fight-but don't think that I
mean your father murdered anybody.
IL 8Ssie Larsen attacked Inn with. a
gun, then e 'ad right to kill. But
as I've told you before-there wouldn't
ave been q chance for IN to prove is
story with Squint working against
i'm" He ceased and perked his head
toward the bottom of the shaft, listen
ing intently. "Didn't you ear some
thingr
~ thought 50. Like a woman's
voice" -
"Ltsten-there it is again!' :
"Mr.' Fairchildl"
They ran to the foot Of the shaft,
and Fairchild cupped his hands and
called:
"Who wants meT'
ats me-" The voice was palmer
nova voice that Falrchild recog-
nized Immediately.
f"Tm-1'm under arrest or some
thing up here" was added with a
laugh. 1.-THE guard won't let me come
down."
''Wait, and I'll raise the bucket for
you. All right, guard!" Then, blink
ing with surprise, he turned to the
staring Harry. Its Anita Richmond"
he whispered.
The bucket was at the top now. A
signal from above, and Falrchild low
cred 1t, to extend a hand and to aid
the girl to the ground, looking at her
with wondering, eager eyes. In the
light of the carbide torch. she was the
same boyish-appearing little person he
had met on the Denver road except
that snow had taken the place of dust
now upon the whipcord riding habit,
and the brown hair which caressed
the corners Of her eyes was moist
with the breath Of the blizzard. Some
way Fairchild found his voice, lost for
a moment.
"Are-are you in troubleT"
s'No." She smiled at him.
"But out on a night like thls-in a
blizzard. How did you get up here7"
She shrugged her shoulders.
II walked. Oh" she added, with
smile, ut didn't hurt me any. The
wind was pretty stiff-but then I'm
fairly strong. I rather enjoyed It,"
s'"But what's happened-what's gone
wrong? Can I help you with anything
---or-"
Then It was that Harry, with roll
Of his blue eyes and a funny waggle
oE HIS big shoulders, moved down the
dfift toward the stope, leaving them
Alone together. Anita Richmond
watched after him with smile, wait
Ing until he was out Of hearing dis
tance. Then she turned seriously.
S"Nfother Howard told me where you
were," came quietly. 1T was the
only chance had to see you. IL
maybe I was a little lonely or-or
something. But, anyway, I wanted to
see you and thank you and"
THANK me? For whatY
!. ""For everything. For that day on
the Denver road, and for the night
after, the Old Times dance when you
came to help me. IL haven't had an
easy time. Most Of the people know
are afraid and-some Of them aren't
to be trusted. And-you-well. knew
the Rodainss we're your enemies-and