The Holbrook news., 1922-12-22
THE
 I CROSS>CUT (s,5


this one did, by subterranean breaks and slips to the underground bed of some tumbling spring. Suddenly, how ever, Fairchild whirled with thought.
 Harry! I wonder-couldn't it have been possible for my father to have escaped from this mine in the same way?"
 "'E must ave"
 And that there might not have been any killing connected with Lar sen at all? Why couldn't Larsen have been knocked out by a flying stone just like you were? And why"
 "'E might of, Boy" But Harry's voice was negative. "The only thing about 1t was the fact that your father 'ad bullet ole in is cad" Harry leaned forward and pointed to his own scar. Tt it right about ere, and glanced"
 But the gun? We didn't find any"
 "'E 'ad 1t with i'm. It was Sissie Larsen's. No, Boy. there must lave been a fight-but don't think that I mean your father murdered anybody. If Sissie Larsen attacked i'm with a gun. then e 'ad right to kill. But as I've told you before-there wouldn't ave been a chance for m to prove lis 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 thing?"
 q thought so. Like a woman's voice."
 'Listen-there 1t Is againr"
 "Mr. Fairchildl"
 They ran to the foot of the shaft, and Fairchild cupped his hands and called:
 "Who wants mel"
 "It's me" The voice was plainer now-a voice that Fairchild recog- nized immediately.
 "Tm-Tm under arrest or some thing up here," was added with a laugh. 'The guard won't let me come down."
 "Wait, and I'll raise the bucket for you. All right. guardw Then, blink ing with surprise, he turned to the he whispered.
 The bucket was at the top now. A signal from above, and Fairchild low cred it, to extend a hand and to aid the girl 10 the ground. looking at her with wondering. eager eyes. In the | lfyh of ay.l,f q -h y,r 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 way Fairchild found his voice, lost for a moment.
 "Are-are you in trouble?"
 "No." She smiled at him.
 "But out on night like this-in a blizzard. How did you get up here?"
 She shrugged her shoulders.
 "I walked. Oh," she added, with a smile, "it didn't hurt me any. The wind was pretty stiff-but then I'm fairly strong. I rather enjoyed It."
 But what's happened-what's gone wrong? Can help you with anything l-Or-"
 Then 1t was Sthat Harry, with a roll of his blue eyes and funny waggle of his big shoulders, moved down the drift toward the stope, leaving them alone together. Anita Richmond watched after him with a smile, wait ing until he was out of hearing dis tance. Then she turned seriously.
 Mother Howard told me where you were" came quietly. Tt was the only chance I had to see you. IT. maybe I was a little lonely or-or something. But, anyway, I wanted to see you and thank you and"
 ''Thank me? For what?"
 "For everything. For that day on the Denver road, and for the night after the Old Times dance when you came to help me. IT 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,I knew the Rodaines were your enemies-and I've rather liked you for it." | "Thank you. But" and Fairchild's voice became a bit frigid-'I haven't been able to understand everything You are engaged to Maurice Rodaine." "I was, you mean" "Then-"
 "My engagement ended with my fa- ther's death," came slowly-and there was a catch in her voice. He wanted