Phoenix tribune., 1922-09-23
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their places. Fairchild stayed on to
meet Mother Howard and assuage her
nervousness as best he could, dividing
his time between her and the task be-
fore him. Noon found more water
than ever tumbling down the hills
the smaller pumps were working now
in unison with the larger one. After
noon-and most Of Ohadi was there.
Fairchild could distinguish the form
of Anita Richmond in the hundreds Of
women and men clustered about the
opening of the tunnel, and for once
she was not in the company of Mau-
rice Rodaine. He hurried to her and
she smiled at his approach.
Have they found anything yetT
"Nothing-so far. Except that there
is plenty of water in the shaft. I'm
trying not to believe it."
81 hope it isn't true" Her voice was
low and serious. Father was talking
to me-about you. And we hoped you
two would succeed-this time"
Evidently her father had told her
more than she cared to relate. Fair
child caught the infection in her voice
but disregarded 1t.
81 owe you an apology" he said
bluntly.
"For what?"
Last night. l couldn't resist it,
forgot for moment that you were
there. But IL hope that you'll be-
lieve me to be a gentleman, In spite
of it,
She smiled up at him quickly. -
u already have had proof of that.
IL am only hoping that you will be-
lieve newell, that you'll forget some
thing"
"You mean"
"Yes," she countered quickly, as
though to cut off his explanation. SIT
seemed like a great deal. Yet 1t was
nothing at ali. would feel much hap
pier if were sure you had disre-
garded it."
Fairchild looked at her for a long
time, studying her with his serious
blue eyes, wondering about many
things, wishing that he knew more Of
women and their wass. At last he
said the thing that he felt, the straight
forward outburst Of a straightforward
man.
You're not going to be offended If
tell you something's"
Certainly not"
"The sheriff came along just after
you had made the turn. He was look
ing for an auto bandit"
"A what?" She stared at him with
wide-Open, almost laughing eyes. "But
YOU don't believe"
''He was looking for a man." said
Fairchpd quietly. 'T-I told him that
| hadn't seen anything but-a boy.
was willing to do that then-because
| couldn't believe that a girl like you
would" Then he stumbled and halt
ed. A moment he sought speech while
she smiled up at him. Then out 1t
came: IL don't care what 1t was.
IL like you. Honest, I do. / liked
you so much when I was changing
that tire that didn't even notice 1t
when you put the money in my hand.
I-well, you're not the kind of a girl
who would do anything really wrong.
1t might be a prank-or something
like that-but 1t wouldn't be wrong.
$3.50 there's an end to it."
Again she laughed softly, in a way
tantalizing to Robert Fairchild, as
though she were making game of him.
What do you know about women3"
she asked finally. and Fairchild told
the truth.
Nothing"
Then" the laugh grew heartier,
finally. however, to die away. The
girl put forth her hand but l won't
say what l was going to. 1t wouldn't
sound right hope that II live up
to your estimation of me- At least
I'm thankful to you for being the man
you are. And won't forget p
And once more her hand had rested
in his-a small, warm, caressing thing
in spite Of the purely casual grasp
OF an impersonal action. Again Rob-
ert Fairchild felt thrill that was new
to him, and he stood watching her un-
til she had reached the motor car
which had brought her to the big
curve. and had faded down the hill.
Then he went back to assist the sweat
ing wOrkmen and the anxious-faced
Sam Herbenfelder. The water was
down seventy feet.
That night Robert Fairchild sought
a few hours sleep. Two days after the
town still divided its attention be-
tween preparations for the Old Times
dance and the progress in the dewater-
ing of the Blue Poppy shaft. Now
and then the long hose was withdrawn,
and dynamite lowered on floats to the
surface of the water, far below, a cop
per wire trailing 1t. A push of the
plunger. detonation, and wait Of
long moments; 1t accomplished moth
ing and the pumping went on. If the
earthly remains of Harry Harkins
were below, they steadfastly refused
to come to the surface.
The water had fallen to the level
of the drift, two hundred feet down;
the pumps now were working on the
main fiood which offIl Low holo,u