The St. Charles herald., 1922-09-30
CHAPTER TX


Fairchild went back into the tunnel,
spun the fiywheels of the gasoline en-
gines and started them revolving
again, that the last of the water might
be drained from the shaft before the
pumps must be returned to their own
ers.
Several hours passed, then Harry
returned, minus his gorgeous clothing
and his diamond ring, dressed in min
ing costume now, with high leather
boots into which his trousers were
tucked. and carrying carbine lantern.
Dolefully he looked at the vacant fin
ger where once diamond had spar
kled. Then he chuckled.
"Sam took II back" he announced.
"A1d l took part of the money and
paid 1t out for rent on these pumps.
we can keep 'em as long as we want
'em. It's only costing about fourth
of what IT might of. DrOwning's
worth something" he laughed again.
Fairchild joined him, then sObered.
s'It brought Rodaine out of the
bushes" he said. "Squint threatened
us after they'd hauled you down town
on the rail-"
Harry winked jovially.
"Ain't it just what l expected? It's
better that wye than to ave i'm snoop-
in around"
They chuckled together then; 1t was
something to know that they had not
only forced Squint ROdaine to show
his enmity openly but it was some
thing more to make him the instru-
ment of helping them with their work.
Harry looked down the hole. stared
intently at nothing, then turned to the
rusty hoist.
"'Ere's the thing we've got to fix
up now. This ere chiv wheels all
out of gear.
"What makes your face so red?'
Fairchild asked the question as the
be-mustached visage of Harry came
nearer to the carbide. Harry looked
| up.
Mother 'Oward almost. slapped 1t
off" came his rueful answer. "For
not telling 'er what l was going to do,
and letting 'er think I got drownded.
| But 'ow was l to know"
Fairchild absently examined the en-
gines and pumps, supplying water to
the radiators and filling an oil cup
or two. Then he turned swiftly, vote
ing that which was uppermost in his
mind.
"When you were here before, Harry,
did you know Judge Richmond"
"Yeh." Harry paved his mustache
and made greasy. black mark on his
face. "But l don't think I want to
know i'm now"
"Why not?"
"'Es mixed up with the Rodaines."
"How much?"
dThey own 'im-that's ALL"
There was silence for a moment. 1t
had been something which Fairchild
had not expected. II the Rodaines
| owned Judge Richmond, how far did
| that ownership extend? After long
time, he forced himself to statement
/ II know his daughter. She sold me
ticket to a Dance" Fairchild care
fully forgot the earlier meeting
"Then we've happened to meet several
times after that. She said that her
father had told her about met
seems he used to be a friend of my
own father"
Harry nodded.
$50 e was. And good friend. But
that was before things 'appened-like
they've 'appened in the last ten years
Not that l know about 1t of my owr
knowledge. But Mother 'Oward-she
knows a lot
"But what's caused the change,
What-y
| Harry's intent gaze stopped him.
| SOW many times ave you seer
Judge RichmondY
II haven't ever seen him."
| "You won't-if Mother 'Owari
knows anything. e amt able to ge
out. Els sick-apoplexy-a stroke
Rodaine's taken advantage of it."
/ "How?"
il .'Ow does anybody take advantag,
of somebody that's sick? 'Ow doe.
anybodv get q old on person
Through money! Judge Richmon,
'ad l1f OF. IT. Then e got sick Rn
daine. e got odd Of that money. Nov
Judge Richmond as to ask i'm TO
every penny he gets-and e does wha
ROfaine says"
.sRut 4 Judge"