The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-07-12
:(Continued from Last issue)


he hurried to the dining room to find
himself the last ledger at the tables.
He ate, a rather hasty meal, made
more SO by an impatient waitress,
then. witt, the necessary papers in his
pocket, Fairchild started toward the
courthouse and the legal procedure
which must be undergone before he
made his first trip to the mine.
A :block or two, and then Fatrchild
suddenly halted. Crossing the street
at an angle just before him was a
young woman whose features, whose
y 1ilannerisms he recognized. The whip
cord riding habit had given place now
to a tailored suit which deprived her
Of the bOyishness that had been so
apparent on their first meeting. The
cap had disappeared before close
fitting, varicolored turban. But the
straying brown hair still was there,
the brown eyes, the piquant little nose
and the prettily formed lips. Fair
child's heart thumped-nor did he stop
to consider why. A quickening of his
pace, and he met her just as she
stepped to the curblng.
I'm SO glad of this opportunity"
he exclaimed happily. II want to re-
turn that, money to you. IL was so
fused yesterday didn't realize"
Aren't you MISTAKEN" She looked
at3him with slight smile. Fairchild
did not catch the infection.
@"Oh, no. I'm the man, you know.
who helped you change that tire on
the Denver road Yesterday"
'"Pardon me-" This time one brown
eye had wavered ever so slightly, in.
dfcating someone behind Fairchlld.
'But I wasn't on the Denver road
yesterday. and II you'll excuse me for
saying so, don't remember ever hav-
Ing seen you before"
There was little light in her eyes
which took away the sting Of the de-
NAL, a light which seemed to urge eau
ton, and Mt the same time to tell Fair
child that she trusted him to do his
part as a gentleman in n thing she
wished forgotten. More fused than
ever, he drew back and bent low in
apology, while she passed on. Half a
block away, young man rounded a
corner and, seeing her, fastened to
toin her. She extended her hand {;
they chatted moment. then strolled
up the street together. Fairchild
watched blankly. then turned ut a
chuokle just behind him emanating
from the bearded lips of an old miner,
loaf1ng on the stone coping In front
of. a. small store.
t,"Pick the wrong filly. pardner2"
came the query. Fairchild managed
to smile.
"Guess So" Then he lied quickly.
'I.thought she was a girl from Den.
ver."
=. "Her? The old miner stretched.
',Nope. That's Anita Richmond. old
Judge Richmond's daughter. Guess
she must hev been expecting thet
young fellow--or she wouldn't have
cut you off so short. She amt usually
that way"
S"Her fiance?" Fairchild asked the
question with misgiving. The miner
finished his stretch and added a yawn
to 1t. Then he looked appraisingly up
the street toward the retreating fig
ures. swell, some say he is and some
ssny he amt. Guess 1t mostly depends
on the girl, and she amt telling yet"
t.Ahd the man-who is he7"
"Him? Oh, he's Maurice Rodaine.
I Son Of a pretty famous character
around here, old Squint Rodaine.
Owns the Silver Queen property up
the hill Ever hear of him?"
The eyes Of Robert Fairchild mar
rowed, and a desire to fight-a long
Ing to grapple with SQuint Rodaine
and all that belonged to him-surged
into his heart. But his voice, when he
spoke, was slow and suppressed. -r' 800
SQutnt Rodaine? Yes, I think I