Phoenix tribune., 1922-10-07
CHAPTER x

brushed past Cnem swiftly ana went
on down the street, not turning at the
muttered invectives which came from
the crooked lips of the older man, not
seeming even to notice their presence
as he hurried on toward Mother How
ards boarding house. In his creaky
bed he sought to think, but in vain.
After hours, daylight began to streak
the sky. Fairchild, dull, worn by ex-
element and fatigue, strove to rise,
then laid his head on the pillow for
Just a moment of rest. And with that
perversity which extreme WEAKNESS
so often exerts, his eyes closed and
he slept-to wake at last with the
realization that 1t was late morning,
and that some one was pounding on
the door. Fairchild raised his head.
who is it?'
mo one you know-yet. I've come
to talk to you about your partner.
May | come in?"
"Yes." Fairchild was fully alive
now to the activities that the day held
before him. The door opened, and a
young man, alert, almost cOcky in man.
ner, with black, snappy eyes showing
behind hOrn-rimmed glasses, entered
and reached for the sole chair that the
room contained
my names Farrell he announced.
Randolph P. Farrell. And to make
long story short, I'm your lawyer.
MY lawyer? Fairchild stared 81
haven't any lawyer in Ohadi. The
only
That doesn't alter the fact I'm
your lawyer, and I'm at your service.
And l don't mind telling you that it's
just about my first case. Otherwise
| don't guess I'd have gotten it,"
"Why not?" The frankness had driv-
en- other queries from Fairchild's
mind. Farrell, the attorney, grlnned
cheerily.
Because l understand it concerns
the Rodaines. Nearly everybody has
a little money stuck into their enter
prises. And seeing l have no money
at all, I'm not financially interested.
And not being interested, I'm wholly
just, fair and willing to fight 'em to
standstill Your partners in jan,
as understand it. Guilty or not gull
tyr
"Wa-wait a minutel Who hired
yOu?" Then with a sudden inspira-
tion Mother Howard didn't go and
do this?"
Mother Howard? You mean the
woman who runs the boarding hOuse2
Not at ALL"
But"
I'm not exactly at liberty to state"
Suspicion began to assert ITSELF
under those conditions, 1 don't be-
ieve-"
Don't say it! Don't get started
along those lines. know what you're
thinking. Knew that was what would
happen from the start. And against
the wishes of the person who hired
me for this work, I-well, 1 brought
the evidence. Here, take a glimpse
and then throw it away, tear 1t up,
swallow 1t, or do anything you want
to with It, just so nobody else sees 1t.
Ready? Look"
He drew forth a small visiting card.
Fairchild glanced. Then ne looked
and then he sat up straight in bed.
For before him were the engraved
words:
miss Anita Natalie Richmond"
While across the card was hastily
written, in hand distlnctively femi-
nine:
"Mr. Fairchild: This is my good
friend. He will help you. There is
no fee attached. Please destroy.
"Anita Richmond"
"Bu-but l don't understand"
you know Miss-er-the writer of
this card, don't your"
But why should she-?"
Mr.. Farrell grinned broadly.
Il see you don't know Miss-the
writer of this card at all. That's her
nature. Besides-well, all she's got
to do with me is crook her finger and
I'll jump through. pm-none of your
business. But, anyway, here l am"
Fairchild could not restrain a laugh.
There was something about the man,
about his nervous, yet boyish way of
speaking about his enthusiasm. that
wiped out suspicion and invited con-
fidenee. The owner of the Blue Pop
py mine leaned forward.
But you didn't finish your sentence
about-the writer Of that card"
you mean-oh-well, there's moth
ing to that. I'm in love with her, Been
in love with her since I've been knee
high to a duck. So re you. Sos every
other human being that thinks he's
a regular man. Sos Maurice Rodaine.
Don't know about the rest of you
but 1 haven't got a chance. Don't let
it bother you. The problem right now
is to get your partner out of JAIL How
much money have you got?''
only little more than two thous-
and
"Not enough There'll be bonds on
four charges. At the least, they'll be
around a thousand dollars. apiece.
Probabilities are that they'll run