Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-08-04

to escape IL; she told all too plainly, |
both by her actions and her words,
that she knew something of the mys-
terry Of the past-and had falsifed to
keep the knowledge from him.
II was too CALLING for thought Rob.
crt Fairchlld hastily made his toilet,
then answered the ringing of the din
ner bell, to be introduced to strong.
shouldered men who gathered about
the long tables; Cornishmen, who
talked an -h-less" language. ruddy-
| faced Americans, and sprinkling of
| English, all OF whom conversed about
things which were TO Falrchild as so
| much Greek--of "levels" and "stopes'
and witness" OF "skips" and "man-
ways" and "rises," which meant moth
Ing TO the man who yet must master
them all, II he were to follow his am
bition.
Robert Falrchild spoke but seldom,
except TO acknowledge the introduce
lions as Mother Howard made him
known to each of his table mates. But
II was not aloofness; from the first,
the newcomer had liked the men
about him, liked the ruggedness, the
mingling of culture with the lack OF
It, liked the enthusiasm, the muscle
and Drawn, liked them sll--all but two.
Instinctively, from the first men,
ton OF his name, he felt they were
watching him, two men who sat far
In the rear Of the big dining room,
older than the other occupants, far
less inviting In appearance. One was
small, though chunky in build. with
sandy hair and eyebrows; with weak,
1lmy blue eyes over which the lids
blinked constantly. The other, black
haired with streaks of gray. powerful
In his build, and with walrus-like
mustache dropping over hard lips. was
the sort of antithesis naturally to be
found In the company of the smaller,
sandy complexloned man. Who they
were, what they were, Fairchild did
not know, except from the general
attributes which told that they too fol-
lowed the great gamble of mining. But
one thing was certain; they watched
him throughout the meal they talked
about him In low tones and ceased
when Mother Howard came near; they
seemed to recognize in him someone
who brought both curiosity and innate
enmlty to the surface. And more
long before the rest had finished their
meal, they rose and left. the room, in.
tent, apparently, upon some important
mission.
After that, Fairchild ate with less
of relish. In his mind was the GER
talnty that these two men knew him
or at least knew about him-and thai
they did not relish his presence. MOI
were his suspicious long in being full
filed. Hardly had he reached thu
hall, when the reckoning eyes o.
Mother Howard signaled to him. In
stinctively he waited for the othe
diners to pass him. then looked eager
ly toward Mother Howard as she ono
more approached.
al don't know what you're doin
here" came shortly, but want to.
Fairchild Strengthened. "There ism
much 10 tell YOU" he answered quie
ly. my father left me the Blue Popp
mine in his will. I'm here to work It.
"Know anything about mlnlng?"
m "Not q thing"
.. "Or the people you're liable to hay
to buck up agalnst?"
" "very little"
II "Then, Son." and Mother Howar
% laid kindly hand on his arm, "wha
Y ever you do, keep your plans 10 you
a self and don't talk too much. An
what's more, II you happen to &c
= into communication with Bllndey
Bozeman and Taylor BIZ, lie you
/. head Off. Maybe you saw 'em, sand!
, haired fellow and a big man with
~ black mustache, sitting at the bac
l.of the roomT Fairchild nodde,
p swell, stay away from them. The
- belong to 'Squint' Rodalne. Kno'
him?"
q She shot the question sharpl.
>. Again Fairchild nodded.
p "I've heard the name. Who is he
A voice called to Mother Howar
g from the dining room. She turne
a. away, then leaned close to Robe
n Fairchlld. He's n miner, and he's a
ways been n miner. Right now, he
=, mixed up with some of the bigge
=, people in town. He's always been
= man to be afraid of-and he was you
90 fathers worst enemy!"
Then. leaving Falrchlld staring aft
l., her, she moved on to her duties
~ the kitchen.