The Hope pioneer., 1922-10-05

" He-dUoul you. ana 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.
Il owe you an apology" he said
bluntly.
"For what?"
'Last night. I couldn't resist it,
forgot for moment that you were
there. But II hope that you'll be-
lieve me to be. gentleman, In spite
of it."
She smiled up at him quickly.
Il already have had proof of that.
III 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. "It
seemed like a great deal. Yet it was
nothing at all. would feel much hap.
pier 1t I 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 ways. 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
l tell you sOmething?"
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 man." said
Fairchild quietly. I'll told him that
/ hadn't seen anything but-a boy.
was willing to do that then-because
l couldn't believe that 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 it was.
IL like you. Honest, l do. l liked
you so much when I was changing
that tire that I didn't even notice it
when you put the. money in my hand.
well, you're not the kind of girl
who would do anything really wrong.
1t might be 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 women?"
she asked finally, and Fairchild told
the truth.
"Nothing."
"rhen-" the laugh grew, heartier,
finally, however, to die away. The
girl put forth her hand. "But / won't
say what / was going to. It wouldn't
sound right. I hope that IL live up
to your estimation of me. At least
I'm thankful to you for being the man
you are. And won't forget!"
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 aftersthe
town still divided it's 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 Harkns
were below, they steadfastly refused
to come to the surface.
The water had fcllen to the level
OF the drift, two hundred feet down:
the pumps now were working on the
main flood which still lay below.
A day more and day after that.
The water was now only few feet
high in the shaft; 1t meant that the
whole great opening, together with the
drift tunnel. soon would be dewatered
to an extent sufficient to permit of
exploration. Again the motor cars
ground up the narrow roadway. Out.
side the tunnel the crowds gathered.
Fairchild saw Anita Richmond and
gritted his teeth at the fact that young
Rodaine accompanied her. Farther in
the background. narrow eyes watch.
ing closely. was Squint Rodaine. And
still farther
Fairchild gasped as he noticed the
| figure plodding dowL the mountain
side. lie .ut out hand. then, selling
the nervous Herbenfelder by the
shoulder. whirIed him around.
I.ook" he exclaimed. Look there {!