The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-12-08
CHAPTER TX

Fairchild went back into the tunnel,
spun the flywheels 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 a carbine lantern,
Dolefully he looked at the vacant fin
ger where once a diamond had spar
kled. Then he chuckled.
"Sam took it back" he announced.
Sand 1 took part of the money and
paid 1t out for rent or these pumps.
We can keep ZEN as long as we want
EN-. It's only costing about a fourth
Of what it might Of. Drowning's
worth something" he laughed again.
Fairchild Joined him, then sobered.
1T 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 1t vas
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 che 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 I 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, voic-
ing that which was uppermost IN his
mind.
"When you were here before, Harry,
did you know a Judge Richmond?"
"Yeh." Harry paved his mustache
and made a greasy, black mark ON his
face. "But I don't think I want to
know i'm now"
"Why not?"
"'E's mixed up with the Rodaires."
"How much?"
"They own 'im-that's ALL"
There was silence for a moment. 1t
had been something which Fairchild
had not expected. If the Rodaines
owned Judge Richmond, how far did
that ownership extend? After a long
time, he forced himself to q statement.
81 know his daughter. She sold me
a 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 a good friend. But
that was before things 'appened-like
they've ~'appened in the last ten years.
Not that I know about 1t of my own
knowledge. But Mother 'O~ward-she
knows q lot"
"But what's caused the change?
| WHAT
Harry's intent gaze stopped him.
SOW many times ave you seen
Judge RichmondT
81 haven't ever seer him."
"You won't-if Mother Onward
knows anything. e amt able to get
out. Els sick-apoplexy-a stroke.
Rodaine's taken advantage Of It."
"HowT"
"Ow does anybody take advantage
Of somebody that's sick? 'Ow does
anybody get a old on a person?
Through money! Judge Richmond
'ad a lot of 1t. Then e got sick. Ro-
dame. e got old Of that money. Now
Judge Richmond as to ask I'm for
every penny he gets-and e does what
Rodaine says"
"But a Judge