Phoenix tribune., 1923-08-25

ever, Fairchild whirled with thought
Harry wonder couldn't 1t have
been possible for my father to have
escaped from this mine in the same
way?"
"'E must ave"
"And that there might not have
been any killing connected with Lar
sen at all? Why couldn't Larsen have
been knocked out by a flying stone
just like you were? And why"
"'E might of, Boy" But Harry's
voice was negative. "The only thing
about it was the fact that your father
'ad bullet ole in is cad" Harry
leaned forward and pointed to his own
scar. 1T 1t right about ere, and
glanced"
But the gun? We didn't find any"
b 'ad it with i'm. 1t was Sisse
Larsen's. No, Boy, there must ave
been a fight-but don't think that I
mean your father murdered anybody.
If Sissie Larsen attacked i'm with a
gun, then e 'ad right to kill. But
as I've told you before-there wouldn't
ave been chance for IN to prove is
story with Squint working against
i'm" He ceased and perked his head
toward the bottom of the shaft, listen
ing intently. Didn't you ear some
thing|
Il thought so. Like a woman's
voice."
"Listen-there 1t is again"
"AIr Fairchildr'
They ran to the foot of the shaft,
and Fairchild cupped his hands and
called:
"WhO wants meT''
Its me-" The voice was palmer
nova voice that Fairchild recog-
nized Immediately
"Pm-I'm under arrest or some
thing up here" was added with a
laugh. "The guard won't let me come
down."
Wait, and I'll raise the bucket for
you. All right, guardp' Then, blink
Ing with surprise, he turned to the
staring Harry. Its Anita Richmond"
he whispered.
The bucket was at the top now. A
signal from above, and Fairchild low
cred it, to extend a hand and to aid
the girl to the ground, looking at her
with wondering, eager eyes. In the
light of the carbide torch, she was the
same boyish-appearing little person he
had met on the Denver road except
that snow had taken the place of dust
now upon the whipcord riding habit.
and the brown hair which caressed
the corners of her eyes was moist
with the breath Of the blizzard. Some
way Fairchild found his voice, lost for
a moment
"Are-are you in trouble"
mo" She smiled at him.
But out on a night like this-in a
blizzard. How did you get up here?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
81 walked Oh" she added, with Q
'mile. cit didn't hurt me any. The
wind was pretty stiff-but then Tin
fairly strong. 1 rather enjoyed it,"
"But what's happened-what's gone
wrong? Can help you with anything
Or"
Then it was that Harry, with a roll
Of his blue eyes and a funny waggle
Of his big shoulders, moved down the
drift toward the stope, leaving them
alone together. Anita Richmond
watched after him with a smile. wait
ing until he was out of hearing dis
tance Then she turned seriously.
Mother Howard told me where you
were," came quietly. at was the
only chance 1 had to see you. IL
maybe 1 was a little lonely or-or
something. But, anyway, l wanted to
see you and thank you and"
THANK me? For what?"
For everything. For that day on
the Denver road, and for the night
after the Old Times dance when you
came to help me- II haven't had an
easy time. Most of the people know
are afraid and-some of them aren't
to be trusted. -you-well, l knew
the Rodaines were your enemies-and
I've rather liked you for it."
''Thank you. But" and Fairchild's
voice became a bit frigid-"I haven't
been able to understand everything.
You are engaged to Maurice Rodaine.' =
Il was, you mean"
"Then-'
"My engagement ended with my ia
thers DEATH" came slowly-and there
was a catch in her voice. "He wanted
it-it was the one thing that held the
Rodaines off him. And he was dying
slowly.-it was all / could do to help
him, and l promised. But-when he
went-I felt that my-my duty was
over. don't consider myself bound
to him any longer"
you've told Rodaipe SOP
'Not yet He's coming after me at
midnight. We're to go away some
where"
''Rodaine? ImpossibleI"
They've made all their plans Il
wondered if you-if you'd be some
where around the house-if you'd"
I'm be there. l understand" Fair
child had reached out and touched