Phoenix tribune., 1923-10-13

Throw up your 'ands!' came the
answer Of the beaten man on the
ground. Anita ran forward.
ITS good deal like it," she
answered. "But the tone was higher"
"Raise your toner commanded
Harry, while Fairchild, finishing his
job Of tying his defeated opponent,
rose, staring In wonderment. Then
the answer came:
"That's it-that's it. 1t sounded
just like it,"
And Fairchild remembered too-the
English accent Of the highwayman on
the night of the Old Times dance
Harry seemed to bounce on the pros
trate form of his ancient enemy.
"Bill," he shouted, 'Pve got you on
your back. And I've got right to
kill you. 'Onest I ave. And I'll do
it too-unless you start talking. l
might as well kill you as not It's
penitentiary offense to 1T man un-
derground unless there's a good rea-
son. So I'm ready to go the ole route.
So tell it-tell it and be quick about
1t. Tell it-wasn't you him?"
"Him-whoT the voice was weak,
frightened.
you know 'Oo-the night of the
Old Times dancel Didn't you pull
that 'old-upT
There was long silence Finally:
"Where's Rodaine?
"In Center City" 1t was Anita who
spoke. He's getting ready to run
away and leave you two to stand the
brunt of all this trouble"
Again a silence. And again Harry's
voice:
"Tell 1t. Wasn't you the manT
Once more long wait Finally:
"What do get for it?"
Fairchild moved to the mans side
my promise and my partners
promise that If you tell the whole
truth, We'll do what we can to get you
leniency. So tell the truth; weren't
you the man who held up the Old
Times dancer
Taylor Bills breath travelled slow
| ly past his bruised lips.
"Rodaine gave me hundred dol
lars to pull It," came finally.
"And you stole the horse and every
thing"
"And cached the stuff by the Blue
Poppy, SOS I'd get the blame?" Harry
wiggled his mustache f1ercely "TeIl
1t or I'll pound your 'ead into
jelly"
"Thats about the size Of it."
But Fairchild was fishing in his
pockets for pencil and paper, finally
to bring them forth.
Not that we doubt your sincerity,
BILL" he said sarcastically, "but 1 think
things would be bit easier if you'd
just write 1t out. Let him up, Harry"
The big Cornishman obeyed grudg-
ingly. make hit fulsome, Bill-tell
Just 'ow you did itr
And Taylor Bill, bloody, eyes black,
lips bruised, obeyed. Fairchild took
the bescrawled paper and wrote his
name as a witness, then handed it to
Harry and Anita for their signatures.
AT last, he placed it In his pocket and
faced the dolorous high-jacker
"What else do you know, Bill?"
"About what2 Rodaine? Nothing
except that we were in cahoots on
this crOss-cut. There isn't any use
denying it'-there had come to the
surface the inherent honor that is
in every metal miner, a stalwartness
that may lie dormant, but that, sooner
or later, must rise. There is some
thing about taking wealth from the
earth that Is clean. There is some
thing about it which seems honest in
its very nature, something that builds
big men In stature and in ruggedness,
and it builds an honor which fights
against any attempt to thwart it.
Taylor Bill was finding that honor
now. He seemed to straighten His
teeth bit at his swollen, bruised lips.
He turned and faced the three per-
sons before him.
Take me down to the sherif1s
Office" he commanded. 'Tll tell every
thing. don't know so awful much
..dMnETtr1HTntTk,s