The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-01-04
THE CROSS-CUT
by Courtney RyIey Cooper

they don't even take the trouble 10
mine. That Il. unless they run Ugh ia
silver be picked up chunk Of the
ore from the muck pile where II had
been deposited and studied Il intentiy
but l don't see any pure silver
sticking out IN this stun"
~But II must be here somewhere. ]
don't know anything about mining
but don't veins sometimes pinch on
and then show up later ont"
"sure they do-sometimes. But ms
a gamble
That's all we've had from the be
ginning. Harry"
~And it's about all we're going 20
ave any time unless something Doba
up sudden like"
Then, by common consent. they laid
sway their working clothes and left
the mine. 10 wander down the guich
and To the boarding house. After din
nsr they chntted moment with Moth
or Howard, then went upstairs. each
10 his room. An hour later Harry
Knocked at Falrchlld's door. and en-
tered. the evening paper IN his hand.
'Ere's something more that's nice"
he announced. pointing to an Item on
the front page II was the announce
mrnt that general grand Jury was
10 be convened late In the summer and
that one Of its tasks would be to seek
10 unravel the mystery of the murder
OF sissie Larsen
Falrchild read IL with morbldity.
Trouble seemed 10 have become more
than occasional. and further than that.
II appeared TO descend upon him at
Just the times when he could least re
sist H. He made no comment; there
was little that he could say. Again
he read the Item and again. finally 20
turn the page and breathe sharply.
Before him was a slx-column adver'
tisement. announcing the strike In the
Silver Queen mine ard also spreading
the word that two-mlllion-doliar
company would be formed. one mill
lion IN stock 20 represent the mine H.
self. the other 10 be subscribed TO ex-
plot this new md as II should be ex-
plotted. Glowing words told OF the
OF the Silver Queen. OF
ticcs had been opened everything had
been planned In advance and the adj
yertiaement written before the town
was aware OF the big discovery up !
Kentucky gulch. All OF II fairchild !
read with a feeling he could not down
"a feeling that Fate. somehow. was
dealing the cards from the bottom.
aud that trickery and treaehery and |
a yenom0us nature we're the necessary |
ingredients. after all. 10 success. lie
the last line. looked ut the list |
u officers. and gasped.
For there. following one another.
we're three names. two Of which Fair
child had expected. but the other
They we're. president and general
H. n (Squlnt) Rodalne
secretary treasurer Maurice Rodalne
and first vice president Miss Anita
Natalie Richmond
AFTER that, Fsirehild heard little
hat Harry said a. he rambled on
bout plans for the future. lie sat and
'tared. until finally his partner said
food. night and left the room.
That name could mean only one
hing; that she had consented to be-
oms partner with them. that they
lad won her over. after all. Now,
ven a different light came upon the
Meeting with Barnham In Denver and
different view 60 Fairehfld What
Z she had been playing their game all
iongf What II she had been merely
tod for them; what II she had sent
'arreii at their direction. 10 learn
he and Harry knewr Had
~ another lawyer played the friend.
hip racket. In an effort to buy the
'ius foppy minsf
And here Fslrehlid smiled xrimiy.
rom the present prospects. II would
esm that tho gain would have been
n On his side. for certainly there was