The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

sJ&f- 'g: j&*! !*&. '. M9L •AUNHAIf'. : _____ - fr isTNOPSIS --At Tilornton Till - child's death bia son Robert learns there has been a dark period In hw father's life which for a'.moat thirty years has caused him suffering. The secret Is hinted at U» a document left by the elder Fair child, which also Informs Robert he w now owner of a mining claim in Colorado, and advising hlitt to see Henry Betmish, ft lawyer. Beatnlsh teMfi Robert his claim, a silver ml*», is at Ohadl. thirty-eight mites from Denver. He also warns him against a certain man* "Squlnf Rodalne, his father s enemy. On the road to Ohadi from Denver Fairchild a twists a girl, apparently In a frenry of haste, to change a tire on her auto. When she has left, the sheriff and a posse appear, in pursuit of a bandit. Fail-child bewildered, misleads them as to th*» direction the girl had taken. At Ohadi Fairchild is warmly greeted by "Mother" Howard, boarding-hou«e keeper, for hi* fatV er's sake. FfiA) Mother Howard, Fatrchild learn* something of the mystery connected with the disappearance of "rflssif" l«arsen. his father's co-worker in the mine. He niuets the girl he had assisted, but she denies her Identity. She is Anita Richmond, Judge Richmond's daughter. Visiting his claim. Fairchild is shadowed by a man he recognises from descriptions as "Squint" Rodalne. Back in Ohadl, his father's old friend, Harry Harkins, a Comishman. summoned from England by Beamish to help Fairchlld. halls him with Joy. The pair find the mine floWed and have not sufficient funds to have it pumped dry. Later In the day 'Squint" Rodalne announces that he practically saw Harkins fall Into the flooded mine, and evidently Is drowned. Harkins being a general favorite, the enttre population turns out to clear the flooded mine. When the work Is practically done. Harry appears, apparently surprised at the turmoil. It had been a shrewd trick on his part to get the mine .pumped out without coat to himself or Fairchlld, and the men take it as a good Joke. Fairchlld learns that Judge Richmond Is dying, and that he and Anita are in the power of the Rodaines. They begin, as partners, to work the mine. In their hearts both fear Larsen was killed by Thornton Fairchlld and his body buried by a cave-in which destroyed the mine. At the "Oi(J 'Times Ball" Fairchild dances with Anita, to the discomfiture of Maurice Rodaine, son of "Squint." supposed to be engaged to the girl. A bandit holds up the dance and Sahoots a merrymaker. Maurice Rodaine claims he recognized the bandit as Harkins. The latter Is arrested. Fatrchild Interferes to save Anita from the bullying of tiie two Rodaines, and Is mystified at Anita's apparent Ingratitude. Fairchild puts up the claim as bond, and secures Harry's release from Jail. They are offered $50,000 for the claim, by unknown party, but agree to [disregard It- Clearing .the mine, "they come to where they fear to find Larsen's remains. A skeleton, In * miner's costume, which Harkins identifies as Larsen, Is there, and there seems little doubt that Thornton Fairchlld was a murderer. Fairchild informs the coroner of the discovery of the skeleton. At the inquest "Crasy Laura," castoff wife of "Squint" Rodalne, and an acknowledged imbecile, gives damaging testimony against Thornton Fairchild. m: » , s' CHAPTER XII--Continued. think otherwise. The jury Is entitled to all tbe evidence that baa any bearing on the case." "But this woman is crazy I" "Has she ever been adjudged so, or oammitted to any asylum for the In- '«neT "No-i-but nevertheless, there are a • Ifcndred persons in thta courtroom *feo will testify to the fact that she is Mentally unbalanced and not a fit perttn to fasten a crime upon any man's head by her testimony. And referring even to yourself, Coroner, have you within the last twenty-five years, in lict, since a short time after the bath «t her son, called her anything else but Crazy Laura ? Has anyone else in .this Hfwn called her any other name? m«b, X appeal to youf--" " "What you say may be true. It may •*. I don't know. I only am sui^e of one thing--that a person Is sane In the eyes of tlie law until adjudged . fltherwise. Therefore, her evidence at this time is perfectly legal and prop- & ' T ' M f " "It won't be as soon as I can bring 10 action before a lunacy court and •use her examination by a .boards of " -*Jienists.M "That's something for the future. In that case things might be different. »ut I can only follow the law, with s, j (the members of the jury Instructed, of •V-course, to accept the evidence for * they deem it is worth. You will proceed, Mrs. Rodalne. What did you «e that caused you tacome to this conclusion?" £ "Can't you even stick to the rules f'- ®d ethics of testimony?" It was the l^jvibial plea of the defeated Farrell. The .j coroner eyed him slowly. "Mr. Farrell," came Ms answer,-"I :y-;-tpo»t confess to a deviation from reg •>/>flar court procedure In this inquiry. It is customary in an inquest of this «iaracter; certain departures from the asual rules must be made that the truth and the whole truth be learned, proceed, Mrs. Rodalne, what was it SH W?" c ) Transfixed, horrified. Fairchlld .Watched the mumbling, munching " ^outh. the staring eyes and straying *'hlte hair, the bony, crooked hands jrQ as they weaved before her. From those toothless Jaws a story was about to come, true or untrue, a story that Ivould stain the name of his father . with murder. And that story now was •-/at its beginning. . "1 saw them together that afternoon >5 yearly,' the old woman was jfoytng "I • *ame up the road Just behind them, C .and they were fussing. -both of 'em , acted like they were mad at each other, but Fairchild seemed to be the maddest. {;-v "I didn't pay much attention to them because I Just thought they were r fighting about some little thing and J that it wouldn't amount to much. 1 -went on up the gulch--I was gathering / |fl*wer*. After awhile the earth shook h-'. and I heard a bi« expleeloa* ftoro away down underneath me--like thunder when it's far away. Then, pretty soon, I saw Fairchild come rushing out of the mine, and Ills hands were all bloody. He ran to the creek and washed them, looking around to see if anybody' was watching him--but he didn't notice me. Then, when he'd washed the blood from his hands, he got up on the rfoad and went down Into town. letter on, I thought I saw all three of 'em leave town, Fairclflld. Sissle and a fellow named Hnrkins. So I never pnTd any more attention to It until today. That's all I know." She stepped down then and went back to iter seat-with Squint Rodalne and the son, fidgeting there again, craning her neck as before, while Fairchild, son of a mah Just accused of murder, watched her with eyes fascinated from horror. The coroner looked at a slip of paper In his hand. "WUiiam Barton." he called. A miner fame forward, to go through the usual formalities, and then he asked the question: • "Did you see Thornton Fairchild, on the night he left Ohadi?" "Yes. a lot of us saw hlin. He drove out of town with Harry Harkins, and a fellow who we all thought was Sissle Larsen." "That's all. Gentlemen of the Jury." he^ turned his back on the crowded room and faced the small, worried appearing group on the row of kitchen chairs, "you have heard the evidence. You will find a room at the right in which to conduct your deliberations." Shuffling forms faded through the door at the right. Then followed long moments of waiting, In which Robert FairohihTs eyes went to the floor, in which he strove to avoid the gaze of every one In the crowded courtroom. He knew what th^ were thinking, that his father had been a murderer, and that he-^-well, that he was blood of his father's blood. He could hear the buzzing of tongues, the shifting of the courtroom on the unstable chairs, and be knew fingers were pointing at him. For once in his life he had not the strength to face his fellow men. A quarter of an hour--a knock on the door--then yie six men clattered forth again, to hand a piece of paper to the coronef. Antf he, adjusting his glasses, turned to the courtroom and read: "We, the Jury, find that the deceased came to his death from injuries sustained at the hands of Thornton Fairchild, in or about the month of June. 1882.'* That was all, but- It was enough. The stain had been i tared; the thing which the white-haired man who had sat by a window back In Indianapolis had feared all his life had come after death. It seemed hours before the courtroom cleared. Then, the attorney at one side. Harry at the other, he started out of the courtroom. The crowd still was on the street, milling, circling, dividing itself^into little groups to discuss the verdict. Through them shot scrambling forms of newsboys. Dazedljv simply for the sake of something to take his inlnd from the throngs and the gossip about him, Fairchild bought a paper and stepped to the light to glance over the first page. There, emblazoned under the "Extra" heading, was the story of the finding of the skeleton in the Bine Poppy mine, while beside It was I* % Curtsey Rjlejr Cooper f Caprrifki by Unit, Sf*vs It Oa. "We, the Jury, Find That the Deceased Came to His Oaath From Injuries Sustained at the Hands of Thornton Fairchild." something which caused Robert Fairchild to almost forget, for the moment, the horrors of the ordeal which he was undergoing. It was a paragraph leading the "personal ' eoluum of th# small, amateurish sheet, announcing the engagement of Miss Anita Natalie Richmond to Mr. Maurice Rodaine, the weddlafc to come "profifcbly In the late fall!" */.. N ' gathered in the parlor for their consultation : "Ain't it what I said right In the beginning?" Mother Howard asked. "She'll klirfoi® hat man, if necessary, ft wasn't ' as hard as you think--all Squint Rodaine had to do was to act nice *o her and promise her a few things that he'll squirm out of later on, und she went on the ttoitf and lied her head off." "But for a cra*y woman--" "Lay-a's crazy--and she ain't,crazy. I've se»n that woman ..s sensible and as shrewd as any sane woman who e\%er drew breath. Then again. I've seen her when I vouldn't get within fifty miles of her. Goodness only knows what would happen to a person who fell into her clutches when she's gr»t one of those immortality streaks on.".. "One of those what?" Harry looked up In surprise. 'Immortality. That's-' wh^* you'll find her sneaking nroOnd graveyards at night, gathering herbs and taking them to that old house on the Georgevifle road, where she lives, and brewing them into soin> -ort of concoction that she sprinkles on the graves. She believes that it's a sure system of bringing Immortality to a person. Poison--that's about what It is." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Poison's what she Is!" he exclaimed. "Ain't it enough that I'm accused of every 'rime In the calendar without 'er getting me mixed up in a murder? And--" this time he looked at Fairchild with dolorous eyes-- 'ow 're we going to furnish bond this time, if the gpaiul jury indicts me?" "I'm afraid there won't be any." Mother llowprd set her lips for a minute, then straightened proudly. "Well, I guess there will! It's bon<|- able--and I guess I've got a few' things that are worth something--and a few friends that I can go to. I don't see why I should be left ont of everything, just because I'm a Woman!" s **Lor' love you!" Harry grinned, his eyes showing plainly that the world was again good for him and that his troubles, as far as a few slight charges of penitentiary offenses were concerned, amounted to very little in his estimation. Harry liail a habit of living Just for the day. And the support of Mother Howard had wiped out all future difficulties for him. The fact that convictions'might await him and that the heavy doors at Canon City might yawn for him made little difference right now. Behind the great bulwark of his mustache, his big lips spread In a happy announcement of Joy, and the world vas good. Silently, Robert Fairchlld rose and left the parlor for'-Is own room. Some way he could not force himself to ohed his difficulties in the same light, airy way as Harry. Looking back he could see now that his dreams had led only to catastrophes. From the very beginning, there had been only trouble, only fighting, fighting, fighting against insurmountable odds, which seemed to throw him ever deeper into the mire of defeat, wjth every onslaught. Tb® Rodaines had played with stacked cards, and so far every hand had been theirs. Fairchild suddenly realized that he was all but whipped, that the psychological advantage was all on the side of Squint Rodaine, his son, and tfite crazy woman who did their bidding. More, another hope had gone glimmering; even had the announcement not come forth that Anita Richmond had given her promise to marry Maurice Rodaine. the action of a coroner's Jury that night had removed her from hope forever. A son of a man who has been ca^ed a slayer has little right to love a woman, even If that woman has a bit of mystery about her. AH things can be explained-- but murder! It was growing late, but Fairchild did not seek bed. Instead he sat by the window, staring out at tbe shadows of the mountains, out at the free, pure night, and yet at nothing. After a long time, the door opened, and a big form entered--Harry--to stand silent a moment, then to come forward and fay a hand on the othe^, man's shoulder. •• J ' • "Don't let it get you. Boy," he said softly--for him. "It's going to come out all right. Everything comes out all right--if you ain't wrong yourself." "I know, Harry. Qjttt Iff an awful tangle right now." "Sure It is. But It ain't as if a aane person 'ad said it against you. There'll never he anything more to that; Farrell'l »ave 'er adjudged Insane if it ever comes to anything like that. She'll never give no more testimony. Tve been talking with 'Ira--'e stopped In Just after you <^aine upstairs. It's only a crazy woman." "But they took her word for It, Harry. They believed her. And'they gave the verdict--against my father!" "I know, f was there, right beside yon. I 'eard it. But it'll come out light, some wafy.H There was a moment of silence, then a gripping Jear at the heart of Fairchild. "Just how crazy Is she, Harry?" J " 'Er? Plumb daft! Of course, as Mother 'Oward says, there's times when-she's straight--but they don't last long. And, If she'd gTven >r testimony in writing, Mother 'Oward says it all. might 'ave been different, and we'd not *hVte 'ad canythln# to worry about." „• "In writing?** * * "Yes, she's urfway srffie then. It seems 'er minds disconnected, some wX'e. I don't know 'ow--Mother 'Otvard's got the 'ole lingo, and everybody in town knows about it. Whenever anybody wants to get anything real straight from Crazy Laura, they myK 'er write It. That pert of 'er brain seems all right. She remembers everything she does then and 'ow crazy It is, and tells you all about it. Notice 'ow flustered up she got when the coroner asked 'er abotit' tfint book?" .„ • "I wonder what it woiild really tell?" '•/. Harry cfMctteaf 4t ' "Nobody knows. Nobody's ever seen it. Not even Squint Rodalne. I guess it's a part of 'er right brain that tells 'er to keep it a secret! I'm going to bed now. So 're you. And you're gqlng to sleep. Good 6ight.", He went out of the room then, and Fairchild, obedient to the big Cornishman's command, nought rest. But it was a hard struggle. Morning came, and he joined Harry "at breakfast, facing the curious glances of the other boarders, staving off their inquiries and their illy couched consolations. For, in spite of the fact that it was not voiced in so many words, the conviction was present that Crazy Laura had told at least a semblance of the truth, and that the dovetailing incidents of the past fitted into a wellconnected story for which there must be some foundation. There were those who were plainly curious; there were others who professed not to believe the testimony and who talked l«»udly of action against the coroner for having introduced the evidence of a woman known by every one to be lacking in balanced mentality. There were others who, by their remarks, showed that they vere concealing the real truth of their thoughts and only using a cloak of Interest-rto guide them to other rood for the carrion proclivities of their minds. , An hour later H rry, wandering by the younger man's side, strove for words and at last uttered them. "I know it's disagreeable," came finally. "But tt's necessary. You 'aven't quit?" , "Quit what?" : "The mine. Tou'r* going to. keep on. ain't you?" Fairchlld gritted his teeth and was silent. The answer needed strength. Finally it came. / > ^ "Harry, are you with m#!** '. .• • ^ "I ain't stopped yet!" *' "Then that's the answer. As long as there's a bit of fight left In us, we'll keep at that mine." Harry hitched at Ids trousers. "They've got that blooming skeleton out by this time. I'm willing to start --any time you say." ... The breath went over' Falrchlld's teeth in a long, slow intake. He clenched his hands and held them trembling befofe dm for a lengthy moment. Then he turned to Ills partner. "Give me an hour," he begged. "I'll go then--but It takee a little grit to--" "Who's Fairchlld here?" A messenger boy was making his way along the curb with a telegram. Robert stretched forth a hand in surprise. "I am. Why?" The answer came as the bov shoved forth the yellow envelope, rklrchild, wondering, read: "Please: come to Denver at once. Have moat Important information for ydu. * r \ "R. V. BARNHAM. I A R. Building." i* •£ i - •t\-e,fce^e&eV7a'ft-e's'J •-,ve'iie£es&ai},ei!re'ftefce'fce'ftaweue'&e'& CHAPTER Xlllrs ORIGINAL CAPITAL OF JAPAN Nara, Rich in Artistic Treasures, Was Qnce Classic Center ef CIMftte Worship* Kara, ancient Japufiese city, la a classic center of Shinto worship, and was the first capital of Japan. Much of the building and beautifying begun In A. D. T09, the "Golden Age of Japan." still Is intact. During the early days of Kara prosr- t-T-- •-- i pertly, the Todaiji, one of the seven ' IWrefciM did not -show the iWfrt' fo ; great temples, was the head of Bud- Harry. There was little that It could dhisin ih Japan, and tne bhlldings covaccomplish, and besides, lie felt that ! cred some 20 acres. • his comrnde had enough to think i Of aH ijs glories there today rest bout. The unexpected turn of the : main but few, chief among them becoroner's inquest had added to the ' 'ng the Great South Gate, Kandai heavy weight of Harry's troubles; it I M«»n; the great Hall of Buddha, and meant the probability in the future of j the ancient and most interesting old a grand Jury Investigation and the ' shrine called Kaldan-ln. The Great possible indictment as accessory after ! South Gate was built In 752 A. D, and the fact In the murder of "Slssie" remodeled In 119W. On either side are Larsen. Not that Fairchild had been I two gigantic figures of Nlo, or the Influenced in the dlghtest by the tes- | Deva kln^s, carved by Tankel and hi& timony of Crazy Laura; the presence } P"!,ll Vnhei, With the two stone of Squint Rodaine and his son had ,lons c,wti* by< excellent specimens of shown too plainly that they were con- Twelfth century Chinese sculpture, 'Na- The Kaldan-ln is remarkable for Its unusual construction and arrangement inside--a series of platforms rising one above the other to support the Images of the Deva kings, Indra and Brahma, which are said to be among the best examples of the art of Nara era, also are counted among the "Na' tlonal Treasures." A moment of staring;^ then Fntrchltf passed the telegram over to Harry for his opinion. There was none. Together they %vent across the street and to the office of Farrell, their attorney. He studied the telegram long. Then: "I co«'t see what on earth it means, unless there is some information about this skeleton or tbe inqaeot. Bt I were you, I'd go." "Bui supposing it's eome sort of trap?" ^ "No matter what it Is, go and let the other fellow do all the talking. Listen to what he has to say and tell him nothing. Fd : o down on the noon train--that'll get you there about tw«, You can be back by 10:30 tomorrow."* "No 'e can't," It was Harry's interruption as he grasped a pencil and paper. "I've got a list of things a mile long for 'im to ^et. We're going after this mine 'ammer and tongs now!" When noon came, Robert Fairchild, with his mysterlaus telegram, boarded <the fain, for Denver, while in hit pocket wtw a list demanding the out* Onettveeent contains a treaf jor tee whole family. ofWHtfieys Wrigley*s is to Lasls long--costs tttfle--does much. v^' - Wrigdey1® Is to yon rifw. and foil of - -r'? Love may not be a disease, ml it Is frequently of a rash nature Baby Ask Ybur Local Dealer nected in some way with it, that. In fact, they were responsible. An opportunity had art-en for them, and they had seized upon It. More, there came the shrewd opinion of old Mother Howard, once Fairchlld and Harry had readied the boarding house they are listed and protected as tlonal Treasures." The Nsra-no-Dalbutsu, the vast bronze Unddhn cust In 749 A. D., is the l&rgesx of the kind in Japan, if not in th* world, betftg 82% feet to height. Impressing .the Customers.' After a '-spectacular chase wbfeh lasted several minutes, the proprietor of the Palace cafe, "tables for ladies," overtook a fly and dealt it a lethal blow with a swatter. "Good work!" exclaimed a patron. "Anybody seeing you do that would say that you run a sanitary place." "Just confidentially," replied the proprietor, "that's why 1 did it. I let that fly in on purpose."--Birmingham Age-Herald. •* "Little Corporal." «SU«ie Corporal" WMS the tltfs' «amlliurly bestowed cfxn Napoleon Bonaparte by his admiring soldiers after the Battle of Lodl (1796), in allusion to his small stature, youthful appear^ Mice end surpassing bravery. "Wh©»* *a4rchlld Here?-- lay of nearly a thousand dollars: supplies of fuses, of dynamite, of drills, of a forge, of single and double Jack sledges, of fulminate caps--a little everything that would be needed la the months to come, if he and 'Arry were to work the mine. It was only a beginning, a small quantity of each articie needed, part of which could be picked up in the junk yards at a reasonable figure, other things that would eat* quickly int» the estimate placed upon the total. And with a capital already dwindling, it meant an expenditure ^whlch hurt, but which was necessary, nevertheless. Slow, puffing and wheezing, the train lnade its way along Clear Creek canon, crawled across the newly built trestle which had been erected to take the place of that which had gone out with the spring flood of the milky creek, then jangled into Denver. Fairchild hurried uptown, found the old building to which he had been directed by the telegram, and made the upward trip In the ancient elevator, at last to knock upon a door. A half*" whining voice answered him, and be went within. A greasy man was there, greasy In his fat, uninviting features, in his seemingly well-oiled hands, as they circled in constant kneading, in his long, straggling hair, in his old, spotted Prince , Albert--and In nuttir ners. . . "Mr. Barnham?" "That's' what I'm called." He wheezed with the self-Implied humor of his remark and motioned toward a chair. "May I ask what you've come to see me about?" "I haven't the slightest idea. You sent for me." Fairchild produced the telegram, and the greasy person who had taken a position on the other side of a worn, walnut table became Immediately obsequious. *Of course! Of course!" Mr. Fairchild! Why didn't you say so when you came in? Of course--I've been looking for you all day. May I offer you a cigar?" He dragged a box of domestic perfects from a drawer of the table and struck a match to light one for Fairchild. Then with a bustling air of urgent business he hurried to both doors and locked them. "So that we may not be disturbed," he confided in that high, whining voice. "1 am hoping that this is very Important." "1 also," Fairchlld puffed dubiously upon the more dubious cigar. The greasy individual* returned to his table, dragged the chair nearer It, theft, seating himself, leaned toward Fairchild. 4 . "If I'm not mistaken, you're the owner of the Blue Poppy mine." "I'm supposed to be." "Of course--of course. Coiild' y<M possibly do me the favor of telling vim' how you're getting along?" Falrchlld's eyes narrowed. "I thought you had Information^* for me!" "Very good." Mr. Barnham raised a fat hand and wheezed in an effort at intense enjoyment of the reply. "So I have. I merely asked thaf to be asking. Now. to be serious, havent yo« some enemies, Mr. Fairchlld?" •Have ir - "I was merely asking* "And I judged from your question that you seemed to know* "So I do. And one friend." Barnham pursed his heavy lips and nodded in an . authoritative manner. "One very, very good friend. Flatter a woman and she wltl love yon; pity her and she will hate you. j "That's a Ha--thafa a lie and you know It." (TO BU CONTINUED.* Aspirin Say "Bayer" and Insist! Unless you see the name "Bayer" on package or on tablets you are not-getting tbe genuine Bayer product prescribed by physicians over twenty-two years and proved safe by millions for Cold* Headache Tbothache^p^Lmnbago Earache S:^^Bheumatlsm;^ . ^ Neuralgia' J Pain, Pain Accept "Bayer Tablets of Aspirin" only. Each unbroken package contains proper directions. Handy boxes of twelve tablets cost few cents. Druggists also sell bottles of 24 and 100. Aspirin is the trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of Monoacetlcacidester of Salicylicacld.--Advertisement. A.U happiness Is In the ratnd. i. * < -- w> StM the Palm. The hurt of a burn or a cut stops when Cole's Carbollsalve la applied. It heals quickly without scars. SOc and Ac by all drugglats or send SOc to The J. W. Cole Co., Rock ford. 111.--Advertisement. Beware of Httle expenses;. Write N ow For 32-Page Illustrated Booklet TheUoyrf QUALITY r>* I H t i r POLI4H AMI P I C A * FASTHT S F I L I N G P O L I S H 'j-.*1 MUBnUM AMD A«W» Aort-frod r«4 Tl--w. 8«lUi big tor fom. _AII j* wrrlte a t onoa me 8. MlehlsM At*., AUSNTH--1922 fastest seller; 400% profta CalVy ttt pocktt. •stcluaiva territory. HAND] CO.. M» N. U A. St.. Los Angeles. Cali^ . work ob all machine^ FvMndfhip Is rove boiled down id da sored with sweet thoughts, kiaqp worts and friendly deeds. 3- -l¥. Are Not Werth the Ftiee ot,a*e If they are the "big can and ( cheap" kind because they may mean baking failures; , Don't let a BIGCAN or a very low price mislead you. , 4? f.e ': "i# Experimenting with ail uncertain brand is expensive -- because it Wastes time a^4;tV money. " v The sales of Calumet are over 150$ greater than that of any oth# baking powder. ^|I *ti ate '"ilk ?1:' THE IfflMW GREATEST BAtONG POWDER I