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Show progOJT SRp IIXUSTRtfTIONS slhle. I "No-Mmt I realize that I don't cure ' If you'll forgive It. I bellove that Pin n gcntlcninn." "So do I or I wouldn't huvo ilnnccd wltli you." "Then please" "Pnrdon me.'; 8he hnd Inld u hand on IiIh nnn for Juit u moment, then hurried uwiiy. Fnlrchlld saw that she was nppronchlng young Rodnlne, scowling In the background. That person per-son shot nn nngry remark nt her as she upproached nnd followed, It with streaming sentences. Fnlrchlld knew the reason. Jealousy I Couples, returning re-turning from the dance floor, Jostled ngalnst hltn, but ho did not move. lie was waiting waiting for the outcome of the quarrel and In a moment it came. Anita Richmond turned swiftly, her dark eyes ablaze, her pretty lips set and firm. Sim looked anxiously about her, sighted Fatrchlld, and then started toward htm. while he advanced to meet her. "Yes," was her brief announcement "I'll dance the next one with you." "And tho next aflcr that?" Again: "Selfish !" Rut Falrchlld did not appear to hear. A third dance and a fourth, while In the Intervals Falrchlld's eyes sought out thq sulky, suyen form of Maurice Rodnlne, flattened against the wall, eyes evil, mouth a straight line, and the blackness of hate discoloring his face. It .was as so much wine to Fair-child; Fair-child; he felt himself really young for the'flrst time in his life. And as the music started again, he once more turned to his companion. Only, however, to halt and whirl and stare In surprise. There had come n shout from the doorway, booming, commanding: "'Ands up, everybody I And quick about Itl" Some one laughed and Jabbed his hands Into the ntr. Another, quickly sensing a staged surprise, followed the example. It was just the finishing touch necessary ths old-time hold-up of the old-time dance. Tho "bandit" strode forward. "Out from be'lnd that bar I Drop that gun 1" he commanded of the white-aproned white-aproned attendant. "Out from that roulette wheel. Everybody line upi Quick and there ain't ne time for fool In'." Chattering and laughing, they obeyed, the sheriff, his star gleaming, standing out In front ot them all, shivering shiv-ering in mock fright, bis hands higher than any one's. The bandit, both revolvers re-volvers leveled, stepped forward a foot or so, and again ordered speed. A bandanna handkerchief was wrapped about his head, concealing his hair and ears. A mask was over his eyes, supplemented sup-plemented by another handnnnn, which, beginning nt the bridge of his nose, flowed over his chin, cutting off all possible chance of recognition. Only a second more he waited, then, with a wave ot the guns, shouted his command : "All right, everybody! I'm a decent fellow. Don't wnnt much, but I want It quick I This 'ere's for the relief of widders and orphans. Make It sudden. Each one of you gents step out to the center of tho room and leave five dollars. dol-lars. And step back when you've put It there. Ladles stny where you're ntl" Again a laugh. Fatrchlld turned to his companion, as she nudged him. "There, It's your turn." Out to the center of the floor went Fnlrchlld, the rest of the victims laughing and chiding him. Rack he came In mock four, his hands In the air. On down tho line went the contributing con-tributing men. Then the bandit rushed forward, gathered up the hills and gold pieces, shoved them In his pockets, nnd whirled towurd the door. "The purpose of this 'ere will be In the paper tomorrow," he announced. "And don't you follow me to find nut) Buck, there I" Two or three laughing men had started, forward, among thein'n fiddler, who had joined the line, and who now rushed out In flaunting bravery, brandishing brand-ishing his violin ns though to brain the Intruder. Again the commnnd: "Rack, there get back!" Then the crowd recoiled. Flashes hnd come from the masked man's guns, the popping of electric light globes above nnd the showering of glass testifying tes-tifying to thi) fact that they had contained con-tained something more than mere wadding. wad-ding. Somewhnt dazed, the fiddler con-tinned con-tinned his rush, suddenly to crumple end fall, whtlo men milled and women icrcnmed. A door slammed, the lock clicked, unci the crowd rushed for tho windows. The holdup had been real ufter all Instead of n plunned, Joking uffulr. On the floor tho fiddler lay gasping and bleeding. And the bandit ban-dit was uouo. All In n moment the dance hall seemed to linvo gone mad. Men were rushing about nnd Mioutlng; panic-stricken panic-stricken women clawed nt one another und fought their wny towurd a free dom they could not gnln. Windows crushed as forms hurtled ugnln&t them ; screams sounded. Hurriedly, as the crowd mussed thicker, Fulrchlld raised tho small form of Anita In his arms and carried her to a chair, far at ond side. "It's all right now," ho said, calming her. "Everything's over look, they're helping the fiddler to his feet. Maybe he's not badly hurt. Everything's all right" And then he straightened. A man had unlocked tho door from tho outside out-side and hnd rushed Into tho dance hall, excited, shouting. It was Maurlcs ltodolne. "I know who It was," he almost screamed. "I got a good look at him Jumped out of the window and almost headed him off. Ho took off his mask outside and I saw him." "You saw lilm ?" A hundred voices shouted the question nt once. "Yes." Then &Inurlco Rodalno nodded straight toward Robert Falrchlld. '"Ths light was good, nnd I got 'a straight "He Wss That Fellow's Partner." look at him. He was that fellow's partner a Cornlshmnn they call Hurry I" "I don't believe It I" Anita Richmond exclaimed with conviction and clutched at Falrchlld's arm. "I don't believe Itl" "I can't I" Robert unswered. Then he turned to the accuser. "How could It be possible for Hurry to be down' here robbing a dunce hall when he's out working the mine?" "Working the mine?" This time It was tho sheriff. "What's the necessity for a duy and night shift?" "We agreed upon It yesterday afternoon." after-noon." "At whose suggestion?" "I'm not sure but I think It was mine." "Young fellow," the sheriff had approached ap-proached him now, "you'd hotter fie certain about Hint. It looks to me that might bo a pretty good excuse to give when a man can't produce' an ullbl. An) wny, the Identification seems pretty complete. Then he turned to the crowd. "I want a couple of good men to go'hlong with tie as deputies." "I have o right to go." Fatrchlld had stepped forward. "Certainly. But not as a deputy. Who wants to volunteer?" Half u dozen men came forward, and from them tho sheriff chose two. Falrchlld turned to Buy good-by to Anita. In vain. Already Maurice Rodnlne Ro-dnlne hnd escorted her, apparently against her will, to a far end of the dance hall, and there was quarreling with her. Falrchlld hurried to Join the sheriff and his- two deputies, Just starting out of tho dance halt. Five minutes later they were In a motor car, chugging up Kentucky gulch. Slowly, the motor car lighting ugalust the grade, the trip was accomplished. ac-complished. Then tho four men leaped from the machine at the last rise before be-fore the tunnel wus reached 'and three of them went forward afoot toward where a slight gleura of light camo from the mouth of the Blue Poppy. The sheriff took the lead, at last to stop behind a boulder and to shout a command: "Hey you, In there." By yourself!" It was Harry's voice. "Come out und bo quick about It Hold your light In front of your face with both hands." The 'ell I will I And 'oo's talking?" "Sheriff Adams ot Clear Creek county. coun-ty. You've got ono minute to come out or I'll shoot." "I'm coming on the run I" And almost Instantly tho form of Hurry, his ncetvleno lump lighting up I his bulbous, sin prised countenance with Its spraylike mustache, appeared nt the mouth of the tunnel. . "What the bloody 'ell?" ho gasped, r.s Ix- looked Into tho muzzlo of tho revolver. I'roin down the mountain sldo came the shout of ono of the dep-ullei dep-ullei : "ShrrllTI Looks llko It's him, all right I've found a horse down here .-nil swintcd up from running." "Wat's nhout the answer." Sheriff Sher-iff Artnins went forward and with a motion of lils revolver sent Harry's finmlK Into the air. "Let's see what youV- got on you." A light gleamed below ns an electric elec-tric flash In the hands of ono of the deputies began nn Investigation of the ! surroundings. The sheriff, finishing his search of 'Arry's pockets, stepped back. "Well," he demanded, "what did you do with the proceeds?" "The proceeds?" Horry stared blankly. blank-ly. "Of what?" "Quit your kidding, now. They've found your horse down' there." "Wouldn't It bo u good Idea" Fnlrchlld Fnlr-chlld had cut In, acridly "to save your accusations on this thing until you're a little surer of It? Harry hasn't any horse. If he's rented one, you ought to be nbfe to find that out pretty shortly." As If In answer, the sheriff turned and shouted u question down the mountain side. And back came the answer: "It's Doc Mason's. Must have been stolen. Doc wns nt tho dance." "I guess that settles It." The offl-cer offl-cer reached for his hip pocket. "Stick out your hands, Harry, while I tut the culTs on them." "But ow In bloody 'ell 'avo I been doing nnythlng when I've been up 'ere working on the chlv wheel? 'Ow ?" "They say you held up the dance tonight und robbed us," Falrchlld cut In. Harry's face lost Its surprised look, to give way to a glance of keen questioning. "And do you say Itr ' "I most certainly do not The Identification Iden-tification wns given by that honorable person known as Mr. Maurice Rodnlne." Ro-dnlne." "Oh I One thief Identifying another" an-other" "Sheriff!" Again the voice from below. be-low. "Ychl" "We'vo found a cache down bete. Must have been made In a hurry two new revolvers, bullets, a mask, a couple cou-ple of new handkerchiefs and the money." Harry eyes grew wide. Then he Stuck out his hands.' "The evidence certainly Is piling up!" lie grunted. "I might as well save my talking for later." "That's a good Idea." The sheriff snnpped the handcuffs Into pluce. Then Falrchlld shut olt the pumps and they sturtcd toward the machine. Buck In Ohudl more news nwntted ttouii. Harry, If Harry had heeu the 'highwayman, bud gone to no expense 'PrJ)ll outfit The cum!)luxi uuw"! i Brora ana nurdwart emporium of .Gregg Urothcrs had been robbed ot tho articles necessary for a disguise also tho revolvers and their Bullets. Robert Fnlrchlld watched Harry placed In the solitary cell of tho county Jail with a spirit that could not respond re-spond to the Cornlshman's grin and hjs assurances thut morning would bring n righting of affairs. Four "hnrires huntr henvv bdovp him: that of horsc-Rtcnlliig, of burglnry, of high-nay high-nay robbery, and worse, the final assault as-sault with attempt to kill. Falrchlld turned wearily away; he could not find the optimism to join Harry's cheerful announcement that It would be "all right" The appearances were otherwise. Besides, up In the little hospital on the hill, Fatrchlld hnd seen lights gleaming as he entered the Jail, and he knew that doctors were work- CobUwI Nert Weefc i |