"But the gun? We did n't find any."
"'E 'ad it with 'im. It was Sissie 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 'im with a gun, then 'e 'ad a right to kill. But as I 've told you before—there would n't 'ave been a chance for 'im to prove 'is story with Squint working against 'im. And that's one reason why I did n't ask any questions. And neither did Mother 'Oward. We were willing to take your father's word that 'e 'ad n't done anything wrong—and we were willing to 'elp 'im to the limit."
"You did it, Harry."
"We tried to—" He ceased and perked his head toward the bottom of the shaft, listening intently. "Did n't you 'ear something?"
"I thought so. Like a woman's voice."
"Listen—there it is again!"
They were both silent, waiting for a repetition of the sound. Faintly it came, for the third time:
"Mr. Fairchild!"
They ran to the foot of the shaft, and Fairchild stared upward. But he could see no one. He cupped his hands and called:
"Who wants me?"