The Cross-Cut

"The Cross-Cut" by Courtney Ryley Cooper is a story about a young man named Robert Fairchild, who is struggling with being alone after his father, Thornton Fairchild, passed away. He is bothered by his father's secretive past and a mystery that has never been solved; Robert begins a long and difficult journey that provides him with the possibility of getting rich and having exciting adventures. However, it also hints at hidden danger involving a mining claim, called the Blue Poppy Mine. In the story, Robert Fairchild deals with his father's death; he wonders around their house, filled with memories of the past. He attempts to learn the truth, and he finds a letter his father wrote him. Robert learns about the Blue Poppy Mine, sparking dreams of a new, adventurous life. He wants to fulfill his duty and is curious about his father's past, so Robert decides to travel to the mining town of Ohadi. Once he arrives, he meets several different people, which causes conflict as he faces the dangers and the legacy of his father.