Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-11-13


delight, she placed the case upon
the table, stripped open the en-
blazoned cover, and cmptied the two
trays. All over the table rolled the
jewels, flashing, scintillating, ablaze
with binding light.
And at the same instant the outer
door crashed open and Quintana
covered them with Darraehs rifle.
"Now, by Christ" he shouted,
who stirs a finger shall go to Coo
in one jump! Yon, my gendarme
frien'-you, my frien' Smith-turn
your damn backs-kan's up high
tha's the way!-now, ladies back
away there-get back or I kill
sure, by jesus, XII you like
would some white little mice.--"
With incredible quickness he
stepped forward and swept the
jewels into one hand-flled The
pocket of his trousers, caught up
every stray stone and pocketed them.
You gendarme," he cried in a
menacing voice, you think you
shall follow in my track. Yes? l
blow your damn head off if you stir
before the hour. After that
well, follow ard be DAMN
Even as he spoke he stepped out
side AID slammed the door; and
Darragh and Stormont leaped for it.
Then the loud defamation of Quin-
tana's rifle was echoed by the splin-
tering rip Of bullets tearing through
the closed door; and both men halted
in the face of the leaden hail.
Eve ran to the pantry window
and saw Quintana in somebody's
stolen lumber-sled, lash big pair
of horses to a gaiIop and go fIoun-
leriDg past IN to the Ghost Lake
road.
AS he sped by iii -whirl of snow
he fred five time at the house, then,
rising and swinging his whip, he
logged the frantic horses into the
woods.
In the dining room, Stormont, red
with rage and shame, and having
found his rifle in the corridor out
side Ewes bedroom, was trying to
open the shutters for a shot; and
Daragh, enlpty-handed, searched
the house franticaIly for a weapon.
Eve, terribly excited, came from
the pantry:
"He's gone" she cried furiously.
He's in somebody's lumber-sledgc
with pair of horses and he's driv-
ing west like the devilr'
Stormont ran to the tap-rom >u+.-
phone, cranked it, and warned the
constabulary at Five Lakes.
Good Godn he exclaimed, turn
ing to Darragh, scarlet with morti-
fication, what a CHASTITY business!
| never dreamed he was within
miles of Clinch's! It's the most
shameful thing that ever happened
to me-"
What could anybody do under
that rifIe?" said Eve hotly. THAT
beast would have murdered the frsC
person who stirred"
Darragh, exasperatcd and dread
fully Inundated, looked miserably
at his brand-new wife.
Eve and Stormont also, looked al
her. She had come forward from
the rear of the stairway where
Quintana l.ad brutally driven ner.
Now she stood with one hand on
the empty leather jewel case, look
ing at everybody out of pretty, be-
wildared eyes.
To Darragh, in perpleXed I'M
steady voice: as it the same bandit
who robbed US eeI"re?"
Eyes; Quintana," he said wretch
cdly. Rage began to redden his
features. "Ricca," he said, Il prom,
ised I'd find your jewels.
promise you again that I'll never
drop this business until your gems
and the Flaming Jewel-are il
your possession"
But jim"
81 swear itr' he explained violent
ly. Pm not such a stupid fool al
| seem"
"Dear!" she protested eXcitedly