Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-11-07

hands, displayed glittering heap
OF gems.
Il wanted you should know who's
eottem." he said, before you hop.
len give you something TO think
over in hell.
Quintana's eyes had become Sits
again. Neither man stirred. Theni
$50 you are buzzar. Ell, Clinch?
You feed on dead mans pockets. Ell?
You find Sard somewhere an you
feed" He held up the morocco
case, emblazoned with the arms of
the Grand Duches of Esthonia,
and shook it. at clinoh.
I'm there is my share. Not
all. ver's quick, now. 1 take yours,
too"
~ cnnch vanished and so did his
rifle; and Quintana's first bullet
struck the moss where the stock 1
had rested.
You black crowl" jerred Clinch,
laughing, IL need that empty case ]
Of yours. And I'm going after It. y
-. But it's because your filthy
cav touched my grille that you !
gotta hopi'
Twilight lay over the phantom
. wood. touching with pallid tints the c
flooded forest.
SO far only that one shot had been s
fred. Both men were still maneu- !
ering. always creeping in circles and
always lining some great tree for :
shelter.
Now. the gathering dusk was max, u
Ing them holder and swifter; and n
twice. already Clinch caught the :,
SHADOW of fading edge of some $,
!, thing that vanished against the n
I shadows too swiftly for shot. W
\ Now Quintana, keeping n tree in
I line. brushed with his 1.-the back a k
leafiess moose-bush that stood sway m
ing as he avoided It. III
Instantly a stealthy hope seized ST
him: he slipped out OF his coat in
spread 1t on the bush, set the naked ia
branches swaying. and darted to his In
tree.
Waiting. he saw that the gray WI
blot his coat made in the dusk was SO
still moing a littie--just vibrating mi
a little bit in the twilight. He M
tnuched the bush with his rifle bar Ia, Ia
rel. then crouched almost fiat. %
s1Suddenly the red crash of a rife =.
NJ up Clinch's visage for a fraction
OF a second. And Quintana's bullet g.,
smashed clinch between the eyes. sb,
~ EPISODE ELEVEN Va
81. The Place OF Pines ~,
- CHAPTER -,
The last sound that Mike Clinchl -,
heard on earth was the defamation sh
OF his own rifle. Probably it was
-. ~ ~.
there with a pleasant expression on g,
his massive features His watch ~,
had fallen out of his pocket.
Quintana shiDed him with an cleo -,
trio torch; picked up the watch -.
Then. holding the torch in one hand 81;
he went through the dead mans o.,
pockets very thoroughly -.
- When Quintana had finished, both NO
trays of the fiat morocco case were
full Of Jewels. And Quintana was tbe
full of wonder and suspicion. ~ !
- Unquietly he looked upon the ne.
dead-upon the glittering contents nj
OF the jewel-box-but always his ~
gaze reverted to the dead. The
faintest shadow of a smile edged
Clinch's lips. Quintana's lips grew
graver. He said slowly. like one
.s''What is st you have done to me
Femi Clinch? &. Are there truly
then two sets of precious stones p
two Flaming Jewels two gems OF
Erosite like there never has been in
all thees worr excep' only two more?
l.. or is one set false7 Have
here one set OF paste facsimilies?
Ny frien' Clinch, why do you -
fn ~ 81 -
funny . like you are amuse? u
I am wondering what you have
lone 10 me my friend Clinch.
For while he remained kneeling
'eside the dead. Then: "Ah. bah"
lie said, pocketing the morocco case
nd getting TO his feet.
He moved little way toward the
pen trail. stopped. came back, stood
lis rifle against a tree. s.
For awhile he was busy with hts star
harp Spanish clasp knife, whiting
nd fitting together two peeled OBS
wigs. A cross was the ultimate re- phe
ult. Then he placed Clinch's hands ceP'
aim TO palm upon his chest. laid Is
he cross on his breast ana sh,ned touC
he result with complacency. tree
Then Quintana took off his hat. n
L'ami Nike" he said. you were nee'
/ mani :. Adlos!" smo
The night had turned frosty. thrc
euintana, wet TO the knees and very redS
ired. moved slowly. not daring 10 seer
cave the trail because of sink-holes. her
What he had to have was a fire; a ru
ie realized that. Somewhere off the ana
rail, in big timber II possible, he ing
must build a fire and master this "a
leadly chill that was slowly para "a
wing all power OF movement. p aCi
At last he came TO a place of S Sil'i
lines, first growth giants towering ,I Sul
nto night, and looking up, saw nm
tars, infinitely distant. where ne
'erhaps those things called souls Iee
rifted like wisps of vapor cree
When the fire took. Quintana's 81
hin dark hands had become nearly "
seless from cold. He could not
ave crooked finger TO trigger. Il
For long time he sat close to
he blaze. slowly massaging his
orpid limbs, but did nat dare strip f8y
# his foot gear.
Later he ate and drank languidly NJ
'oking up at the stars. speculatng SsSs
to the possible presence Of Mike
Inch up there. CIF
What a chase Clinch had led him T ~
ter the Flaming Jewel And now | Ia