The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-13
cHApTER N


tl.s men came up. lie counted them
With q cold eye.
Here's the runway and this
here hazel bush is my station" he
said. You felIas do the barkin.'
feh Sid, Hone, and you, Corn;,
start dfivtn' from the west. Harys,
you yelp EN- from the north by
LINK Brook. Jim and Byron, you
set twenty minutes to 30 round
10 the eastward and drive by the
Slide And you. Hal Smith,"-ho
looked around-"where'n hell be,
you Hal2--"
Smith came up from the bog'S
edge.
gseud Sem out no said in Q low
voice 1--we got Jake's tracks in
che bog"
cltnclt motIonsd his heaters to
thetr duty. "Twenty minutes" he
Reminded Hone. Chase anI Blom.
lusrs, ebeiore you start dri:vn,"
And, to the Hastine boys: III you
shoot, aim low for their bellies.
Don't leave no blood around.
stfape vt up. We bury what VS.,
ftetEf
He and Smith stood looking az.
ter the five slouching figures moy.
ins away toward their blind tra'ls
When all had disappeared:
"show me Jake's mark" he said
calmly.
Smith led him to the edge CT the
bog, knelt down, drew aside
branch Of witch hoppler A mans
footprint was plainly visible on
the mud.
That's. Jake" said Clinch SLOW
y. II know, them half-soled boots
so his'n. Ho lifted another
branch. There's another mans
track /"
The other Is probably Leye.
rett's.
Likely. He's got thin feet"
u think I'd better go after
then" said Smith, reflectively.
They'll plug you, you poor
jaekass-two o. them like that,
and one a'setttn' up to watch out,
He'll Be you tired O. bed an
board I"
Smith smiled: Don't you worry
Mike" 49,
AS he shouldered his rifle and
started into the marsh, Clinch
dropped heavy, hand on his
shoulder; but the young mai
shook It of.
Shut up" he said sharply.
You've q private war on your
hands, So have /. I'll take care OF
my own"
As he started again across the
marsh, Clincl called out In u
guarded voice: "rake good care
of that packet IL you catch them
rats. 1t belongs to Eve"
W .'I'll take snch good care OF IT,"
replied Smith, "that It's rrope.
owner need not worry"
CHAPTER III
The 'tproper owner" Of. tho
packet was, at that moment. oil
THE Atlantic Ocean, travelling to-
gss ward the; United States
-Four other. pretended owners OF
the Grand Duchess Theodorica's
Jewels, totally unconscious OF any
thing impending which might i'm
s}s pair their several titles to the
gems. were now gathered togethe.
III 4 wilderness within few
miles on one another,
Jose ouintuna Law somewhere in
vs. the forests with his gang, fIercelv
planning the recovery Of the treas.
ure Of which Clinch had onca
robbed him. Clinch suuatted on his
runway, watching the mountain
ffpnts 1,ift, murdarnuu a,.nu II yo.
noilonger the Flaming Jewel which
mRttered. His master passion
ruled him now. Those who had Of.
fesed violence to Eve must be
rectoned with first OF all. Tho
hand that struck Eve Strayer had
offered mortal insult to Miks
Cifneh.
Az for the third pretenIer 10 tho
Flaming Jewel. jake Kloon, he was
now trayeling in n fox's circle 70.
ward Drowned Valley-that shaer,,
Wilderness 7ot slime and tnmnrSej,
and depthIess hog which tomchos
Inc northwest base Of star peak
He was nnt in,Irrv;nr hav;rg NJ
thburht q pursuit Behind him