South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-03
he FLAMING JEWEL
by ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

left. and some sixty yards distant.
discovered something moving In the
woods beyond. and fired ar IT, In
stantly two unseen rifles spoke from
the woods ahead. Picquet was
ferked clear around. lost his balance
and nearly FELL Blood was squirting
from mis- right arm. between elbow
and shoulder.
he tried 20 lift and level his rifle:
his arm collapsed and dangIed
broken and powerless; his rifle Cat
tered 20 the forest floor
For "A moment he stood there in
plain view. dumb, deathly white.
then he began screaming with fury
while the big. soft-nosed bullets
came streaming in all around him
His broken arm was hit again His
screaming ceased. ne dragged out
his big clasp-knife with his left hand
and started running toward the
shooting
As he ran, his mangled arm flop
ping like a broken wing. Byron
Hastings stepped out from behind a
tree and coolly shot him down at
close quarters.
Then Quintana's rife exploded
twice very quickly. and the Hastings
boy stumbled sideways and fell
SPRAYING. He managed TO rise 10
his knees again: he even was trying
10 stand up when Quintana, taking
his time. deliberately began &c
empty his magazine into the boy
Kidding him limb and body and head
Down once more, he still moved
his arms. sid Hone reached out
from behind a faller. log TO grasp
the dying lads ankle and draw him
into shelter, but Quintana reloaded
swiftly and smashed Homes left
hand with the first shot
Then Jim Hastings. kneeling be-
hind a bunch OF juniper. fired
high-velocity bullet into the tree be-
hind which Quintana stood; but be
fore he could fire again Quintana's
shot I'm reply came ripping through
the juniper and tore a ghastly hale
IN the calf Of his left leg, striking
blow that Knocked young Has
tings flat and paralyzed as a dead
founder.
A mile to the north, blocking the
other exit from Drowned Valley.
Mike Clinch. Harvey Chase. Cor
neIius Boomers, and Dick Berry
stood listening 10 the shooting.
"B'gosh." blurted out Chase, cit
sounds like they was goin' through.
Mike Bgosh. it does!"
Clnchs little pale eyes blazed,
but he sad in his soft, agreeable
voice:
stay right here. boys. Like as
not some of 'em Will come this way"
The shooting below d.
CInch's nostrils expanded and flat
tened with every breath, as he stood
glazing into the woods
"Harve." he said presently. you
an Corny go down there an kinda
look around. And you signal if I'm
wanted. G'wan. both O. you. Git"
They started. running heavily, but
their feet made little noise on Nthe
moss
Berry came over and stood near
Clinch For ten minutes neither
man moved. Clinch stared at the
woods in front Of him. The younger
mans nervous glance flickered like
snakes tongue in every direction.
and he kept moistening his lips with
his tongue
Presently two shots came from
the south. A pause; rattle of
shots from hastily emptied maya
zines.
"G'wan down there, Dick" said
Cunch.
You'll be alone. Mike"
"Au' right. You dc like I say;
git along quick"
Berry walked southwark a little
way He had turned very white
under his tan.
Col ding ye." shouted Clinch,
take it on a lOpe or I'll kick the
pants offn ye!"
Berry began TO run. carrying his
rifle at a trail.
For half an hour there was not
sound in the forests of Drowned
Valley except in the dead timber
where unseen woodpeckers ham,
mered ntruuy at the ghosts of an
c.ent trees.
CONTINUED in Our Next Issue)