New Britain herald., 1922-10-25
GO ON WITH THE STORY
CE PIER IN-

CH AFTER ".
 Outside in the rag weed patch. Hal Smith rose, stole across the grass to the kitchen door and slipped inside.
 Now. senbrita" said Quintana gaiy. my packet, if you please-and we leave you to the caresses of your faithful gendarme-who should thank God that he still possesses two good hands to fondle you. Alons, Come then My packet"
 One of the masked men said: Take her downstairs and lock her Up somewhere or she'll shoot us from her window
 Lead out that gendarme tool" added Qu'ntana, grasping Eve by the arm.
 Down the stairs tramped the men, forcing their prisoners with them.
 In the big kitchen the glare from the burning out-house fell dimy; the place was full of shadows.
 Now" said Quintana, I take my property and my leave. Where is the packet hidden?''
 She stood for a moment with dropping head. amid the somber shadows, then. slowly, che drew the emblazoned morocco case from her breast pocket
 What followed occurred in the twinkling of an eye. for. as Quintana extended his arm to grasp the case, d hand snatched it, a masked figure sprang through the doorway, and ran toward the barn.
 Somebody recognized the hat and red bandanna.
 'Salzar," he yelled. Nick Sal zar,"
 "A traitor by God," shouted Quin- tana. Even before he had reached the door his pistol flashed twice, deafening all in the semi darkness choking them with stifiing fumes
 A masked man turned on Stor- mont forcing him back into the pantry at pistol-point Another man pushed Eve after him, slammed the pantry door and bolted it.
 Through the iron bars of the pam try window, Stormont saw a ,man, wearing a red bandanna tied under his eyes, run up and unite his horse and fling himself astride under a shower of bullets
 AS he wheeled the horse and swung him into the clearing toward the foot of Star Pond, his seat and horseman- ship were not to be mistaken.
 He was gone. now, the gallop stretching into a dead run; and Quin- tana's men still following, shooting hallooing in the starlight like pack of leaping shapes from hell
 But Quintana had not followed far. vi l. l,tF- 4t,, he halted
 Something about the transaction suddenly checked his fury, stlled it, summoned his brain into action.
 For a full minute he stood unstir- ring, every atom of intelligence in terrible concentration.
 Presently he put his left hand into his pocket, fitted another clip to his pistol, turned on his heel and walked straight back to the house.
 Between the two locked in the pantry not word had passed. Stor- mont still peered out between the iron bars, striving to catch glimpse of what was going on. Eve crouched at the pantry door, her face in her hands, listening.
 Suddenly she heard Quintana's step in the kitchen Cautiously she turned the pantry key from inside.
 Stormont heard her, and instantly came to her At the same moment Quintana unbolted the door from the outside and tried to open it.
 Come out" he said coldly, or 1t will not go well with you when my men return
 You've got what you say is youh' property" replied Stormont. What do you want now"
 "I tell you what want yer damn quick Who was he thees man who rides with my property on your horse away? Eh? Because it was not Nick Sazar! No, Salzar cannot ride thees way. No, Alors?"
 q can't tell you who he was, re- piled stormont. That's your affair, not ours
 No? An Yer well, then. | shall tell you. Senor Flic, He was one of yours. 1 understan'. It is trap, a cheat-what you call a plant. Thees man who rode your horse he is disguise, Yes He also is gen darme, Yes. You think ' let a gendarme rob me? I got you where l want you now. You shall write your gendarme frien' that he return to me my property, one days time, OF l send him by parcel post two nice, fresh out right sweet hearts and your own. Stormont drew Eyes head close to his: This man is blood mad or out of his mind, I'd better go out and take 1 a chance at him before the others .opae back "