Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-09
Go on With the Story
EPISODE R
On Star Peak
1

Mike Clinch regarded the Jewels
taken from Jose Quintana as legiti-
mate loot acquired in war.
He vas prepared to kill anybody
who attempted to take the gems
from him.
At the very possibility his ruling
passion blazed-his mania to make
of Eve Strayer a grand lady.
But now, what he had feared for
years had happened. Quintana had
found him-Quintana, after all
these years, had discovered the
identity and dwelling place of the
obscure American soldier who had
robbed him in the Mushroom of a
Paris cafe. And Quintana was now
in America, here in this very wild
erness, tracking the man who had
d~espoiled him.
Clinch, in his shirt-sleeves, carry
ing a rifle, came out on the log YER
anda and sat down to think 1t over
He began to realize that he was
likely to have trouble with a man
as cold-blooded and as logged as
himself.
Nor did he doubt that those with
Quintana were desperate men.
On whom could he count? On no.
body unless he paid their hire. None
among the lawless men who haunt
ed his backwoods "hotel' at Star
Pond would lift a finger to help
him. Almost any among them
would nave robbed him-murdered
him. probably-if it were known
that jewels were hidden in the
house.
He could not trust Jake Kloon;
Leverett was as treacherous as only
a born coward can be; Sid Honey,
| n W. CI1 49,
Hastings-he knew them all toe
well to trust them-a sullen, un-
scrupulous pack, partly cowardly,
always herce-as are any creatures
that live furtively, feed only by
their wits, and stink through life
just outside the frontiers of law.
And yet, one of this gang ha6
stood by him-Hal Smith-the mar
he himself had been about to slay
Cnnch got up from the bench
where he had been sitting and
walked down to the pond where Ha,
Smith sat cleaning trout.
HAL" he said. "I been figuring
some. Quintana don't dare call ir
the constables. I can't afford to
Q%uintana and I've got to settle thi:
on u own.
Smith slit open a ten-inch trout
stripped it, flung the entrails GU
into the pond, soused the fish II
water. and threw it into a milk pan
Whose jewels were they in tn,
beginning?" he inquired carelessly
How do I know?"
"f you ever found out"
II don't want to. I got them IL
the war, anyway. And it don't max,
no difference how I got EN-; Eve
going to be a lady If I go to tn,
chair for it. So that's that"
Smith slit another trout, Quilted It
flung away the viscera but laid bacl
the roe.
Shame to take them In October.
he remarked, "but people must eat.
"Same's me-" nodded Clinch: a.
don't want to kill no one, but Ev,
she's gotta be a lady and ride in he.
own automobile with the proudest.'
Does Eve know about tn
Jewels }"
Clinch's pale eye which ha,
been rowing over the wooded shore
of Star Pond, reverted to Smith.
I'D cut my throat before I'd tel
her." he said softly.
She wouldn't stand for it?"
Hal, when you said to me, Eve
a lady. by God!' you swallered tn
hull pie. That's the answer. A lad,
StoAo LUZ WIldt yOu ana L uOu
bother about"
=. Suppose she learns that yoI
robbed the mar who robbed some
body else Of these Jewels"
Clinch's pale eyes were fixed O
him: "Only you and me know" h
said in his pleasant voice.
"Quintana knows. His gan
knows"
Clinch's smile was terrifying. 81
guess she amt never likely to kno,
nothing, Hal"
What do you purpose to DE-
Mike p"
\ "Still hunt.
For Quintana? ?"
Il might mistake him for a dee,
Them accidents is likely, too"
IF Quintana catches you it wi
go hard with you, Mike"
Sure. I know"
Hell torture you to make yo
talk"
You think I'd talk, Halr"
, Smith looked up into the light
colored eye The pupils were pi
points. Then he went on cleanin