Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-11
Go on With the Story
APTER LII

CHAPTER III
Somebody had halted beside Eve
After a pause she was aware oil
nimble fingers busy with the band.
age over her eyes.
At first, when freed. the light
blinded her. By degrees she was
able to distinguish the rocky cresi
of Star Peak, with the tops of tall
trees appearing level with the rocks
from depths below.
Then she turned, slowly, and
looked at the mar who had seated
himself beside her.
He wore a white mask over a del
icate, smoothly shaver face.
As she met his brilliant eyes be-
hind the mask, his delicate, thin lips
grew tense in what seemed to be a
smile-or a soundless sort of laugh,
''Veree happee," he said, ito make
the acquaintance. Pardon my I'M
ceremony, miss, but onlee necissitee
compels. Are you. perhaps, a little
rested 2"
YES"
"Ah! Then, If you permit, we pro-
coed with affairs of moment. You
will be sufficiently kind to write
down what 1 say. Yes?"
He placed paper and pencil in
Ewes hand. Without demurring OF
hesitation she made ready to write,
her mind cropping wildly for the
reason of it all.
Write" he said, with his silent
laugh which was more like the
soundless snarl of a lynx unafraid:
ITO Mike Clinch, my fathaire,
from his child. Eve -. am hos
tage, held by Jose Quintana. Pay
..1ot xra,, Ouyo him an1 7 un frnn
For each day delay he sends to
you one finger which will be severed
from my right hand"
Ewes slender fingers trembled;
she looked up at the masked man,
stared steadily into his brilliant
eyes.
Proceed miss, if you are so ami
able" he said softly.
She wrote niger TO,
~" .lay. The whole hand
me weeks end. The other hand
then, finger by finger. Then, alas!
the right foot"
Eve trembled.
Proceed" he said softly.
She wrote: IF you agre e you
shall pay what you owe to Jose
Qnintana in this you shall
place a stick at the edge of the Star
Pond where the Star rivulet flows
out. Upon this stick you shall tie
"a white rag. At the foot OF the
stick you shall lay the parcel which
tana.
Failing this. by tonight one
finger at sunset"
The nan paused: Eve waited
dumb under the surging confusion
in her brain. A sort of ~incredulous
horror benumbed her, through
which she still heard and perceived
BE kind enough to sign it with
your name" said the man pleasant
Eve signed.
Then the masked man took the
letter, got up, removed his hat.
II am Quintana," he said. 81 keer
my word. A thousand thanks and
apologies, miss. 1 trust that your
detention may be brief and not toe
disagreeable. 1 place at your feet
my humble respects"
He bowed, put on his hat, and
walked quickly away. And she saw
him descend the rocks to the east
ward, where the peak slopes.
When Quintana had disappeared
behind the summit scrub andNrocks
Eve slowly stood UP and looked
about her at the rocky pulpit sc
familiar.
There was only one way out
Quintana had gone that way. His
men no doubt guarded 1t. Other.
wise, sheer p~recipices confronted
her.
The sun was half way between
Zenith and horizon when she hearc
somebody coming, and rose to a sit.
ting posture. Her visitor was Quin.
tana.
He came up to her quite close
stood with glittering eyes intent up,
on her.
After a moment he handed her 6
letter.
She could scarcely unfold it. she
tremb1ed so:
"Girlie, for Gods sake give tina
packet to Quintana and come or
home. I'm near crazy with it all
What the helrs anything worth be
side you, grille. I don't give a damn
for anything only you, SO come OF
quick. Dad"
After a little while she lifted he
eyes to Quintana.
so" he said quietly. "you ar,
the little she-fox that has learned
tricks already"
What do you mean?"