, 1922-10-08

troops in Russia Clinch immediate.
Iy forced him Mt the point Of an au
tomato into the woods. They
stopped by the sido OF a bottom
less swamp-hole.
Go On With the Story.
CHAPTER ".
0N the edge of the s!nk.hole they
" haitod. smith turned and faced
Clinch.
WHAT'S the dear" he asked with
out a quaver
was you IN Roosia?"
Yes"
WAS you an officer7"
II was
Then yours spyin'. You're a
cop"
You're mistaken
"Ah. don't hand me none like that!
You're a State Trooper or a Sc ret
Service guy. or a plain. dirty cIp.
And I'm a going TO croak you"
I'm not In any servfce now"
Wasn't you in army officcr7"
"ye=. CENT an officer 70 wrong7"
Soft stuff. Don't feed 1t to me.
Z old you too much anyway. I was
ba bblin' drunk. I'm drunk now. but
7 got nse D'you iii III run
chances OF sittin' in States Prison
for the next ten years and leave Eve
but here alone? No. ] gottt shoot
you. Smith. And Tn n-going to do it.
G'wan and say what you want &.
IL you think there's some kind o god
you can square before you croak."
"If you go to the char for muir
- NY IA - at -
Smith. His lips were cracking dry:
he moistened them.
sink holes don't talk said Cnnoh.
-G'wan and square Yourself. II you're
the church kind"
''C1Inch.'' said Smith u~nsteadily. "if
you kill me now you're as good as
dend yourself. ouintana is here"
"Say don't hand me that" retort-
ed C1inch. do you square yourself
or not?"
IT tell you Quintana's gang were
at the n tonight-Picquet, Sal
Sanchez-the one who looks like a
French priest. Maybe he had a
beard when you saw him in that cafe
Mushroom"
'-pvhatr' shouted Clinch IN sudden
fury. what yeh talin' about. you
poor dumb dingo. Yeh fixin' TO scare
met What do you know about Quin-
lanai Are you one Of Quintana's gam
too? Is tuat HI you're up to. hidin'
out al Srnr Pond. Come on. now. out
with Il, III nave II oil put of you
how. Hal Smith. before I plug you"
He came lurching forward. swing
ing his heavy pistol as though he
meant to brain his victim. but he
halted after the first step or two ant
stood there, a shadowy bulk. growl-
ing. enraged, undecided.
And. as Smith looked at him. two
shadows detached themselves from
the trees behind Clfnch-sflently -
silently gtded behind-struck in ut
ter silence.
Down crashed Cfnch. blhck-tacked.
his face In the oozs. HIS pistol flew
from his hand. struck Smiths leg;
END Smith had It at the same in
stsnt and turned It like lightning on
tht murderous shadows.
Hands up! Quickr' he cried. al
bay Sw. and his back to the sink
hole.
Pistol Ieveled. ne BENT ono knee.
pushed CIinch over on his back. lest
the ooze ~suffocate him.
Now" he said coor1y, "what do
you buns want of Mike C1inch?''
Who are your came a sulien
voice. This is none o. your bloody
business. We want C1inch. not you"
What do you want of C1inch7"
Take your gun off u.s.
ANSWER. or I'll let go at you. What
do you want of Clinch7"
Money. What do yon thfnk7"
You're here to stick up Clinch7"
inquired Smith.
Yes. What's that to your"
"what has Clinch lone to your
Tie stuck US up. that's what, Now
are you going to keep out of this?"
No"
we amt going to hurt C1inch."
You bet you're not. Where's the
rest OF your gangr"
What gang?"
"Quintana's said Smith. laughing.
A wits exhilaration possessed him.
Turn your backs anr sit down"
he said. As the shadowy forms hest
tated. he picked NJ a stick and hurl-
ed II al them. They sat down hastily.
hands up. back toward him.
You'll both die where you ait" re
marked Smith. of you yell for help
CBnch sighed heavily. stirred. crop
81 on the damp leaves with his hands.
At gay began the voice which
eu,t4b sdar.Fsfad - Harry Beck's sif