South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-12
EPISODE FOUR
a Private War
CHAPTER I

l.lAa I'D MS ui MS Ai4he Ollutn btfDut
cut OF the motley crowd around the
tavern, laid his rifle against a Tree,
and stretched forth his powerful
hands 20 receive his step-child.
lie held her. crNdled, looking down
a. ner IN silence as the men clustered
around
Eve" re said hoarseiy, ''be you
hurted2"
The girl opened her sl<y-blue eyes.
I'm ell right. dad Just
Tired. I've got your parcel
safe. o."
ITO hell with the goI-dinged par
eel" he almost sobbed: did Quin-
tana harm your"
No dad"
As he carried her to the versnda
fingers. Clinch kicked it under a
chair and continued on into the
house and up the stairs to Ewes bed
room
Flat on the bed. the girl opened
her drowsy eyes again. unsmiling.
Did that dirty louise misuse your"
demanded Cunch unsteadily. "G'wan
tell me. grille
He knocked me Gown. He
went away TO get fire TO make me
talk. / cut up the blanket they gave
me and made a rope. Then I went
over the cliff into the big pine below.
That was all. dad"
C1inch filled a tin basin and
washed the girls torn feet When
he had dried them he kissed them
She felt his unshaven lips trembling,
heard him whimper for the first time
IN his life
why the hell didn't you give
Ouintana the packet2" he demanded.
What does that count for-what
does any damn thing count for
against you, girlie2'
She looked up at him out Of heavy
lidded Dyes: you toll me to take
good care OF It."
Its only a little truck I'd laid by
for you" ne retorted unsteadily. "a
few trifles for 10 make a grand lady
OF you when the times ripe 'Tain't
NORTH a thorn in your little foot TO
me The hull gol-dinged world
full O. money amt worth that there
stone-br1Iise onto them little white
feet O yourn. Eve.
Look at you now-my God, look
at you there, all peaked an scairt
an bleedin' plum tuckered out, n
al ragged n dry"
A blaze OF fury fared IN HIS small
pale eyes; And he nit you, too.
did he2-that skunk Quintana done
that TO my little grille, did he2"
Il don't know ir II was Quintana.
I don't know who he was, dad" she
murmured drowsily
Masked. want he?"
YES"
Clinch's iron visage twitched and
quivered. He gnawed his thin lips
into control:
Grille, I gotta go out a spell. But
] amt a-leavin' you alone here. In
sit somebody 20 set up with you. You
just lie snug and don't think about
nothin' till 1 come back"
Yes. dad, she sighed. closing her
eyes
Clinch stood looking at her for a
moment. then he went downstairs
heavily and out 10 the veranda
where State Trooper Stormont still
sat his saddle talking 20 Hal smith.
on the porch a sullen crowd OF back
woods riI-raff Iounged IN silence.
awaiting events.
ClinCh called across to Smith:
Hey. Hal g'wan up and set with
Eve a spell while she's nappin'.
Make q gum
y Smith said TO StOrmount in a low
voice. do me a favor. Jack?"
You bet"
THAT girl OF Cllnch's is in real
danger If left here alone But I've
got another JOB on my hands. Can
YOU keep a watch on her till I re-
turn"
can't you tell me a little more,
jim 20
Il will. later. Do you mind help
ing me out nOw?"
All right"
Trooper Stormont swung out Of
his saddle and led his horse away
toward the stable
Hal Smith went into the bar where
Clinch stood oiliing a rifle.
I'm going after Quintana with
you. Mike"
'B'gosh. you Amt You're a-goin'
TO keep watch here"
mo. Trooper Stormont has prom
ised 10 sta- with Eve You'll need
every man today, Nike. This isn't
a deer drive"
Cllnch Jet his rifle sag across the
hollow OF his left arm.
did YOU beef 90 that trooper
he demanded in his pleasant mis-
leading way.
do you think I'm crazy7" re-
torted smith
We'll. what the hell"
They all know that some man
used your girl roughly. That's all
= said 20 him-'keep an eye on Eve
until ne car get back. And I tell
you. Nike. n we drive Star Peak we
won't be back TIL long after sun
J. own
C1iuch growied: 4 Amt never
asked no favors OF no STATE Troop /
err"
He did you a favor. didn't hef He
brought your daughter in"
Yes. n he'd jail Us al II he got
anything on US"
yes. and he'll shoot 20 XIII II any /
% Cuiutana's people come here and |
Try TO break ~"
Clinch srunted. peeled on his coat
and got into a leather vest bristling /
with cartridge loops.
Trooper stormont came in the
back door. carrying his rifle.
Some rough fellow been bother