Evening journal., 1922-10-27
EPISODE EIGHT
Cup and Lp
NrkDnnD Z

CHAPTER I.
Two miles beyond Clinch's Dunn
Hal Smith pulled stormont's hors
10 a walk. He was tremendousl
excited.
with naive sincerity no believe
Rat what he had done on tho spu
nf the moment had been the onf
bling 20 do.
BY snatohins the Flaming Jewe
nom Quintana's very fingers ne ma
diverted that vindictive bandits fur.
from Eve, from Clinch, from Stor
mont. and had conferred e upon him
seif.
More than that, he had sown tn
Deeds Of suspicion among Quintana'
own people. They never could dis
power Salzar's body. Always they
must believe that II was Nicolas
Ealzar and no other who so PREACHER
ousiy robbed them. and who rode
away IN q rain OF bullets, shaking
the emblazoned morocco case above
his masked head in triumph. de-
rision and defiance.
At the recollection OF what had
happened. Hal Smith drew bride,
and, sitting his saddle there in the
false dawn. threw back his hand
BONE head and laughed until the
fading stars overhead swan IN HIS
Dyes through tears OF sheerest mirth.
Smith sat his saddle, thinking. be-
ginning 70 be sobered now by the In
evitabie reaction which follows ex-
sstement and mirth as relentlessly
Is care dogs the horseman.
He thought OF Riga: and Of the
Red Terror; OF murder at MONDAY,
Ind outrage by night. He remem-
bered his only encounter with
lovely child-once Grand Duchess OF
Esthonia-then a destitute refugee
b silken rags.
What a day that had been.
only one day and one evening.
md never had ne been so near In
bve IN all his life.
As the false dawn began to fade.
be loosened hunting coat and cart
rcge sling, drew from HIS shirt
bosom the morocco case.
II bore the arms and crest OF the
Grand Duchess Theodorics OF Es-
honia.
His fingers trembled slightly as
De pressed the jeweled spring. II
opened On an empty casket.
In the sudden shock OF horror and
tstonishment, his convulsive clutch
bn the spring started a TRY bell
nnging. Then. under his very nose.
be empty tray slid aside revealing
mother tray underneath set solidly
Eifh briiliants. A rainbow OF glitter
dreamed from the unset gems in the
tiken tray. Like an incredulous /
Mild he touched them. They were
hagnifcently real.
IN the center lay blazing the great
Erosite gem-the Flaming Jewel IT.
telf. Priceless diamonds, sapphires,
kmeralds ringed II. In his hands
be held nearly four millions OF dol
Ars.
Gingerly he balanced tho en-
biazoned case. fascinated. Then he
replaced the empty tray closed the
box, thrust It into the bosom OF his
aannel shirt and buttoned Il in.
Now there was little more for this
Excited young man 70 do. He was
through with Clinch. Hal Smith,
nold-up man and washer at
ciinch's Dump, had ended his career.
The time had now arrived for him
. vanish and make room for James
oarragh.
For by this time the Grand d,
Duchess OF Esthonia-Ricca, "a she
was called by her companion. Val
sntine. the pretty countess orlon-
strelwitz-must have arrived in ,
New York.
He lifted the bride from the
horses neck. divided curb ana
inafae thoughtfully, touched the J
splendid animal with heel and toe.
As he cantered on into the wide l.
forest road that led 10 his late nm
sle's abode, curiosity led him 10
Wheel into narrower trail running
sast along Star Pond. and from /
whence he could take a farewell /
view Of Clinch's Dump.
Aiders stili concealed the house
across the lake. but the trail was
already coming out into the star
light
Suddenly his horse stopped short.
trembling, is ears pricked forward. I
larragh sat listening intently for
} moment. Then with infinite eau
ton, he leaned over the cantie and
gently parted the alders.
On the pebbled beach. fun in the
starllght. stood two figures. one
White and slim, the other dark
The arm OF the dark figure clasp 1
% the waist OF the white and slen- 1
der one.
Eve! Jack Stormonti What the
devil are you doing over here7"
Stormont walked slowly UP 10 his
own horse. laid one unsteady hand I
On it's silky nose. kept 81 there while I
5usty. velvet lips nnumbled and
sareased his fingers
II knew Il was a cavalrymaD." he
faid quietly. Il suspected you, Jim.
It was the sort OF crazy thing you
we're iiAsly TO do. / don't ask