South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-11
BEGN HRE TO-DAY.

That priceless gem. the Flaming
= ewel. had arst been stolen from the
HCOJf-ESS OF ESTHONIA BY the
international thief
QJINIAEA. Love az The now beg
CARED countess caused
JAMES uAERAGH % trace the gem
% tho disreputabIe camp in the
Ad.ro1da-Es owned by
AIk = CLIECH Ud0 has stolen the
Flaming Jewel from Quintana
Under the uamo az
HAL SMITH. Darrarh works at
Cliuch's Dump. where he meets
Ciiuehs beautiful step daughter.
Eve STRAYEE the one good In
Gueuce in thc crime-stained career
OF CHucl. when Qu.utana and his
gang arrive 60 regain TIE Jewel,
Clinch seeks o. conceal 10 by giving
10 20 Eve and telling her % hide f.
IN the 'noot. h-cache Ouintana
and his gang capture Eve and
lead her 6Indfolded 20 their camp.
GO OS WITH TIE STORY
CHAPTER III
Somebody had halted beside Eve.
After a pause she was aware Of
nimble fingers busy with tho
bancage over her eyes.
At arst. when freed. The light
blinded her Bv degrees she was
able CD Distinguish che rocky crest
OK star Peak with the tops Of tall
trees appearing level with the rocks
from depths below.
Then She turned. slowly and
looked az the man who had seated
himself beside her
!. He wore Wl.te mask over a deli
j ate. smoothly sl.veu face.
AS she aet hs brilliant eyes be-
hind the mask. his delicate, thin lips
srew tense in what seemed 70 be
amLe-or s0und-e5s sort OF laugh.
.'Feree happee." be said. Ito mako
the acquaintance Pardon my un-
ceremony. miss. but onlee necissitee
compels Are 4ou, perhaps. a little
rested Q"
Yes"
"Ah' Then. IL you permit. we pro-
coed with affairs Of moment You
VIII be sufficiently kind TO write
down whs- ] say. Yes2"
lie placed paper and pencil in
Ewes hand without demurring or
hesitation she made ready 70 write,
her mind cropping wildly for the rea-
son OK DC all.
Write he said. with his silent
laugh which was more like the
s0unaless snarl Of "a lynx unafraid:
Ito Mike Ciinch. my fathaire from
his child. Eve. am hostage,
held by Jose Qulntan. Pay what
y0u owe him and 7 go free.
"For each day delay he sends 70
you one finger which viii be severed
from my right hand
Ewes slender fingers trembled;
she looked up at the masked man.
stared steadily into his brilliant eyes.
''I.roceod miss. ~ you are so ami
able" he said softly
She wrote or. One finger for
every days delay. The whole hand
at the weeks end. The other hand
then finger by finger. Then, alasl
the right foot"
Eve On mbled
Proceed p ne said softly
She wrote: IF YOU agree you
shall pay what YOU owe 10 Jose
ouintana IN this manner: you shall
place "a stick at the edge Of the Star
Pond where the star rivulet flows
out. Upon this stick YOU shall tie
& white rag AT the foot Of The
stick YOU shall law the parcel which
contains your indcbt TO Jose Quin-
tann
Failing this. by tonight, one finger
at sunset"
The man paused: Eve waited,
dumb under the surging confusion In
ner brain q sort OF incredulous
horror bonumbed aer. through which
she stlI heard and perceived.
'Be kind enough 90 sign It with
your name" said the man pleasant
~
Eve signed.
Then the masked man took the
letter. got uD. renro owed his hat.
III am Qu.ntara. " he said. II keep
my word. A thousand thanks and
apologies. miss. ] trust that your
detention may be brief and not too
disaEre I place at your feet
my humble respects"
He bowed put on his hat. and
walked quickly away. And she saw
ward. where The peak slopes.
When Qu.utana had disappeared
behind the summit SCRUB and rocks.
Eve slowly stood up and looked
about her az Che rocky pulpit so
familiar
There was only one way out. Quin-
tana had gone that way HIS men
no doubt guarded 1t. Otherwise,
sheer precipices confronted her.
The sun was half way between
zenith and horizon when she heard
somebody coming. and rose 90 a sit
ting posture. Her visitor was Ouin-
taul
He came up 20 her quite close.
stood with sIttering eyes intent up
on her
AFTER moment ne handed her a
letter
She could scarcely unfold Il. she
treubled so
'G.rIe. for Gods cake give that
packet TO Qui0t-ua and come on
home. I'm near crazy with it all.
What tb, Ee--- anything worth be-
side YOU. grille DON'T give a damn
for uoth.u only you so come on
quick Dad
Arter little while she lifted her
eyes 90 Qu.ntana
$50" he af5 quietly. "you are the
4