The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-11
CHAPTER III


Somebody had halted beside
Efe After . pauEe she was aware
Of nltnbie fingers busy with the
p4ndage oyer her eyes,
A. first when freed, the light
blinded her By degrees she was
able % distinguish the rocy cresr
81 Star Peak, With the tops Of tall
irees aprearlns level with the
rocks from depths below.
Then she turned. slowly. and
Looked 81 the man who had seated
himself beside her.
He wore q white mask over a
delicate smoothly shayen face.
As she met his brilliant eyes
behind the mask, his delicate, thin
lips grew tense In what seemed to
be o stnlle-or q soundless sort Of
laugh. m
"veree happee "'he said, ito
ptakc the acquaintance, Pardon
my nnceremony miss, but onlet
aecissltee compels. Are you. per
haps little rested?"
All Thep, II you permit, We
proceed with affairs of moment.
You will be sufficiently kind 10
write down what say. Yes?"
He placid paper and pencil IN
Ewes hand Without demurring Of
hesitation she made ready to
write. her mind cropping wildly for
the reason Of 1t all.
sHrite;s 2 he said, with his silent
laugh which was more like the
silent snarl OF a lynx unafraid.
no Mike Clinch, my fathaire.
rom his child. Eye-I am hostage.
held by Jose Qulntana. Pay &hat
You owe him and ] go free.
For each day delay he sends n
vol one finger which will be sew
cred from my right hand"
Eyels slender fingers trembled;
she looked up at the masked man
stared steadily into his brilliant
eyes.
Proceed miss. II you are SO
amiabIe, he said softly.
8 She wrote on, One finger
for avery days delay. The whole
hand ~ the weeks end The other
hand Their, finger by finger. Then,
alass the right foot"
Eve trembled.
"Proceedn he said softly.
She wrote. sIf you agree you
snail pay what you owe to jose
ouintana In this manner: ycu
shall place q stick at the edge OF
+iine Star Pond where the Star
riyulet flows out. Upon this stick
Won shall tie q white rag. At the
foot Of the stick you shall lay the
parcel which contains your IN
debt to Jose iQnintana.
Failing this by tonight one
Singer 81 sunset"
The man paused: Eve waited,
dumb under the surglng confusion
IN her brain A sort of lncredulous
horror benumbed her, through
which she still heard and percetv-
sBe kind anough to sign II with
your name said the man pleas,
antly.
Eve signed.
Then the masked man took the
letter. got sup, removed his hat.
y am Quintana," he said. 4 keep
my word. "A. thousand thanks and
APOLOGIES, miss. / trust that your
detention may be brief and not toe
disagreeab1e; Iplace at your seet
my humble respects"
BE 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 and
rocks Eve slowly stood up and
looked about her at the rocky pull
rit so familiar.
There was only one way our,
Quintana had gone that way. Ills
men no doubt guarded It. Other.
wise sheer preclpices confronted
her
The sun was half way between
zenith and horizon when she heard
somebody coming, and rose to q
sitting posture. Her visitor was
9nintann.
He came up to her quite close
stood With glittering eyes intent up
ON her.
After d moment he handed her a
letter.
she could scarcely unfold II, she
tremblediso:
fGrlle, for Gods sake give that
packet TO Quintana and come on
home I'm near crazy with It all,
What the hell's anything worth be
side you; grille, I don't give a damn
for nothing only you, so come on
auiek, Dad.
Affeg q little while she lifted
ier eyes to Quintaua.
$50, he said quietly, you are
little she-to3 that has learned
.ffcis sllteady.a
What do you mean?"
Where Is that packet?"
"fhayen,t IT, =
Where Is ito
She shook her head slightly.
''You had5a packet" he insisted
iercelys Look here! Regard!
md he spread out penciled sheet