Evening journal., 1922-10-09

halted. Smllh tuA
Ciinch. ,a Nth
out a quaver.
'was you in Roosia9"
"Yes."
was you an onicer9"
II was" -,
"Then you're sypin'- You're
cop"
you're mistaken" Z
~Ah. don't hand me none Ike that
You're a state Trooper or seere
Service guy. or a plain. olrty cup
And rm a-going 10 croak you,
I'm not in any service, now.
i.Wasn't you an army onicer
..yes. Can't an officer go wrongF
soft stuff. Don't feed It to me
told Won TOO much anyway ] was
habblin' drunk. I'm drunk now ou'
got sense. D'you think III rur
chances of sittin' in states Prison
for the next ten years and leave eve
on, here alone? No. ! gotta shoo'
YOU. Smith. And I'm a-golng TO dc
II G'wan and say what you want
II you think there's some KIND
o. god you can square before you
croak.'
sIf YOU go TO the chair for muir
der. what good will II do Ever
asked Smith. His lips were crack
ling dry: he moistened them.
''sink holes don't talk" said
clinch. "G'wan and square your
self. II you're the church kind
"Cunch," said Smith unsteadily,
If YOU kill me now you're as good
as dead yourself Quintana is here"
"Ssv. don't hand me that" re-
torted Clinch. do you square your
self or no?"
II tell you Quintana's gang We're
at the dance tonight-Picquet, sal
zar. Georgiades. Sard. Beck, Jose
sanchez-the one who looks like a
French priest. Maybe he had a
beard when you saw him In that
cafe washroom--"
"whati" shouted clinch IN sud-
den fury. "what yeh talkin' about,
YOU poor lumb dingoi Yeh fixin' to
scare me7 What do you know about
Quintana7 Are you one Of Quin-
tana's gang, too? Is that what
you're up to. hidip' out at Star
Pond. Come on, now, out with ~
I'll have It all out of you now. 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 and
stood there, a shadowy bulk, growl-
ing. enraged, undecided.
And. as Smith looked at him, two
shadows detached themselves from
the trees behind Clinch-silently-
silently giided behind-struck in ut
ter silence.
Down crashed clinch. blackjack
ed. his face in the ooze. His pistol
flew from his hand. struck Smiths
leg; and Smith had It at the same
instant and turned It like lightning
on the murderous shadows.
Hands upl Quicki" he cried. at
bay now, and his back to the sink
hole.
Pistol leveled. he bent one knee.
pushed Clinch over on his back, lest
the ooze suffocate him.
"Now." he said coolly, what do
you buns want OF Mike Cllnch?"
''who are your" came a sullen
voice. This IS none o. your bloody
business. We want Clinch, not your
what do you want OF Clinch2'
"1sake' your gun off usl'
Answer, or I'll let go at you.
What do YOU want of Cllnch?"
money. What do you thinkT'
"You're here TO stick up Clinch?"
inquired Smith.
''Yes. what's that 10 you2''
what has Ciinch done 10 you?"
He stuck US UP. that's what Now,
are you going 10 keep out Of this?"
no"
I'VE amt going TO hurt clinch."
you bet you're not. Where's the
rest of your gang?"
What gang7"
"Quintana's," said Smith laugh
ing. A Wild exhilarstion possessed
him
Turn your backs and sit down"
he said. As the shadowy forms hesi-
tated. ne picked up a stick am
hurled 1t at them. They sat down
hastily. hands up. back toward him.
you'll both die where you sit" re-
marked Smith. IF you yell for help"
CHnch sighed heavily stirred,
CROPPED on the damp leaves with his
hands.
'T say" began the voice which
Smith identified as Harry Beck's,
If you'll come in with US on this
It Will ray you, young man.
mo" drawled Smith. 'I'n go It
alone
1T can't be done. old dear. You'll
see If you try It on
who'll stop me, Quintana7"
Come" urged Beck. "and be a
good pal. You can't manage it alone.
We've got all night TO make clinch
talk. We know how, too. You'll get
your share"
oh, stow It." and Smith. watch
ing Clinch. who was reviving. He
sat up presently. and put both hands
over his head. Smith touched him |
silently on the shoulder and he
turned his heavy, square head In a
dazed way. Blood striped his visage.
He gazed duly at Smith for a little
while. then, seeming 20 recollect, the
old glare began to light his pale eyes.
The next instant, however, Beck
Epoks again. and Clinch turned in