New Britain herald., 1922-10-24

After a few moments a faint glow appeared in the shed There was cracking noise. The glow grew pinker,
 CHAPTER III.
 Inside Clinch's house Eve awoke with start. Her eyes were filled with d strange, rushing. cracking noise. A rosy glare danced and shook outside her windows
 The girl tore open her bedroom door. Jack" she cried in a terrified voice "The barns on fre.'
 Good God,'' he said, My horse."
 He had already sprung from his chair outside her door. Now he ran downstairs, and she heard bolt. and chain clash at the kitchen dooiIand his spurred boots land on the porch.
 Oh" she whimpered, snatching blanket wrapper from peg and struggling into it. "Oh, the poor horse, Jack! Jack, I'm coming to help! Don't risk your life I'm comipg-Im coming
 Terror clutched her as she stum- bled downstairs on bandaged feet,
 As she reached the door great flare of light almost blinded her.
 Jack
 And at the same instant she saw him struggling with three masked men in the glare Of the wagon shed afire.
 His rifle stood in the corridor out side her door, With one bound she was on the stairs again. There came the crash and splinter Of wood and glass from the kitchen, and a man with a handkerchief over his face caught her on the landing.
 Twice she wrenched herself loose and her fingers almost touched Stor- mont's rife; she fought like cor nered lynx. tore the handkerchief from her assailant's face. recognized Quintana, hurled her very body at him. eyes flaming, small teeth pared
 Two other men laid hold. In an- other moment she had tripped Quin- tana. and all four fell, rolling over down the short flight of stairs, land ing in the kitchen. still fighting.
 Here. in darkness, she wiggled out, somehow. leaving her blanket wrapped in their clutches. In an- other instant she was up the stairs again, only to discover that the rife was gone.
 The red glare from the wagon house lighted her bedroom she sprang inside and holted the door
 Her chamois jacket with it's loops full of cartridges hung on peg. Shc got into it, seized her rife and ran to the window just as two masked men, pushing Stormont before them, entered the house by the kitchen way
 Her own door was resounding with kicks and blows, shaking, shivering under the furious impact of boot and rife butt.
 She ran to the bed. thrust her hand under the pillow. pulled out the case containing the Flaming Jewel, ana placed it in the breast pocket of her shooting jacket.
 The blows upon her bedroom door had ceased; there came a loud tramp linz, the sound of excited voices; Ouintanas s sarcastic tones.
 Then Stormont's voice, clear and quiet. What are you doing here? If you've a quarrel with Clinch, hes not here There's only young girl in this house.
 q know thees packet is concei in thees house Peaceably if posslble, I would recover my property. If she refuse
 Another pause.
 "Well2" inquired Stormont, cooiiy'
 "Ah! Ii is yer painful to say. Alas, senor Gendarme, l mus haNe my property. If she refuse. then I mus sever one of her pretty fingers
 An if she still refuse-l sever her pretty fingers. one by one, until
 "You know what would happen 10 you?" interrupted stormont in voice that quivered in spite of himset.
 "I take my chance. Senor ten- darme she is within that room. II you are her frien', you shall adNlse her to return to me my property
 After another silence:
 "ENe" he called sharply.
 She ared her lips to the door; "' es, Jack"
 H. -aiJ; "Tioec .sc "A na-''"i Aien out here who say that Clinch