The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-25

CHAPTER "
Outside in the rag-weed patch,
Hal Smith rose, stole across the
grass to the Kitchen door and
sllppe6 inside.
"Now, senorlta,I said QuIntana
gally, my packet, IL you please
and we leave you to the caresses
Of your faithful gendarme-who
should thank God that he still
possesses two good hands to fon-
die you! Alonsl Come then! My
packet"
One Of the masked men said:
Take her downstairs and lock
her up somewhere or she'll shoot
US from her window"
Lead out that gendarme, tool"
added Qutntana, grasplng Eve by
the arm.
Down the stairs tramped the
men, forcing their prisoners Will
them.
In tho big kitcsen the glare
from the burning clubhouse fell
dimly; the place was full of shad-
owe.
y Now" said ouintana, 81 take
my property and my leave. Where
Is the packet hidden?"
She stood for a moment with
tdrooping head, amid the sonlber
J Shadows then, slowly, she drew
the emblazoned morocco case
tfrom her breast pocket.
What followed occurred En the
twinkling Of an eye: for, as Quin-
tana extended his arm to grasp
the case, a. hand snatched II, .
masked figure sprang through the
doorway and ran toward the
barn.
Somebody recognized the hat
and red bandanna:
"salzar!" he yelled. Mick Sal
ia traitor, by God!" shouted
,Quintana. Even before he had
reached the door, his pistol fash
ed wtice, defeating all In the
semi-darkness, choking them with
sitting fumes.
A masked man turned on Stor.
mont, forcing him hack into tho
pantry at pistol-point. Another
man pushed Eve after him, slam
med~the pantry door and bolted
it
Through the iron bars of the
pantry window, Stosmont saw
man, wearing u red bandanna
tied under his eyes, run up and
unite his horse and fling himself
tastride under n shower Of bullets.
AS he wheeled the horse had
swung him into the clearing to-
ward the foot of Star Pond, his
sseat and horsemanship were not
te be mistaken.
He was gone. now, the gallon
stretching into . dead run; AMI
Quintana's men still following,
shooting. hnllooing in tho star
light like u pack OF leaping shapes
from hell.
Il But Q.intana had not follow
cd far. When he had emptied h;u
automatic he halted.
:. Something about the transac-
ton suddenly checked his fury,
stilled it, summoned his brain
into action.
z For a full minute he stood I'M
! stirring, every atom Of Intelli.
gence in terrible concentration.
Presently he put his left hand
Into his pocket, fitted another. clip
TO his pistol, turned OH his heal
and walked straight back to the
house.
4 Between the two locked in the
pantry not word had passed.
Stormont stIll peered out between
the iron bars. striving to catch
glimpse OF what was going on. Eye
icrouched at the pantry doors. her
face In her hands, listening.
Suddenly she heard QuIntana's
!. step In the kitchen. Cautiously .ha
turned the pantry key from IT,
side.
Stormont heard her and Instant
Is came to her. At the same mo-
ment Quintnna unbolted the door
from the outside and tried to open
Come out" he sad coldly "or
IL will not go we'll with you when
my men return"
You've got what you ::
your property" replied StUTmout.
;'What do you want now"
~ tell you what l want ver'
damn quick. Who was he thees
man who rides with my property
on your horse away? Eth? Because
II was not Nick Salzar! No Salzar
can not ride thecs way. No!
Alors?"
II can't toll you who he was"
replied Stormont. That's your ar-
fair not ours"
mo? All! Yer well then. shall
fell you Senior File! He was ons Of
yours. l understan.' 1t is a trar.
q cheat-what you call plant!
These man who rode your horse he
IS disguise! Yes! He also Is gon-
darme! Yes. You think let n gsu.
darme rob nc? l got you where
want you now. You shall write
your gendarme frlen' that lie re-,
turn TO me my property, one days
time. OF / send him by parcel post
4 two nice, fresh-out right-hands-
your sweetheart's and your own!
Stormont drew Ewes head close
to his:
This man Is blood mad or out o.
his mind! I'd better so out and
take a chance at him before the
others come back"
i But the girl shook her head VIC.
lently, caught him by the arm and
drew him toward the mouth OF the