New Britain herald., 1922-10-31
(Continued From Our Last lssue)
 CHAPTER II, ..

Guided by Quintana's directions the three had made a wide detour to the east, steering by compass for the cross roads beyond Star Pond.
 In dense growth of cedars, on a little ridge trayersing wet land Quntana halted to listen.
 Sard and Sanchez. supposing him to be at their heels continued on, pushing their way hindly through the cedars. clinging to the hard ridge in terror of sink holes. But their progress was very slow: and they were still in sight, fighting d painful path amid the evergreens, when Quintana suddenly squatted close to the moist earth behind a juniper bush.
 At first, except for the threshing of sard and Sanchez through the massed Instructions ahead, there was not n sound in the woods.
 But, presently came a soft. swift rhythm like the pace of a forest crea- ture In haste-a iiscreety hurrying tread which was more seHes Of light earth shocks than sound.
 Quintana, kneeling on one knee. lifted his pistol He already felt the slight vibration Of the ground on the hard ridge. The cedars were nov ing just beyond him now. He waited until, through the parted foliage. a face appeared
 The loud report of his pistol struck Sard with the horror of paralysis. Sanchez faced about with one spring. snarling, a weapon in either hand.
 In the terrible silence they could hear something heavy flounderng in the bushes. choking, moaning, thud ding on the ground.
 Sanchez began to creep back; Sard, more dead than alive, crawled at his heels. Presently they saw Qulntana, waist deep In juniper looking down at something
 And when they drew closer they saw Georgiades lying on his back under a cedar, the whole front of his shirt from chest to belly a sopping mess of blood.
 There seemed no need of explana- ton. The dead Greek lay there where he had not been expected, and his two pistols lay beside him where they nd0 ldHeil.
 Sanchez looked stealthiy at Quin- tana. who said softly
 'Bien sure. In his left side pocket. l believe"
 Sanchez laid cool hand on the dead mans heart; then, satisfied. rummaged until he found Georgiades' share of the loot.
 Sard, hurriedly displaying pair of clean but shaky hands, made the division.
 When the three men had silently rocketed what was allotted to each Quintana pushed curiously at the dead man with the toe of his shoe.
 "Peste." he remarked. T had place. for security a yer large dia- mon in n1yspistol barrel. Now it is within the Interior of this gentleman.
 - He turned to Sanchez; I sell him 10 you. One sapphire. Yes?'
 Sanchez shook his head with a slight sheer: We wait-if you want your diamond, mon capitaine.'
 Quintana hesitated, then made a grimace and shook his head
 No" he said, The has swallow Let him digest Allons! March.'
 But after they had gone on-two hundred yards, haps-sanchez stopped.
 "Well?" inquired Quintana. Then. with a sheer: T now recollec' that once you have been a butcher in Madrid. =. Suit your tas'e, l'ami Sanchez" -.s
 sard gazed at Sanchez out of sick ened eyes.
 You keep away from me until you've washed yourself he burst out, revolted. Dent you come near me till you're clean!" Quintana, laughed and seated him. self Sanchez, with a hang dog glance at him, turned and sneaked hack on the trail they had traversed. Before he was out of sight Sard saw him fish out Spanish knife from his hip pocket and unclasp it.
 Sanchez made no effort to find them. They had been gone half an hour before he had finished the busi- ness that had turned him back. AS he stood there, examining his clothing, and washing what he could of the ominous stains from sleeve and shoe, very far away to the north he heard a curious noise-a far, faint sound such as he never before had heard.
 IT 1t were voice of any sort there was nothing human about it. proba bly some sort of unknown bird.
 z. Perhaps a bird of prey That was natural, considering the at traction that Georgiades would have for such creatures. II IL were a bird it must be a large one, he thought. Because there WAS certain volume to the cry Fer haps it was a beast after all Some unknown beast of the forest
 Sanchez was suddenly afraid Scarcely knowing what he was doing he bsga an to run along the edge of the bog,
 He was tired, or thought he was. but the alarming sounds were filing his ears now; the entire forest seemed