Evening journal., 1922-10-20
EPISODE SIX
The Jewel Aname

Mike ciinch and his men drove
Star Peak, and drew blanke
covert.
There was a new shanty atop
camp debris, plenty of signs OF re-
cent occupation everywhere - no
embers in which offal still smoul
dered. bottles odorous OF clare'
dregs, and an aluminium culinary
outfit. unwashed, as though ouin'
tana and his men had departed II
haste.
Far in the still valley below, Mike
clinch squatted beside the runway
he had chosen, cooked rife across
his knees.
And. as cllnch squatted there
murderousiy intent, ever the hxet
obsession burned IN his fever brain
stirring his thin lips to incessani
muttering--a sort OF soundless invo-
cation. part chronicle, part prayer:
20 God Almighty. in your big
swell mansion up there, all has went
contrary with me sense you let that
there damn millionaire. Harrod,
come into this here forest. 49,. He
went and built unto hisself an habi-
tation. and he put up a well OF law
all around me where was earnin'
a lawful livin' in Thy nice, clean
wilderness. 49,. And now comes
this here ouintana and rohs my
grille.
I promised her mother I'd
make a lady OF her little Eve.
I loved my wife. o Lord. Once
she showed me piece in the Bible
II amt never found It sense-but
II said: And the woman she fed
into the wilderness whore there was
a place prepared for her Of God.
That's what you wrote into
your own Bible, o Godl You can't
go back on il. seen it.
And now I wanta 10 ask. What
place did you prepare for my Ever
What spot have you reference tot
You didn't mean my Dump, did
~ou7 why, Lord. that amt no
place for no lady And now
Quintana has went and robbed me
of what ia saved up for Eve.
Does that go with Thee, o Lord ?
No, It don't. And It don't go with
me. neither. I'm a-goin' 20 git Quin-
tapa. Then I'm a-goin' 20 git them
two ninks that robbed my grille
I am. Jake Kloon, he done It
in cahoots with Earl Deverett: and
ouintana set 'em on.
A far crash in the forest stilled
his twitching lips and stiffened ev-
cry iron muscle.
As he lifted his rife. sid Hone
came into the glade.
"Yahoo! Yahooi" he called.
where be you, Mike?"
Clinch slowly rose, grasping his
rife. his small, gray eyes ablaze.
where's ouintana?" he de-
manded.
"Hain't you seen nobody7"
mo"
one by one nfhe men who had
driven ar Peak lounged up in the
red sunset light, gathering around
CSiDch and wiping the sweat from
sun-reddened faces.
We'll. inquired Jim Hastings
finally. do we quit, Mike. or do
we still-hunt in Drowned Nalley2'
Not me. at night" remarked |
B,ommers dryly.
Not amongst them sink-holes,"
added Hone.
suddenly clinch turned and
stared at him. Then the deadly light
from his little eyes shone on the
offers one by one.
Boys" he said II gotta get
Quintana. can't never sleep an
other wink till get that man. Come
on. Act up like gents all. Let's
go"
The Hastings boys, young and
rash, shufied into the trail. Blom-
mers hesitated. glanced askance at
Clinch, and instantly made up his
mind TO take a chance with the sink
holes rather than with Cnnch.
God Almighty, Mike, what be
you amin TO do?" faltered Har-
vey.
I'm amin to stop the inlet and
outlet to Drowned Vailed, Harve.r
replied cInch in his pleasant voice.
God is a-goiD' TO deliver Quintana
into my hands"
All right. What next?"
Then, continued Clinoh, II
cal-late to set down and wait.
How long2'
Ask God, boys. don't know.
All now Is that whatever is Twin
in Drowned Valley at this hour has
gotta live and die there. For It
can never live to come outen that
there morass walkin onto two legs
like a real man"
CHAPTER II
Cnnch had not taken q dozen
strides before Hal Smith loomed up
ahead in the rosy dusk. driving in
Levertt before him.
An exclamation OF fierce exulta-
ton burst from Clinch's thin lipe
as he flung out one arm, indicating
Smith and his sinking prisoner:
WHO was that gol-dinged cata-
mount that suspicioned Hal? I
wasn't worried mono. neither. Halls
gent. Mebbe he sticks up folks,
too. but he's gent. And gents is
honest or they amt gents"
Smith came UP at his easy. tire
less gait. hustling Lovere.t along
with prods from gun-butt or muz-
kls. a. came handiest