The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-04
CONTINUED From Our Last issue.
CHAPTER III

CONTINUED From Our Last lssue.)
CHAPTER III
Always Clinch's little pale eyes
searched the forest twilight in
frint Of him; not a falling leaf es.
capped him; not a chipmunk.
The slightest noise behind him.
He waited, turned slowly. Eve
stood there.
He'll died in his pale eyes as she
came to him, rested silently in his
gentle embrace, returned his kiss,
laid her flushed, sweet cheek
against his unshaYen face.
Dad, darling?"
Eyes, my paby-"
You're watching to kill Quin.
tana. But there's no use watching
any longer
Have tho boys below got him?"
he demanded.
"They got one of his gang. Byron
Hastings is dead. Jim is badly
hurt: Sid Hone, too-not so bad.
ly-"
"whero's oulntana%
Tad, he's gone. .....,... But It
don't matter. See here!-" She dug
her slender hand into her breaches
pocket and pulled ont a little fist.
ful Of germs.
clinch, his powerful arm closing
her shoulders, looked duly at the
jewels.
%You see, dad, there's no use
killing Quintana. These ara the
things be robbed you Of"
"'Taint them that matter Z.
linn glad you got 'em. l allus want.
ed you should be great lady,
grille. Them's The tickets OF adInis
sion. You put 'em in your pants.
! gotta stay here a spell"
dad! Take them!"
EIe took them. smiled, showed
them into his pocket.
What is it, girlie?" he asked al.
sently, his pale eyes searching the
woods ahead.
1--WE Just told you.' she saia.
Chat the boys went in rs far az
Qnintana's shanty. There was a
dead man there, too: but Quintana
has gone
Clinch said = not removing his
eyes from the forest: "IE any O.
them boys has let Quintana craw.
through I'll kill him, too :.
G'wan home, grille. / gotta mosey
~ gotta kinda loaf around FIR Il
spell"
"Dad, / want you 10 come back
with me-"
"You go home: You hear me
Eve: Tell Corny and Dick Berry
to hook It for Owl Marsh and stop
the Star Peak trails-both on 'em
!. Can Sid and Jimmy walkY'
"Ilm can't"
well, lot Harve take him on his
back. You go too, You help fix
Jimmy up at the house. He's a lit.
tie telia, Jimmy Hastings Is. Harve
Gun tote him. And you go along"
Dad. Quiutana says he means to
kill YOU. What is the use OF hurt.
Ing him? You have what he
took" ..4El.l
II gotta have more'n be took.
But even that amt enough. He
couldn't pay for all he over done 10
me. grille I'm Amin TO draw
on him on sight"
Clinch's set vlsage relaxed into
an alarming smile which aickered
faded. died in the wintry ferocity
of his eyes.
Dad"
"G'wan home!" he Interrupted
harshly. you want that Hastings
boy to bleed to death?"
She came up to him, not utter
ing a word, yet asking him with
all the tenderness and eloquence
OF her eyes to leave this blood
trail where It lay and hunt no
He kissed her mouth, infinitely
tender, smiled; then. again prlm
and Sowing:
"G'wan home. you little scut,
an do what I told ye, or, by God,
I'll cut a switch that'll learn We
good' Never a word, now! On
yer way! G'wani"
Twice she turned to look back.
The second time, Clinch was slow
~ walking into the woods
straight ahead OF him. She waited
saw him go in: waited. After a
while she continued on her way.
CHAPTER "
And Clinch's mind was on her.
All else--his watchfulness, his
stealthy advance-all the alert.
ness Of eye and ear. all the
aubtlety. the cunning, the infinite
Gaution'-weTe purely instructive
mechanics.
Somewhere In this flooded
twilight Of gigantic trees was Jose
Quintana. Knowing that, he dis
missed that fact from his mind
and utrned his thoughts to Eve,
Sometimes his lips moved. They
Usually did when no was arguing
with God or calling his Creators
attention to the Justice OF Ills
case. His. two cases-each, to
him, a cause celebro; the matter
Of Harrod; the affair Of Qufn-
taua.
Many time he had pleaded
these two causes before the Most
HfDh