South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-08
The FLAMING JEWEL
by ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

At the memory. and quite me-
chanicaIly, she turned IN her chair
and drew Quintanas basket pack
toward her.
First she lifted out his rifle. ex-
amined ~. set it against the window
SILL Then. one by one. she drew out
two pistols loaded; the murderous
Spanish clasp-knife; an AK; a fry
an and a tin pail, and the rOlled-up
mackinaw.
Under these the pack seemed TO
contain nothing except food and
ammunition; staples in sacks and a
few cans--lard, salt. tea-such
things
The cartridge boxes she piled up
on the table. the food she tossed
into a tin swim bucket.
About the effects OF this man Il
seemed 10 her as thought something
Unclean fingered. She could scarce
lp bear 10 handle them-threw them
from her with disgust.
The garment. also-the heavy
brown and green mackinaw-she
dlsHked 20 touch. To throw it out
doors was her intention; but. as she
lifted the coat it unrolied and some
things fell fro mthe pockets 20 the
kitchen table - money keys, a
watch, a flat leather case
She looked stupidity at the case.
Ii had a coat of arms emblazoned
on IT,
SIN, stupidity and as though
dazed. she laid one hand on it, drew
il TO her. opened it.
The Flaming Jewel blazed in her
face amid a heap Of glittering gems.
still she seemed slow TO compre-
hend-as though understanding
were paralyzed.
1t was when her eyes fell upon
the watch that her heart seemed to
stop. Suddenly her stunned senses
were lighted as by an Internal flare.
Under the awful blow she
swayed upright to her feet. sick
with fright. her eyes fixed on her
fathers watch.
1t was still ticking.
She did not know whether she
cried on tin anguish or was dumb
under It,. The house seemed 10 reel
When she came to her senses she
found herself outside the house,
running with her rifle. already en-
terlng the woods. But. inside the
barrier Of trees. something blocked
her way, stopped her-a man-her
mani
Eve. In Gods name,-" he said
as she struggled in his arms; but
she fought him and strove to tear
her body from his embrace:
They've killed Dad" she painted
-"Quintana killed Eim. didn't
know-oh. I didn't knOw,-and I let
Quintana go! Oh Jack, Jack. he's
at the Place of Pines, I'm going
there to shoot him! Let me go.-
he's killed Dad. tell youi He had
Dads watch-and the case of
jewels-they were in his pack on
the kitchen table"
"Eve!"
Let me COL"
'Eve!" He held her rigid
moment in his powerful grip. com
PEELED her dazed, half-crazed eyes TO
meet his own:
on must toult 10 YOUR StlStSf
he said. Listen to what I say: they
are bringing in your father"
Her dilated blue eyes never moved
from his.
I'VE found him in Drowned Valley
at sunrise" said Stormont quietly.
'The men are only a few rods be
hind me. They are carrying him
out"
Her lips made a word without
sound.
yes" said stormont in low
voice.
There was a sound in the woods
behind them. Stormont turned. Far
away down the trail the men came
into sight.
Then the state Trooper turned
the girl very gently and placed one
arm around her shoulders.
Very slowly they descended the
hill together His equipment was
shining in the morning sun: and the
sun fell on Ewes dropping head
turning her chestnut hair to fiery
sold
An hour later Trooper Stormont
was at the Place of Pines.
There was nothing there except
am empty trap and the ashes of the
dying fire beyond
Continued i'm Our Next Issuc)