South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-28
The FLAMING JEWEL
by ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

dapplng face and figure with NOV
ing. golden spots.
Instantly Darragh knew and trem-
bled
But Theodorlca OF Esthonia had
known him only in his uniform.
As she came toward him, lovely
i'm her 1.-the and rounded grace, only
friendly curiosity gazed at him from
her blue eyes
Suddenly she knew him, went
scarlet TO her yellow hair. then
white. and tried to speak-but had
no control of the short. rosy upper
lip which only quivered as he took
her hands.
The forest was dead still around
them save for the whisper of painted
leaves sitting down from a sunlit
vault above.
Finally she said in a ghost of a
voice. .'AIy-friend. :"
If you accept his friendship.
90"
Friendship is to be shared. .
ours mineIed-on that day
YoBr share is-as much as pleases
YOU"
"Au YOU have. to give me, then"
Take ii all I have. -
Her blue eyes met his with a little
effort. All courage is an effort.
Then that youn- man dropped on
both knees at he- feet and laid his
ups TO her soft b .nds.
Tn trembling q nee she stood for
a moment. Their slOwly sank on both
knees to face hlfl across their clasp
eI hands.
So. jim the 81 ded cathedral of the
woods. pit7~eG with silver. and
szure-domed. the betro1hal of these
two was sealed with clasp and lip.
Awed. a little fearful. she looked
into her lovers eyes with n gaze so
chaste. so obliviuus 10 all things
earthly. that the still purity Of her
face seemed a sacrament, and he
scarcely dared touch the childish
lips She offered.
But when the sacrament Of the
7 kiss had been accomplished. she
rested one hand on his shoulder and
rose. and drew him with her
Then his moment came: he drew
/ the emblazoned case from his breast
opened IT, and in silence. laid II in
/ her hands. The blaze of the jewels
+ i'm The sunshine almost blinded them
That was his moment.
The next moment was Quintana' g
+ Darrach hadn't a chance. Out OF
. the bushes two pistols were thrust
hard against his stomach. Quin-
tana's face was behind them. He
wore no mask. but the three mer
/ with him watched him over the
/ edges of Observation-Disclosures the
sights Of leveled rifles too.
The youthful Grand Duchess had
/ turned deadly white. One Of QUin-
tana's men took the morocco case
/ from her hands and showed he
aside without ceremony.
Ouintana leered at Darragh ovel
. his. leveled weapons:
MY frien' smith, he exclaimed
! softly $50 IL IS you. then, who nave
twice try to rob me of my property
"Ahl You recOllec'? Yes How
YOU have rob me of a pacquet which
contain only some chocolate?
DarraEh's face was burning witt
helpless rage.
"Ny frien Smith" repeated
Ouintana. do you recol1ec' what i
was YOU say 10 me? Yes?
How often 1t Is the unexpected
vAtch SO usually happen? You arr
quite correc', Tami Smith. 1t ha!
f.. happen"
He glanced at the open jewe, boz
which one Of the masked men held
then. like lightning. his sinister eye
focused on Daragh.
ESQ" he said. "it was also yol
who rob me ias' night OF my prop
erty What you do TO Mel
3. SaIzsr. Ell ?"
Killed him" said Daragh, ar!
Tipped. nerved for death. Il ough
% have killed you. too. when hat
the chance. But-Im white, yol
see~
AT the Insult huns into his fac
over the muzzles OF his own pis
tolls Quintana burst into Laughter
"Ah, YOU should have shot me
= You are quite right, my frien'.
mus say you have behave yer fool
iSh
He laughed again so hard tina
. parlrh felt his pistols shaking
against his body
So you have XIII Nick Salzar
chs" continued Quintana> with per
fec, good humr MY frien' I an
3. oblige 20 YOU for what you do. Yol
o.. -..-r.rf.a7 TrN 10 fe rarf i'm n g