Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-30
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ROBERT W CHAMBERS
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, visage reflected the strain of the
situation.
Quintana, both pistols in his
hands. looked down at the scintil-
lating heap of jewels.
Il estimate two and one quartaire
million of dollaires." he said simply.
! sit has been agree hat L accep' for
me the erosite gem known as The
Flaming Jewel. In addition, mes
sieurs, it has been agreed that 1
accep' for myself one part in five
of the remainder"
A fierce silence reigned. Every
wolfish eye was on the leader. He
smiled. rested his pair of pistols on
either knee.
us there" he asked softly. ANY
gentleman who shall objec'?"
who" demanded Georgiades
hoarsely, 'is to divide for us?"
at is for such purpose" explain
ed Quintana %suavely. that my
frien', Emanuel Sard, has arrive.
Monsieur Sard is a brokaire of
dlamon's, as all know YER well.
Therefore, it shall be u frien'
Sard who will divide for us what we
have gain today by our-industry."
The savage tension broke with a
laugh at the word chosen by Quin-
tana to express their efforts of h
morning.
sard had been standing with n
fat hand fiat against the trunk of
a tree. Now, at a nod from Quin-
tana, he squatted down, and, with
the same hand that had been rest
ing against the tree, he spread out
the pile of Jewels into a fat layer.
AS he began to divide this into
five parts, still using the fiat Of his
pudgy hand, something poked him
lightly in the ribs. 1t was the muz-
zle of one of Quintana's pistols.
Sard, CHASTITY pale, looked up. His
palm, sticky with balsam gum,
quivered in Quintana's grasp.
Il was going to scrape it off" he
gasped. 1.-THE tree was sticky"
Q%uintana, with the muzzle OF his
pistol, detached half a dozen
diamonds and rubies that chung to
the gum on Mr.. Sard's palm.
"Wash!" he said dryly.
Sard, sweating with fear. washed
his right hand with whiskey from
his pocket-hask, and dried it for
general inspection.
MY God" he protested tremu-
lousy, at was accidental, gentle
men. Do you think I'd try to get
away with anything like that"
Quintana coolly showed him aside
and with the barrel of his pistol he
pushed the fiat pile of gems into
five separate heaps. Only he and
Georgiades knew that a magnifi-
cent diamond had been lodged in
the muzzle of his pistol. The eyes
of the Greek famed with rage at
the trick, but he awaited the divi-
sion before he should come to any
conclusion.
Quintana coolly picked out The
Then, to each man he indicated the
heap which was to be his portion.
A ~snarling wrangle instantly be-
gan, Sanchez Directing to rubies
and demanding more emeralds, and
Picquet complaining violently con-
corning the smallness of the
diamonds allotted him.
Sard's trained ayes appraised
etery allotment. Without weighing,
and, lacking time and parapherna-
Tia for expert examination. he was
inclined to think the division fair
enough.
Quintana got to his feet lithely.
For me-" he said, at is finish.
With my frien' sard 1 shall now de-
part. Messieurs, 1 embrace and
SoAoIC JOds "a ~ III L 80 4
amis, ct a Ia bonheur! Allons! Each
amis, ct a la bonheur !Allons! Each
for himself and gar aux f1ics!"
Sard, seized with a sort of still
regarded Quintana with
enormous eyes. Torn between dis
may of being left alone in the will
.derness, and a very natural fear of
any single companion, he did not
know what to say OF do.
En- masse. the gang were too dis
of n another to unite on
any individual. But any in
diyidual might easily rob a COM
panion when alone with him.
"Why-why can't we all go to-
he stammered. at is safer,
surer-"
"I go with Quintana and you,"
interrupted G~eorgiades, smilingly;
mind on the diamond in the
of Quintana's pistol.
81 do not invite you," said Quin-
tana. But come if it pleases you"
Il also prefer to come with you
Others" growled Sanchez. ITO
roam alone in this filthy forest does
not suit me-
Picquet shrugged his shoulders,