The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-09
Her Highness lnterveues
CHAPTER i

CHAPTER
Toward noon the wind changed,
and about one o'clock 1t began to
snow.
Eve, Exhausted, lay on the sofa
in her bedroom. Her step-fatnor
lay on table In the dance hall
below, covered by sheet from his
own heed. And beside him sat
Trooper stornont, waiting.
II was showing heavily when
Mr. Eyken the little undertaken
from Ghost Lake, arrived With
several assistants. a casket, and
what he called swell trimmings"
Long ago Mike Clinch had sci.
ected his own mortuary site and
had driven a section OF iron pipe
into the gronud on a ferny knoll
overlooking Star Pond. In expla-
nation he grimly remarked to Eve
that after death he preferred to he
planted where he could see that
Old HsrTod's ghost didn't tres
pass.
Here two Of Mr.. Lyken's able
Assistants dug a grave while the
digging was stiil. good; for IL Mike
Glinch was to lie underground
that season there might be need
Of haste no weather prophet ever
having successfully forecast
Adirondack weather.
Eve, exhausted by shock and o.
sleepless night, was spared the
more narrowing details Of the cor
oper's visit and the subsequent
iaunty activities Of Mr.. Lyken ard
his efficient assistants.
She had managed to dress herself
ma black wool gown, intending 10
watch by Mike, but Stormont's
blunt authority prevailed and sha
lay down for an hours rest.
The hour heightened into many
hours; the girl slept heavily on her
sofa under blankets laid over he
by Stormont.
All that dark, snowy day she
slept mercifully unconscious OF the
proceedings below.
IN its own mysterious way the
news penetrated the wilderness;
and out of the desolation OF forest
and swamp and mountain drifted
the people who somehow existed
there "a few shy, half wild young
girls q dozen Silent, lank men. two
OF three OF Clinch's. own people,
who stood silently about in the fall
ing snow and lent hand whenever
requested.
One long:shanked youth cut hem
ioek;to line the grave; others erect.
ed a little fence Of silver birch
around It, making Of the enclosure
a plot
A gaunt old woman from God
knows where aided Mr.. Lyken at in
tervals;; a pretty, sulky.eyed girl
with her slorenly, red-headed siste.
cooked for anybody who desired
lshment.
When Mike was ready to hold the
ayitable reception everybody filed
into the dance nall. Mr., Lyken was
master Of ceremonies; Trooper
Stormont stood very tall and
straight by the head OF the casket
cllnch wore a vague, indeiinabia
smile and his best clothes-that
same smile which had so troubled
Jose Quintana.
Light was fading fast in the rooa,
when the last visitor took sllen.
leave OF Clinch and rejoIned the
groups in the kitchen, where were
the funeral baked meats.
Eve still slept, Descending again
from his reconnaissance, Trooper
Stormont encountered Trooper Ian.
MIS- below,
Has anybody nicked up Quin.
tana's traeks?" inquired the former.
Not so far. An Inspector and
two State Game Protectors are out
beyond Owl Marsh. The Troopers
from Five Lakes are on the Job,
and We have enforcement men
along Drowned Valley from Tho
Seaur to Harrod Place"
docs Darragh know"
Yes: He's in there with Mike.
BE brought lot Of flowers from
Harrod Place."
The two Troopers went into the
dance hall where Darragh was ar.
ranging the flowers from his green
houses.
stormont said quietly: IAN right.
Jim, but Eve must not know that
they came from. Harrod's."
patragh nodded: How is she.
tAiIiin.',
do you know the story?"
Yes, Mike went into Drowned
Valley early last evening after
Qutntana. He didn't come back.
Before dawn this morning Eve 10.
Gated Quintana. set a bear.trap for
him, and caught him with the
goods,
What goods?" demanded Oar.
ragh sharply.
Wen, she got his pack and found
Mixes watch and jewelry in IT."
What 1ewelry?"
The Jewels Quintana was after
But that was after she'd arrived A.
the Dump. here, leaving Quintana
70 get free Of the trap and beat It
Thats how / met her = half
cfazed going to find ouintana
again We'd found Mike in Drowned
valley and were bringing him out
When ran into Eve Il brought
her back here and called Ghos;
Lake ~. ]. They haven't picked
up Quintana's tracks so far"
After silence: "Too had this
snow came so late" remarked
Hrpoper Lannis. But We ought to
set Quintana anyway"
parragh went over and looked