, 1922-10-22
go on with he Story.


NA4AA EEN IL
Before midnight Smith struck the
hard forest. Here there was no trail
st all, only spreading outcrop OF rock
under dying leaves.
Ahead Of him. somewhere IN dark.
ness-but how far he did not know
Ouintana and his people were mov.
ing swiftly on Ctinch's Dump.
Il may have been an hour later
Two hours. perhaps-wheu from far
ahead in the forest came a sound
the faint cliuk OF a shod heel on
rock.
Now. Smith unslung his pack and
placed It between two rocks where
laurel grew,
Salzar's red bandanna was still wet,
bu. he tied it across his face, leaving
his eyes exposed. The dead mans
hat fitted him. His own hat and the
extra torch he dropped into his bask
et.pack.
Reay, now, he moved swiftly for.
ward, trailing his rifle. And very
soon it became plain to him that the
people ahead were moving without
much caution. evidently fearing no
u~nfriendly ear or eye In that section
Of the wilderness.
To keep in touch with them Smith
fastened his pace until he drew uesu
enough to hear the low murmur VI
their voices.
They We're travelling in a single Tie.
he had a glimpse OF them against
the ghostly radiance ahead. Indeed.
SO e a he a~pproache tina h,
could hear the heavy, labored breath
ing OF the last man in the nle-sUme
lsggard who dragged his feet, plodding
On doggedly, painting. mutterlng. Prob
ably the man was Sard.
Already the forest in front was in
vaded by the misty radiance from the
clearing. Through the trees starlight
Glimmered on water. The perfume
OF the open LAM grew in the rGght
sir-the scent Of dew wet grass, the
smell Of still water and of sedg.
shores.
Lying flat behind a rotting log.
Smith could see them ali now-spec
trial shapes against the light. Their
were five OF them at the forests edge.
They seemed to know what was TO be
done and how TO do it. Two went
down among the ferns and
willows toward the west shore of the
pond; two sheered off 70 the south
west, shoulder deep in blackberry and
una The fifth man waited fer a
while, then ran d~ownacross the open
pasture.
Scarcely had he started when Smith
glided to the woods edge, c~rouched,
and looked down.
Below Clinch's Dump, plain n the
starlight, every window dark. To the
west the barn loomed, huge with its
ramshackle outbuidings struggling to
ward the lake.
Straight Town the slope toward the
barn ran the fifth man Of Quintana's
gang and disappeared among the out
buildings.
Smith ~crouched. listened. searched
the starlight with intent eyes, and
waited.
Untl something happened he could
not solve the problem before him.
lie could be Of no Use to Eve Strayer
and TO Stormont until he found out
what Quintana was going to do.
He could be OF no use anyway
unless he got into the house. where
W. rifles might hold out against five.
There was No use in trying 70 get
10 Ghost Lake for assistance. He
felt that whatever was about to hap
pen would come with a rush. 1t
would be all over before he had gone
five minutes. No. the only thing TO
90 was to stay where he was.
As FOR his pledge to the little grand
duchess, that vas always in his mind.
Sooner or later. somehow. he was
going to make good his pledge.
He knew that Q]uintana and his gang
We're here to find the Flaming Jewel.
Had he not encountered Quintana.
his own errand had been the same.
For Smith had started for CIinch's.
prepared to reveal himself to Stor-
mont. and then. masked to n eyes
and to save Ev from a broken
heart and Cllnch from State Prison
he had meant to rob the girl at
pistol point.
1t was the only way to save Cinch.
the only way to save the pride OF
this blindIy loyal girl. Tor the ar
rest OF Clinch meant ruin to both,
and Smith realized 1t thoroughly.
a slight sound from one Of the out
houses-a sort Of wagon-shed-attract-
cd his attention. Through the frost
~blighted ragweeds he peered intent
Is. listening.
After a few moments a faint glow
appeared in the shed. There was a
cracking noise. The glow grew
p.nker.
CHAPTER III.
Inside Clinch's house Eve awcks
with a start, Her ears were filled with
! STRANGE. rushing. cracking noise. A