Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-31
(Continued From Our Last lssue)
CHA PTER IL

O
CHAPTER II
Guided by Quintana's directions,
the three had made a wide detour
to the east, steering by compass for
the crossroads beyond Star Pond
In a dense growth of cedars, on a
little ridge traversing wet lan1'
Quintana halted to listen.
Sard and Sanchez, supposing MN
tn be at their heels, continued on
pushing their way blindly through
the cedars, clinging to the hard
ridge in terror of sink-holes. Bdt
their progress was very slow; and
they were still in sight, fighting a
painful path amid the evergreens,
when Quintana suddenly squatteo
close to the moist earth behind a
Juniper bush.
At first, except for the threshins
of Sard and Sanchez through the
massed distractions ahead, there
was not a sound in the woods.
But, presently, came a soft, swift
rhythm like the pace of a forest
creature in haste - a discreetly
hurrying tread which was more a
series of light earth shocks than
sound.
Quintana, kneeling on one knee,
lifted his pistol. He already felt the
slight vibration of the ground on
the hard ridge. The cedars were
moving Just beyond him now. He
waited until, through the parted
foliage, a face appeared.
The loud report of his pistol
struck Sard with the horror OF
paralysis. Sanchez faced about
with one spring, snarling, a weapon
in either hand.
In the terrible silence they could
hear something heavy t~loundering
in the bushes, choking, moaning
thudding on the ground.
Sanchez began to creep back
Sard, more dead than alive, raWled
at his heels. Presently they saw
Q~uintana, waist deep in juniper
looking down at something.
And when they drew closer they
saw Georgiades lying on his back
under a cedar, the whole front OIL
his shirt from chest to belly a sop
ping mass Of blood.
There seemed no need of explana-
ton. The dead Greek lay there
where he had not been expected
and his two pistols lay beside him
where they had fallen.
Sanchez looked stealthily at Quln-
who said softly:
'.Bien sure . . In his LETT slice
pocket, I believe"
Sanchez laid a cool hand on the
dead mans heart: then, satisfied,
rummaged until he found Georsi-
sdes' share of the loot.
Sard, hurriedly displaying a pair
of clean but shaky hands, made the
division.
When the three men had silently
pocketed what was allotted to each
Ouintana pushed ~curiously at the
dead man with the toe of his shoe:
"Peste!" he remarked. II had
place. for security, a YER large
damon in my pistol barrel. NOW
II is within the interior of this gen
tleman He turned to San
chez: / sell him to you. One sap-
phire. Yes?"
Sanchez shook his head with a
slight sheer: 1--WE wait-if you want
voIr diamond, mon c~apitaine.'
Oufntana hesitated, then made a
and shook his head.
mo" he said, "he has swallow.
let him digest. AIlons! march,"
But after they had gone on-two
hundred yards, perhaps - Sanchez
"WelI?" inquired Q%uintana. Their,
With a sheer: II now recollec' that
,nce you have been a butcher In
Suit your tase, Pami
Sanchez" -.
sard gazed at Sanchez out OF
uickened eyes. 80,
ssYou keep away from me until
'o@N~xAshed yourself" he burst
,ut. revoited. Don't you come
me till you're clean?"
Quintana laughed and seated him
,elf. Sanchez, with a hang-dog
ylance at him, turned and sneaked
back on the trail they had traversed.
Before he was out of sight Sard saw
him fish out a Spanish knife from
his hip pocket and unclasp 1t.
Sanchez made no effort to find
them. They had been gone half an
hour before he had finished the
business that had turned him back.
AS he stood there, examing his
clothing, and washing what he could
of the ominous stains from sleeves
ind shoes, very far away to the north
he heard a curious noise - a far,