Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-24
BEGIN HERE ODA

The savage fight for possession
" the priceless Flaming Jewel had
twice brought the beautiful
EVE STRAYER near death that day
and now the gem rested under
her pillow in the rough hunting
camp in the Adirondacks.
4 The gem was first stolea from
COUNTESS OF EsTHoNIA by the
great international thief,
ouINTANA, and later stolen from
Quintana by
NIKE CLINCH. who brought the
gem to America and boarded it as
the sole means of giving Eve the
education of a lady"
Around Clinch's Dump ragged a
nurderous battle between rival fac
lions. Clinch and his nIeI. had
worn to wipe out Quintana's gang.
Guarding Eve was the man she
owed.
TATE TROOPER STORIONT.
With Clinch was
AMES DARRAGH, known ss
Hal SMITH, who had sworn to re-
turn the gem to the beggared
countess. In a fight, Smith kills
Salzar. one of Quintanas gang,
and then sets out for Clinch's
cabin.
Go ON With the Story
CHAPTER IL
Before midnight Smith struck
he hard forest. Here there was
10 trail at all, only spreading
5utcrop of rock under dying leaves.
Ahead of him somewhere in DARK
aess-but how far he did not know
-Quintana and his people were
moving swiftly on Clinch's Dump.
1t may have been an hour later
Two hours, perhaps-wheu from far
Ahead in the forest came a sound
he faint clink of a shod heel on
sock.
Now, Smith, unslung his pack,
placed it between two rocks where
.aurel grew.
Salzar's red bandanna was Still
wet, but he tied it across nis face
leaving his eyes exposed. The dead
mans hat fitted him. His oTn hat
and the extra torch he dropped into
his basket pack.
Ready, now, he moved swiftly
forward trailing his rifle. And very
soon it became plain to him that
the people ahead were moving with
but much caution, evidently fearing
no unfriendly ear or eye in that SEE
lion of the wilderness.
To keep in touch with them Smith
FASTENED his pace until he drew
near enough to hear the low muir
muir of their voices.
They were travelling in single file;
he had a glimpse of therr against
The ghostly radiance ahead. Indeed,
10 near had he approached that ne
could hear the heavy. labored breath
ing of the last man in the file
come laggard, was dragging his feet
plodding on doggedly, painting, NUT
.ering. Probably 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 land grew in
he night air-the scent OF dew-Wet
grass, the smell of stSl water AMI
Of sedgy shores.
Lying fiat behind a rottirg log,
Smith could see them Ill W
spectral shapes against tho light.
There were five of them at the for
est's edge.
They seemed to know what was
to be done and how to do it Two
down among the ferns AMI
willows toward the west
;hore of the pond; two sheered Off
% the southwest, shoulder deep In
blackberry and sumac The fifth
nan waited for a while then ran
TOWN across the open pasture.
Scarcely had he started when
Smith glided TO the woods edge.
and looked down.
Below stood Clinch's Dump, plain
n the starlight every window dark.
70 the west the barn doomed, huge
with it's ramshackle out5uildings
toward the lake.
Straight down the slope toward
the barn ran the fifth man Of Quin-
tana's gang. and disappe lred among
the outbuildings.
Smith c~rouched, listened, search
ed the starlight with intent eyes,
snd waited.
Until something happened he
could not solve the problem before
him. He could be of ne use to Eve
Strayer and to Stormont until he
found out what Quintana was going
do.
He could be of little use anyway