, 1922-10-10

1AAHAAAH @N
Clinch's beautiful step-e1ughter.
Eve sTuTER. the che good izfiu,
enoe in the crimestained carer of
Clinch. when o~uintsns and his
sang arrive 20 regain trio Jewel.
Clinch seeks 90 conceal II by giving
IL to Eve M telling her to hide &
In the ''hootch-cAcho." Quintans
ard his gang capture Eve and lead
her blindfoided 70 their camp.
Go on With the Story
CHAPTER III
somebody had balted beside Eve,
After n pause she was aware OF nimble
fingers busy with the bandage over
her eyes.
1t first. when freed. the light blind.
&c her. By degrees she was able 10
distinguish the rocky crest OF Star
Peak. with the tops Of tall trees np-
pear4ng level with the rocks from
depths below.
Their she turned. slowly. n looked
at the man who had seated himss.
beside her.
He wore a white mask over a deli.
cate, smoothly maven IaCN
As she met his brilliant eyes behind
the mask. his delicate. thin lips grew
tense In what seemed 20 be a smile
or n soundless sort OF laugh.
'veree happee." he said. 10 make
the acquaintance. Pardon my IN
ceremony, miss, hut onleo uecissitee
compels., Are o perhaps. a little
rested?"
Yes"
"Ah! Then. 81 you permit. We pro.
seed with affairs Of moment. You will
se sufficiently kind TO write down
what I say. Yes7'
He placed paper and pencil IN Ewes
hand. without denurring or .hesita-
tion she made ready 10 write. her
mind cropping wildly for the reason Of
IL all.
write" he said. with his silent
laugh which was moro like the sound
less snarlN Of n lynx unafraid:
TO Mike Clinch, my fathnire, from
Lis child. Eve. I am hostage. held
Ly Jose Quintana- PAY what you "
hun and 1 go free,
"For zach day delay he sends to you
ene finger which will he severed from
my right hand"
Eve's slender fingers trembled; she
looked UP a. th> masked man. stared
steadily into his brilliant; eyes.
Proceed miss, II YOU are so ami
able" he said softly.
She wrote on: One finger for
every days delay. The whole ham
at the weeks end. The other hand
khen. finger by finger. Then, alas!
the right fost-"
Eve trembled.
Proceed" he sal softly.
She wrote: "If you agree you shall
pay what you W TO Jose ouintans
sn this manner: you shall place a stick
at the edge Of the Star Pond where
tine Star rivulet flows out. Upon this
stick you shall tie a white rag. At
the foot OF the stick you shall lay the
parcel which contains your indebt to
lose ouIntans.
Failing this. by tonight one finger
at sunset"
The man paused: Eve waited, dumb
under the surging confusion in her
brain. A sort OF i~ncredulous horror
benunlbed her. through which h Ntfll
heard and perceived.
"Be kind enough to sign It with
your NAME aaid the man pleasantly.
Eve signed.
The the masked man took the letter,
got up. removed his hat.
Il am Quinttana." he said. ~ keen
my word. A thousand thanks and
apologies, miss. 1 trust that your de
tention may be brief and not too dis
agreeable. I place at your feet my
humble respects"
He bowed. put on his hat. and walk
ed quickly away. And she saw him
descend the rocks to the eastward
where the peak slopes.
When Quinana had disappeared be
hind the summit scrub n rocks, Eve
slowly stood up and looked about her
at the rocky pulpit so familiar.
There was only one way out. ouin.
tana had gone that way. His men
no doubt guarded it. Otherwise, shee
precipices confronted her.
Tho sur was half way between
zenith and horizon when she heard
somebody coming. and rose TO a sit
ting posture. Her visitor was ouin-
tana.
He came up to her quite close. stood
with %glitterng eyes intent upon her.
After a moment he handed her a
letter.
She could scarcely unfold it, she
trembled so:
"Girlie. for Gods sake give that
packet 10 Qgintana n come on
home. Pm near crazy with It all.
What the hel1's anything worth be
side you. grille. I don't give a damn
for nothing only o so come on
quick. Dad"
After a little while she lifted her
eyes 10 Quintsna.
so" he said quietly, "you are the
little she-fox that has learned tricks
already
"What do you mean?"
Where IS that packet
Il haven't it."
Where is it,
She shook her nead slightly.
You hid a packet" he insisted
fercsly. "Lsok here, Regsrd!' and
he spread out a prnciied sheet in