The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-30
/ Continued iron, our last rssue)
EPISODE NINE =
The Forest and Mr.. sard
CHAPTER II

I - AlSSA%A4 ANtANAS
The Forest and Mr. Sard
CHAPTER
When at last Jose Qalntana had
secured what he had been after
for Year,, his troubles really be-
gan.
III his pocket he had two mil
Hon dollars worth Of gems, In
elttding the Flaming jewel.
But he was In the middle OF
wilderness Elnged In by hostile
men and Obliged to rely for aid
on d handful OF the most desper-
ete criminals in Europe.
Another matter worried Jose
Qutntana: he was not only short
on provisions, but what remained
vas cached In Drowned Valley;
and Mike Clinch and his men
were guarding every outlet 10 that
sinister region excepting only the
rocky and submerged trail by
which he had made his exit.
Now, how to keep his loot; how
to3gat back to Europe with It, was
the problem that confronted Quin-
tana after robbing Darragh. And
he determined. to settle part OF
8 that question at once.
3 About Ave miles from Harrod
Place, within a hundred rods Of
which he had held up Hal Smith,
Qiintana halted, seated himself on
aerotten log, and waited until his
men came up and gathered around
him. q
For q little while, in utter 81
lence, his keen eyes trayeleI from
one yIsage To the next, from Henti
Rlequet to Victor Goorglades, to
Sanchez. to sard. HIS intent scru.
tiny focused on sard: lingered.
ne there were anybody * mLNh:
trust, a little way. 1t would be
sard.
Then a polite, untroubled smile
stnoothed the pale, dark featur %
fssJose Qulntana:
tBien. messieurs, the coup has
been success. Yes? Yer well; in
turn, then. en- accord with our GUS
tom, shall dispose myself to lis
ten to your good advice. -,
He looked at Henri Picquet.
smiled and nodded invitation to
pie9ue. shrugged; "For me.
mon capitaine. eet ees YER simple
We are five. Therefore, divide In
tot five 20 gems. After Eat. eacn
one for himself to make his way
OUT s
"Nick salzar and Harry Beck
arefin the Drowned Valley" inter
fupted Quintana.
! p.cquet shrugged again; Can
gchez laughed. saying: III they are
{ there, 1t Is their misfortune. Also.
we others arc in "a hurry"
Picquet added: ALSO five
shares are sufficient division"
L SIT is. propose. then, that W.
abandon our comrades Beck and
salsaF I, TO the rifle of Mike
''Why not?" demanded Geor.
giades sullenly-+we shall have
worse to face before SC see the
4 Pace DE opera
~ aThere remains also, Eddie 40
rams" remarked Qutntana.
Crooks never betray their attor'
fley. Everybody expressed a Will
ingness to have the five shares OF
Iluuder properly assessed to sat
sisfy the fee due to-Mr. Abrams.
s.Ver' WE'LL" nodded Quintana,
sare you satisfy; messieurs, to d.
vide an dispersed"
sard said, heavily. that thoS
ought to stick together until they
arrived in New York.
X Sanchez snecred. accusing Sard
of wanting n bodyguard to escort
Y him to his own home. in this &C
cursed forest" he insisted, "five oil
& us would attract attention where
ono alone, with sufficient stealth
can slip through into the open
\, country"
1.-TWO by two is better" said
Piequet. "You Sanchez, shall
travel alone II you desire"
n StDivide! the gems first" growled
Georgtades, "and then let each dc
What pleases him."
THAT" nodded QuIntana. IFS also
my, opinion. 1t is so settle. Atten
Z toni" Two pistols were in his hands
\ as by magic. With n slight smile
he laid them on the moss beside
i HIN.
He then spread a large white
3sland kerchief on the ground: and
from his pockets, he poured out the
Z altering cascade. Yet, like a feed
Ing panther, every sense remained
alert to the slightest sound or move
ment elsewhere; and when Georsi
AIDES grunted from excess emotion
Quintana's right hand held pistol
e before the grunt has ceased.
F.sIt was a serious business. this
division Of .loot; every rockies,
ytsage reflected the strain OF the
K situation.
Quintana, both pistols In his
hands. looked down at the scintil.
Sslating heap OF jewels.
II estimate two md one quar-
4 tire million Of dollaires," he said
Fdmply. ut has been agree that
a I accep' for me the eroslte gem
known as The Flaming Jewel. In
Z addition, messieurs, It has been
agreed that I accep' for myself
one part In i've OF the'remainder. "
a therce silence reigned. Every
;Woltish eye was on the leader. He
smiled, rested his pair Of pistols
on either knee.
y rs there" he asked softly,
ject'?"