The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-31
(contlnned Erom cur Last lssue.l
CHAPTER II

SSoHtlhueu from our Last ISSUE
CHAPTER IL
Guided BY Quintana's directions
the three had made wide detour
toftfie east, steering by compass Tor
( the crossroads beyond Star Pond
II d dense growth Of cedarss, on
little ridge traverslng wet land
Quintana halted to listen.
satd and Sanchez, supposing him
z 10 be at their heels, continued on.
pnshIhE their way blindly through
the ced4rS, clinginE to the hard
ridge In terror Of sink.holes. But
theIf progress was very slow; and
they were stIll in sight, fighting =
painful path amid the evergreens,
when Quintana suddenly sduatted
close TO the moist earth behind a
jhniper bush.
AT first, except for the threshins
az sard and Sanchez through the
inassed distractions ahead, there
was not d sound in the woods.
But, presently, came soft, swift
rhythm like the. pace Of u forest
creature in haste "a dlscrootIY
hnrrylng tread which was more =
series Of light earth'shocks than
sound.
Quintana, kneollng 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, face appeared.
The loud report OF his pistol
struck Sard with the horror OF
paralysis. Sanchez faced about
With one spring, snarling, weapon
In either hand.
In the terrible silence they could
hear something heavy floun6ering
in the bushes, choking. moaning,
thudding on the ground.
Sanchez began to creep back;
Sard, more dead than alive, crawl
ed at his heels. Presently they saw
Quintana, waist deep In juniper,
Z looking doYn at something.
Is An when they drew closer they
saw Georgiades lying on his back
under a cedar, the whole front OF
his shirt from chest to belly sop
ping mess Of blood.
There seemed no need OF explain.
alton. The dead Gveek lay there
whore he had not been expected,
and his two pistols lay beside him
where they had fallen.
Sanchez looked stealthily at
Quintana, who said softly:
"Bien sure. In his left side
pocket, / believe
Sanchez laid a cool hand on the
dead mans heart: then satisfied,
fummaged until no found Georgi'
adeS, share Of the loot.
sard, hurriedly displaying a pair
ot clean but shnky hands, made the
division.
When the three men had silently
pocketed what was allotted to each
Quiitana pushed curlously at tho
! i dead man with the toe OF his shoe.
: "Peste!" he remarked. 4 had
place, for security, a YER large
+ damon in my pistol barrel. Now
SIT Is within the interior OF this gen.
Stteman. He turned TO San.
chez: l sell him to you. One sap
phire.EYes?"
Sanchez shook his head with 4
sssIieht sheer: I'VE wait--if yon
want your diamond, mon CAPT
stline."
Quintana hesitated. then made
IN pffmnce and shook his head.
mo" he said, "he has swallow.
sLet him digest. Allons MarCh!"
But after they had gone on
Styo hundred yards. perhaps
Sanchez stopped.
7. ''Well?" inquired Quintana.
sThen, with sneer: n now recol-
sfec' that once you have bCeu u
butcher in Madrid Suit your
stas'e, l'ami Sanchez"
Sard gazed at Sanchez out OF
sickened eyes.
"You keep away from me until
you've washed yourself" he burst
tout, revolted. Don't you como
near me till you're clean!"
Quintana laughed and seated
himself. Sanchez, with q hang
dog glance at him, turned anu
:sneaked back on tho trail they
mad traversed. Before he was out
sot sight Sard saw him fish out u
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. examining
; his clothing, and washing what he
could OF the ominous stains from
sleeve and shoe. very far away to
the north he heard curious
noise-a far. faint sound such us
he never before had heard.
II 1t were q voice Of any sort
there was nothing human about It.
Probably some sort OF upknown
. bird-Perhaps a bird Of prey
That was natural. considering the
attraction that GeorElades would
have for such creatures. III 1t
y tSs..---.-.-------
Come to Fairmont Halloween