New Britain herald., 1922-10-26
co ON WITH THE STORY
EPISODE EIGHT Cup and Lip

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 CHAPTER I.
 Two miles beyond Clinch's Dump, Hal Smith pulled Stormonts horse to a walk. He was tremendously eX- cited
 With naive sincerity he believed that what he had done on the spur of the moment had been the only thing to do.
 By snatching the Flaming Jewel from Quintanas very fingers he had diverted that vindictive bandits fury from Eve. from Clinch, from Stor- mont, and had centered it upon him. self.
 More than that, he had sown the seeds of suspicion among Quintanas S own people They never could dis cover Salzar's body Always they must believe that it was Nicolas Sal gar and no other who so treacherous- ly robbed them, and who rode away in a rain of bullets, shaking the em- blazoned morocco case above his masked head in triomph. derision and defiance.
 At the recollection of what had happened, Hal Smith drew bridle, and sitting his saddle there in the false dawn threw back his handsome head and laughed until the fading stars overhead swam in his eyes through tears of sheerest mirth.
 Smith sat his saddle. thinking. be- ginning to be sobered now by the ln- evitabe reaction which follows eX- citement and mirth as relentlessly as care dogs the horseman.
 He thought of Riga; and of the Red Terror; of murder at monday, and outrage by night He remem- bered his only encounter with a love- ly child-once Grand Duchess of Es- thonia-then destitute refugee in silken rags.
 hat a day that had been. Only one day and one evening. And never had he been so near in love in all his life. {.
 As the false dawn began to fade, he loosened hunting coat and cart ridge sling, drew from his shirt bosom the morocco case.
 It bore the arms and crest of the Grand Duchess Theodorica of Els thonia.
 His fingers trembled slightly as he pressed the jeweled spring. It opened on an empty casket
 In the sudden shock of horror and astontshment his convusive clutch on the spring started a tiny bell ring ing. Then, under his very nose. the empty tray slid aside revealing an- other tray underneath, set solidly with brilliants. A rainbow of glitter streamed from the unset gems in the silken tray. Like an incredulous child he touched them. They were magnificently real.
 In the center lay blazing the great Erosite gem-the Flaming Jewel it. self. Priceless diamonds, sapphires, emeralds ringed it. In his hands he held nearly four millions of dollars.
 Gingerly he balanced the emblaz- oned case, fascinated, Then he re- placed the empty tray, closed the box, thrust it into the bosom of his flannel shirt and buttoned it in.
 Now there was little more for this excited young man to do, He was through with Clinch. Hal Smith. hold-up man and dish-washer at Clinch's Dump, had ended his career uc tllllN Hdu lloN dlllNfD lOI Hllil lO vanish and make room for James Darragh.
 For by this time the Grand Duchess of Esthonia- Ricca as she was called | by her companion, Valentine, the | pretty Countess Orloff- -StrelNitz- must have arrived in New York.
 He lifted the bridle from the horses neck, divided curb and snaffle thoughtfuly, touched the splendid | animal with heel and toe
 As he cantered on into the wide | forest road that led to his late uncle's | abode. curiosity led him to wheel into [ narrower trail running east along [ Star Pond. and from whence he could | take a farewell view of Clinch's Dump.
 Alders still concealed the house across the lake, but the trail was al- ready coming out into the starlight.
 Suddenly his horse stopped short, | trembling, it's ears pricked forward.
 Darragh sat listening intentiy for moment Then with infinite caution, | he leaned over the cantle and gently parted the alders
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