Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-11-08
.Eq FLAMING|a
Al JEWELS ~
By ROBERT w CIlAMBERS
S<H*EsSr'~V o1ooQ GEORGE poaAs coASnAsr
CONTINUED From Our Last Issue

taft spectral GUNNER u Qdi-telt4e
nre, the girl was almost breathless
But dawn was not very far away
and there remained little time FOL
= the taking alive OF a dangerous man
Where two enormous pines grew
close together near a sapling, sh'
knelt down, and, with both hands
boooped out a big hollow in the I'm
memorial layers OF pine needless
Here she placed her trap. It took
all her strength and skin to set III
to fasten the chain around the base
of the sapllng pine.
And now. working with only the
faintest Rlimmer OF her torch, she
covered everything with pine
needless.
II was not possible to restore the
forest floor; the place remained
vls!ble-a darker, rougher patch on
The bronzed carpet OF needles beaten
smooth by decades OF rain and snow.
No animal would have trodden that
suspicious space. But It was with
man she had to deal-a dangerous
but reasoning man with few and
-atrophied instincts-and with no ex-
perience in traps; and. therefore, in
no dread OF them.
Before she started she had thrown
a cartridge into the breech Of her
rife.
Now she pocketed her torch and
seated herself between the two big
pines and about three feet behind
the hidden trap.
"a
looked upward through high pine
tops where stars shone; and saw no
slgn Of dawn. But the watcher by
the fire beyond was astir, now. in
the imminence Of dawn. and evil
IDENTIFY meant TO warm himself be-
fore leaving,
Eve could hear him piliDg dry
wood on the FIRE; the Light on the
tree trunks grew redder; a pungent
reek Of smoke was drawn through
the forest a!sles. She sniffed it.
listened. and watched, her rifle
across her knees.
Eve never had been afraid Of any
thing. She was not afraid OF this
man. II IL came TO combat che
would have TO kill. Il never entered
her mind to fear Quiutanas rife.
Even Clinch was not as swift with
a rife as she. Only Stormont
had been swifter-thank Godi-
She thought OF Stormont-Sat
there IN the terrific darliess loving
him, her heart Of a child tremulous
with alteration.
Then the memory OF Darragh
pushed in and hot hatred possessed
her. Always. in her heart, she had
distrusted the man.
Instinct had warned her. A spy!
What evil had he worked already?
Where was her father2 Evidently
Quintana had escaped him at
Drowned Valley. o.. Quintana
was yonder by his fire, preparing to
fee the wilderness where men hunt
cd him. But where was
Cunch? Had this sneak, Darragh.
betrayed him? Was Clnch already
in the clutch Of State Troopers?
Was he in jail7
At the thought the girl felt slight
~ faint, then a rush OF angry blood {
stung her face in the darkness. Ex-
cept for game and excise violations
the stories they told about Chnch
were lies.
He had nothing 10 fear. nothing
to be ashamed Of. Harrod had
driven him to Iawlessness; the Gov
eminent took away what was left
him 10 make a living. He had to /
live. What II he did break laws
made by millionaire and fanatici .
What Of Il? He had her love and .
her respect-and her deep, deep .
pity. And these were enough for
any girl TO tight for.
Dawn spread n siivery light above
the pines, but Quintana's IRE still
Redeemed the tree trunlksi and she
could hear him feeding It at inter
walls.
Finally she saw him. He came
out on the edge Of the rudy ring
OF light and stood peering around
at the woods where already a vague
grayness was revealing nearer trees.
When. finally. he turned his back
and looked at his fire. Eve rose and
stood between the two big pines.
Behind one OF them she placed her
rife.
II was growing lighter in the
woods. She could see Quintana in
the fire ring and outside-saw him
go 10 the spring rivulet, lie fiat.
drink, then on his knees. wash
face and hands in the icy water.
II became plain to her that he
was nearly ready TO depart. She
watched him preparing. And now
she could see him plainly and knew
him n be QuiDtana and no other.
He mad a light basket pack He
put some articles into II, stretched
himself and yawned. pulled on his
hat, hoisted the pack and fastened
Il to his back, stood staring at the
fire for a long time; then. with a
sudden upward look at the zenith ,
where a slight flush stained n cloud, q
he picked up his rifle.
At that moment Eve called TO
him in a clear and steady voice.
The effect on Quintana was in
slant; he was behind a tree before
her voice ceased.
"Hauoi HI You over therel" she
called again. This IL Eve Strayer.
I'm looking for Clinchl He hasn't
been home all night. Have you seen
aim ?"
After moment she saw Quin-
ana's head watching her-not at
he shoulder-height Of a man. but
lose to the ground and Just above
he tree roots.
'Heyr she cried. whats the
natter with you over there7 I'm