, 1922-10-26

ouiniana. both pistols in his hands.
looked DOWN at n sc~intnlating heap
OF jewel
million OF dollaires." he saic simply.
1T has been agree that ! sccep' for
me the erosits gem known as The
Flaming Jewel. In addition. messieurs.
II has been agreed that I accep' for
myse'f n part in five OF the remain
der"
A fierce silence reigned- Every
woifish eye vas on the leader. He
smiled. rested on his pair OF pistols
on either knee.
as there" he asked softly. ANY
gentleman who shall objec'?"
"who." demanded Ge;rrades
hoarseiy. is to dtdds for us7'
1T for such purpose" explained
ouintaua suaveiy. that my frien'
Emanoel Sard. has arrive. Monsieur
sard is a brokai,e OF diamon's. as sIi
know YER well. Therefore. Il shall be
our frien' ssrd who viii divide for
us WAX We have gain today by our
Industry
The savage tension broke with a
laugh at tho word chosen by GUM
tanh to express their efforts OF the
morning.
Sard had been standing with one
fat hand fiat against the trunk of
a tree. Now. at q nod from ouin-
tana, he squatted rov'n. ami. with
the same hand hat mad been rest
ing against the tree. he spread out
h pile Of jewels int a fiat layer.
As he began to divide his Into five
parts. sim using the flat OF his hand
something polsed him lightly In the
ribs. It was the muzzle of m OF
ouintana's pistols.
Sard. chr stly yale, looked up. His
palm. sticky with haissm gum. quiv,
cred in ou.ntnns's rasp.
II was going to scraps it off, lie
gasped. The tree was sticky"
ouintana, vita the muzzle OF his
pistol. detaeoed salt a dozen diamonds
rnd rubies that chung to the gum
on Mr.. ssrd's palm.
WASH he said dryly.
Sard. sweating with fear. washed
his right hanc with whisky from his
pocketflash ind dried It for general
lnpsection.
MY Cod he protested tremulous.
ly. ait wls accidental. gentlemen. DO
you think ia try to get away with
anything like that"
Q~uintana cooled showed him aside
and with the barrel of his, pistol he
pushed the nat pile of gems into five
separate heaps. Only he and Georg-
AIDES knew that n magnificent dia
mond had been lodged in the muzzle
Of his pistol. The eyes of the Greek
famed with rrEe at the trick. but he
the division before he should
come 10 my conclusion.
ou'ntax- cody picked out The
Flaming Jewe n pocketed It. Then
TO each man he indicated the heap
which was to be his portion
a snarling range instantly began,
S1nchez objecting to. rubies and de-
manding more emeraids, and Picquet
complaining violently concerning the
smal:ness OF the diamonds allotted
him.
sard's trained eyes appraised every
allotment. Without Weighing. and
lacking time and paraphernsiia for
expert. examination. he was inclined
TO think the division fair enough.
Quintana rot to his feet llthe.y.
For me-" he said. 1T is Anish.
With my fricn' Sard I shall now
depart. Messieurs. I embrace and
you. a bientot in Paris=lf it
Gods Will. Donc-au revoir, les
nmis. ct a la bonheurl Alionsi Each
for himself and gar aur flicsr'
Sard. seized with a sort OF still
terror. regarded Quintana with en-
ormous eyes. Torn between 6ssmay
OF being left alone in the wilderness,
and a very natural fear of any single
he did not know what to
gay or do.
En- masse. the gang were too dis
OF one another to unite on
robbing I'M Individual. But any indi-
vidual might easily rob a companion
when alone with him.
"Why-why can't we all 20 to-
gether." he stammered. ut is safer,
81 go with ouintana and YOU" in
terrupted Georgiades. smilingly; his
mind on the diamond in the muzzie Of
Quintana's pistol.
II do not invite you" saiG. ouin-
tana- But come II 1t pleases you"
81 also prefer to come with you
Others growled Sanchez. ITO roam
alone in this filthy forest does not
suit me-"
Picquet shrugged his shoulders.
turned on his heel in silence. They
watched him moving away all alone.
eastward. When he had disappeared
among the trees. Quintana looked in
quiringly at the others.
"Eh. bien. o alorsf" snarled Geor-
giades suddenly. There are too
many in you trupeau, mon capitaine.
Bonnie chance"
He turned anc started noisily in the
They watched him out OF sight;
direction taken by Picquet.
listened to his careless trsmple after
he was lost to view. When at length
the last distant sound II his retreat
had died away in the stiffness. ouin-
tana touched Sard with the point OF
his pistol. 3
Go first" he said suavely.
For Gods sake. be a little care