The Bismarck tribune., 1922-10-28

| into her lovers eyes with a gaze sc
chaste, so oblivious to all things
earthly, that the still purity of hel
face seemed a sacrament, and he
scarcely dared touch the childish
lips she offered.
But when the sacrament of the
kiss had been accomplished, she rest
ed one hand on his shoulder and
rose, drew him with her.
the emblazoned case from his breast,
opened it, and, in silence, laid it in
her hands. The blaze Of the jewels
in the sunshine almost blinded them.
That was his momeit.
The next moment was Quintana's.
Darragh hadn't chance. Out of
the bushes two pistols were thrust
hard against his stomach. Quin-
tana's face was behind them. He
wore no mask, but the three men
with him watched him over the
edges of handkerchiefs-over the
sights of leveled rifles, too.
The Youthful Grand Duchess had
turned deadly white. One of Quin-
tana's men took the morocco case
from her. hands and showed her
aside without ceremony.
Quintana leered at Darragh over
his level weapons:
"My fricn' Smith" he exclaimed
softly. $50 it is you, then, who have
twice try to rob me of my proper
ty! n
"Ah! You recollcc? Yes? How
you have rob me of a pacquet which
contain only some chocolate?
Darragh's face was burning with
helpless rage.
"My frien,' Smith" repeated
Quintana, "do you reollec' what it
was you say to me? Yes? -.
How often it is the unexpected
which so usually happen? You arc
quite correc' 1'ami Smith. 1t has
happen."
"So,' he said, "t was also you
who rob me las night Of my prop
erty. =. Dhat you do to Nick
Sa1zar. eh?"
He glanced at the open jewel box
which one Of the masked men held,
then, like lightning. his sinister eyes
focused on Darragh.
$780," he said, "it was also yol
who rob me las night of my prop
erty. What you do to Nick
Salzar,eh? %,
"Killed him." said Darragh, dry
Tipped, nerved for death.-"ought
to have killed you, too, when had
the chance.S But-Pm white, you
see."
At the insult flung into his face
over the muzzles of his own pistols
Quintana burst into laughter.
"Ah! You should not shot me!
You are quite right, my frien'.
mus say you have behave ver'
foolish"
He laughed again so hard that
Darragh felt his pistols shaking
against his body. 4
so you have kill Nick Salzar,
eh?" continued Quintana with per-
feet good humor. "My frien', I am
oblige to you for what you do. You
are surprise? En-? 1t is ver' simple,
my frien' Smith. What want of a
man who can be kill? Eh? OF
what use is he to me? Voila!"
He laughed, patted Darragh CT
the shoulders with one of his pistols.
"You, now-you could be of use
Why? Because you are better
man than was Nick Salzar. He who
kills is better than the dead"
Then shifting his eyes he made
a motion with one pistol to his men.
As they turned Quintana's intent
gaze became murderous.
"If l mus kill you both l shall do
so. Otherwise have sufficient
trouble to keep me from ennui. Ny
frien', l am going home to enjoy
my property. If you live or die it
signifies nothing to me. No! Why,
for pleasure of killing you, should l
bring your dirty gendarmes on my
heels?"
he backed away TO the edge OF
the thicket, venturing one swift and
evil glance at the girl who stood
as though dazed.
Listen attentively," he said to
Darragh. "One of my men remains
hidden very near. He is dead shot.
His aim is at your-sweetheart's
hodv. You understand
"Yes'."
ever we'll. You shall not 60 away
for one hour time. After that"
he took off his slouche hat with a
sweeping blow-"you may 60 to
HE'LL" ...
Behind him the bushes departed,
closed.
Jose Quintana had made his
adieux.
CONTINUED in Our Next lssue)