South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-09
. FLAMING JEWEL
BY ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

up Quintana & track so far
After a silence. Too bad this snow
came so late" remarked Trooper
Lannis. But we ought 70 get Quin-
tana anyway"
Darragh went over and looked
silently at Nike Clinch.
I Ike you" he said under his
breath 1T wasn't your fault And
Il wasn't mine. Nike. I'll try
20 square things. Don't worry"
He came back slowly 20 where
stormont was standing near the
door.
Jack" he said. you can't marry
Eve on a Troopers pay. Why not
quit and take over the Harrod
estate? You and I can 90 into
business together later IL you like"
After a pause: That's rather
wonderful OF you. jim" said Stor-
mont. but you don't know what
sort Of business man I'd make"
L know what sort OF officer you
made. I'm taking no chance.
And I'll make my peace with
Eve-or somebody will do IL for me.
Is IL settled them
Thanks" said Trooper Stormont.
reddening They clasped hands
Then Stormont went about and light
ed the candles IN the room. Clinch's
face. gain revealed. was still family
amused at something or other. The
dead have much TO be amused az.
As Darragh was about TO go,
Stormont said: We're burying
Clinch at eleven tomorrow morning.
The Ghost Lake Pilot officiates."
III come II it won't upset Eve"
said DarraEh.
she won't notice anybody.
fancy" remarked Stormont
He stood by the veranda and
watched Darragh take the long
trail through the snow. Finally the
glimmer OF his swinging lantern was
lost In the woods and Stormont
mounted the stairs once more. stood
silently by Ewes open/door, realized
she was still heavily asleep. and
seated himself on a chair outside her
door 10 watch and walt.
All night long It showed hard
over the star Pond country. and
the late gray light OF morning re-
vealed a binding storm pelting a
white robed world.
Toward 10 o'clock, stormont, on
guard. noticed that Eve was grow
ing restless.
Downstairs the flotsam Of the for
est had gathered again: Mr.. Lyken
was there IN black gloves; the Rev
erend Laomi Smatter had arrived
In a sleigh from Ghost Lake. Both
we're breakfasting heavily.
The pretty. sulky-faced girl fetched
tray and placed Ewes breakfast
on it; and Trooper Stormont carried
it to her room.
She was awake when he entered.
He set the tray on the table. She
put both arms around his neck.
Jack" she murmured, her eyes
tremulous with tears.
Everything has been done" he
said viii you be ready by eleven?
I'll come for you"
She chung to him in silence for a
while.
At eleven he knocked on her door.
She opened It. She wore her black
wool gown and a black fur turban.
Some Of her pallor remained-traces
of tears and blush smears under
both eyes. But her voice was
steady.
Gould I see Dad a moment
aIone?"
"Of course"
She took his arm: they descended
the stairs. There seemed to be
many people about but she did not
lift her eyes until her lover led her
into the dance hall where Clinch
lay smiling his mysterious smile.
Then Stormont left her alone
there and closed the door.
In a terrific snow-stOrm they
buried Mike CHnch on the spot he
had selected. in order that he might
keep a watchful eye upon the tres
passing ghost OF old man Harrod.
Il blew and stormed and stOrmed,
and the thin. nasal voice of Rev.
Smatter" was utterly lost in the
wind. The slsnting lances of snow
drove down on the casket, building
a white mound over the flowers,
plotting the hemlock boughs from
sight.
There was no time 20 be lost now;
the ground was freezing under a
veering and bitter wind out OF the
west. Mr.. Lyken's talented as
sistants had some difficulty in snap
ing the mound which snow began TO
make into white and flawless
monument.
The last slap OF the spade rang
with a metallic jar across the lake
where snow already blotted the new
" forming film OF ice; the human
denizens OF the wilderness filtered
back into Il one by one; "Rey.
Smatter" got into his sleigh. plainly
concerned about the road; Mr..
Lyken betrayed unprofessional haste
in loading his wagon with bis tall
ented assistants and started for
Ghost Lake.
Continued in Our Next Issue)
X. K. =. Cigars not named Cor =
secret society. but after famous