, 1922-10-20
Go on With the Story:

EPISODE SEVEN.



When Mike Clinch babe Hal Smith
return to the Dump and take care
of Eve. Smith already had decided
TO 80 there
Somewhere in Clinch's Dump was
hidden the Flaming Jewel. Now was
his time to search for II.
There were two other reasons WHY
he should go back. n OF them wa
that Leverett was loose. II anything
had called Trooper stormont away.
Eve would be alone In the house Anc
nobody on earth could forecast What
a coward Ike Lsvrett might tat
tempt
But there was another and more
serious reason for returning to
Clinch's. Clinch. blooAmak was
headed for Drowned Valley with his
men to stop both ends OF that vas.
morass before Q%uintana n his sang
could get out
1t was evident that neither Ilinch
nor any OF his men-although their
very lives depended upon familiar
ity with the wIlderness-knew that
n third exit fro IDrowneC Valley OK
listed.
And tina was why Darragh, or Hal
Smith, finally decided to return TO
star Pond-because II Quintana I'M
been told or had discovered that cif
ouitous way out OF Drowned Valley,
he might go straight to Clincn's
Dump. And. ~supposing Stor
mont was stIl there. how long could
one State Trooper stand off Quin-
tana's gang?
No sooner had Clinch and his mot
ley followers disappeared in the dusk
than Smith unslHng his basket-pack'
fished out a big electric torch. flash
It tentatively. and then. re-slinging
the pack and taking his rifle in his
left hand he set off at an easy swing
ing stride.
For a long while he did lot dare to
use his torch: but now he was Obliged
70.
He shined the ground at his feet
elevated the torch with infinite pre-
caution, throwing a tan shaped light
over the stretch Of sink he had sus-
pected and feared. II thanked the
flat, wet path of rock on either side.
Here Death spread its Shiny trap at
his very feet.
Then, as he stood taking his bear
ings with burning torch, far ahead in
The darkness a light flashed, went
out. fashed twice more, and was *
tnguIshed-
Quintana!
Smiths wits were working like
lightning. but Instinct guided him
before his brain took command. He
leveIed his torch and repeated the
three signal flashes. e in dark
ness. he came to swift conclusion.
For 400 yarts, counting his strides,
he continued on. Then. in total
ne pocketed the torch, slid
a cartridge into the breech of his
rife, slung the weapon pulled out
a handk erchief, and tied it across his
face under the Eyes.
He continued to move forward
after a little while his ear caught a
slight splash ahead. Suddenly a
glare OF light enveloped him.
rs It you, Harry Beck?"
Instinct led again while wits work
ed madly: Harry Beck is two
miles back on guard. Where is Sard2'
The silence became terrible. Once
the glaring light iii front moved then
became fixed. There was a light
SplaSning. Instantly cTlln TeallZed
that the man in front had set his
torch in a tree-crotch and was now
covering somewhere behind a leveled
weapon. His voics came presently;
He! Drapa-a tnat-a u damn
quick"
Smith bent, leisurely and laid his
rifle on a messy rock.
"Nowl You there! Why you want
sard! Eth?
'I'n tell sard. not YOU" r~etorted
Smith cody. you listen to me, who.
ever you arc. I'm from SGrd's Of
flee in New York. I'm Abrams. The
police are on their way here TO find
o~uintana-"
a movement might have meant
Seath. but he calmly rummaged for
a clgaret. lighted it, blew a cloud Of
smoke insolently toward h white
glare ahead. Then he took another
chance:
y guess you're Nick salzar. aren't
your"
Isl I am sa1zar. Who tho dew
are your"
"I'm Eddie Abrams. sard's lawyer
NY business is TO find my client II
You step mo you'll go TO prison
the whole gang OF you-sard. ouin
tana. Picquet. Sanchez. G~eorgtade'
ana Harry Beck-and you-