South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-11
The FLAMING JEWEL
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

, little she-fox that has learned tricks
already
What DO you mean7"
Where t. that packstT''
II haven't II"
Where n it7'
She shook her head slightly.
You had a packet" he insisted
dercely. Look herel Regard" and
he spread out a penciled sheet IA
Clinch's hand:
lose QuintanaI
You win. She's got that stuff
with her. Take your damn junk and
Jet my girl 90.
Mike CHnch."
Well" said Cuintana. IA thin.
strident edge 20 his tone.
Ny father IS mistaken. haven't
any packet"
The mans visage behind his mask
flushed darkly. without warning or
ceremony he caught Eve by the
throat and tore open her shirt.
Then. Kissing and cursing and pant
ing with his own violence. he
searched her brutally and without
mercy-flung her down and tore or
her spiral puttees and even her shoes
and stockings, now apparently be-
side himself with fu.y, putting. gasp
ing. always with a fierce, nasal sort
OF whining undertone like an animal
worrying its Kill.
"Cowardly BEAST" she painted
fighting him with all her strength
filthy. cowardly BEAST" striking
at him, wrenching his grasp away.
snatching at the disordered clothing
hall stripped from her.
Ills hunting knife fell Gathering
and she fought 20 get it. but ne
struck her with his open hand.
knocking her down at his feet. and
stood glazing at her with every tooth
barred.
$50" he cried. Il give you ten
minutes. make up your mind tell
me what you do with that packet"
He wiped the blood from his face
where she had struck him.
you don't know Jose Quintana.
Mol You shall make his acquain-
lance. Yes"
Eve got up on naked feet, CULVER
Ing from head 10 foot, striving %
button the gray shirt at her throat.
"Where2' he demanded, beside
himself
Her mute lips only frightened.
yer we'll, by Cod" he cried. II
90 make me some fire. You like It,
eh7 We shall put one toe in the
fire until 1t burn of. Yes? Eli?
How you like it2 Eh?"
The girls trembling hands con-
tinued busy with her clothing.
sol" he said, hoarsely. you re-
main dumb Well, then. in ten min
utes you shall talk"
He walked toward her. pushed her
savagely aside. and strobe on into
tho spruce thicket.
The instant he disappeared Eve
caught up the knife he had dropped,
knelt down on the blanket and fell
70 cutting Il into strips.
The hunting knife was like a
razor the feverish business was ac-
compushed in a few moments, the
pieces knohed. the cord strained in
a desperate test over her knee.
anu nUW oAAt ran ~ the pANN4pACN
where. ten feet below. the top of a
great pine protruded from the gulf.
On the edge Of the abyss was a
spruce root. It looked dead, wedged
deep between two rocks. but with
all her strength she could not pull
II out
SObbiUg. breathless. she tied her
blanket rope to this. threw the other
end over the cliffs edge. and, not
giving herself time TO think. lay fat.
grasped the knotted line. swung off.
Knot by knot she went down.
Halfway her naked feet brushed the
needles. She looked over her shout
der. behind and down Then, teeth
clenched, she lowered herself stead
lily as she had learned 10 do in the
school gymnasium. down. down, un-
til her legs came astride of a pine
limb
II bent swayed. gave with her.
letting her sag to a larger limb be-
low This she clasped. letting go her
rope.
An hour later. Trooper Stormont