Evening journal., 1922-10-26

Outside IN the rAg-weed patel
Hal Smith rose. stole across n
grass to the kitchen door and slippe
inside.
'Now, senorita," sasd Quintan
gaily, my parlet, II you please
and we lesve you to the oaresse
OF your fathful gendarme-wh
should thank God that he ST
possesses two good hands TO fondl
you'll Atonsl Dome theni Ny psoketl
One of the masked men said
take her downstairs and lock he
up somewhere or she'll shoot u
from her window"
Lead OUT that gendarme. tool
added Qutnsana. graspdng Eve b.
the arm.
Down the stairs tramped the mel
forcing their prisoners with them
In the big Kitchen the glare from
the burning clubhouse fell dimly
the place was fun OF shadows.
Nov" said Quintans. II take my
property and my leave. Where IS
the packet hidden7"
She stood for a moment with
dropping head. amid the somber
shadows. then, slowly. she drew the
emblazoned morocco case from her
breast pocket.
What followed occurred IN the
twinkling of an eye: for, as Quin-
tana extended his arm 10 grasp the
case. a hand snatched 81, a masked
figure sprang through the doorway,
and nan toward the barn.
Somebody recognized the hat and
red bandanna;
"saizarv he yelled. Nick SAL
zari"
"A traitor. by Godi" shouted
Quintana. Even before he had
reached the door. his pistol flashed
twice. deafening all in the semi
darkness. choking them with stiff
ing fumes.
A masked man turned on Stor-
mont. forcing him back into the
pantry at pistol-point. Another man
pushed Eve after him, slammed the
pantry door and bolted II.
Through the iron bars Of the pan
try window, Stormont saw a man.
wearing a red bandanna tied under
his eyes, run up and unite his horse
and fling himself astride under a
shower OF bullets.
AS he wheeled the horse and
ewung him into the clearing toward
the foot OF Star Pond, his seat and
horsemanship were not TO be mis-
taken.
He was gone. now. the gallop
stretching into dead run; and
Quintana's men still following,
shooting. hailooing in the starlight
like a pack OF leaping shapes from
hell.
But Quintana had not followed
Ear. When he had emptied HIS au-
tomatio he halted.
Something about the transaction ,
suddenly checked his fury. stille
For full minute he stood I'M
eoirring, every atom OF intelligence
IN terrible concentration.
Presently he put his left hand into
mis- pocket. fitted another clip 20 his
pistol. turned on his heel and walked /
straight back 10 the house.
Between the two locked in the
pantry not a word had passed. stor-
mont still peered out between the
iron bars, striving to catch a glimpse
OF what was going on. Eve crouch
ed at the pantry door. her face in
her hands, listening.
Suddenly she heard Quintana's
step in the kitchen. Cautiously che
turned the pantry key from inside.
stormont heard her, and instantly
came TO her. At the same moment
ouintana unbolted the.door from the
outside and tried to open It.
Come out" he said coldly, cor
dr will not go well with you when my
men return"
You've got what you say is your
property" replied Stormont. What
do you want now?"
II tell you what I wan YER damn /
quick. Who was he, thees man who
rides with my property on your
horse away? Eli? Because It was
not Nick Salzarl MOI Salzar can
not ride thees way. No! Aiors?
II can't tell you who he was" re-
piled Stormont. That's your affair,
not ours"
No? Ali Yer then. I shan
tell you, Senior File! He was one
OF yours. I understand. It is trap,
> cheat-what you call a plant
rhees man who rode your horse he
S disguisel Yesl You think let
yendarme rob me? got you where
want you now. You shall write
FOUR gendarme frien' that he return
o me my property one days time.
" send him by parcel post two !
dee, fresh-out right-hands-your
weetheart's and your owni
Stormont drew Ewes head close
o his:
This man is blood mad or out of
IS mindi ia better go out and take
chance at him before the others
ONO back"
But the girl shook her head vio-
.ntly. caught him by the arm and
rev him toward the mouth of the
lie down which Clinch always
nptied his hootch when the Dump
ras raided.
But now. = appeared that the tile