South Bend news-times., 1922-10-03
The



For two years. Fate, Chance. and
Destiny had been too busy to attend
70
NIKE CLINCH Now the malevolent
influence which had hung over
each poSsess0r of the priceless
Flaming Jewel ever since it was
stolen from a refugee countess of
Esthonia. gathered like a fog
about the disrepUtable hunting
camp which CAuch owned in the
Adirondacks Here. among the
criminals ana riff-raf OF the NOr.h
Woods, Ciinch lived with his beau
tiful step-daushter.
EVE STRAYER.
JAMES DARRAGH learns from the
countess that the Flaming Jewel
was originally stolen from her 10y
QUTNTANA. "a great international
thief whose New York agent IS
EMANUEL SARD. Darragh robs
Sard Of code letter frim Quin-
tana. which states that the Fiam-
ing Jewel is now i'm the possess
sion OF Mike Clinch. Darragh
heads for Clinch's cabin az Star
Pond and on his trail are .wo
state Troopers seeking TO arrest
him for the ho-dup of Sard
Con ON With The story.
CHAPTER ILL.,
CIinch. inn his shirt sleeves. came
out on the veranda He had uttlc
light gray eyes. close-clipped gray
hair. and was clean shaven.
How are YOU, Clnch." inquired
1annis anab-y
"Au right" replied CLnch;
you're the same. 7 hope"
Trooper S.ormont. Mr. CInch. ."
said Lannls I'm his genial way.
Pleased to know YOU" said
Cunch. level-eyed. uustirr.Dg
The troopers d-smcunted. Both
shook hands with CEnch Then Lam
mis- led the way 10 the barn.
From the care of their horses
they went 90 a pump 90 wash.
Ianuis said i'm Stormon.'s ear:
Here she comes with towels. She s
pretty isn't she2"
a young girl in pink gingham ad-
vanced toward them across the
patch or grass.
LannLs was very polite and pre-
scented Stormont. The girl handed
them two rough -owels. glanced at
Stormout aEa.n after the iutroduc-
zion. smiled slightly.
Dinner Is ready" She said
They dried their faces and follow
ed her hack % the house.
Il was an unpaiuted building
partly OF les. I'm the dining room
half a dozen men waited silently for
fcod Iaunis sa-uted an. named HE
comrade and seated himself
4 delicious odor ot Johuuy-cake
rervaded The room Presently Eve
Strayer appeared with the dinner.
There was dew on her pale fore
head-the heat Of the kitchen. mo
douEht The girls thick. lustrous
heir was nrown,sh gold. and SO
twisted UP chat 70 revealed her ears
and q very white neck
When she brought Stormont ms
dinner he caught her eyes a mo-
experienced a slight shock Of
pleasure az thcl- intense bIue-tne
Ceutia0-hlle of the summer zenith
a midday
Larnis remained aT-h BILE. even be-
came jocCse at moments.
"No hootch FOR dinner Nlke2
Hows that now
The Bootleg Express Isl dav
late" replied Clnch with cold
humo-
Around the table ran an odd
sound company 81 r8tau0uuts
feeding m.sht have made such a
rgee-if catamourt~ over laugh
E-0ruon had finished dinner. He
heard n low. charming voice from
behind his chair.
Apple pie. lemon pie maple cake.
berry rCll"
RE looked up into ,vo gentian-
Blue eyes.
Lemon pie please he said
bIush.0r
When dinner was cve- and the
hero dining room empty except for
Cunch and the two State Troopers
the former folded his heavy power
fur hands on Che tables edge and
turned his square face 7nd pale-eyed
Eaze on L4nuis
spit O. our DE said in a passion
less voice.
Iann.s csoesed one knee over the
other. lrhted cEaret:
us there "a young fellow working
fer you named Hll smith %
$50 s7tf CtrCh.
sure"
"sure
"Ciurh." continues Lannis "have