Evening journal., 1922-10-24
EPISODE SEVEN.
C1inch's Dump
CHAPTER I

Nutn -OAAc SAAiCA odac ia
Smith return 10 the Dump and TAX
care. of Eve, Smith already had de
cided to so there.
Somewhere in Cllnch's Dump wa
hidden the Flaming Jewel. Nov
was his time to search for IT,
There are two other reasons whI
ne should go back. One of then
was that Leverett was loose. i
anything had called Trooper stor
mont away, Eve would be alone IL
the house And nobody on earth
could forecast what a coward like
Everett might attempt.
But there was another and more
serious reason for returning tc
Chneh's. Clinch, blood-mad, wai
headed for Drowned Valley with hi.
men, TO stop both ends of that vast
morass before ouintana and his gang
could get out.
il was evident that neither Clinch
nor any Of his men-although their
\ very lives depended upon familiari-
IL with the wilderness-knew that
third ext from Drowned Valley
existed.
And that was why Darragh, or
Hal Smith. finally decided to re-
turn TO Star Pond-because II Quin-
tana had been told or had discover
ed that cireuitous way out Of Drown
ed Valley he might go straight to
Clfnch's Dump. And, suppos-
ink stormont was still there how
long could one state Trooper stand
of Quintana's gang?
No sooner had Clinch and his mot
ley followers disappeared in the
dusk than Smith unslung his bas-
ket-pack, fished out a big electric
torch. flashed it tentatively, and then
reSiinging the pack and taking his
rihe IN his left hand, he set off at
an easy swinging stride.
For a long while he did not dare
totuse his torch; but now he was
obliged to.
He shined the ground at his feet,
elevated the torch with Infinite pre-
caution, throwing a fan-shaped light
over the stretch of sink he had sus-
pected and feared. II fianked the
\ fiat. 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
nithe darkness a light flashed, went
out,nashed twice more, and was ex-
tinguished.
cuintanal
lilo
lightning. but instinct guided him
before his brain took command He
le1eled his torch and repeated the
three signal flashes. Then, in dark
ness, he came TO swift conclusion.
For three hundred yards. counting
his strides. he Continued on. Then,
in etotal darkness, he pocketed the
torch. slid a cartridge into the
breech of his rife slung the weapon,
pulled out a handkerchief, and tied
Il across his face under the eyes.
He continued to move forward.
After a little while his ear caught a
slight splash ahead. Suddenly
glare Of light enveloped him.
iIs it you. Harry Beck?"
instinct led again while wits
worked madly: Harry Beck is two
miles back on guard. Where is
Sand?"
The silence became terrible. Once |
thu glaring light in front moved,
then became fixed. There was a /
light splashing. Instantly Smith \
realized that the man in front had |
set his torch in a tree-crotch and
was now covering somewhere be-
!
came presently;
.s'ffel Drap-a that-a gun damn
DUNK"
Sfnith bent. leisurely. and laid his
rifle on a mossy rock.
Snow, You there! Why you want
sardi Eh?"
"I'n tell sard. not you" retorted
Smith coolly. You listen to me.
whpever you are. I'm from Sard's
offoe In New York I'm Abrams.
Therpolice are on their way here to
find Quintana."
A movement might have meant
death. but he calmly rummaged for
a cigaret. lighted It. blew a cloud
inspientiy toward the white glare
ahead. Then he took another
chance:
81 guess you're Nick salzsr, aren't
you?1
&.sn am salzar. who the dew
are you2"
4Im Eddie Abrams. sard's lawyer.
NY business Is to find my client. If
YOU ftop me you'll go TO prison
theswhole gang OF you--sard ouin-
tana. Picuuet. Sanchez. Georgiades
ans Harry Becls-and you"
After a dead silence: Maybe
you'll go TO the chair. tool"
II was the third chance he took.
There was a dreadful stiffness in
the woods. Finally came a slight
series of splashes; the crunch of
heavy boots on the rock.
GFor why you coma here. eh ?"
demanded Salzar, in a less agrees
sive manner. ''What-a da matt.
chr
4rwell" said Smith. IF you've got
TO Know. there are people from Es-
thonia IN New York. II you I'M
1erstand that II