The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-06-25
. SERIAL STORY
DARK JUNGLES
BY JOHN FLEMING LOIS EBY s sos. .ssxgt s
RENALDO
CHAPTER XVIII

IA BlackneSS nad Degun 10 met
II from the sky as the little group
4 wound YEARLY up the trail A
hillock ahead doomed through
the murkiness. Tony scrambled
up the side of it with the stealth
Il of an animal. When he reached
the top he called in huShcd
excited voice, Just beyond. " He
was pointing with his hand. It's
the mine!"
Allison waited while Barry
and Hall fought their way up
= the sharp bank. When the scene
unfolded before them they could
plainly see a dozen or more In
dians digging out the precious
ore.
Tony was pointing again and
saying excltedly,
They're all Clutches but
tWo!"
The two montadorcs from
the new chicle grove!' Allison
gasped.
Barry sucked in his breath.
His gaze had swept past the
montadores to the huge figure
emerging from the mine.
All Clutches but three he
said grimly.
For the huge figure was plain
ly Jose
The three men slid down the
steep bank Of the hillock and
Joined Allison, who had been
waiting bel W.
Lets 90 back down the path
n safe distance where we can
talk without being overheard, y
Barry whispered.
Without another word the lit
re group retraced their steps
few hundred yards and stopped
Inder clump OF tamaracks.
Allison jumped from the
mules ba X.
II feel like a pretzel" she
whispered, stretching her legs
and doino routine of bending
exercises.
Barry's face was study in
thoughtfulness. Finally he said,
81 think the next thing is TO
follow this tral. down and see
il we can find where they are
treating the ore.
Hall opened his shirt and dug
into a money belt. Presently
he pulled out a crumplct letter
and handed it TO Barry.
This is the letter the comp
any secured from the Guatemal-
an government 10 the Quiche
chief asking for his co-opcra-
ton. II should carry some
weight if | can ever get TO him.
Barry's face Frightened as he
read the letter, When he fin
ished he said, I've got it, The
Clutches have never seen YOU,
and Tony here speaks enough Of
their language to act as your
interpreter. Why don't you and
Tony go TO the chief at once
and Allison and | Will follow
this trail and see what we can
find out. From what the chief
told me he doesn't FnoW that
these remote mines arc being
worked. He did say that he'd
been having trouble with some
Of his tribesmen - and that he
knew some white men were Civ
ing them money - breaking the
oath of Chichcastenango."
Il can't believe that Renaldo
would have any hand in this
sort of thing Allison said He
knows too well what the dangers
would be if the tribe were arous-
ed"
Its hard to believe" Barry
agreed. But you told me your
self Renaldo is ambitious"
| we, or course, nave no rlSil
TO condemn him-yet.' Allison
said
mo, not yet"
Tony was busy Tightening the
cinches on the two mules. get
ting ready for the trek to the
village of the market-place.
How far is il from here 10
the Quiche village Hall asked
Tony.
The Indian scratched his black
thatch of hair. I'VE be there
before shutdown"
Hall shook hands with Allison
and Barry and left.
I'VE can't be far from the
coast" Barry said, smiling
alphabetically. IF you can
take il We'll push on.
Allison was running comb