The Flaming Jewel

s taken from José Quintana as

anybody who attempted to

ng passion blazed-his mania to m

iscovered the identity and dwelling place of the obscure American soldier who had robbed him in the wash-room of a

ing a rifle, came out on the log ve

ely to have trouble with a man as c

t those with Quintan

ed his backwoods "hotel" at Star Pond would lift a finger to help him. Almost any among them woul

, Byron Hastings,-he knew them all too well to trust them,-a sullen, unscrupulous pack, partly cowardly, always fierce,-a

tood by him-Hal Smith-the man h

ad been sitting and walked down to the

n't dare call in the constables. I can't afford to

flung the entrails out into the pond, soused

y in the beginning?" h

do I

ever fou

don't make no difference how I got 'em; Eve's going to

utted it, flung away the vi

October," he remarked

ill no one, but Eve she's gotta be a lady and

now about t

en roving over the wooded shores

before I'd tell h

dn't stan

ou swallered the hull pie. That's the answer. A lady

robbed the man who robbed s

on him: "Only you and me know,

nows. His g

g. "I guess she ain't never

u purpose t

ll h

Quint

for a deer. Them acci

s you it will go ha

. I k

re you to ma

nk I'd t

oured eyes. The pupils were pin po

al

ha

no matter; they ain

ed the young man, still busy with his fish. He did not look around when

mn nosey, Hal," he said in

again: "You'd better tell somebod

sk your

said the youn

. Mind you

he water's edge wit

ghing. "So go on with your private war; it's

e trout. Eve Strayer, doing chamber work,

ation doing at Clinch's dump? Why was he content to hang around and do chores? A man of his type who has gone crooked enoug

; went on making up Smith's bed; and smiled as her st

-a flat, thin packet wrapped in heavy p

for me this morning. If you're spry it won't take long-

well

ur pants o

e to go int

the rocks under Star Peak and lay

pillow with deft hands, went out to her own room. Clinc

el" would be the goal for Quintana and his gang. And for Smith, too, if ever temptation overpowered him. The house was liab

irt, breeches, and puttees.

, dad?" she a

t nosey, girl

He put his left

some, don't

now it

ent and died ... after a year.... That was crool, girlie. Only a

packet with h

a-going to step out. Put it with the hoo

s,

oods. No, nor none o' these here fancy State Troopers. You gotta watch out this time, Eve. It mean

m and returned with he

to stop you. But lay low and you won't need to shoot nobod