The Flaming Jewel

ms, Mike Clinch strode out of the motley crowd around the tavern, laid his rifle

ng down at her in silence a

d hoarsely, "

ened her sk

just tired.... I've got

d parcel," he almost sobbed

, d

cramped fingers. Clinch kicked it under a chair and cont

irl opened her drowsy

you?" demanded Clinch unstead

lk. I cut up the blanket they gave me and made a rope. Then I

en he had dried them he kissed them. She felt his unshaven li

?" he demanded. "What does that count for-what do

heavy-lidded eyes: "You told

and lady of you when the time's ripe. 'Tain't worth a thorn in your little foot to me.... The hull gol-d

e, all peaked an' scairt an' bleedin'-plu

"-And he hit you, too, did he?-that skunk! Qu

ana. I don't know who he was,

d, wa'

es

ed and quivered. He gnawed

alone here. I'll git somebody to set up with you. You jes

he sighed, cl

the veranda where State Trooper Stormont still sat his saddle, talking to Hal Smith. O

Hal, g'wan up and set with Eve a sp

nt in a low voice: "

u b

t here alone. But I've got another job on my ha

ll me a littl

Do you mind help

rig

of his saddle and led his h

he bar where Clinch s

ed. "I got a private war on

Quintana?" inquire

Evie. And I want you should kill any living human son

er Quintana wi

. You're a-goin' t

stay with Eve. You'll need every man t

e sag across the ho

oper?" he demanded in his

I'm crazy?"

what th

d to him-'keep an eye on Eve until we can get back.' And I tell you,

t never asked no favour

, didn't he? He brou

il us all if he g

if any of Quintana's people

coat and got into a leather ves

me in the back door

she met me out by Owl Marsh-clothes half torn off her back, bare-foot and bleeding. She's a plucky youngster.

put his powerful hands on

ss you be, too. I wanta tell you I'll cut the guts outa

, if I were you

appin'. If she wakes up you kinda talk pleasant to her. You act kind pleasant and cosy. She ain't had no ma. You tell

ning," rema

"I'll stay until yo

rom the corner and handed it to

n," he

oup of sullen, armed men who regarded

ey Chase, and the Hastings b

comin'?" inq

drawled

alatin' to drive Star Peak

erval. Clinch's wintry

h?" asked Byron Hastings. "They both l

hat's dropped on Star Peak to-day," he said. "And I hope there won't be no accidents

ble to happen," remark

: "Where's Jake Klo

seemed

led me into the bar," insi

the packet which he had kicked under a

package here on the pyazza

drawled Chase. "I supposed it

ss Clinch glared into

red dollars. No, I wouldn't. Becuz that there rat has bit my little girlie, Eve,-like that there deer bit her up onto Star Peak.... No, I wouldn't like for

iced Jake and Earl Leverett down by the woods near the pond.

'em, too. Thinks I to m'self, they is pickin' the

s rifle across h

ticles we're lookin' for. Only for God's sake be ca

two men

ed in the trail, and, as his men cam

orny, start drivin' from the west. Harve, you yelp 'em from the north by Lynx Brook. Jim and Byron, you get twenty minutes

up from the

n a low voice. "I've got

nd Blommers, "before you start drivin'." And, to the Hastings boys: "If you shoot, aim

slouching figures moving away toward the

e's mark," h

own, drew aside a branch of witch-hopple. A m

them half-soled boots o' hisn." He lifted a

is probably

He's got

go after them," said

them like that, and one a-settin' up to wat

: "Don't you

Woods-with them two foxes lyin' out for to snap you up? Hey? Why, you poor dumb thing, Jake runs Canad

th, coolly. "You mind

the marsh, Clinch dropped a heavy hand on

e a private war on your hands. So

vance?" demanded

layed a dirty

was

ery lo

heard," sa

n't you? All right. All ri

d out in a guarded voice: "Take good care of that

it," replied Smith, "that its