The Flaming Jewel

e blended harmoniously with the autumn woods. They were as inconspicuous as two deer in the dappled shadow. T

Mike Clinch's clearing. Our man may be there. N

othing stirred save gold leaves drifting down, and a h

en transferred from the Long Island Troop,

e other edge of the clearing. Clinch own

ad

ns a rotten dump. The forest has its slums as well as t

ont n

s. "Here's where half the trouble in the North Woods hatches

glanced at his wrist watch, st

tell you about his outfit while we watch this road. It's like a m

ng both spurred heels and lolled so, co

in summer, hunters in fall and winter. He made money and built the house. The people he guided were we

ather common. Both were very young. He had the consump bad-the galloping variety. He didn't last long. A month after he died his young wife had a baby. Clinch

ped his cigarette end into a puddle of rain wate

ord to educate the child. The kid had a governess. Then he sent her t

teen.... She's eighteen now-and I don't know wh

ha

Kloon got shot up. I came up to get Clinch. He was sick-drunk in h

ned?" inqui

Clinch.... But he

uitt

, rolling ano

r arm, ending in a flourish: "-He bought everything for miles and miles. And that started Clinch down hill. Harrod tried to force Clinch to sell. The millionaire tactics you know. He was determined to oust him. Clinch got mad and wouldn't sell at any price. Harrod kept on buying all around Clinch and posted trespass notic

il," said

ey. He was crazy to make a lady of Eve Strayer.

ont n

ny began to hear about game law violations. The Revenue people heard of rum-ru

h's place in those days. There were fights. And not so many mi

Clinch. Malone exempted him, he bei

Clinch wanted to be on the same side of the world she was on, and he went with a Forestry Regime

ry laws and the game laws. Government enforcement agents, game protectors, State Constabulary, all keep an eye on Clinch. Harrod's

e young nephew's name. He's never been here-he was in the army-in Russia-I don't know what became o

ack into his stirrups and, gathering bridle

ollectors,' rum-runners, hootch makers, do his dirty work-and I guess there are some who'll stick you up by starlight for a quarter and others who'll knock your block off for a dollar.... And there's the girl, Eve Strayer. I don't get her at all, e

Bill; I'm posted.... And

annis, "that you wa

rned the oth

he's good to look at. Bu

hy

Clinch's with him and his bunch of bums. Wou

what a straight

s for Mike Clinch," said Lanni

is fond of him

't see how any young girl can

d," observed Stormont. "Ninety-nine per cent

so rotten?" inquir

ws what men are. And it's a wonder

nnis glanced at

anybody has tipped off our man. It

unlit clearing. Star Pond lay ah