Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-16

ygnacio.' she responded coldly. In
any case-you sent for me and am
here
why did YOU seek to escape me?" he
asked. I'm tender reproach. You know"
wait till we have more privacy" she
begged.
Are these your people," he asked. with
royal indifference. THE Senorita F1orian
and Senior O'Dare: I heard they were
with you. Send them on deck. I have
so much to say to YOU
She signed to them that they should
go.
That is President Ybarra.' said Dennis.
as he escorted Fiji to a quiet corner Of
the deck. He's the DOGGY man of Cen
trail America. They call him the Tiger Of
San Benito."
"He has a cruel face said Fin.
soberly.
Schweitzer came shutting through tho
gloom and her hand sought O'Dares. who
clasped it protectingy. He stopped at
the gangway opposite and presently the
sound OF oars foretold the approach OF
further visitors. From underneath his
coat he brought forth dark lantern.
slipped the slide once In signal and COW
cred it again. O'Dare looked right and
left, and saw that all deck lamps had
been eXtinguished: the skylightS were
| closed down and covered with tarpaulins.
The lights ashore showed the Hilaro
lying to the south. a hulking Silhouette
against them. and outlined cloaked fig
ure at the Mariposas rail. 1t was Con-
ZaleZ.
What does his excelency say" he
was demanding of the impatient Schweit-
ger Il his launch pass. Has he
come on board?"
Hes here" the mercenarys answered.
"and approves. We're to let go. He has
insured the Hilario against war risks
and. as you know. moneys scarce"
"Is the tube laid?"
ITS ready to touch Off
Gonzalez grnned and rubbed his hands
Good Very good said he. There
is one man especially on the IIiarto OF
whom his excellency will be glad to be-
we'll rid
Wen turn the searchlight on her.
and"
They hurried off together. and AS
O'Dare grasped the dire import of their
most devilish scheme he felt a cold sick
ness creeping over him What could hs
do alone against them. But lie must
try
wait here" he said to Fiji. I've a
He tiptoed after them until. they sepa-
rated, Gonzalez going to the bridge and
Schweitzer forward. He followed Schweit-
yer until a hoarse order from behind
brought down upon him many men. who.
after brief struggle. overpowered him.
holding him there until they should be
told what was to be done with him.
AS SchweitZer was about to launch the
torpedo ODare SpaL at MIN Tor WANT OF
other weapon of Offense. The little man
made a bad shot. and. looking up. shock
his fist screaming, at the aggressor
Then he shipped fresh tube and Dennis
was dragged away. still fighting like one
possessed.
| 1t would. indeed. have gone i'll with
him, for one Of his captors. irritated by
| his stubborn resistance. would have
struck him down with cutiass. had not
| Fiji flown between them with a choking
| cry and shielded the helpless Dennis at
! the risk of her own life
What happened afterward was like an
| evil dream.
long white lane of light was cloven
! through the darkness from the Mari
posas bridge. and in the heart of it
] lay the Hilario, broadside on. moored
stem and stern, that she could not
swing.
| She staggered and sank sideways for
| single instant as if smitten TO the heart,
| and then became invisible. Where she
| had been there was a great. gray cloud
of frothing water. a binding flash OF
| flame. which vomited a myriad frag-
ments and black. woolly smoke: a seeth-
| ing whirlpool full of fount aims, where the
torn and broken debris fell.
A dull. ear-splitting crash was echoed
and re-echoed by the mountain face above
La Boca.
(To be continued tomorrow