Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-11-08

Colonial Theatre,
Hernandez smiled smiled a bit too
grimly Perhaps. he said, Il can
ind some Annette llingl6h who will
10 my bidding. At any rate there will
hereafter be no Annette Ilington who
will try to thwart me"
Neal started, what do YOU mean?"
he said
Il mean returned Hernandez, with
a gesture toward the smuggler OF Mar
Unique, that in all parts OF the world
| am able to find people who do my
bidding. This gentleman can do it
we'll. | may as well tell you, children
that you have perhaps an hour to live,
perhaps less"
The brute looked up, his eyes
CLASSY, strange. He rubbed red spot
On his arm--the mark left by Herman.
dez hypodermic needle.
You are right, Ponto, said Herman
dez. lit was the only way TO drug him
Lend me your whip"
He seized the whip and struck the
brute heavily across the shoulders
rhe brute sprang to his feet, growing
in his throat, but he fell back before
Hernandez
Ponto united single knot--the
knot that bound Neal 10 a stanchion.
Then at another word the brute
Jeized Neal. stlu IN arms.
and with him tA tho
.asSagcw.sV
Annette viewed this proceeding
with alarm. She struggled fiercely
Five minutes later the brute re-
turned and once more under the sting
ing lash OF the whip seized Annette
and bore her below. Hernandez and
his two companions followed them
down.
"Ah," said the smuggler to Neal and
Annette, this house has all appoint
ments This is the swimming pool,
my friends. You can swim here for
one hour-or less. This is in truth
a cavern of death. ! hate to do it,
he added just before he disappeared.
but needs must when the devil
drives"
There was click as the stone trap
dropped into place.
This is a pretty pickle" exclaimed
Neal to Annette.
They were lying on opposite sides
of that black pool.
If you can crawl" said Neal, "craWi
for your life
Annette understood. Little by little
Neal worked himself along his side oe
the ledge and Annette along hcl
each gradually approaching the other
around the circle. Finally their heads
touched.
Careful" said Neal; "close to the
wall. Now let me have your hara5
Let me unbind you first
On the surface of the earth above
Hernandez and his companions loaded
their cases into a cart and drove fe
across the wilderness into a raYina
Here" said the man OF Martini s.
lifting up the cover of a metal box
set in the rock, here is the switch OF
which spoke. One turn of the wrist
pouf--then oblivion"
Il gave them an hour" said Herman
dez grimly, and keep my word. Let
US drink"
On the shore below the cliff at the
loot Of the forbiddng Razor Back a
sponge diver disported himself in tha
water beside his boat, cutting ard
tearing sponges from their native
home of rock and coral for a living
Then suddenly he forgot the business
Of collecting sponges.
He rose again, empty handed this
time, and diyed again, peering at some
thing strange and new Then with
downward-slanting strokes he sud
denly disappeared. He came up in IN
Instant IN almost total darkness, then
( hObhing on the surface he rubbed his
eyes. jabbering excitedly.
Hey there" cried voice. and whc
are your"
The sponge diver iabbered som
more. Well might he iabber II we.
strange sight that confronted him
Two young people were seated aimo
in darkness on the edge Of a blacl
pool.
How did you get here?" quered
Neal.
The man for all his jabberiug was
polyeiot. He knew pidgin English aa
Neal knew how to talk il. so they gci
along admirably together. Neal told
him his story. The man climbed ur
upon the ledge and listened eagerly
Suddenly he grew excited II was cvi
dent that he knew the reputation oi
this place.
You come with me-come right
away" he said
Neal set the fast-waning lantern bs
Annette's side. "One moment, dear,
he said to Annette, "and l win be back
If what he says is true
in another instant with his hand
on the shoulder of the sponge diver
Neal was swimming down, down
toward the outer opening. As he saw
the light filtering in from undernese b
he gave a gasp that almost choked
him.
In another instant he had returned
for Annette. and with her at his side
the two swan in the direction that the
diver had taken.
The sponge diver. still gesticulating
excItedly. hauled them rapidly into his
small boat
mo row, you row--Ilke the devil. >
no exclaimed.