The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-12-10
CcoD7TiSbL 1913 6J William Hamilton osBornsl

ders for a search. The search was
made, but without avail, for at mid
night on the night before something
else happened. Hernandez and his
two companions, together with his
cargo Of cocaine and heroin, had
slipped quietly overheard into a bor-
rowed rowboat and had disappeared.
Neal, chagrined. went back to An
nette.
"The bird has fown," he said dis
gruntled.
"where do you go. Neal?" queried
his mother.
Its an open secret where we go"
said Neal, but why we go nobody
knows. We go first to Martinique"
Annette sprang to her feet. Mar
Unique" she cried, that Is where my
father came from-where you picked
me up. l go there, too, Neal. It's the
beginning point. 1t is there can find
trace of my father"
Inez shrugged her shoulders. 1T is
fate" she said.
1--WE will all CO." said Mrs. Hardin
I'VE will stick to Neal. But how?"
Search me-" said Neal, but l can
find that out-there must be some YES
sci from this port for southern wa
ters."
Inez rose and placed a hand on
Welcher's shoulder Leave it to joey
here and me-" she said.
They secured the town, but Inez
Castro was looking for something
other than boat for Martinique. FL
nally she saw what she was looking
fora grimy hand thrust from behind
a window shade.
Pausing before the door of a dis.
reputable.looking habitation, she
glanced up and down the street, then
dragging Joe Welcher close behind
her she entered the low doorway and
passed into the gloom beyond. A mo-
ment later she faced Hernandez and
his crew.
so" she said airily, pushing Joe
Welcher into a chair, 80 my flash
friends, where do you think we go to
noW?"
"Where?" demanded Hernandez.
ITO Martinique" said Inez Castro.
Hernandez smiled and slapped his
thigh. so you go to Martinique" he
cried, with note of triumph in his
voice. How very fortunate. l go to
Martinique myself"
The governor of Martinique glanced |
gravely at the pretty girl who faced |
him. He laid down the piece of tat
tered parchment that he had just in
spected and took up the locket that |
she placed before him.
81 knew your father well fifteen or |
sixteen years ago-even before that.
remember him. This resembles him,
this picture, it does indeed" He
smiled. Il remember something else.
1 remember also you"
"You remember me-" cried Annette.
'You must have a wonderful memory,
sir"
The governor held up his hands.
"One remembers everything that hap
pened in a year like that" he said, "a
year that wiped out thousands upon
thousands of our people,"
"Is there any clue to my father?"
Iueried Annette.
Little one," said the governor,
there was no clue to anything or any
body, or any place"
Annette rose. There's nothing else
hat you remember of my father?" she
lueried.
"The governor searched his mem
Try. YES" he said. 81 think a mys-
ery-there was a tang of adventure
bout him. He, too, was a rover
.lways restless-always on the move.
But for his child one might have called
lin soldier of fortune-honest, per-
aps too honest, but fearless"
"And true" said Annette
fearless and true" repeated the
overnor nodding.
what is past is past" he said. "Old
'elee is ashamed of himself. The
sle of Martinique grows green. We
ing, we laugh, my people and myself. s
wen all this week we celebrate. You
lust join u.s." He signed half dozen
ards Of invitation and handed them
Joe Welcher, who sat quite as
sual, sulking in the background. "The
overnor's levee," he went on airily,
md you are all invited"