The Detroit times., 1915-10-14
CHAPTER Xxx.
Cornered.

| ne ensign ia tue DOW VI thc
naval launch scanned The coast line
with care.
This Crooked Crag hotel is an
uncanny place" he said. They've
probably got lCokouts posted every
where. We'd better land half mile
away and take them from the rear
His brother ensign grunted. Dol
lars TO doughnuts we're on Wild
goose chase" he said. IF there's
any place that covers up its tracks
It's Crooked Crag. You're right
though. Wen take them from the
rear.
They landed half mile up shore
and as quietly as possible tramped
for mile through underbrush in
The general direction of the granite
rock which stood out clear above
the tree tops. They halted on the
edge Of the clearing, from the CEN
ter of which rose the hotel itself
Fern a circle" said the ensign,
surround the place, and all close In
at once No matter what happens,
don't let anybody get away"
One of the ensigns beckoned to
Neal. Come with me-" he said,
you know the man we're after and
can describe him. I'll need you and
about three more besides
With rhythmic, ringing steps, the
little squad crossed the clearing,
da-ted up the rustic staircase and
| tramped across the veranda OF the
hotel. solinger met them at the
door.
YES. gentlemen" he said, bow
ing, "what can | serve your"
Serve us nothing" said the en-
sign sternly. I'VE are looking for a
smggler that you have got. He is
here. We know he is here and We
are going TO get him"
| Meantime Hernandez had entered
| the room where he had confined An
nette. Once more he locked the
door behind him and without a
word crossed the floor toward her.
Annette had made up her mind just
what to do. She must fight with a
woman's weapons and she had a
woman's weapon-a hat pin.
She waited until Hernandez was
within three feet of her, then she
raised the weapon and sunk II deep
into his outstretched arm.
His face white with anger, Her.
nandez caught her roughly by the
throat. But he had forgotten some
thing-forgotten that she had In
hcrited tremendous strength Young
end graceful as she was, her every
muscle was we'll trained. With one
strong sweep of her arm, she threw
him off and then plunged into a
fight, the fight Of a wildcat against
"A wolf. She tore at his face and
lead, clutching for his eyes, trying
for hold upon his ears. Time and
again she repdlsed him, then with
one wild clutch she caught him by
the hair and held him with a strong
| grip OF her right hand while she
pummeled his face With small but
energetic left.
Hernandez retreated TO the door,
unlocked It and gave vent to a low
whistle His whistle was immedi-
ately answered. Fonto entered the
room, dragging with him the huge
brute.
Seize her, he demanded of the
brute.
The girl stared at this huge FIX.
ure with terror In her eyes.
The brute started across the floor.
and then whimpering, with hands
handing at his side, turned away
from her. Hernandez nodded to his
assistant. Ponto. Ponto drew his
everready whip and dashed the
brute into obedience. The huge
man, still whimpering. caught the
girl In his arms and held her.
Hernandez. without the slightest
conjunction, tore open Annette's
waist.
| You vixen said Hernandez be.
tween his teeth, II will get that map
II have TO nay you"
Meantime. ono by one, on the low.
or floor. the onsigns cohorts had
struggled in. Each saluted as he
came.
Its house, they whispered 10
the ensign, "Solinger's got us beat.
We can't find anything"
Neal was the last to come. lie
had made thorough search.
A seaman ran lightly up the steps
into the Office and saluted.
Beg your pardon. SIR" he said. 81
found this in q crevice in rock be-
hind the house. II looks bad. sir"
He handed over the message
which Annette had scrawled upon
tho card Of Irene Courtier-the mes.
sage that she was confined In an up
per room, the room with the barred
window In the rear.
THE handkerchief * tied there,
SIR" exclaimed the seaman, land I
feel sure that We can locate the
ROOM"
The ensign read the card and
handed II TO Neal Neal touched
his hat.
May do ! have to wait for or
ders, sir?" he cried.
| mn" roa rod tho ensisn