Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-12-13
The Jaeuar's Mate.


patton for you, EN-"
Looks as if I'd do it all my life"
said Neal. but some day l hope 10
catch UP to her"
The officers were in charge OF a
small squad of men who had landed
al Santa Maria in Lower California,
under orders from Washington. and
under adviees FROM the United States
district attorney in California They
| were On the track of eoaling station
the United States wanted to make
a treaty with girl. The girl was
here-somewhere.
Hello" said Neal, look. There's
a horse-a riderless horse. Go on.
boys-get it. double quick"
Three of the squad caught the
horse and brought it to Neal
a woman's saddle said Neal His
heart was in his throat. Look" He
drew from the pommel an object that
had caught there-one of a pair of
woman's gloves.
Annette's, he cried. something
has happened"
Forward. double quick" command
ed the lieutenant. Well see"
AT the hotel they found Mrs. Har-
din and Joe, gazing anxiously off to-
ward the mission. Neal caught his
mother by the arm.
annette he cried. I'VE caught her
horse. Where is she?"
They told the story Of her starting
cut
Not moment to lose," exclaimed
Neal. come on boys-hurry all you
can
Meantime at the mission. Herman
DEE ana Inez-with fun confidence in
Ponto's ability to delay the advent or
Annette-had once more presented
themselves before Brother AnseImo.
We have been patient, father,
said Hernandez. and we trust that
prayer-and sleep-have given you
wisdom and enlightenment. and salts
fed you of the justice of our claim.
"Ah, you speak truth, sen said
Brother Anseluo. He rose and left
The room, returning Immediately with
the iron box containing the documents
ia question. He set it down upon the
table"
There was a hubbub outside in the
courtyard IN the midst OF it door
was thrust open. and the Brute strobe
IN, carrying Annette liz his arms-An-
nette. still only semiconscicus- still
suffering from the shock of that with
ing figure ct the bottom of the iaguar
trap back there in tho desert. Some
I'm at la -, D.,
master. He laid the figure Of Annette
upon the table with the air of one who
has done his duty well.
brothers." cried Brother Anselmo.
seeing Annette's plight, quicl-re-
storatives-succor for this young girl
Hernandez took advantage of the
confusion-though he himself was con
fused beyond all peradventure. Lis
ten, he said TO IneZ, leave her with
the Brute-go at once. III do the
rest"
Unnoticed, Inez and the Brute
obeyed They left the room, hurried
across the courtyard and disappeared.
Hernandez watched them go His
coolness returned. Swiftly. with one
bound, he was upon Brother Anselmo
and had seized the iron box in his iron
grasp.
In an instant he was across the
room.
But Brother Anselmo had done
something more than pray and sleep
in his quiet existence. He was an ac-
tive. well trained individual. With a
loud cry he leaped across the inter
vening space. and bounded upon the
shoulders OF Hernandez.
Help. help. brothers., he command.
ed.
There was help aplenty Hernandez
fought like a mailman. but the broth
ers chung to him like leeches. Slowly
however. he worked his way toward
the nearest exit--and then with a
mighty wrench, he threw off ali his as
| sailants including Brother Anselmo
/ ard darted. with q mighty leap out
through the doorway.
/ He bounded into the arms of Nea
| Hardin and his squad.
Neal saw at a glance what had hap
! pened. He seized Hernandez wrist
the wrist OF the hand and arm thai
! held the iron box, and twisted it sud
I denly, painfully. Hernandez dropped
/ the box-but jerked away from Neal
sprang TO a window and disappeared
| Behind him he heard the steady
| plup-plup CT many footsteps tbs
/ steady lope of marines that eats vi
/ the long miles in less time than il
/ takes tn fell IL
Damn them" said Hernandez, 1T
beat them to it yet.
Behind him the footsteps stopped
] There was a report-a ping. Herman
| daz had reached the edge of the greer
oasis. He screamed with pain. i
! was IS though a red hot iron haf
scared him. He had been hit in thu
! arm
Damn YOU he screamed in pain
@T'll beat you TO it. yet
With almost unseeing eyes he tors
across the small green space-ans
then he stumbled, and slid, slid, slid
into what seemed bottomless Pit
He Just escaped a stake-a bloody
one. And he fell-or rather slumped-
/ upon something soft and yielding
With another oath he rose to his fee
and peered about him. Then he drew
back in terror.