The Dermott news., 1915-12-02


 quarter of an hour before a black had penetrated to the camp of the marines and had given the aIarm-and the vaole camp had started off on the double quick
 Boys shouted Neal pressing to the fore American women-dont for gel-ceme on
 In an upper room iu the planters house Mrs Hardin sbrank back in a corner with fear Bullets were rid ding the walls Joe Welcher lay face down. lnez. with presence of mind, had placed d mattress against the wall and with Joe's aid had placed an upturued bed against the other. They were fairly safe Besides that. just once, Inez had found chance to wave to Hernandez. and Hernandez had kept the insurrectos from firing on that corner of the house Inez crept downstairs-looked about her-saw Annette and the planter in close con- versation-then crept back again
 She plucked Joey Welcher by the sleeve. Joe" she whispered. go down--pass through the corridor by the kItchen-open the rear door"
 Not on your life said Joe. Do you think want to die?"
 You'll die If you don't, she said Come. follow me," I Once below. Inez cooked her revol- yer Do as l say" she commanded Joe obeyed With terror in his eyes he tore and wrenched at the fastenlngs of the rearmost passageway. Finally he stepped back. She's unlocked" he exclaimed Inez unafraid, stepped forward opened wide the door and beckoued It was a signal Herman dez saw ii and bounded forward
 Follow me. insurrectos," he com manded. A hundred men obeyed With a shout they dashed into the huge living room on the ground foor-with an other shout they fired a volley into the backs of the defenders. The planter. drawing a bead on an insur- recto N hout was seized suddenly from behind, gagged and bound A strong pair of arms seized Annette and lifted her from the floor and bora her, screaming, from the room.
 Three minutes later she was thrown into far room in secluded corner of the house. Into the same room were thrown Inez and Mrs Hardin and Joe Welcher
 With a sudden wrench Annette tore loose a beard that barrcaded the win dow Then her eyes frightened. sLook'a she cried "'fhe marines they come Neal Neal
 Her shout was not heard. of course. but it WAS accompanied with the wave of a white handkerchief. Neal, at the head of the squad, saw it-and the squad pressed forward at double speed
 Below, among the lnsurrectos. An nette could hear the paric.
 The Americanos-the Americanos -flee,"
 Neal reached the house-saw who waved the kerchief. With a sudden bound he leaped upon an arbor. scram- bled and crawled somehow-with some Aia tAi U iAh t4i NHC lsAAG OA thS hOusOs rammed in the barrlrade and leaped into the room
 Annette" he cried.
 But at that instant the door of the room was burst open and Hernandez with Ponto and the Brute and dozer insurrectos, darted tu.
 Take everybody here-including him. commanded Hernandez 'Tak. them-y0u know where. But remens- ber-the women are mine, not yours
 Neal fought like a tiger. but witho.t success. In five minutes or less u c captives, Neal and Annette included, were led through dark passageways to some underground corridor Thsy were driven on and on-they knew Lot where.
 An hour later the squad of marines reported to their officer
 "We cant find a woman op the place, except the blacks" they eAid.
 Are We all here?" queried tkn off cer, anxious for his men. "JusL call the roll and see"
 All here,' returned a paarinh, but no, not all here. There's oae missing Gunner Hardin, sir"
 The officer nodded. "Well find Gun ner Hardin if 1t takes leg,'' he said.
 (TO BE CONTINUED)