The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-11
after awhile he began to

Anu tneu, 10 prove NO Woc al nOu0os
man and no thief, like others there. he
began to tell Just how he had become
so very, very rich in such short space
of time they listened to him |
open mouthed. Among them were |
men, sober men, whose families had
been ministered to by the angel sent |
from heaven-a little white angel.
One Of these men suddenly sprang to
his feet and grabbed the boaster by
the scruff of the neck-and, notwith.
standing struggles, carried him, pell
nell, from the wine shop.
, Back In the Inn of the Spanish Don,
the proprietor was protesting that he
had not seen Gunner Neal-had not
learned of the whereabouts Of the lit
tie white angel-Senorita Annette IL
! ingtcn. A dozen bluejackets were on
hand-the surgeon was there. Mrs.
Hardin, wild-eyed in the glare Of the
smoky lamps, was sobbing hysterical-
". Inez locked on calmly. Suddenly
into the midst of this company was
propelled an intoxicated native-a bag
Of bones clad in tumble Of rags.
Another native bounced upon him and
shook him like terrier shakes rat.
This man. senor," said the sober
native, courses on him-he knows
where the little white angel is Come,
he will guide us there Tell them, you
dog"
The dog told He dlunt want to-
but neither did he like the prick Of
bayonets through his hide-so he told
and then he led the way. BY the time
they had reached the outskirts of the
town, the whole town was with them.
Hernandez. in his hut. heard the
commotion He knew in his bones
what it was Come on" he cried to
Ponto, we're going back into that
|. swamp swore they should not get
5 away-you swore 1t, too"
How will we get there shivered
Ponto.
| The Brute is brute" said Herman.
/ DEE, where he has been once. he
can always find the way Come. Lead
. on-lead on"
e The Brute, under the usual stimulant
n of cuffs and blows, led on. Ponto fol
t lowed At the edge Of the swamp
l. Hernandez, with wicked smile
dropped silently to one side and
4 crawled behind a clump of bushes.
|. Out on that fateful islet in the cen
ter of the quagmire Neal his eyes
heavy lidded with sleep, was holding
o Annette in his arms. She was OBJ
n livious. Suddenly he woke her up and
sprang to his feet drawing her with
@ him.
u Someone comes" he whispered
No sooner had he said It than thu
!, Brute was upon them. He seized Nea
as in wise. But Neal-a trickster II
a wrestling match-wriggled out o.
II his grasp. He seized a heavy sticl
It and lunged at the Brute. The Brute
engaged him once again. Ponto tore
h the stick away from Neal, and whirl
- ing it about his head, brought It dowI
- with a resounding crack upon Neal,
n head.
@ Neal dropped like a log.
Ponto, knowing the reason for haste
>. turned and looked about him. II,
was puzzled by Hernandez absence
-, but this was no time to wonder. H
- drew knife and started towart
- Annette.
~ This time" he cried. you shall
ID not get away"
N Annette ran, crookedly. hysterica
:, ly, across the small islet In anothe
;, instant she was waist deep in tn
:. Quagmire. and still sinking. Point
~ from terra firma, lunged at her wit
=, his knife-but his lunge fell short
~ Annette struggled away-tried t
reach some place Of safety. But he
=. way was blocked by waterlogge
~ piece of wood Against this she res
. ed, wide-eyed, watching Ponto's e.
- forts-sinking. sinking all the time.
For the first time she screamed
n, The Brute, busy with Neal who la
upon the ground, heard her and swun
around. He saw what was happening
ce Ponto has raised his knife on high
40 Failing to strike-he was about to hui
1t at the girl-and Ponto's aim wa
a. perfect.
never get away" snarle
ne Ponto. At that instant the Brut
81. seized a heavy stone In his hand an