The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-20
iOOpynghs by Osb0rn1
SYNOPSIS. Annette signed-and sighed with re-

lam Hamilton Osborna
Annette signed-and sighed with re-
lief.
That's DONE" she exclaimed.
The admiral bowed All rose. You
are rendering our country great
service, Miss Ilington," he said, and
your country will do its level best to
protect you Can we do more?"
Neal saluted. 81 understand, sir"
"he said that l am to command the
expedition
Yes" interposed the commander.
we've arranged all that with the
captain of steamer. He agrees that
what you say shall go-and you'll
say it. | feel sure
III say anything and do anything"
returned Neal, for my country and
my-and Miss Annette Ilington."
He said a good deal to her on the
way back to her Los Angeles hotel
and kept on saying it.
But" he added at parting, care
full now. Don't take risks. This man
Hernandez is a wonder. l take my
hat off to him. He never knows when
he's beaten"
He's beaten now" returned An
nette, particularly if he knows all
that has transpired."
He left her-still gravely worried.
He would have been more than wor-
ried had he known that within quar-
ter of a mile of Annette's hosiery,
in a secluded cafe, sat Hernandez,
with his two companions, the Brute
and Inez Castro. He would have
been more than worried had he known
that with them was another individual
Joe Welcher, his own foster broth.
er and Annette's. Welcher was there
depressed, fearful. nervous-but
drinking heavily. And he was still
the model, shrinking tool, the cats
paw.
And what" queried Hernandez
about the battleship Missouri"
| Joe produced an extra-its head
lines devoted to the navy and the i'm
pending Allemanian war.
The Missouri" he announced, re
ferring to the paper, "steams ava!
tomorrow"
Where does she steam?"
ITO San Francisco"
Friend Welcher," went on Herman
dez, docs this Neal-does he talk
do you get inside information?"
There's none to get" said Joe, 81
there was any, I'd get it."
Hernandez waved his hand. "Whe
does the Missouri sail?" he queried.
"This afternoon" said Joe.
when she Sails" went on Herman
DEE, well get this girl. We need he
We want her evidence-but we war
her, too-until-until we have no flu
Their need of her. What we shall ru
Into at Lost Isle no man knows.
want her with us there. Listen, We
cher. You must arrange it. Our path
must cross this afternoon"
Welcher fumed. 81 do all the dirt
work." he said; I'm through"
Hernandez poured him anotht
drink, and handed it to him with
glance that ate into Joe's soul.
= The drink had just the wrong G
feet Joe became angry-noisy-u
manageable.
"In be damned if do your biddir
;. any more" snarled Joe.
!. Hernandez darted a glance towal
q Inez. She returned it.
,. Leave him with me-" she said.
Hernandez did as he was bid.
Y left her alone with Joe. And in Il
next fifteen minutes Inez Castro mat
q love to Joe as she never had befor
d She overwhelmed him with enchar
|. ment.
l. Tonight" she whispered to hill
tonight, Americana. But breathe n
J. a word to him-he will kill us both. +"
Half an hour later Annette swul
4 out of the hotel grounds, mounted I
o a wiry little pony.
d She spied Joe and drew in her stee
r. She noted that Joe was unduly G
cited.
II Joe" she exclaimed, tell moth
a I'll be safe"
If Under certain influences Joe's mi
acted with unusual rapidity. Dri
a and the dark eyes Of Inez Castro h
a set him well on edge. Without n
n ment's thought he stopped by the 70;
\. side and plucked thorny burr.
Strengthened up again, with the thor
n. burr concealed within his hand.
0. did not answer Annette at first, /
m approached her and her steed.
1t Good COW pony!" he exclaimed.
stroked the horses nose, its neck,
Ie TANKS. And then he did another thil
Ie Safe as they make EN-" he C,
n tinued.
t And then he did the trick. I
W right hand stole gently up across
horses back, behind Annette-stole
d. the saddle.
Swiftly-and unnoticed-he push
y. the thorny burr under the saddle, nj
- to the pony's skin. Then he SLOUGH
away in the general direction of
IL bar.
err
CHAPTER LII.