Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-12
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B-rrr," he exclaimed, as he

walked away in disgust.
There was a genteel litter from the
picturesque little group around the
punch bowl. Inez touched Romanoff
upon the arm.
at is perfect" she whispered. mo
ono could ever tell"
The pseudo Romanoff glanced at
her significantly, paced across the
dancing deck and passed out upon the
moonlit deck beyond. Inez. flirting
with an officer, excused herself, beck
oned to Joe Welcher. who came
swiftly at her beck and call, and with
her hand upon his arm she followed
in the wake of Romanoff. AS they
reached the bow Romanoff turned sud-
denly and confronted them. He seized
Welcher by the arm.
Friend Welcher," he said, his grip
Tightening, ION the canvas curtains aft,
on the port side, you will find one
black cross mark upon the curtain and
one black cross mark upon the deck.
They are my marks. You will dance
with Annette Ilington-"
Welcher hurried off and Romanoff
with the beautiful Miss Irene Cour-
tier upon his arm, strode slowly to-
ward the lights.
With her escort she stood glancing
out between the curtains at the moon
light upon the sea. Her escort, how
ever, was not watching the moonlight
his eyes were fixed upon a motor
boat that sported itself like some
huge shark in the waters just beyond.
He drew forth white handkerchief.
He stepped into the aperture between
the canvas curtains, grasped the rail
with one hand and shook the handker-
chief.
Inez noted that small black cross
had been placed upon the canvas cur
tain. She looked at her feet. There
was another cross upon the deck.
Then she turned and faced the crowd
watching with keen eyes.
Joe Welcher from far across the
deck caught the CLINT of those same
eyes-he had been watching for them.
He bent over Annette.
Look at the freak" he said, that's
tied up to Inez-I mean Irone Courier.
always call her Inez somehow. Let's
go and see the freak
"The freak" said Annette, has dis
appeared"
She was not the only person on the
deck who noticed that. Some half
dozen naval officers in spick and span
uniforms noted 1t also and started
double quick toward Inez Castro.
half way they stopped, for her escort,
M. Romanoff, had reappeared. He
smiled as Joe came Up with Annette
and waved hts hand.
I've been looking at the moon" he
said.
Annette, already bored-chiefy by
the close proximity of Joe Welcher-
glanced off toward Neal
Lets go and get some grape Juice"
she said.
Joe drew her out to the railing
through the same aperture from
which Romanoff had watched the cir
cling motor boat.
I'll get the grape juice" said Joe
aloud. Wait here until / return"
Annette started after him, but the
aperture was closed now by the broad
back of Romanoff, who talked viva.
ctously with Irene Courtier. Annette
was not averse to looking at the
moon, and she looked. But-all she
saw was the moon itself. She did not
see and could not know that a motor
launch, silent as the night, had
fetched up alongside of the anchor
chain. She did not know and could
not see black shadow that stole
along the railing behind the canvas
curtains that hid the dancing deck.
Suddenly she gave a choking cry.
The black shadow like some black
panther had sprung upon her frem
the night and clutched her In its
grasp. She cried out once more, or
tried to. She found she could not.
A strong wiry hand closed across her
mouth and a wiry form forced her
back across the rail.
With a superhuman twist of her
1.-THE young body-and she was strons,
was Annette Ilington-for one n.
slant she wrenched herself away and
gave vent to piercing scream. Neal
Hardin at the punch bowl heard IL.
Forgetting all discipline-and all
grape juice-he bounded across the
dancing deck and with one sweep of
his arm brushed the nonplussed
Romanoff and his charming escort to
one side. His eyes were blinded by
the deck lights and as he rushed
through the curtains he could only
see that some terrific struggle was at
hand.
In another instant it was all over.
Two figures clutching at each other
frantically darted suddenly over the
rail. There was a splash below.
Man overheard" yelled Neal.
He sprang to the rail and dove into
the moonlit water-taking good care
not to foul the other two.
Two minutes later it was all over
Annette was on deck half fainting In
Meals arm-but with a smile upon
her face.