The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-06
CHAPTER XVII.
Decoy.

SUS<T NNNIIs
Decoy.
Neal leaped out of one of the small
boats of the destroyer Jackson and
ran nimbly up the wharf. He had
good reason to, for on the veranda Of
a hotel not a quarter Of mile away
he saw a girl he knew. In record time
he was by her side.
Look" said Annette to Meals
mother and Inez, look who's here"
Always" said Inez, do like uni
form and" she added coyly, with a
leer toward Neal. land what comes in
them too"
you got my note?" queried Annette.
81 got it," returned Neal, but no
CO."
What are you talking about?" said
Annette. I'VE are specially invited by
the governor himself"
I'm out of it, I tell you.' repeated
Neal But I'll tell you what I'll do.
I'll come to the back gate of the gov
ernor's garden and I'll flirt with you. :"
Many came and most were served
that night. But among the first to
come, though none were served, were
four unlimited guests. They were a
strange quartet, these four, and they
came to see rather than to be seen
Each one of these four men became
a shadow in himself. watching, ever
watching. Suddenly there was light
tread upon the graveled path A
jaunty figure swung into the moon
light and looked about him. Out OF
the hundred guests or so that clus
tered about the yerandas of the dis
tant house Neal peered anXiously fol-
Annette llington.
He trilled little whistle-his sig
nal and Annette's-and as though that
whistle were signal for an onslaught
a huge shadow and another spranl
across the intervening space ant
caught Neal from behind A coat OF
cloak descended over his head will
all the effectiveness of strait jacket
1t was the governor himself wht
kept Annette within the range of ar
tificial light and from her appointment
in the moonlight out beyond.
| While she still talked to the COVER
| nor, an individual with cunning eye
and insinuating lcer stepped up to thu
flunky at the main gate that led to thu
governors mansion and handed him ;
note.
For a guest-Miss Ilington." h
said. Il am to wait for an answer.
The funky nodded, summoned an
other flunky, and handed him the note
The flunky made an inquiry or two
then stepped directly to the governO
and handed him the note.
This is the young lady here. Fran
co.'s" exclaimed the governor.
Annette took the note to windoy
where there was somewhat bette
light, and opened it. 1t was writte
in srawling, unaccustomed hand
This is what il said:
Have seen scar face. Need you
moment for Identification. We hav
this note. Excuse scrawl-right han
N. G. Hastily,
NEAL.
p. S.-Don't drag mother into THU
Come as you are.
Annette beckoned to the funk,
Where" she said. lis the bearer c
this note?"
The fiunky bowed. Follow me-" h
said.
At the gate there stood a man wal
ing hat in hand-a man with cunnin
eyes and insinuating smile.
MIR. Hardin sent you?" she il
quired
The man bowed "Oui, mademo
selle," he returned.
Where is he now" she querie
cautiously.
Where he said he would wait-h
the postern garden gate returned tl
, bearer.
Disarmed. she followed this ma
, into the shadows.
/, In another instant she had reache
a carriage and an instant later som
thing descended over her head, smot
ering her cries-something bound III
: arms to her side. But the smuggl'
had been right Neal was there, bour
and speechless helpless on the be
tom of the carriage.
An instant later the vehicle rattle
sharply off into the night