The Dermott news., 1915-11-04

iOo', Win ttllpi WI tNth WI hAc ioNS'
He pointed with his finger at the win.
| dow
Look. look" he cried They looked.
| A long thin, gristly brown arm with
| long clawlike fingers. thrust itself
| through the window and thrust fold
| ed piece of paper into the breast
pocket of Joe Welchers coat. Joe
| sprang to his feet crouched terror
| stricken in the corner, shielding his
| face with hiSarm His three cronies
| leaped to the window, and looked out.
| There was moon. But there was no
one to be seen The owner of the
hand and arm had disappeared. WEIGH
er, coming to himself, clutched at the
note. and unfolded 1t and read
Nv Charming Friend: Nt said)
| Once more have returned from New
York. ! stay at Lonesome Cove Inn.
Meet me there tomorrow afternoon
perhaps | should say-thls Afternoon
at three. II is Of impo rtance. When
| you come, inquire for inez Castro
have used that name in order that
| certain mutual friends CHIT not hear
| Of IL. As ever,
Irene Courtier.
That afternoon at three Lonesome
| Cove-three miles north OF Seaport
was graccd by the presence of Joe
| Welcher. Welcher made bee line
| for the cafe and properly spiCed up
his breath before proceeding to keep
| the rendezvous Then he approached
Mulligan. the i'll favored proprietor.
You got certain party here of the
| name Of lnez Costro. whispered
Welcher to Mulligan.
What's that TO you. said Mullgan.
| Welcher produced his note-the note
| produced an unusual effect upon Null
ligan. He dropped his surliness, and
with wink beckoned to Welcher.
leading him down a dim corridor. Go
up that there staircase" he command
| ed. and knock at Number Seven.
Il sent for you lnez began that
YOU should do a favor for me
Welcher seized her hand. That Was
his undoing. In a moment she was in
his arms. struggling. He kissed her
| full upon the lips.
TN go to he'll and back for you, he
said. Struggling, she half screamed
! Then something happened Unknown
| to WelCher. the door of Room Seven
| opened noiselessly. and a We'll dressed
man. with a saber cut across his face,
entered on tiptoe He closed the door
behind him. and stood there. watching
suddenly Inez screamed. She re-
leased herself from Welcher's arms
and reeled against the table. her eyes
wide with fright.
"My-my husband, she sasped She
held out her hands plaa!iagly toward
the newcomer Welcher covered in
abject terror.
1T WAS uothiug-nothing.' gasped
lnez. "a bit of play-nothing else-be.
lieve me
Hernandez smiled--a wicked smile
He never looked at lnez. He glared at
Joey Welchcr.
so see" he said. "a bit Of play :
He whistled The door opened once
again Two figures entered-thc brute
and Ponto. hernandez gave sign
and the brute picked Joe Welcher up.
whirled him in the air, and brought
him down seated at the table. This
was the added finishing touch to make
Joe realize his helplcssness. Herman
dez clapped his hands and the brute
left the room. Ponto. the fat Mexi-
can. curled himself up underneath the
table Hernandez seated himself
"A bit OF play" laughed hernandez.
harshly Then his brow furrowed with
wrinkles. his eyes became stern
Young sir" he said. your foster
sister Is one Annette Ellington, You
live In the same house with her She
has in her possession small oilskin
packet-a yellow packet - possibly
you've seen IT."
He waited for an answer Joe mos.
tened his dry lips and nodded,
We'll and good went on Herman
| dez. that packet is mine-it belongs
to me You shall steal II from her
steal 1t for me You understand"
Hernandez smiled. Then his face
froze His hand darted forward and
| he clutched Welcher by the wrist
My young friend" went on Herman.
| dez. you are a crook. have watched
| you from first to last. Always | have
watched you. watched you while
you made love TO my young wife this
| day. watched you when you stole
her money from her week or SO
| ago"
Give me a drink" cried Welcher.
go on What do you want me TO do"
First" returned Hernandez. SAY
nothing 10 anyone-about me or my
comprehension about lnez here
nothing. To YOU We are as a sealed
| book Break silence and-well. my
ancestors were OF the Spanish inquisi
ton my young friend. silence comes
first. Next. get that packet. l care
not by what means-and bring II to
me at the time and place shall here
after designate. Now go, Tonight.
| you understand-tonig
That ptvht wplrhar fully drosaad