The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-12-14
CHAPTER XVII.
Decoy

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
9 hotel not quarter of mile away
he saw 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
Ieer toward Neal, land what comes in
them too"
You got my note?" queried Annette.
Il got it," returned Neal, "but no
co.
What are you talking about?" said
Annette. eve are. specially invited by
the governor himself"
I'm out of it, 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 hirt 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
q shadow in himself, watching, ever
watching. Suddenly there was light
tread upon the graveled path. A
5aunty figure swung into the moon
light and looked about him. Out Of
the hundred guests or SO that clus-
tered about the verandas of the dis
tant house Neal peered anxiously for
Annette Ilington.
He trilled little whistle-his sig
nal and Annette's-and as though that
whistle were a signal for an onslaught,
a huge shadow and another sprang
across the intervening space and
caught Neal from behind. A coat or
cloak descended over his head with
all the effectiveness of a strait-jacket.
1t was the governor himself who
kept Annette within the range of ar
fjfcial light and from her appointment
10 the moonlight out beyond.
nor, an individual with cunning eyes
and insinuating leer stepped up to the
funky at the main gate that led to the
governors mansion and handed him a
note.
For a guest-Miss Ilington," he
said. Il am to wait for an answer
The fiunky nodded, summoned an
y>3hor Aunlyxy ond hapdod him RI, rnfo
The funky made an inquiry or two,
then stepped directly to the governor
and handed him the note.
This is the young lady here, Fran
co.'s exclaimed the governor.
Annette took the note to window
where there was somewhat better
Light, and opened it. 1t was written
in srawling, unaccustomed hand
This is what it said:
Have seen scar face. Need you
moment for Identification. We have
run him down. Come with bearer of
this note. Excuse scrawl-right hand
N. G. Hastily,
P. S.-Don't drag mother into this.
Tome as you are.
Annette beckoned to the funky.
Where" she said, "is the bearer Of
this note?"
The funky bowed. Follow me-" he
said
At the gate there stood man wait
ing hat in hand-a man with cunning
eyes and insinuatjng smile.
Mr. Hardin sent your" she in
quired.
The man bowed. "Oui, mademoi-
se1le," he returned.
"Where is he now?" she queried
cautiously.
Where he said he would wait-by
The postern garden gate" returned the
bearer
Disarmed, she followed this man
into the shadows.
In another instant she had reached
carriage and an instant later some
thing descended over her head, smoth-
ering her cries-something bound her
arms to her side. But the smuggler
had been right Neal was there, bound
and speechless-helpless on the bot
tom of the carriage.
An instant later the vehicle ratified
sharply off into the night.
CHAPTER XVIII.