The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-23
CHAPTER Xxx.
Cornered.

iduncH scanned the coast line with
care.
This Crooked Crag hotel is an I'M
canny place" he said. They've prob
ably got lookouts posted everywhere.
We'd better land half mile away and
take them from the rear"
LIS Lroth>. ens.sn sruutCI. Dol
lars to doughnuts we're on a wild
goose chase, he said If there's any
place that covers up its tracks it's
Crooked Crag. You're right though.
we'll take them from the rear"
They landed half mile up shore
and as quietly as possible tranped
for mile through underbrush in the
general direction of the granite rock
which stood out clear above the tree
tops. They halted on the edge of the
clearing, from the center of which
rose the hotel itself
Form circle" said the ensign
surround the place, and all close in
at once. No matter what happens
don't let anybody get away"
One of the ensigns beckoned to
Neal. Come with me- he said you
know the man we're after and can de.
scribe him. I'll need you and about
three more besides"
With rhythmic. ringing steps. the lit.
tie squad crossed the clearing, darted
up the rustic staircase and tramped
across the veranda of the hotel. Sol
niger met them at the door,
Yes. gentlemen" he said bowling,
what can serve you?"
Serve us nothing" said the ensign
sternly. we are looking for a SNUG
gler that you have got. lie is here.
We know he is here and we are 60
ing to get him
Meantime Hernandez had entered
the room where he had confined An
nette. Once more he locked the door
behind him and without a word crossed
the floor toward her. Annette had
made up her mind just what to do.
She must fight with IA womans weap-
ons and she had a woman's weapon
hat pin.
She waited until Hernandez was
within three feet Of her, then she
raised the weapon and sunk II deep
into his outstretched arm.
His face white with anger, Herman.
dez caught her roughly by the throat.
But he Lad forgotten something-for-
gotten that she had inherited tremen.
dous strength Young and graceful as
she was, her every muscle was well
trained With one strong sweep OF
her arm, she threw him of and then
plunged into a fight, the fight OF a
wildcat against a wolf She tore al
his face and head, clutching for his
eyes, trying for hold upon his ears.
Time and again she lrepulsed him,
then with one wild clutch she caught
him by the hair and held him with a
strong grip of her right hand while
she pummeled his face with a small
but energetic left.
Hernandez retreated to the door, un
locked it and gave vent to a low whis-
tie His whistle was immediately an.
swered Ponto entered the room
dragging with him the huge brute
Seize her" he demanded of the
brute.
The girl stared at this huge figure
with terror in her eyes.
The brute started across the floor
and then whimpering, with hands
hanging al his sides, turned away
IRON her Hernandez nodded to his
assistant. Ponto Ponto drew his ever
ready whip and dashed the brute into
obedience The huge man. still within
pering. caught the girl in his arms
and held her.
Hernandez. without the slightest
conjunction, tore open Annette's
waist
"Yuu vixen" said Hernandez be
tween his teeth, II will get that map
ii have TO fay you"
Meantime, one by one, OIL the lower
hror. the cnsigns cohorts had strug-
glcd in Ea-h sa,'-cl IS he ccme.
"ltsA use. they whispered TO the
o'.s..a. "so.ascr's got US beat. We
cant find anything.
Ma. S,,.s t..r -. 10 CJme He had
made a thorough search.
A soaman ran lightly up the steps
int the gffice an! saluted.
BEG your pardon. sir" he said. Il
,uni this in a crevice in a rock be
ND ,.,- na5,sa. IL IuoAs bad, sir.
H. b,ndad oyer the message WhiC a
Annette had scrawlei upon the card
r~-a Car-ticr- the message that
ne was confined in an upper room.