The daily star-mirror., 1915-11-29
CHAPTER XIX.
At Crooked crag.

er, the clever smuggler of cocaine
and heroin established his headquar-
ters at the Crooked Crag The pro
prietor recognized him for what he
was; there was secret compact, un-
spoken, but well understood, between
the two.
Hernandez had located himself in
the secret, sound-proof room at
Crooked Crag. He was talking over
the telephone
1T was false move" he conceded
Il should have steered clear of your
Newport villa. 1t it hadn't been for
the apprentice seaman, / might have
turned a trick. AS it is, l am afraid
to show myself think we will have
to wait for our yellow-blooded friend
to return from his failure at Annapo-
lis,
With the scrap of paper in his pos
F. session Neal had excused himself to
Inez, and had started back to his
training station with definite pur-
pose in view. Once arrived there, he
handed the crumpled slip of paper to
the officer in command and told his
story.
But all this went on unknown to
Hernandez. He had not missed the
scrap of paper.
Half an hour later on q wharf in
Newport there drew up very capable
little motor boat Inez and her young
friend, Annette Ilingtop, boarded her.
1nez gave signal and the launch
plunged her nose into the sea.
For half an hour or SO everything
went we'll
But suddenly above the chugging
of the exhaust Annette heard groan
at her side Inez was hanging limp
over the arm of her wicker chair.
What is the mat.er?" cried An
nette, alarmed
Il am ill, SO ILL., groaned Inez. II
was fool to come out in a sea like
this"
We'll go back" said Annette.
NO." said Inez. 1--WE nelst land
Another half hour of this / think
would kill me-"
In a moment they were gliding
through the quiet waters, and in two
moments more had reached the dock
at the head Of the inlet. Above them
lowered a huge, crooked granite
shaft, and nesting against it like an
other shaft was the Crooked Crag ho-
tel.
Il must rest" groaned Inez. Il
must lie down. am i'll, terribly ill. +
Annette rapidly leaped from the
motor boat, tripped up to the little
dock and nimbly ascended the rustic
steps that led to the hotel. She was
met half way by the proprietor, Sol
niger himself.
yes, miss" he called to her; some
thing urgent, perceive
MY friend, Miss Courtier, is i'll,
said Annette "She is in the launch
below Can you help me?"
With pleasure, miss, said the pro-
prietor
With him at her side, Annette re-
traced her steps The proprietor en-
tered the motor boat and bent over
Inez. He nodded to himself, as though
recalling description.
With an easy swing they carried
Inez out of the boat, along the dock
and UP the rustic steps.
Have you physician in the
house?9
I'VE have everything everything at
Crooked Crag,'' returned the proprie-
tor, with an insinuating smile.
He summoned other servitors and
nodded to Annette.
1T is two fights UP, miss" he said
to Annette.
Giving innumerable directions and
climbing at the head of the little
group behind him, he finally reached
the third story room.
If the doctor is about, will you
send him?" said Annette, bowing the
proprietor and his two men from the
room.
AT once mademoiselle,' said the
proprietor, with low bow.
There was a knock upon the door
''Come in," said Annette.
Two men entered, one of whom, a
man with neatly trimmed Van Dyke
beard, drew Annette to the window,
inquiring gravely about the case
While her attention was thus occupied
the other man seized the recumbent
figure upon the bed and bore it from
the room Annette caught glimpse
OF his huge shoulders Just as he dis
appeared
What is he doing?" she demanded.
Where is he taking her to-"
The other man bowed. ITO ply
sician," he returned, "as you re-
quested."
He crossed the room and deftly
locked the door, putting the key in his
pocket.
"Rut you are physician" ex-
claimed Annette; alarmed.
He tore from either side Of his face
4 thin strip of hair, leaving beneath 1t
smooth shaven jowels. He still wore
s'mustaohe and goatee Then he turned
to her. and his face was the face of
tho man in the shrubbery at the New
port villa. the face Of the smuggler