Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-27
cornered.


care.
This Crooked Crag hotel is an un-
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"
His brother ensign grunted. Dol
lars to dolghnuts were on a wild
goose chase" he said. III there's any
place that covers up its tracks it's
Crooked Crag You're right though
wen take them from the rear"
They landed half a mile up shore
and as quietly as possible tramped
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 a 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 smug-
gler that you have got. He 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 a woman's weap-
ons and she had woman's weapon
hat pin.
She waited until Hernandez was
within three feet of her. then she
raised the weapon and sunk it deep
into his outstretched arm.
His face white with anger. Herman.
dez caught her roughly by the throat.
But he had forgotten something-for-
gotten that she had inherited tremen-
dous strength. Young and graceful as
she was. her every muscle was wen
trained With one strong sweep CT
her arm, she threw him off and then
plunged into a fight, the fight Of
wildcat against wolf She tore at
his face and head, clutehing for his
eyes, trying for hold upon his ears.
Time and again she repulsed 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, I'M
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 at his sides, turned away
from her. Hernandez nodded to his
assistant, Ponto. Ponto drew his ever
ready whip and lashed the brute into
obedience. The huge man, still vhim-
pering, caught the girl in his arms
and held her.
Hernandez, without the slightest
compunoti3n, tore open Annettes
waist.
You vixen" said Hernandez be-
tween his teeth. Il VIII get that map
IL l have to fay you"
Meantime. one by one. on the lower
floor. the ensign's cohorts had strug-
gled in. Each saluted as he came.
It's no use" they whispered to the
ensign, "solinger's got us beat. We
can't ind anything"
Neal was the last to come. He had
made 4 thorough search.
A seaman ran lightly up the steps
into the Office and saluted.
beg your pardon, sir" he said. 81
found this in a creyice in a rock be-
A4liu INC hSuSG. II lDOAS ua1s SlA-
He handed over the message which
Annette had scrawled upon the card
Of Irene Courtier-the message that
she was confined in an upper room,
the room with the barred windows in
the rear
THE handkerchief is tied there
sir" exclaimed the seaman. Fand / feel
sure that we can locate the room
The ensign read the card and hand.
ed it to Neal. Neal touched his hat.
May I-do I have TO wait for or.
ders. sir2" he cried
No" reared the ensign.
They reached the third floor corri-
dor and darted into an open room and
thrust heads out of an unbarred win
dow. The sailor plucked Neal by the
sleeve.
There he whispered Its next
door to this, The two windows. the
bars and the handkerchief tied on.
Come on.
eTo Be Continuedl