Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-29
CONTINUED from Previous Issue
FIFTH lMSTALLIAEhT
a MESSAGE FROM THE PAST
cHAPrER XXI.
C Julee

hotel created some ScnSGtsCn--as Wen
as did the rescue OF two beautiful
ycvug women Miss Irene Courtier
aa5 @ friend Miss nineton. But
pcr Is q place Of many happen
sensational and otherwise-and
2 er au the Crooked Crag had been
Ta5ae6 many times before.
50 l.s balmy days ii had been clev.
crlv constructed and maintained as
secluded gambling place for New
mliionaires. q place full OF cub
- ho!cs and uncsnny getaways. For
tbe thirteenth time in its history it
was closed up and its proprietor
Jailed
But the three weird characters who
had been the cause OF all the vio-
lence still remained in hiding-Her-
nandez. the Portuguese adventurer;
Pcnto, his Mexican side partner, and
their strange and unusual companion,
the brute
annette, for her part, gave full de.
scriptions OF these three to the au.
tAorities and accompanied secret-serv-
ice men on many fruitless trips.
At any rate. she said to her
friend. Irene Courtier. Il know now
" here / stand | was warned to look
cut for a man with a saber cut across
his face" Her face grew wistful
! thought-feared, she went on, at
first. that that man might be my ia
tae- but my father would never treat
girl as this scar-face treated me.
Annette touched her neck A tiny
Etle gold chain fell into the bosom
her waist.
tie has laid bare his teeth, this
ariace said Annette. "He knows
something of my father-Im sure OF
.hat-and I'm sure of something else
lie is seeking my lost Isle of CHINA
0:-i-ne WEuIs Il Tor MS own. wen
100. can bare my teeth. Let him come
en-"
You are so strong, murmured
irene Courtier, so strong.
a Japanese servant stole into the
room-the living room at Miss Cour-
tiers summer villa ut Newport. She
nad rented this villa for the season
and had paid one months rent-no
more. Sbe had paid the Japanese but
one months wages--no more The
Japanese presented a note upon a
saiver. nez Castro glanced at it and
waved her hand. Mrs. Hardin was
4ast entering from the veranda.
1t is Tor you, Grandam, said lnez.
l1d from some old sweetheart, eh?''
oa!
s Hardin opened the missive-
eyes frightened
.ta r1a our congressman at Sea
vc'aia
aIv dear b,.a t.}ln' he wrote ia
his note, hoping that you and your
charges can add one more evening to
your round of gayety in Newport So
ciety, / beg to inclose an invitation
which may give you a few hours of
pleasure. Wish could go myself.
Anything on a oattleship suits me-"
Inclosed in the missive was heavy
white card engraved in script:
The officers of the U. S. S. Alabama
request the honor Of your presence
with friends at the dance on ship
board Tuesday evening, June.
The words with friends were in
terlined in ink. Annette read the in
vitation and then handed it to Inez.
Good" exclaimed Inez. "These are
worth while-these shipboard dances"
Five minutes later she called UP
private number on the wire in her
boudoir. waiting impatiently until she
heard a voice she knew. Then she
talked rapidly, almost in a whisper.
Its worth taking q chance, is It
not?" she queried.
"Ah.' returned the voice at the 9th
er end of the wire. we do nothing
without chances. We shall take a
chance. Farewell"
It must be understood that an able
seaman like Neal Hardin. while his
good behavior, his natural aptitude
and his general Inability gave him
many privileges-yet he was still the
victim of caste-naval caste. AS
civilian he might travel with ladies
of dignity. such as his mother, and
young women of style and beauty,
such as Annette Ilington and her
friend, Irene Courtier; but as q chief
petty officer remarked to Neal-"A
ball on board the Alabama is not for
able seamen, not so you could notice
it, my boy STILL" he added, clapping
Neal upon the shoulder, IN try and
get you a place on the back stairs
where you can look on and see the
swells."
Figuratively speaking. he got him
a place on the back stairs without
much difficulty. and after Neal had
spent day in assisting HIS fellow
able seamen in polishing up every
thing aboard the Alabama that could
be polished, and in swabbing every
thing aboard her that could be
swahbed. and in setting TO rights
everything that could be set to rights,
Neal. clad in an immaculate white
duck suit. found himself stationed,
stiff as ramrod. and for the first
time scared to death. by the side of a
large punch bowl under the canvas
covering OF the dancing deck.
CTo Be Continuedl