Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1915-12-25

room she had been occupying for
some time. and entered tho living
room
Under your kind care" she said to
Mrs Hardin. her hostcss-and in her
tone was the slightest foreign accent
II am so well again. that must
leave you"
She paused Joe Welcher pushed
open the door and slouched into the
room. lnez Castro glanced at him Sc
ductively from under her long lashes
and went on
with the aid OF Mr. Joey Welcher,'
she proceeded, Il have consulted time
tables. and | find very good connec-
lions on the next train"
She opened her handbag. and took
out bills. And" she added. Il insist
on paying board"
Mrs Hardin held up her hand. Miss
Courtier. she returned. II can't think
OF 1t. You have taken what we call
pot.luck with US. You have been
friendly with us, and hope We have
been friendly with you"
lnez smiled and shrugged her pretty
shoulders. She glanced casually at
Joe Welcher She slightly raised her
eyebrows-she watched joey as a cat
watches a mouse. And Joe-he was
watching something, too-the cash
that lnez was holding in her hand
lnez groaned suddenly and put out her
hand.
Stupid" she said. II have forgot.
My outer bandage. | must return.
She returned the money to her hand
bag and laid 1t down upon the table.
Then she left the room and went up
stairs. Mrs Hardin, Welcher's foster
mother. shifted the air
There's something burning in the
kitchen. Joey she exclaimed. IF Miss
Courtier comes down I'll be right
back" She. too. disappeared. And
Joey-easy money Joey Welcher. was
left alone with the handbag and the
bills. joey listened for an instant
then tiptoed forward. seized the
handbag and drew forth the roll
VI DAAlos Alt lttAtA AAOAtf haAAt -
had to pay debt Of honor. which
means a gambling debt He opened
the roll of bills and peeled off a few
where their absence would least be
noted. and then restored the balance
OF the bills to the handbag -thrusting
his share into his pocket
lnez Castro. seated halfway up the
stairs. watching through an inch OF
open doorway. smiled to herself Then
she tripped bit noisily, and irregu
larly-to show her limp-down the
stairs and glided gracefully into the
room Joe lit a cigarette and watched
her He was nervous. but game lie
watched her closely. She took up her
bt. and once again took out the bills
My charming hostess she ex
claimed, where should she be-"
She should be here" said joey
evading her glance. wait a bit, Ill
get her"
He got her. and lnez resumed her
former onyersation-once more in
sisting upon payment for her board
Her offer was quite as insistently de
clined She sighed prettily and clicked
shut her bag Welcher also sighed
with unmistakable relief She turned
TO him.
The one.horse vehicle?" she asked.
Outside said Welcher. Offering his
arm. boy ready-time that you we're
off"
Once at the station lnez bought a
ticket for New York. But when the
train-a local-drew up at Lonesome
Cove. three miles north OF Seaport.
Inez dropped off the rear platform OF
the last car. and waited on the far
side OF the track until the train was
out OF sight There was no station at
Lonesome Cove-merely shed. Swift
ly Inez crossed the track and passed
this station and then sped on down
toward the shore. She reached mar
row strip OF beach, stepped down to
the vater's edge. and looked about
her Suddenly she saw what she was
looking fora bandanna handkerchief
thrust above a clump OF bushes. On
the sea side of this clump of bushes
was a rock. Inez raised her parasoI
and saGhtered gracefully toward this
rock, and composed herself - also
gracefully-in the shadow Of the rock
Before doing so she peered into the
bushes, noted the presence there of
three shadowy figures. and nodded
slightly. in recognition. A man with a
foreign accent spoke.
"What progress?" he querled anx
iously
Best in the world she answered,
we have a new recruit.
She changed her position. A man