The Detroit times., 1915-11-19
SVZlYzXg!a 8! ZEXae

him open mouthed. Among them
were men, sobsr men, whose fami-
lies had been ministered to by an
angel sent from heayen-a little
white angel. One OF these men sud
denly sprang to his feet and
grabbed the boaster by the scruff
OF the neck-and. Notwithstanding
struggles. carried him, pell nell,
from the wine shop.
Back in the Inn OF the Spanish
Don. the proprietor was protesting
that he had not seen Gunner Neal
had not learned of the whereabouts
OF the little white angel-Senorita
Annette Ilington. A dozen blue
Jackets we're on hand-the surgeon
was there Mrs. wild-eyed
in the glare of the smoky lamps.
was sobbing Historically. Inez
looked on calmly. Suddenly into
the nItdyt or rits-c0mpany was pro.
PEELED an intoxicated natiye@a- hap;
OF bones clad in a tumble OF rags.
Another native bounced upon him
and shook him as a terrier shakes
rat.
This man. senior" said the sober
native. curses on him--he knows
where the little white angel Is.
Come, he will guide us there. Tell
thep. you dog"
The dog told .iIe didn't want TO,
but neither did he like the prick OF
bayonets through his hide-so he
told, and then he led the way. by
the time they, had reached the ont.
skirts Of the town, the whole town
was with thent-a motley crowd,
with torches. scythes, rakes--olf
blunderbusses. anything men,
women, children. dogs.
Hernandez. in his hut, heard the
commotion. He knew in his bones
what II was. Come on he cried
to Ponto, we're going back into
that swamp swore they should
not get away-you swore it, too"
How will we get there" shiv-
cred Ponto.
The brute is a brute" said Hern-
! andez. where he has been once, he
can always find the way. Come.
Lead on--lead on"
The brute, under the usual stimu-
liant OF cuffs and blows, led on
Ponto followed. Ut the edge of the
swamp. Hernandez. with a wicked
smile dropped silently to one side
and crawled behind clump OF
bushes.
Safety first" he said 10 himself
"Ponto and the brute will finish
them--and IL they don't return--ah
so much the more for me-" He
peered out The searching party
had halted. There was reason for
IL. II was necessary 10 sober up
the guide. The surgeon was ad-
ministering some strong lotion. This
delay was auspicious-for Herman.
der
Out on that fateful islet In the
center OF the quagmirc, Neal, his
eyes heavy lldded with sleep. was
holding Annette in his arms. Sne
was oblivious Suddenly be woke
her up and sprang TO his feet, draw
ing her with him.
Some one comes he whispered
No sooner had he said II than tho
| brute was upon them. He seized
! Neal as In wise. But Neal--a
trickster In a wrestling match
wriggled ont OF his grasp. He
seized heavy stick and lunged at
the brute. The brute engaged him
once again. Ponto tore the stick
away from Neal. and whirling II
about his head, brought II down
with a resounding crack upon Meals
head
Neal dropped like a log.
Ponto. knowing the reason for
haste, turned and looked about him.
He was puzzled by Hernandez's alb
sence. but this was no time to won.
der He drew a knife and started
toward Annette.
This time" he cried, you shall
not get away"
Annette ran, crookedly, hysteric-
ally, across the small islet. In an
other instant she was waist deep
In the quagmire, and still sinking.
Ponto from terra firm lunged at her
with his knife-but his lunge fell
short Annette struggled away
tried 10 reach some place OF safety.
Hut her way was blocked by wa