The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1915-11-11


there In n rack Then he darted back
and with ringing strokes began his as
sault upon the wall. Suddenly from
within he heard woman's shrek.
Meal" cried Annette's voice within
and il was the voice of girl beside
herself with agony and fear Neal.
II is Annette. Come. for Gods sake,
come"
Neal delivered one more crashing
blow then he motioned to his fellows.
Come. boys. he said. there's not
second TO lose This thing has got
to go"
The corridor was fairly broad. The
little squad of sailors withdrew and
huddled against the opposite wall
Then as one nan this human batter.
Ing ram luused and lurehed across the
hall and propelled itself against the
already splutcred PARTITION
NTH crash the secret door went
down and With u bound Neal was In
tie room Annette. her dress torn.
her hair dishcYclcd. struggled with
the brute in one corner OF the room
Pouto had released her. With a bound
he crossed the room and Jerkcd aside
the fireplace. disclosing secret exit
lie crawlcd through the aperture and
disappeared.
Hernandez stuponed with astoaish-
ueut yet had an expression OF trf
uraph and glee upon his face He was
thrusting yellow parchment into his
pocket. Annette with n final struggle
slipped from tho brute grasp and
darted toward Hernandez. calling to
| Neal
Neal. Neal" she cried. he's got
| my fathers map"
With one spring Neal was upon Her
nandez. He snatched back the hand
with which Hernandez was pushing
the map into his pocket. The map
came out torn and crumpled. An
nette. beside herself. snatched At IL
with both hands. Neal grabbed at 1t
and also got hold. Hernandez still
held it in his iron clutch.
All this took place in an instant In
another instant the three had fallen
| back. each in a separate direction. The
map had parted and each clutched .
piece OF II.
| Hernandez. with an oath. turned
and dived into the secret passageway.
Five minutes later the fastest boat
along the shore-the boat which lnez
| Castro called her own-was chug-
chugging out TO sea with three fig
ures huddled in her bottom-the brute
and Ponto and their chief. Hernandez
They had wriggled somehow through
the surrounding circle, had zig Jagged
| in and out OF shots-had made good
their escape.
When the chase was over Neal re-
turned ana half apologized to lnez.
Sorry. Miss Courtier. he said, but
they've made away with your fast mo-
torboat. We couldn't get to ours In
time. We landed half mile or SO
Just up the shore. How do you feel?"
Better" exclaimed lnez. Its the
excitement, the noise. the pistol shots
they have made me we'll again"
Neal thrust his hand into his pocket
and pulled forth a crumpled piece of
| parchment.
What did you get. Annette?" he In
CURED.
! Annette thrust her hand into her
dress and pulled forth her own tat
tered portion lnez. watching. bent
her head 10 listen. Neal and Annette
spread their two pieces of the map out
upon the little stand. Between them
they had the bulk OF the lower portion
OF the map. II was blank surface.
save for three things-a little tail of
the island sticking down and the words
longitude" and latitude" and moth
ing else. Annette laughed In glee.
We've got everything we want"
she said 10 Neal What is here IL
important What the man with the
saber cut upon his face has got is Of
no use To him or US. We beat him
TO II. Neal. we beat him to IT,"
Over on the bed Inez. In her crouch
ing attitude. still listened, wondering
GRO RE CoNTINUEDJ