The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1915-11-04

Ono of Joe's friends across the table
rose. with terror written on his face.
He pointed with his finger at the win.
dow.
Look. look" he cried They looked.
A long thin, gristly brown arm with
long clawlike fingers, thrust itself
through the window and thrust fold
ed piece Of paper into the breast
pocket of Joe Welcher's coat. Joe
sprang to his feet. crouched terror
stricken In the corner, shielding his
face with his arm. His three cronies
leaped to the window. and looked out.
There was moon. But there was no
one to be seen. The owner Of the
hand and arm had disappeared. Welch-
er. coming to himself clutched at the
note. and unfolded II and read.
My Charming Friend: (It said)
Once moro I have returned from New
York. I stay at Lonesome Cove Inn.
Meet me there tomorrow afternoon
perhaps ! should say--thls afternoon
at three. II 10 Of importance. When
you come, Inquire for inez Castro
have used that name In order that
certain mutual friends might not hear
Of u. A. ever,
Irene courtIer.
Tint afternoon at three Lonesome
Cove--three miles north OF Seaport
was graced by the presence OF Joe
Welcher. Welcher made bee line
for the cafe and properly spiced up
his breath before proceeding TO keep
the rendezvous. Then he approached
Mulligan. the III favored proprietor.
"You got n certain party hero OF the
name OF Inez Costro," whispered
Welcher TO Mulllgan.
whats that TO you." said Mulligan.
Welch6r produced his note-tho note
produced an unusual effect upon Null
NIigan. He dropped his surliness. and
with wink beckoned to Welcher
leading him down n dim corridor. Go
up that there staircase" he command
cd. "and knock at Number Seven"
II sent for you" Inez began. that
you should do favor for ne"
Welcher seized her hand. That was
his undoing. In u moment she was In
his arms. struggling. He kissed her
full upon the lips.
'rll 10 to hell and back for you," he
said. Struggling. she half screamed.
Then something happened. Unknown
TO Welcher. the door OF Room Seven
opened noiselessly. and n well dressed
man. with a saber cut across his face,
entered on tiptoe. Ho closed the door
behind him, and stood there. watching
the struggle, silent. sinister.
Suddenly Inez screamed. She re-
leased herself from Welcher's arms
and reeled against the table. her eyes
wide with fright
"My--my husband" she gasnod. She
held out her hands pleadingly toward
the newcomer. Welcher covered In
abject terror.
"It was nothing-nothing. gasped
Inez. "a bit OF play-nothing else--be-
lieve me-"
Hernandez smiled-a wicked smile
He never looked at lnez. He glared at
Joey Welcher.
80 see," he said. "a bit OF play"
He whistled. The door opened once
again. Two figures entered-the brute
and Ponto. Hernandez gave a sign
and the brute picked Joe Welcher up.
whirled him In the air. and brought
him down seated at the table. This
was the added finishing touch to make
Joe realize his helplessness. Herman
dec clapped his hands and the brute
left the room. Ponto. the fat Mexi-
can. curled himself up underneath the
table. Hernandez seated himself.
"A bit of play" laughed Hernandez,
harshly. Then his brow furrowed with
wrinkles, his eyes became stern.
"Young sir" he said. your foster
sister is one Annette Ellington. You
live In the same house with her, she
, has in her possession small oilskin
packet-a yellow packet = possibly
you've seen it?'
He waited for an answer. Joe mois-
tened his dry lips and nodded.
"Well and good" went on Herman
dec, "that packet is mine-it belongs
TO me. You shall steal 1t from her
steal it for me. You understand"
Hernandez smiled. Iheh MS race
froze. His hand darted forward and
he clutched Welcher by the wrist.
my young friend" went on Herman
dez, "you are crook. have watched
you from first to last. Always have
watched you. ! watched you while
you made love to my young wife this
day. watched you when you stole
her money from her a week or 80
ago"
"Give me a drink" cried Welcher,
"go on. What do you want me to do!'
First" returned Hernandez. SAY
nothing to anyone-about me or my
companions-nor about Inez here
nothing. To you We are as a sealed
book. Break silence and-weii, my
ancestors were of the Spanish inquisi'
tion. my young friend. Silence comes
first. Next. get that packet. l care
not by what means-and bring 1t TO
me at the time and place shall here
after designate. Now go. Tonight
you understand-tonight.'
That uieht Welcher. fully dressed,