The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-13
CHAPTER XXX.
Forbidden Fruit.

Forbidden Fruit.
The captain of the Rio Grande found
Just at the time when he was on the
coast of Dolores-that his engine had
uncompromisingly broken down, and
that he must put into the nearest port
for repairs.
while I'm about it, he said to
Hernandez, his secret passenger. you
can land your oil stoves for the In
surrectos."
Hernandez nodded "Your legiti-
mate passengers-someo of your crew.
he said, you'd best get them out OF
the way first-we don't want too many
witnesses-the rifle cases might break
open"
Its all right" said the captain,
simple enough I'll land EN- in the
daytime. Well land your cargo in the
night"
He glanced toward shore. Sudden
| ~ he caught Hernandez by the arm.
! "Yonder, senor,' he exclaimed, look
the flag of the insurrectos-it Is
their camp"
Annette Ilington, startled by the ces-
sation of the engines, glanced out OF
the window of her stateroom. She
woke her foster mother, Mrs. Hardin.
Land" said Annette. look
There was not only land-there was
a village-there was big house
and there were people.
Already launch had put OF from
neat plantation dock, and inside OF
twenty minutes had drawn up along
side the Rio Grande.
In the launch, seated comfortably
in an easy wicker chair, smoking 9
long panatela, sat prosperous LOOK
ing Central American gentleman.
At the captains invitation n
boarded the Rio Grande and LOOKED
about him. His glance was keen-h
seemed to see everything at once,
You will pardon, senior captain,
he explained. "but-these are sus
picious times. We look for trouble
everywhere. You see yonder hill
Somewhere in that forest turks revt
luton. All that they need is guns
: senior. Guns and ammunition. Henc
my apprehension as to the III
Grande."
NV stars" exclaimed the captain
'if I'd known they wanted guns bio
. me. but Id have brought few along
An hour later the Central America
was standing on the veranda OF u
large plantation house. superintendent
the serving of iced drinks and bit
:. food, to his accidental guests, Annet'
Ilington and her party
Annette suddenly rose to her fee
Tho Rio Grande" she exclaime
"look-she is leaving us.
Her ho7. shooE his head She
moying, on pair of crutches-as OF
would say-into a quieter cove. The
she will repair herself Meantim
= command me as your servants, seno
-senoritas, if you please.
The cartain of the Rio Grande vi
clever enouch to perceive that
would further disarm the suspicion
= of the rich plantation owner by mo
ing tho Rio Grcnde down the Ca
instead of up the coast-away fro
a rather than nearer to the insurrect
= stronghold. He knew his bushes
. did the captain of the Rio Grand
; And if he didn't. he had a good dire
: tor. the Portuguese Hernandez.
All" said Hernandez that event.
: from the deck of the Rio Grande, III
Z majesty the moon.
) As if in answer to his exclamatic
Z a dozen rowboats shot out of the sha
! ows and lined up alongside the +
Grande. The first of these made ia
) Ia swarthy looking insured
Z climbed the ships ladder like
! monkey. Hernandez received him.
= "Senor,' he said, saluting.
The other man grinned. You ha
oil stoves for Panama" he queried
For Panama, yes smiled Herni
We DEE.
sr, This" said the other, with anotf
~, grim smile, lis Panama"
lie, First and foremost, senior genera
TX said Hernandez, money down"
lb- The insurrecto counted out the ca