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


Under your kind care,' she said to
Mrs. Hardin, her hostess--and In hei
tone was the slightest foreign accent
II am so well again, that I must
leave YOU
She paused. Joe Welcher pushed
open the door and slouched into the
room Inez Castro glanced at him Sc
ductlvely from under her long lashes
and went on.
with the aid Of Mr.. Joey Welchcr,'
she proceeded, II have consulted time
tables, and | find very good connec
tons 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, Il can't think
! OF II. You have taken what we call
potluck 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 Mt
Joe Welcher She slightly raised her
eyebrows-she watched Joey as n cat
watches a mouse. And Joe--he was
watching something. too--the cash
that Inez was holding in her hand.
Inez groaned suddenly and put out her
hand.
stupid" she said. II have forgot.
My outer bandagc. I must return"
She returned the money TO her hand.
bag and laid II 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
Courtlcr comes down I'll bo 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 tho
handbag and drew forth tho roll
OF bills. lie needed money badly--he
had to pay n debt OF honor. which
means a gambling debt. He opened
the roll OF bills and peeled on few
where their absence would least DO
noted, and then restored the balance
OF tho bills 10 the handbag --thrusting
his share into his pocket.
Inez Castro. seated halfway up tho
stairs. watching through an inch OF
open doorway. smiled to herself Then
she tripped u bit noisily. and irregu'
larly-to show her limp-down the
stairs and glided gracefully into the
room. Joe III a cigarette and watched
her. lie was nervous. but game. lie
watched her closely. She took up her
bag and once again took out the bills,
MY charming hostess" she ex.
claimed. where should she be-"
"She should be here" said joey,
eyading her glance. wait u bit. Ill
get her"
lie got her. and Inez resumed her
former conversation-once more H.
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. boys ready-time that you were
on"
Once at the station lnez bought n
ticket for New York. But when the
train-a local-drew up at Lonesome
Cove. three miles north OF Seaport.
lnez dropped on 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 waters 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 rock. lnez raised her parasol |
and saIntered gracefully toward this |
rock. and composed herself - also |
tiaNNAuils VI Ait choQoW VI tho ioNhs Il
Before doing 30 she peered into the
bushes. noted the presence there OF
three shadowy hgu~.s. and nodded
In recognition. A man with q
foreign accent spoke.
"What progress9" he Queried anx.
Iously.
Best In the world" she answered.
we nave a new recruit"
She changed her position. A man
thrust his head and face for a mo-
ment out OF the bushes--a face across
which was a saber cut; livid scar
For a moment. with their heads to-
sether. the two whispered. The man
with a scowl OF satisfaction. finally
withdrew his head. lnez rose to her
'eet and looked about her.
Where is this Lonesome Cave Inn.
Ihen?" she queried.
Half mile farther up the beach
'ollow the shore line-turn In at the
,oye. Follow the water line-.t takes
fou there. Good luck"