The Detroit times., 1915-11-30
CHAPTER l..
Hidden Peril.

CHAPTER L.
Hidden Peril.
Look, satd Hernandez, catching
Inez by the wrist, the party has
arrived.
He handed his binoculars 10 Inez
Castro. She looked. "They are just
landing" she said. 1T Is all up.
rhey will go to the father OF the
mission and will make their claim"
They were seated en- an emf
nence two miles back In the desert,
behind a hillock OF sand, over which
they peered.
What difference does the grant
make" she exclaimed. "why take
the risk OF getting it2 Already that
old priest suspects something.
What ! do not know. But he sus-
poets. Why not take the bit in our
teeth and make for Lost Island
get there at once? Why not?"
Hernandez shook his head "We
need every advantage" he said, III
VIC have evidence within our hands.
she will have none. Without the
grant--without all the evidence, we
VIII not be believed. With II we
will be taken AZ our face value. Let
us get all we can Let us leave her
without proof-she will be helpless
then"
Hernandez kicked Ponto with his
foot Ponto sat up rubbing hla
eyes.
"ponto." said Hernandez, "the
party has arrived"
''They will go to the mission and
spoil II ALL" said Ponto.
NO returned Hernandez. thank
our lucky stars the mission is
good two miles out OF the village.
they will FIRST put up AT hotel
later they will start out for the
mission. II is then. on the way
there, we must intercept them
you must. Ponto. You and tho
Brute. This time he will do his
duty-or I'll fay his hide. Wake
him up. You have no time TO
lose
Hernandez VAS quite right. An
nette Ilington, even more eager
than had been her enemies. could
hardly wait the moment when she
might stand before the fathers OF
the Santa Maria mission and claim
her own--and do even more. make
inquiry about her father.
Ponto woke the Brute with a
vicious application OF the whip
lash, and the Brute rose, heavy with
sleep. and stretched his mighty
limbs.
Spare him not. Ponto." said Her.
nandez. If he disobeys this time,
cut his hide into strips--I give you
leave"
Trust me for that" cried Ponto,
his eyes cleaning wickedly. come
on. you beast"
At a half run Ponto and the
Brute started across the desert.
lodging here and there behind little
hillocks OF sand. Finally the vii
lsge vas cut of from their sight.
Nov we can rum" Ponto cried,
make haste"
No sooner had he spoken than his
foot slirped--he sank into the
ground mp 10 his waist.
Help" he cried, "a 1uicksand-
help"
The Brute pulled him back 10
'erra firma. But II was not a
uuIcksand, 40 Ponto soon found cut.
II was u trap--a trap for jaguars
and mountain Hons,
Ponto shivered. Then he replaced
the dried brush and grass and
earth.
Nimbly he climbed into one Of
the overhanging trees. Then he
slid down. nodding to himself with
satisfaction.
"Shc must pass within a hundred
yards OF this place 10 reach the mis-
sion" he exclaimed. Beast, We wait
here until she comes
He drew out his revolver and saw
that II was loadel. He handed a
thick stick 10 the Brute. Then he
beat the Brute viciously across the
head.
"You do as say--or I'll have
your blood" he cried.
Down in the village, 81 the little
old hotel. Annette ordered ont two
horses.
II can't wait" she told her foster
mother. Mrs. Hardin. There's no
use talking TO me. I've got to go.
Come on, joe"
Put Joe couldn't como on. lie
tried TO. But his steed had a mind
OF his own. Three times he threw
Joe OF. and the last time With
heavy jolt that gave Joe a good ex.
cuse to keep out OF danger.
Not on your life." said Joe. limp
ing toward the hotel bar. you can
go IT alone"
II prefer to-" laughed Annette.
Meals mother tried to dlssuade
her--and called out the proprietor
OF the little old hotel.
Annette nodded to him. Safe.
isn't it?" she asked.
He nodded. or a surety. In the
daytime, he said. Travellers often
passed out 10 the mission and the.
priests came into town-and al.
ways In the daytime there WAS no