The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1915-12-03

A quarter OF an hour before a black
had penetrated TO the camp OF the
marines and had given the alarm--and
the whole camp had started of on the
double quick.
'Boys!" shouted Neal. pressing TO
tho fore American women-don't for.
! get-como on"
In an upper room In the planters
house Mrs. Hardin shrank back In a
corner with fear Bullets were rid
ding the walls, Joe welcher lay face
down. lneZ. with presence OF mind,
had placed a mattress against the
wall and with Joe's aid had placed an
upturned bed against the other. They
were fairly safe. Besides that. Just
once. Inez had found n chance TO wave
to Hernandez. and Hernandez had
kept tho insurrectos from firing on
that corner OF the house. Tnez crept
downstairs-looked about her-saw
Annette and the planter In close con.
yersation-then crept back again.
She plucked Joey Wclcher by the
sleeve. Joe" she whispered. go
down--pass through the corridor by
the kitchen-open the rear door"
mot on your life." said Joe. DO
you think want 10 die?"
You'll die II YOU DON'T" she said.
Come. follow mel"
Once below. Inez cooked her reyol
yer. DO as ! say" she commanded.
Joe obeyed. With terror In his eyes
he tore and wrenched at the fastenings
of the rearmost passageway. Finally
he stepped back. She's unlocked"
he exclaimed. Inez. unafraid. stepped
forward. opened wide the door and
beckoned. II was signal. Herman.
dez saw II and bounded forward.
Follow me. insurrectos." he com
manded.
A hundred men obeyed. With .
shout they dashed into the huge living
room on the ground noor-with an
other shout they fred q volley into
tho backs OF the defenders. The
planter. drawing . bead on an insur.
recto without. was seized suddenly
from behind. gagged and bound. A
strong pair OF arms seized Annette
and lifted her from the floor and bore
her. screaming. from tho room.
Three minutes later she was thrown
into far room In q secluded corner OF
tho house. Into the same room were
thrown liner and Mrs. Hardin and Joe
welcher
With sudden wrench Annette tore
loose n board that barricaded the win
dow. Then her eyes frightened.
Look" she cried, The marines
they come. Neal! Neal"
Her shout was not heard. OF course.
but Il was accompanied with the wave
OF a white handkerchief. Neal. at the
head OF the squad. saw it-and the
squad pressed forward at double
speed.
Below, among the insurrectos. An
nette could hear the panic.
"The Americanos-the Americanos
-flee!"
Neal reached the house-saw who
waved the kerchief. With a sudden
bound he leaped upon an arbor, scram'
bled and crawled somehow-with some
naval trick-up the face Of the house,
rammed in the barricade and leaped
into the room,
Annette" he cried,
But at that instant the door Of the
room was burst open and Hernandez,
with Ponto and the Brute and q dozen
insurrectos, darted In.
"Take everybody here-including
him." commanded Hernandez. Take
them-you know where. But remem'
berthe women are mine. not yours"
Neal fought like q tiger. but without
success. In Ave minutes or less the
captives. Neal and Annette included,
were led through dark passageways
to some underground corridor They
were driven on and on-they knew not |
where.
An hour later the squad of marines
reported TO their officer.
I'VE can't find woman on the |
place. except the blacks" they said.
"Are We all here?" queried the ON
Ger, anxious for his men. Just call
the roll and see"
"All here" returned q marine. but
no, not all here. There's one missing
Gunner Hardin. sir"
The officer nodded. We'll find Gun |
ner Hardin II Il takes a leg" he said.