The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1915-11-16

mere was a genteel litter from the
picturesque little group around tho
punch bowl IDez touched Romanoff
upon tho arm.
1t is perfect" she whispered, no
enc could ever tell"
me pseudo Romanoff glanced nj
ner significantly, paced across the
oancing deck and passed out upon the
poonlit deck beyond. Inez, flirting
with an officer. excused herself. beck.
oncd to Joe Wclcher, who came
swiftly at her beck and call, and with
her hand upon his arm she followed
In the wake OF Romanoff. As they
reached the bow Romanoff turned sud.
denly and confronted them. lie seized
Wclcher by the arm.
Friend Welcher." no said. his grin
ughtcning, ION tho canvas curtains aft.
on tho port side, you will find one
black cross mark upon the curtain and
one black cross mark upon the deck.
They arc my marks. You will dance
with Annette Illngton-"
Wolcher hurried on and Romanoff
with the beautiful Miss Irene Cour.
tier upon his arm. strobe slowly to
ward tho lights.
with her escort Bhe stood glancing
out between tho curtains at tho moon.
light upon the sea. Her escort. how.
ever, was not watching tho moonlight
his eyes were fixed upon n motor
boat that sportcd itself like some
huge shark In the waters Just beyond.
Ho drew forth a white handkerchief.
He stepped into tho aperture between
the canvas curtains. grasped the rail
with ono hand and shook the handker.
chief.
lnez noted that a small black cross
had been placed upon the canvas cur.
tain. Sho looked at her feet. There
was another cross upon tho deck.
Then she turned and faced the crowd
watching with keen eyes.
Joe Wolcher from far across the
deck caught the CLINT OF those same
eyes-ho had been watching for them.
He bent over Annette.
Look at the freak" he said. that's
tied up 10 lnez-I mean Irone Courier.
always call her Inez somehow. Let's
60 and Boo the freak"
The freak" said Annette. has dis.
appeared"
She was not the only person on the
deck who noticed that. Some half
dozen naval officers In spick and span
uniforms noted II also and started
double quick toward Inez Castro.
Half way they stopped. for her escort,
NJ Romanor. had reappeared. He
smiled as Joe came up with Annette
and waved his hand.
I've been looking at tho moon" he
said.
Annette. already bored-chiefy by
the close proximity OF Joe Welcher-
glanced OF toward Neal.
Let's 20 and get some grape Juice"
she said.
Joe drew her out to the railing
through the same aperture from
which Romanoir had watched tho cir.
cling motor boat
I'm get the grape Juice" said Joe
aloud. Wait here until return
Annette started after him. but the
aperture was closed now by tho broad
back OF Romanoif. who talked viva.
ciously with Irene Courtier. Annette
was not ayerse 20 looking at the
moon. and she looked. But-all she
saw was the moon itself. She did not
see and could not know that q motor
launch. silent as the night. had
fetched up alongside OF the anchor
chain. She did not know and could
not SEQ a black shadow that stole
along the railing behind the canvas
curtains that hid the dancing deck.
Suddenly she gave q choking cry.
The black shadow like some black
panther had sprung upon her from
the night and clutched her In its
grasp. She cried out once more, or
tried 10. She found she could not.
A strong wiry hand closed across her
mouth and q wiry form forced her
back across the rail.
With a superhuman twist OF her
1.-the young body-and she was strong.
was Annette Ilington-for one In
stant she wrenched herself away and
gave vent TO a piercing scream. Neal
Hardin at the punch bowl heard II.
Forgetting all discipline-and all
grape juice-he bounded across the
dancing deck and with one sweep OF
his arm brushed the nonpiussed
Romanoff and his charming escort to
one side. His eyes were blinded by
the deck lights and as he rushed
through the curtains he could only
see that some terrific struggle was at
hand.
In another instant II was all over.
Two figures clutching at each other
frantically darted suddenly over the
rail There was splash below.
Man overheard" yelled Neal
lie sprang 10 the rail and dove into
the moonlit water-taking good care
not to foul the other two.
Two minutes later Il was all over.