Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-12-14
The admiral bowed. An rose. you

are rendering our country great
service. Miss Tlington," he said, "and
your country will do its level best to
protect you. Can we do more?"
Neal saluted Il understand, SIR
he said that l am to command the
expedition
Yes interposed the commander,
we've arranged all that with the
captain of a steamer. He agrees that
what you say shall go-and youn
say it, l feel sure"
'Ill say anything and do anything"
returned Neal, for my country and
my-and Miss Annette Ilington."
He said a good deal to her on the
way back to her Los Angeles hotel
and kept on saying it.
But" he added at parting, care
full now. Don't take risks. This man
Hernandez is a wonder. I take my
hat of to him. He never knows when
he's beaten
Hes beaten now" returned An
nette. particularly If he knows all
that has TRANSFERRED"
He left her-still gravely worried.
He would have been more than wor-
ried had he known that within a quar-
ter of mile of Annettes hosiery,
in a secluded cgfe. sat Hernandez.
with his two companions, the Brute
and Inez Castro. He would have
been more than worried had he known
that with them was another individual
Joe Welcher. his own foster broth.
er and Annette's Welcher was there
depressed. fearful, nervous-but
drinking heavily. And he was still
the model, shrinking tool, the cats
paw.
And what" queried Hernandez,
about the battleship Missouri
Joe produced an extra-its head
lines devoted to the navy and the i'm.
pending Allemanian war.
THE Missouri" he announced. re-
ferring TO the paper "steams away
tomorrow"
Where does she steam?"
ITO San Francisco
Friend Welcher," went on Herman
DEE. docs this Neai--does he talk
do you get inside information"
There's none to get" said Joe, "if
there was any, I'd get it."
Hernandez waved his hand. when
does the Missouri sail?" he queried
This afternoon" said Joe.
when she sails" went on Herman
dez, well get this girl. We need her
We want her evidence-but we want
her. too-until-until we have no fur
Their need OF her. What we shall run
into at Lost Isle no man knows. l
want her with us there. Listen, We'll
cher. You must arrange it. Our paths
must cross this afternoon"
WeIcher fumed. i do all the dirty
work he said; I'm through"
Hernandez poured him another
drink. and handed it to him with
glance that ate into Joes soul.
The drink had just the wrong eff
feet. Joe became angry-noisy-un
manageable.
IN be damned If l do your bidding
any more" snarled Joe.
Hernandez darted a glance toward
Inez. She returned it.
Leave him with me, she said.
Hernandez did as he was bid He
left her alone with joe And in the
next fifteen minutes Inez Castro made
love to Joe as she never had before.
She overwhelmed him with enchant-
ment.
Tonight" she whispered to him.
tonight, Americana. But breathe not
a word to him-he will kill US both"
Half an hour later Annette swung
out of the hotel grounds, mounted on
q wiry little pony.
She spied Joe and drew in her steed
she noted that Joe was unduly ex-
cited.
Joe" she exclaimed, tell mother
III be safe"
Under certain influences Joe's mind
ected with unusual rapidity Drink
and the dark eyes OF Inez Castro had
set him well on edge. Without a mo-
ment's thought he stopped by the road
side and plucked thorny burr He
Strengthened up again. with the thorny
burr concealed within his hand He
did not answer Annette at first, but
approached her and her steed.
Good COW ponyi" he exclaimed He
stroked the horses nose. it's neck, its
tanks. And then he did another thing.
Safe as they make EN-" he con-
tinued.
And then he did the trick His
right hand stole gently UP across the
horses back, behind Annette-stole to
the saddle.
Cwifflv-apd rnDot;ood ba ,,,rt,aj
the thorny burr under the saddle, next
10 the pony's skin. Then he slouchcd
away in the general direction of the
bar.
ITO BE Continue