Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1915-12-25

Neal, after few gasps for breath,
smiled at Annette forlornly
Hernandez stamped his foot. Il
will give you two minutes to produce
the map of Lost Isle he said, and
if it Is not then forthcoming.
He paused. Go on, said Neal.
what them
AT the end of two minutes he
thrust his watch back into his pocket.
He signed to Ponto. The helmets,
he commanded, and the gloves
Ponto produced two sets of crudely-
fashioned head nets and hand gloves
made of mosquito netting. lnez had
told him how to make them. Hern-
andez donned one set and Ponto
donned the other.
Neal and Annette. each with a
guard OF two behind, were forced to
leave the hut, and forced down the
trail on the farther side of the small
hill
After fifteen minutes walk they
halted Ponto spoke sharply to the
native who was with them.
Lead on he commanded you
know the way"
An said the native, Il and mighty
few beside. Be careful now"
Ponto turned to Hernandez. This"
he said, is the cause of all the pesti-
lence--this is the quagmire at the bet
tom of our hill-mosquito swamp"
There are not so many mosquitoes
here returned Hernandez, mot
enough in fact"
The native grinned. Not now-but
at night-at night they are legion
they are fiends, foul fiends. And they
breed pestilence. On. Follow me"
Back at the Inn of the Spanish Don
Neal Hardins mother began to grow
restiye--Annette had not returned
Neal was nowhere to be seen Once
the surgeon stepped in and inquired
for Neal After that Mrs. Hardin
made inquiries of her own. No one
knew where he was-no one had seen
the liStle white angel.
Out in the swamp Neal and Annette
were conducted to a small, swamp
islet, green with dark growth-upon
which there was barely foothold.
This said the native to Herman
DEE, is the place of which | told.
From this there is no escape.
Hernandez bowed. you have chos-
en- pests and pestilence, your friends"
he said. Goodnight, and pleasant
dreams. Now take us back
Back at the hut, the native was bow
ing low. Hernandez poured much
coin into his hand. And mind" said
"close mouth for two days
at any rate, you dog
In one way he was close-mouthed
In another way he we'll, he
started for the nearest tavern, and
bent his elbow with great frequency
and every time he bent his elbow he
opened his mouth-and to some pur-
pose after awhile he began to
.reat-and falkland show his money. |
And then, to prove he was an honest |
nan and no thief, like others there, he |
began to tell just how he had become |
10 very, very rich in such short space |
If time 4. they listened to him |
,pen mouthed. Among them were
men, sober men, whose families had |
,een ministered to by the angel sent
rom heaven--a little white angel. |
)ne OF these men suddenly sprang to
lis feet and grabbed the boaster by
he scruff OF the neck--and, notwith-,
tanding struggles, carried him, pell
nell, from the wine shop.
Back in the Inn of the Spanish Don,
he proprietor was protesting that he
lad not seen Gunner Neal--had not
earned of the whereabouts Of the lit
lie white angel-Senorita Annette IL
ngton. A dozen bluejackets were on
and-the surgeon was there. Mrs.
Iardin, wild-eyed In the glare of the
moky lamps, was sobbing hysterieal-
v Inez looked on calmly. Suddenly
ito the midst Of this company was
ropelled an intoxicated native--a bag