Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-07
Continued from Last Issue.)
CHAPTER l..
HIDDEN PERIL.


Look" said Hernandez, catching Inez
by the wrist, 1.-THE party has arrived"
He handed his binoculars to Inez Cas-
tro. She looked They are just land
ing." she said, 1T is all up. They will
go to the father of the mission and will
make their claim"
They were seated on an eminence two
miles back in the desert, behind hill
lock of sand, over which they peered.
What difference does the grant maker
she exclaimed, why take the risk OF
getting it? Already that old priest sus'
poets something. What ! do not know
But he suspects. Why not take the bit
in our teeth and make for Lost Island
get there at once? Why not?"
Hernandez shook his head. 1--WE need
every advantage" he said, ."if we have
evidence within our hands, she will have
none. without the grant-without al
the evidence, we will not be believed
With it we will be taken at 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
Fonto sat up rubbing his eyes.
"Ponto," said Hernandez "the party
has arrived"
They will go to the mission and spoil
il ALL said Ponto.
NO" returned Hernandez, thank oul
lucky stars the mission is a good two
miles out of the village. They will frs
put up at the hotel-later they will star
for the mission. 1t is then, on the way
there we must intercept them-yoC
must Ponto. You and the Brute. This
time he will do his duty-or I'll fay his
Ia NT,N-. fiV11k
TO lose"
Hernandez was quite right. Annette
ilington, even more eager than had beer
her enemies, could hardly wait the mo
ment when she might stand before the
fathers of the Santa Maria NISSAN 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 th'
Brute rose. heavy with sleep, anC
stretched his mighty limbs.
Spare him not, Ponto," said Herman
nez, "if he disobeys this time, cut hi;
hide into strips-I give you leave"
Trust me for that" cried Ponto, hi
eyes cleaning wickedly, come on, yol
beast"
At a half run Ponto and the Brut,
started across the desert, lodging herr
and there behind little hillocks of sand
Finally the village was cut off from thei
sight.
NOW we can rum" Ponto cried
make haste"
No sooner had 10 spoken than hi!
foot slipped--he sank into the groun,
up to his waist.
Help" he cried, "a quicksand-
help"
The Brute pulled him back to terri;
firma. But il was not a quicllsand, a,
Ponto soon found out 1t was a tral
"a trap for jaguars and mountain
! lions.
Ponto shivered. Then he replace,
the dried brush and grass and earth.
Nimbly he climbed into one of tn
overhanging trees. Then he slid down
nodding to himself with satisfaction.
she must pass within a hundre,
yards of this place to reach the mis-
sion," he exclaimed, Beast, we wal
/ here until she comes"
He drew out his revolver and say
that it was loaded He handed a thic
; stick to the Brute. Then he beat tn
Brute viciously across the head.
You do as ] say-or I'll have you
blood he cried.
Down in the village. at the little oil
hotel, Annette ordered out two horses
II can't wait" she told her foste
mother. Mrs. Hardin. There's no us