The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-05

Dcd-I1eTudnubE sought llc SHOEc anu
found what he wanted-it was fish
ing boat with a kicker in 1.-THE only
motOrboat in the place. 1t was well
manned, with crew of six OF the
most disrQputable-looki characters
that ever drew the breath of life. Her
nandez talked to them-with money
mo lights" he cautioned, "and
munle that kicker. And be quick
about it now"
1T is all right, senor,' said the man
at the tiller; I'VE are about all hours
of the night. No one thinks OF us,
one way or the other" He pointed
out to sea. You perceive" he said,
there are other fisher boats"
Good" said Hernandez, the more
the merrier."
Without lights they kicked to with
in almost hailing distance of the AL
bany. Then Hernandez. showed a
light. 1t was Immediately answered
from the deck. 1T is good" he said,
I'VE understand each other
lnez hastened from the deck and en-
tered her cabin.
Her cabin was Annettes as we'll
Her plans well laid-and she had felt
they were the only plans to make-she
retired for the night, but not to
sleep.
AT three o'clock she rose and un-
twisted the bundle that Joe had
dlched for her. She sighed with salts
faction as she shook it out of its
folds 1t was unitorm-one OF
Meals. She donned it swiftly-hur-
riedly-silently. There. was no light
in the cabin, say~ the moon, Sitting in
through port holes. Annettes face
was bathed in light. But Annette was
fast asleep,
She was totally oblivious to the
presence OF the prowlng figure in
male uniform who stole near and ever
nearer-who now CROPPED about her
neck.
Suddenly, with one quick and final
tug luez wrenched at the chamols
bag.
Annette woke with a scream upon
her lips. But the hand OF lnez was
quicker than Annettes voice. lnezs
hand closed over Annotte-her knee
crushed down her breast.
The wildcat in Annette rose. She
was fine fighter. She squirAed with
one twist out Of the grasp OF this
unseen foe, and grappled with her as
sa.lant lnez was no match for her,
and soon found it out.
Annette dragged her to the ray of
moonlight and looked at her.
She gasped and dropped her hold
"You-Irene Courtier,' she cried
But Ircne-Ine2 Castro ii you please
was no longer there. In that IN
atant-and that was the instant for
the last few seconds she had waited
form that instant she had leaped to
her feet and made her getaway.
And Inez knew the Albany-every
part of that huge battleship she had
studied with the care of an engineer.
She knew just what to do and where
to go, and how to elude pursuit. She
rushed to one spot where safety lay,
reached the rail, leaped over it, and
with the agility of a professional diver
struck the water with scarcely a
splash.
Now" said Hernandez to his helms
man, like mad for that spot of white"
lnez, fresh and supple nOtwithstand-
ing her struggle-~in fact the struggle
had nerved her up-swam toward the
fishing boat and the boat steamed
toward her. Within a short time
almost less time than it takes to tell
it-POnto was once more kicking the
Brute. And the Brute in turn leaned
over the side of the kicker, and with
the sweep of one powerful hand and
arm, drew a dripping object from the
water. 1t was Inez, gasping for
breath.
Now, like the devil for the shore"
whispered Hernandez.
They obeyed. But if Inez now gasped
for breath, Annette had ceased to gasp
fer breath. Her first coherent thought
was to feel for her chamois bag. 1t
was safe. Her next effort was speech.
She screamed at the top of her lungs.
Her tRird was action. She darted to
the deck and gave the alarm.
Within a moment a launch was
manned and had put off from the
cruiser-Ncal in command.
suddenly one of Meals men point
ed toward the shore. The scarchlight
of the cruiser was playing upon q
kicker making full speed south.
That's our boat said Neal, like
the devil now
In five minutes they caught her.
Neal saw at a glance she showed no
lights. It convinced him. Without a
word he swung his launch alongside
ard his men leaped across the gun
vale. Every jack tar either had his
man by the throat, or was tickling
| his ribs with a knife.
We've got en- ALL" said some
body.
"N'here's the woman >" oueried Neal.