The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-19

attorney, Il take with me-
Exactly" said the other, I'VE have
photographs of all of them. The in
vestigation has been of interest-a
curious situation"
The district attorney placed before
Annette a bulky document.
you will be compensated for this
Lost Island he said "and the gov
ernment stands ready now to mako
you a substantial advance of money
upon the signing of this paper
Annette signed-and sighed with re-
lief
That's done" she exclaimed.
The admiral bowed. All rose. "You
are rendering our country a great
service Miss llington," he said, and
your country will do its level best to
protect you. Can we do more?"
Neal saluted. 81 understand, sir"
che said that | 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 you'll
say it, | feel sure"
I'll 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. l take my
hat off to him. He never knows when
| he's beaten"
Hes beaten now," returned An
nette, particularly II he knows all
that has transpired,"
He left her-stil gravely worried.
He would have been more than wor-
ried had he known that within quar-
ter of mile of Annette's hostelry,
| in a secluded cafe, 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
dez. does this Neal-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, wen get this girl We need her
We want her evidence-but we want
her, too-until-until we have no fur
thcr need of her What we shall run
into at Lost Isle no man knows.
want her with us there. Listen, Wei
cher. You must arrange it, Our paths
must cross this afternoon"
Welcher fumed. Il do all the dirty
work" he said; I'm through
Hernandez poured him another
drink. and handed it to him with a
glance that ate into Joes soul
The drink had just the wrong ef
tcct. Joe became angry-noisy-un
manageable.
TN be damned if do your bidding
any more snarled Joe.
Hernandez darted a glance toward
lnez. 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
n word to him-he will kill us both
Half an hour later Annette swung
out of the hotel grounds, mounted on
wiry little pony.
She sped Joe and drew in her steed
She noted that Joe was unduly ex'
cited.
Joe" she exclaimed, tell mother
I'll be safe"
Under certain influences Joe's mind
acted with unusual rapidity. Drink
and the dark eyes Of lnez Castro had
set him well on edge. Without n mo
ments thought he stopped by the road
side and plucked a 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 pony" he exclaimed. He
stroked the horses nose. its neck. It: