Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-03-11
cHAprER xLIl.
Perniclous plots.

Il was after dark. Out of clump
of trees upon a hill there sauntered
forth a man-this man was Ponto.
He picked his way carefully-warily.
Before he knex, it he was where he
wanted, not to be in the streets of
the town. Once in, he started out,
but something attracted his attention.
A little crowd of men and women
stood about a placard tackled upon the
side of a hut. Ponto read it swiftly.
Ponto raised his eyebrows signifi-
cantly. He had heard rumors this
confirmed them.
Mosquitoes" he said softly to him
self, mosquitoes. He tucked the
word mosquitoes back in the inmost
recesses OF his mind; and went his
way. Skirting the town he reached
the Inn of the Spanish Don. From
the rear he spied q figure in a win
dow. He whistled softly.
A woman. in the window started
slightly and peereds out.
Ponto clambered up to the window
and noiselessly tore the met from It,
Immediately replacing 1t as best he
might. He. shifted the air.
All whispered Inez Castro softly,
81 am smeared with crude oil face
and hands and, ankles. am immune.
Here. you smear also, Ponto."
Where" queried, Ponto. lis lthe
map2's
$50 far as ! determine" answered
Inez, "she has it still"
You cannot get it?' 80.
FSs
Inez.
s Ponto shook his head. mot" he
returned, until the chief says the
word. What of mine host?' he quer.
led.
"a biood-sucker," answered Inez;
he'll do anything for coin"
Summon him." said Ponto.
The proprietor was summoned. At
the door, at sight Of Ponto he started
back in surprise. But Ponto held his
finger on his lips, and exhibited q
multitude of.coins in the open palm of
his hand. The proprietor advanced
and quickly appropriated the coin.
More later" whispered Ponto, 'ssit
down confer with us ?.
An hour later Ponto- black patch
on the background of black night IT.
self stealthily pushed open the door
OF a hut In the middle of a Gimp OF
small trees on Hill.
A man inside, waking suddenly, as
suddenly sprang up, knife in hand.
! Soft, captain, whispered Pento, "it
is hut, IL
The two men struck light and sat
down facing each other.
I .Ponto spoke in measured tones
every word that he uttered from nov
on contained portentsi He knew what
he was about In the back OF his
head he had an idea -baleful but use
full.
{ Yes he said, s'the mosquitoes car
ry the pestilence. One might call it
the mosquito sickness just as well.
And at dusk, then is their time -then
they bite the worst
60 on;4 commanded Hernandez,
grimly.t Hesfelt that Ponto was hold.
ing something back.
The little white angel went on
Ponto as though reciting lesson.
"Eh, cried Hernandez.
"Our young friend of the map
lual Is WHAT IHCg Calk nCI--CfcIy
where. The little white angel She
goes about from hut to hut-from fe.
patient to feyer-strickea
patient-yet she survives. But she
will answer any call.
He leaned forward. "You under
stand, captain" he said. "she will an
swer any call. Let sickness call to
her. she goes"
".Ah,. said Hernandez, that is we'll
And the gunner where is he ="
Everywhere he, too, will answer
any CALI
.eUm," said Hernandez, ego on-gs.
en-"
said, zone mile out Of town-and
through this cIump of bushes where
we sit-down In yonder hollow
go on, commanded Hernandez,
'.what lies down in the hollow by this
hill?p
-