Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-05

was a fool to come out in a sea like
this"
Well go back" said nhotte.
No. said Inez. We must land.
Another half hoar of this think
would kill me-
In a moment they were gliding
through the quiet waters, and in two
moments more had reached the dock
at the head of the inlet Above them
lowered a huge, crooked granite
shaft. and nesting against it like an
other shaft was the Crooked Crag no.
tel
Il must rest" Sroaned rInez. II
mHstflie dogn-I am i'll, terribly ill't
Annette rapidly leaped from The
| motor boat Iripped up to the, little
dock and nimbly assembled the rustic
| steps that led to the hotel She was
met half way by the proprietor, Sol
niger himself
Yes, miss" ne called to her; some
thing. urgent, perceive
My friend, Miss Courtier, is ILL.,"
said Annette. She is in the launch
below. Can you help me?"
With pleasure, miss said the pro-
prietcr
With him at her side, Annette re-
traced her steps. The proprietor en-
tered the motor boat and bent over
Inez. He nodded to himself, as though
recalling a description.
With an easy swing they carried
Inez out of the boat, along the dock
and up the rustic steps.
Have you a physician in the
house,"
We have notwithstanding at
| Crooked Crag." returned the proprie-
| tor, with an insinuating smile.
He summoned other servitors and
nodded to Annette.
1T is two flights up, MISS" he said
| to Annette.
Giving innumerable directions and
climbing at the head of the little
group behind him, he finally reached
the third-story room.
IF the doctor is about, will you
send him." said Annette, bowling the
proprietor and his two men from the
| room.
AT once, mademoiselle," said the
proprietor, with a low bow
There was knock upon the door.
Come in," said Annette
Two men entered, one of whom, a
man with a neatly-trimmed Van Dyke
beard, drew Annette to the window,
inquiring graVely about the case.
While her attention was thus occu-
pied the other man seized the recum-
bent figure upon the bed and bore it
| from the room. Annette caught a
glimpse Of his huge shoulders just as.
he disappeared.
| What is. he doing?" she demanded.
Where is he taking herr"
The other man bowed. ITO a ply
sician,' he returned, las you re-
quested."
He crossed the room and deftly
locked the door, putting the key in
his pocket.
But You are a physician" ex-
claimed Annette, alarmed.
He tore from either side of his face
thin strip Of aair, leaving beneath it
smooth shaven jewels. He still wore
mustache, and goatee. Then he turned
to her, and his face was the face of
the man in the shrubbery at the New
port villa the face of the smuggler
OF cocaines captured at Seaport and
escaped again.
Il am not a physician" he conceded
DO you know who / ann"
NO." she answered, retreating to a
corner. 4~..
He laughed. Il am a man with a
saber cut upon my face" he said,
pointing to it. You were to look out
for me. Here l am. Look out"
What do you want of me?" she de-
manded. , '.
Hernandez Lit cigarette. Moth
ing that is not mine" he said 81 was
partner. of your fathers"
She started Where is my father?'
she demanded. r., 49,.
Hernadez shrugged his shoulders.
Dead these many years; God rest his
soul, he said. Il was his surviving
partner and to me belongs the assets
of the firm One of those assets you
carry on your person next your heart,
the map of the Lost Isle of Cinnabar.
know you have it. tracked you and
your friend here just to get it. You.
will hand it now to me-" .
Il will do nothing of the kind" said
Annette. She drew long breath and
screamed aloud. ..
Useless" he said. There is. no,
one within range of your beautiful
soft voice" He took out his watch.
Let me remind you, senorita," he re-
marked, that. my ancestors were of
the inquisition. l will give you five
minutes to make up your mind /
shall leave you alone, you may make
up your mind by yourself. If at the
end of FIVE minutes you have failed,
you must take the consequence"
1nex Castro's handbag was lying on
a dressing table; to her it was the
hand bag of Irene Courtier. She open
ed 1t and drew forth a card engraved
with the latter name, together with
little silver pencil. She wrote has.
tily upon the card:
Il am Annette Ilington. l am con-
fined In second-story room in the
rear of this building-the barred room
where you see the handkerchief. Look
up" &c.,"
She thrust the card between the
bars and dropped it. 1t fluttered down
! beyond her sight Then she tied her