The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-01-07

Over at La Plaza--La Plaza by the
Sea-Hernandez sought the shore and
found what he wanted--it was q fish
ing boat with a kicker In 1.-THE only
motorboat in the place. It was well
manr = with a crew of six of the
most disreputable-looking characters
that ever drew the breath of life. Her
nandez talked to them--with money
mo lights" he cautioned. "and
mufiie that kicker. And be quick
about 1t 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,
W. AAANNA oNsAAAa NeAAA bAANAs
lnez hastened from the deck and en-
tered her cabin.
Her cabin was Annette's as we'll.
Her plans we'll 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 I'M
twisted the bundle that Joe had
dlched for her. She sighed with salts,
faction as she shook it out of It's
folds. 1t was a uniform-One OF
Meals. She donned it swiftly--hur.
riedly-silently. There was no light
in the cabin save the moon, sitting in
through port holes. Annette's face
was bathed in light. But Annette was
fast asleep.
She was totally oblivious to the
presence of the prowling figure in
male uniform who stole near and ever
nearer-who now groped about her
neck.
Suddenly, with one quick and final
tug Inez wrenched at the chamois
bag.
Annette woke with a scream upon
her lips. But the hand OF Inez wss
quicker than Annettes voice. lnez's
hand closed over Annette-her knee
crushed down her breast.
The wildcat in Annette rose. She
was a fine fighter. She squirmed with
one twist out of the grasp of this
unseen foe, and grappled with her as
sailant. Inez was no match for her,
and so0I 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 Irehe--Inez Castro IL you please
was no longer there. In that IN
stant-and that was the instan: 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 professional diver
struck the water with scarcely a
splash.
Now" said Hernandez to his helms |
man, like mad for that spot of white" |
Inez. 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 hard ana
arm, drew dripping cJject from the
water, It 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
for 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 third 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-Neal in command.
Suddenly one of Meals men point
ed toward the shore. The searchlight
Of the cruiser was playing upon
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
and his men leaped across the gun
vale. Every Jack tar either had his
man by the throat. or was tickling
his ribs with knife.
We've got EN- ALL" said some
body.
Where's the woman? ?" queried Neal.
But there was no woman-no Inez
Castro. What's more there was no
no Ponto, no Brute.
mo USE" said Neal, the birds have
1own. No use chasing them," he con-
ceded when those birds fly, they fly.
We've got to give 'em credit"
Annette" he told that young lady
ater II think now we're safe The
Job all along has been an inside job
irene Courtier has been handing you
yes end me-over to the enemy.
That was the game-and the game
8 ended. That's the way it looks to