Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-11
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He had been hit in the arm.
Damn YOU" he screamed in pain,
I'll beat you to it, yet"
With almost unseeing eyes he tore
across the small green space-and then
he stumbled, and slid, slid, slid-into
what seemed a bottomIess pit. He just
escaped a stake-a bloody one. And he
fell-or rather slumped-upon some
thing soft and yielding. With another
oath ne rose to his feet and peered
about him. Then he drew back In
terror.
There lay Ponto-his mate-dead, dis
torted.
Hernandez screamed in terror-he
was only human. This thing was hor-
rible. A shadow startled him. He look
ed upward. The Brute was peering
dcwn-he was doing more-he slowly
slid down into the pit and caught Her
nandez in his grasp. Then, somehow,
using his broad shoulders and his arms
and knees he worked his way back
again to terra firma, and drew Herman
dez-groaning with the pain of his
wound-up after him. Then with the
nimbleness of a deer, the Brute-after
singing Hernandez upon his back
trotted off into the safety of the be-
yond. In half an hour he had distanced
all pursuit and had Joined Senorita Inez
of underground that had been and still
was, their hidingplace.
CHAPTER LII.
Fl A THORN IN THE FLESH.
1t was late at night when Hernandez
and his two companions, Senorita Inez
Castro and the Brute, crept to the out
skirts of the village of Santa Maria, and
stealthily approached the ramshackle
old hotel. For two days they had kept
carefully cut of sight
They had left the dead Ponto to his
fate. He had now become a cipher. He
was food for the jackals and they left
him to the jackals.
"Then," said Inez, cit shall be Pom
to share for mine"
Hernandez leered at her. What does
it matter" he returned; what is mine
is your, fair Inez-IneZ mine own"
She crept to him, resting her Shout
der against his breast
You mean that, Hernandez she
queried, a jealous note tinging her tone.
There is no one-there never shall be
one-save IneZ?"
Hernandez leered again. Time and
time have 1 not told you so?" he an
swered. 1--WE are one-as in the past
so in the present-so in the future"
"Always?" she demanded.
Always" he resumed, clipping his
words off sharp and short.
Inez was but a woman. She sighed.
"Ah, YOU she protested, "you-even
with your warm blood, you are so cold.
And you once were such lover. 1 go
mad, seeing other men make love to
other women. | want love-love. l
know lover worth worth while. This
Ensign Hardin-he loves this little
wildcat of a girl we follow. Bah! What
is she? And he knows how to love. If
| but had my way
Heraadez laughed. "If you had your
way you would carry off the ensign.
Bah! What do they know of love-these
Notwithstanding But their wom-
en--ah! they are different Even this
wildcat of an Annette, 1 have thought
at times Only 1 fear your temper
and your stiletto, possibly"
You had better" retorted Inez. 81
hold you in bond stroger tina steel, Her
nadez. l am your slave-I will grovel
i the earth for you. But rouse me and
who knows? Listen, live for you.
But want love-loves-love!
Hernadez brushed her gently to one
side and rose to his feet. WAR first
love afterwards" he said. Business
now-ad later, happiess. whirl of
happiness-of worldwide happiness.
When 1 am king of a principality-and
you are queen. Come, let us on"
Softly he crept to secluded doorway
of the hotel and Knocked cautiously
upon It, 1t was opened in due course.
The frowzled head of a servant thrust
itself forth.
"Ah," whispered Hernandez, my good
friendr"
He slipped a goodly coin into the hand
Of his good friend-and the good friend
became at once better friend.
1.-THE Americanos" queried Herman
dez "HaVe they gomez"
Gone" returned the servant; to-day
they went. Enter, senior"
Hernandez. alert but satisfied of tenn
porary safety, beckoned to his two COM
panions, and the three crowded into the
dingy little closet of the porter.
Tell u.s." said Hernandez.
Little to tell, senior" returned the
porter; they have gone-all, every
body"
"The battleship? queried Inez.
ALSO gone. There's not Gringo
left 1t is good radiance" He grinned.
1--WE take their money, but we hate
them, senior"
where bound?" asked Hernandez
The porter held up finger. Il have
listened, senor," he replied, Ito all their
idle chatter-and / have pieced much
of San Pedro"
California;"
"Si, senior"
THAT means Los Angeles" Herman
dez explained to IneZ. San Pedro is the
port-Los Angeles the city. Why go
there-why go they north? Lost Island
lies southwest. Why go they north?"
"All the better" interposed Senorita
Castro, leaning forward, whispering, "all
the better. 1t leaves for us an open
field. While they go north let us on to
Lost Isle--let us get there first"
Hernandez shook his head.
Discretion" he returned, sis the bet
ter part of valor We do not fight in
the dark We must know. We must
cling to the skirts of this girl. We need
her paper title-and We need her. Dead
or alive, we need her-we must get her,
and hold her as a hostage"
HE turned back to the porter. Tell
u.s." he commanded, "the best route to
San Pedro and Los Angeles Our way
Iiac