The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-01-21

| dence and the trinkots TO his port
folio These" he said 10 the district
attorney, II take with me-"
Exactly" said the other, 1--WE have
photographs of all Of them. The in
vestigati6n 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 make
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 Illngton," he said, and
your country will do its level best to
protect you Can VIC do more?"
Neal saluted 81 understand, sir"
che said that l 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, I feel sure"
III 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. / take my
hat off to him. He never knows when
he's beaten"
He's beaten now" returned An
nette, particularly if he knows all
that has transpired."
He left her-still gravely worried.
He would have been more than wor-
ried had he known that within a quar-
ter of a mile of Annette's hostelry,
in 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
ther need of her. What we shall run
into at Lost Isle no man knows. l
want her with us there. Listen, Wei |
cher. You must arrange it. Our paths
must cross this afternoon"
Welcher fumed. 81 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 Joe's soul.
The drink had just the wrong ef-
feet. Joe became angry-noisy-un-
manageable.
"I1l be damned if do your bidding
any more" snarled Joe.
Hernandez darted a glance toward
Inez. 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
a word to him-he will kill us both"
Half an hour later Annette swung
out of the hotel grounds, mounted on
a wiry little pony.
She spied 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 Inez Castro had
set him well on edge. Without mo-
nent's thought he stopped by the road
side and plucked a thorny burr. He
up again, with the thorny
1urr concealed within his hand He
lid not answer Annette at first, but
approached her and her steed.
Good COW pony!" he exclaimed. He
jtroked the horses nose, its neck, it's
ianks. And then he did another thing.
Safe as they make 'em," he con-
inued.
And then he did the trick. His
light hand stole gently up across the
lorse's back, behind Annette-stole to
he saddle.
Swiftly-and unnoticed-he pushed
e>~N"-N~N-~e~~~~~~~~