The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-01-17
CHAPTER |.
Hidden Peril.

Look" said Hernandez, catching
Inez by the wrist, the party has ar
rived"
He handed his binoculars to Inez
Castro She looked "They are just
landing" she said, 1T is all up. They
will go to the father Of the mission
and will make their claim
What difference does the grant
! make" she exclaimed, why take the
risk of getting it? Already that old
priest suspects something. What l
do not know. But he suspects. Why
not take the bit in our teeth and
make for Lost Island-get there at
once? Why not?"
Hernandez shook his head. I'VE
need every advantage" he said, IF we
have evidence within our hands, she
will have none. Without the grant
without all the evidence, we will not
be believed. With it we will be taken
at our face value. Let us get all we
can. Let us leave her without proof
she will be help ,ss then"
Hernandez kicked Ponto with his
foot. Ponto sat up rubbing his eyes.
"Ponto,' said Hernandez the party
has arrived"
They will go to the mission and
spoil it ALL" said Ponto.
No. returned Hernandez, thank
our lucky stars the mission is a good
two miles out Of the village. They
will first put up at the hotel-later
they will start out for the mission. 1t
is then, on the way there, we must
intercept them-you must, Ponto You
and the Brute This time he will do
his duty-or I'll fay his hide. Wake
him up. You have no time to lose.'
Hernandez was quite right. Annette
Ilington, even more eager than had
been her enemies could hardly wait
the moment when she might stand be-
fore the fathers of the Santa Maria
mission and claim her own.
Ponto woke the Brute with vicious
application of the whip lash.
Spare him not, Ponto," said Her
nandez," if he disobeys this time, cut
his hide into strips-I give you leave.
At half run Ponto and the Brute
started across the desert, lodging
here and there behind little hillocks
of sand. Finally the village was cut
off from their sight.
Now we can rum" Ponto cried,
make haste''
No sooner had he spoken than his
foot slipped-he sank into the ground
up to his waist.
Help" he cried, "a quicksand-
help"
The Brute pulled him back to terri
firma. But it was not a quicksand, as
Ponto soon found out. 1t was a trap
"a trap for jaguars.
Ponto shivered. Then he replaced
the dried brush and grass and earth
Nimbly he climbed into one OF the
overhanging trees. Then he slid down,
nodding to himself with satisfaction.
"She must pass within a hundred
yards of this place to reach theehnis-
sion," he exclaimed Beast, we wait
here until she comes
Down in the village, at the little old
hotel, Annette ordered out two horses
81 can't wait" she told her foster
mother, Mrs. Hardin. There's no use
talking to me. I've got to CO."
Annette started for the mission.
Half way there two figures darted out
from behind hillock, and one of them
seized her bride and brought her
steed to a standstill. Terror-stricken,
Annette saw that the two were Ponto
and the Brute-two of the band of
desperadoes whom she feared.
Drag her off her horse" command !
ed Ponto of the Brute. The Brute |
obeyed. Ponto gave the horse cut I
with the whip and the horse ambled
off toward town. I
At his, command the Brute carried
Annette across the desert, totally OBJ
livious to her struggles and outcries.
Ponto led the way, stopping from time
to time to make pleasant remarks to
Annette.
BY this time they had reached the
small, damp, dank oasis with its shad
ing palms and it's little pool of water.
Ponto led the way into the very depths
If this inviting green shelter. Then
ne struck the Brute on the shoulder
Now set her down." he commanded.
The Brute obeyed. Annette gasped
With surprise. She was not bound
she was free, untrammeled.
What are you going to do with
ne?" queried Annette.
Nothing, senorita," returned Ponto,
lowing low.
Annette, wary, fearful, looked be-
lind her as though she expected an
ttack from the rear. But there was
10 one to be seen. Beyond was the
esert-there seemed to be no hiding
,laces. ..'sA
Ponto merely bowed again. "Seno-
ita," he said, with leer, beauty
. distress ah melt touches my