Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-12-21

nandez with polite interest. But sud.
denly the brute looked up toward the
deck. He growled deep in his throat.
Hold him." said Hernandez to
Ponto.
But 1t was too late. with one
bound the brute dashed up the com.
panionway and reached the deck.
With another bound he was upon the
sailor who had caught Annette. In
an instant Annette found herself re-
leased. hardly knowing how it had
happened.
She wrenched open the wireless
door, sprang in, slammed it shut and
shot the bolt.
Where is the OPERATOR" she in.
CURED.
There was nc answer. The operator
was not there.
Annette seized the wireless appa.
ratus. donned the headgear and sent
out the 8. o. Shat long wall of
terror that Is heard far out across the
sea.
On the deck of the destroyer Jack.
son, a naval vessel which had left
Newport a day or two before on a
practice cruise, the wireless operator
reported to his lieutenant. He ga.
luted.
sir" he said, II have an 8. o. 8.
from q steamer Coronado, five miles
south. Mutiny on. board"
A seaman standing near started for
ward. Godfrey" he exclaimed under
his breath, "the Coronado-Annette's
ship"
The lieutenant gave an order. Put
her about" he said. Forced draft
ahead"
When the destroyer reached the
Coronado, the Coronado was In dire
straits. The mutineers, maddened
and emboldened, and strengthened
with renewed doses Of the white DOW.
der, were, in. possession Of the ship.
The mate and Capt. Peter Handy lay
unconscious on the deck. Every sail.
or had a bottle in his hand-a bottle
full OF strong drink.
In less than q quarter Of an hour
the Jackson was upon them-she had
launched q boat and her boat had
reached the Coronado's side. With
the agility of perfect training &. the
Jackson's men swarmed over the rail,
boarded the Coronado and without
an instant's hesitation attacked the
mutineers, their lieutenant at their
head. Neal drew q deep breath and
nudged the man next to him.
This is war" he said. 1T is what
we're looking for. Come on"
There was Q nght-no arms,length
fight at that. 1t was man. to man.
It was q melee-it wan 4 riot-it
was pandemonium. In the midst Of
1t there was a resouding crack. Meals
lieutenant, of his guard for once, re.
ceived q well-simed blow upon his
head blow from q capstan bar. He
fell like a log. and three brutes leaped
for his head-seeking to batter him
into a shapeless mass.
Neal saw his peril and sprang into
the midst. Never in his life had he
fought al then he fought.
The blood rushed into his brain:
unwonted strength flowed into nus
cles! his eyes were everywhers-his
voice strong and fearless.
"All together now" he shouted. One
-two-three."
There was q mighty superhuman
rush, q ringing shout-then It was
all over. The mutiny was quelled.
Neal leaped upon q bridge and waved
a cutless. He said the first thing that
occurred to him-the thing he felt
he h1d to say.
II am in command" he shouted.
THE first man who disobeys me will
be shot,"
There was = clutch upon his arm.
He looked down. He found that his
right arm was bleeding from q cut,
but he found something else. A small
hand was grasping It quite tenderly.
He turned. Annette laughed hyster.
icalIy.
What about any woman who Dis
obeys?" she said.
fTo BE coNTINuED.)