Mansfield mirror., 1917-02-08

folio. These" he said to the district
attorney. Il take With me"
Exactly" said the other. we have
photographs OF all Of them. The In
vestigation has been OF interests
curious situation"
Tho district attorney placed before
Annette . bulky document
You win be compensated for this
Lost Island" he said. and the gov.
ernment stands ready nov to make
you q substantial advance Of money
upon the signing Of this paper"
Annette signed-And sighed with ~.
lief.
That's DONE" she exclaimed.
The admiral bowed. All rose. You
arc rendering our country . great
service. Miss Ilinston." he said. and
your country will do its level best to
protect you. Can We do more!"
Neal saluted. II understand. SIR .
he said that I am to command the
expedition"
Yes" interposed the commander.
we've arranged all that with the
captain Of . steamer. He agrees that
what you say shall go-and you'll
say II, ] feel sure"
"I1l say anything and do anything" !"
returned Neal. for my country and
my-and Miss Annette IlinEton-".
He said . 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 10 . wonder. take my
hat on to him. He never knows when
he's beaten"
Hes beaten now" returned An
nette. "particularly II 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 q quar-
ter of . mile of Annette's hostelry.
in q 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, docs this Neal-does he talk
do you get inside information?"
There's none to get" said Joe. III
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, well 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. ]
want hsr with Us there. Listen. Wei.
cher. You must arrange It. Our paths
v~~~% ,~o~. &hS~ -
welcher fumed. II do all the dirty
work." he said; I'm through"
Hernandez poured him another
drink. and handed 1t to him with q
slance that ate into Joe's soul.
The drink had just the wrong ef.
feet. Joe became angry-noisy-un.
manageable.
I'm be damned II / do your bidding
any more" snarled Joe.
Hernandez darted . 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
q 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 rspidity. Drink
and the dark eyes of Inez Castro had
set him well on edge. Without mo.
ment's thought he stopped by the road.
side and plucked . thorny burr. He
straightened up again, with the thorny
burr concealed within his hand. He
did not answer Annette at first but
approached her and her steed.
Good COW pony!" he exclaimed. He
stroked the horses nose. fts neck. it,
TANKS. And then he did another thing.
Safe a. they make EN-" he con-
tinued.
And then he did the trick. His
right hand stole gently up across the
norse's back, behind Annette-stole to
the saddle.
6wiftly-and unnoticed-he pushed