Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1916 — Page 3

Neal of the Navy

Author of "Red Mouse," “Running Fight," “Catspaw,” "Blue Buckle, "*Stc.

SYNOPSIS. On the day of the eruption of Mount Pelee Capt. John Hardin of the steamer . Princess rescues flve-year-old Annette Ilington from an open boat, but is forced to leave behind her father and his companions. Ilington is assaulted by Hernandez and Ponto in a vain attempt to get papers which Ilington has managed to send aboard the Princess with his daughter, papers proving his title to and telling the whereabouts of the lost island of Cinnabar. Ilington’s Injury causes l)is mind to become a blank. Thirteen years elapse. Hernandez, now an opium smuggler, yvith Ponto, Inez, a female accomplice, and the mindless brute that once was Ilington, come to Seaport, where the widow of Captain Hardin is living with her son Neal and Annette Ilington, and plot to steal the papers left to Annette by her father. Neal tries for admission to the Naval academy, but through the treachery of Joey Welcher is defeated by Joey and disgraced. Neal enlists in the navy. Inez sets a trap for Joey and the conspirators get him in their- power. Ina struggle for possession of the map Hernandez, Annette and Neal each secure a portion. Annette sails on the Coronado in search of her father. In Martinique Annette and Neal are captured, but are rescued by a sponge diver. Inez forges identification papers for herself as Annette. In an insurrection Neal and Annette are again captured, carried to the Sun City and Annette is offered as a sacrifice to the sun god. They are rescued by marines from the Albany. Landed in Tortuga, Annette and Neal are captured and exposed to yellow fever infection by Hert nandez,, but are rescued by sailors from the Albany. Inez tries to rob Annette and escapes. On her way to Chantillo Annette is-captured. Neal is promoted and leads a party of transferred men toward Chantillo, but is caught in a train wreck on the way. Hernandez and Inez present the false identification papers to Brother Anselmo at Santa Maria mission. Ponlto Is caught and killed in his own trap, apt for Annette. TWELFTH INSTALLMENT 1 “BACKED BY THE U. S. N.” CHAPTER Ul. A Thorn in the Flesh.

It was late at night when Hernandez and his two companions, Senorita InezCastro and the Brute, crept to the outskirts of the village of Santa Maria, frnd stealthily approached the ramshackle old hotel. For two days they had kept carefully out 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, “it shall be Ponto’s share for mine.” ’ Hernandez 1 leered at her. “What does it matter,” he returned; “what is mine is yours, fair Inez —Inez, mine own.” She crept to him, resting her shoulder against his breast. “You mean that, Hernandez?” she queried, a jealous note tinging her tone. “There is no one—there never shall he one —save Inez?” Hernandez leered again. “Time and time have I not told you so?” he answered.* “We are one—as in the past—so in the prsent —so in the future.” Hernandez brushed her gently to one side and rose to his feet. “War first —love afterwards,” he said. “Businesa jaow—and later, happiness. A whirl of happiness—of world-wide happiness. When lam king of a principality —and you are queen. Come, let us on.” Softly he crept to a secluded doorway of the hotel and knocked cautiously upon it. It was opened in due course. The frowzled head of a servant thrust itself forth. “Ah,” whispered Hernandez, “my good friend.” He slipped a goodly coin into the hand of his good friend —and the good friend became at once a better friend. “The Americanos?” queried Hernan-

dez. “Have they gone?” “Gone,” returned the servant! - “today they went. Enter, senor.” Hernandez, alert but satisfied of temporary safety, beckoned to his two companions and the three crowded Into the dingy little closet of the porter. He turned back to the porter. "Tell us,” he commanded, “the beqf route to San Pedro and Los Angeles. Our way lies north.” Many hours later at Los Angeles, a coterie of Americans sat around a broad table in an unused courtroom In the por v 'Xo building in Lc fcn? geles. I Spread upon the table were a number of documents —a trinket or two. Among them was a locket. Among them were a patched-together parchment map and a Spanish grant. The admiral leaned, toward the United States district attorney—the latter had come down from San Francisco t& place the-seal of his department’s approval upon the matter now in hand. „ “Are you satisfied?” queried the admiral. „ “Absolutely,” said the district attorney, “the paper title is at present unassailable, and as much to be recognized as thougfi”—he bowed to Annette —“as though our fair daughter here were a sister republic. It remains for you, six”—his glance bent upon thb commander of the, ship, Missouri —“to find out wbo may be in possession—and to oust them , in. favor of this paper title.” “1 wonder whom weil-fin4?V muaed Annette, her eyes glowing. “Probably no one,” returned the. admiral. ’

By WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

iCopyright, 1816, by William Hamilton Osborne)

Novelized from the Photo Play of the Same Name Produced by the Pathe Exchange, Inc. </' •

•4—4le returned the d montarv evldence and the trinkets to his porthe said to the district attorney, “I take with me.’’ “Exactly,” said the other, “we have photographs of all of them. The investigation has been qf 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 government stands ready now to make you a substantial advance of money upon the signing of this paper.” Annette signed—and sighed with relief. “That’s done,” she exclaimed. The admiral bowed. All rose. “You are rendering our country a great service. Miss Ilington,” he said, “and your country will do its level hest to. protect yt>u. Can we do more?” Neal saluted. “I understand, sir,” “hq said that I am to command the expedition.” “Yes,” interposed the commander, “we’ye arranged all that with the caplin of a steamer. He agrees that what you say shall go—and you’ll sayUtj'T'Teel sure.”

- - “I’ll say anything and do anything,” returned Neal, “for my country and mJF—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, “careful now. Don’t take risks. This man Hernandez is a wonder. I take my hat off to him. He never knows when he’s beaten.” . “He’s beaten now,” returned Annette, “particularly if he knows all that has transpired." He left her —still gravely worried. He would have been more than worried had he known that within a quarter of a mile of Annette’s hostelry, in a secluded case, 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 brother and Annette’s. Welcher was there —depressed, fearful, nervous —but drinking heavily. And he was still the model, shrinking tool, the catspaw. “And what,” queried Hernandez, “about the battleship Missouri?” Joe produced an extra —its headlines devoted to the navy and the impending Allemanian war. “The Missouri,” he announced, referring to the ianer. “steams awgy~ tomorrow.” “Where does she steam?” “To San Francisco.”

"Friend Welcher,” went on Hernandez, “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 Hernandez, “we’ll get this girl. We need her. We want her evidence—but we want her, too—until —until we have no further need of her. What we shall run into at Lost Isle no man knows. I want her with us there. Listen, Welcher. You must arrange it. Our paths must cross this afternoon.” Welcher fumed. “I 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 effect. Joe became angry—noisy—unmanageable.

“I’ll be damned if I 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 enchantment. * ‘~ "Tonight,” she whispered to him, “tonight, Americano. But breathe nbt a word to him —he will kill us both.” Half an hour later Anpette 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 expired. “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 a moment’s thought he stooped by the roadside and plucked a 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 ponqr!” he exclaimed. He stroked the horse’s nose, its neck, its flanYs. Ahdrtfien Tie did another thing. . “Safe as they make 'em,” he continued. ; And then he did the trick. His right band stole gently up across the horse’s back, behind Annette—stole to the saddle. Swiftly—and unnoticed—he pushed

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND

the thorny burr under the saddle, next to the pony’s skin. Then he slouched away in the general direction of the bar. 1 * CHAPTER Lit!, A Dangerous Comtectiort. There are few drivefs of a highpower car who permit themselves restraint upon an open road. But the machine that crept along the ayeque in this sparsely settled portion of suburban Los Angeles seemed alnlost crippled. Everything passed it —even horse-drawn vehicles. And one horse in particular kept always on ahead. This horse was Annette Ilington’s. There were four people in this car—and three of them were waiting for the inevitable to happen. They crept on and on—always two hundred yards behind. “Ah!” exclaimed Hernandez finally, "it eats in." He was quite right. Suddenly the horse ahead swerved sharply to one side, violently shook its head and neck —leaped frantically into the air,- and then, with a violent burst of speed, tore down the road like fire. Hernandez increased his speed/ to twenty miles —to twenty-five—but the horse tore on before Him. Annette was riding like the wind —but she had lost control. Joe, in the car behind, leaped to his feet and tried to force his way from the car. “Let me out,” he cried struggling; “I got her into this, and I’ll get her out.” Hernandez turned to A the Brute. “Hold him,”, he commanded. And the Brute obeyed. Inez Castro now was on her feet. “Look —100k—look,” she cried, “the horse is mad —he'll kj.ll her —look— ah—ah—” ,

It was all over. In one final burst of frenzy the horse had leaped high in the'air, and come down on all fours, not on, the solid road, but in the ditch. Annette was flung violently from her steed—and struck the ground with a thud. The horse, freed of his burden, sped on—up the road—sped on. Hernandez stopped , his car. Joe leaped out and ran to Annette. “She’s killed.” he said. : Hernandez followed him. “If so, we cannot help it,” he returned calmly. “If she’s killed, I did it, you blackguard,” cried Joe, remorsefully. Inez bent over the girl. “She’s not dead,” she said, “she’s very much alive. She’s only stunned.” Hernandez motioned to the Brute. "Carry her to the car,” he commanded. And the Brute again obeyed. "Now, slowly,” commanded Inez of Hernandez, “until I revive the girl.” They were in open country now—the community was but sparsely settled. Hernandez glaneed warily from side to side. "We must make haste,” he mused, taking a grass-grown road to the right. *.-■ He Stopped the car before a house. It was an ordinary dwelling. There was no sign of life about it. The grass in the dooryard was a foot high. Everything appeared unkempt. But in the Darlor wlndow was a sign: To let, furnished. Hernandez stepped into the dooryard and peered into the windows. “We’ll let it furnished —free —for a short time,” he said. He forced the door and entered. “All the comforts of home,” he said, smiling, “fetch in the girl.” Back in the city, Neal, off duty once again, sought Annette at her hotel. “She’s gone again—alone,” said Mrs. Hardin, she would go^She’s so restless she couldn’t sit still.” Neal smiled. He was not worried. He got a saddle horse and started off in the direction taken by Annette.

He Seized a Chair and Whirled It About His Head.

Back in the deserted furnished house. Hernandez 4till looked about him. “We can hide here till doomsday," he laughed, “running water, too. Look here: Everything but food —everything. Look —yonder on the mantel — even pen and ink. This place was meant for us.” He bowed low. “Ah, my charming friend Senorita Ilington,” he said to Annette who had recovered consciousness and was staring about hbr in astonishment, “you have had a long sleep—and pleasant dreams I hope.” ' He drew down the shades and switched on the light. “See,” he added, “you have slept till jvenipg—pretty sluggard. And how is your good health. No bones “Broken: ThatisweltV’ — — r Annette did not answer.- Suddenly she leaped to her feet. “Joe,” she cried, “Joe Welcher —you here?” - __ , *■ T “Yes,” returned Hernandez, again bowing, “Joe is here—he has always been hero '-with, us. Joe la onr good

friend. We owe him much —much.” He turned a sneering smile on Weigher. Annette uttered an exclamation “Joe—Joe," she Cried, “is it —true?' Joe turned away—his chest heaving, his eyes upon the floor. “Aw, I'm no good.” he umbered. • ~..“Xpvrvc__ px ind T Tnp,. fair nnc " said Hernandez, taking from his pocket a legal document already carefully prepared, “we have business at hand. /This document —you should really knavFwhat it contains. It is in proper shape, I assure you. A hit soiled perhaps, from long disuse in my breast pocket —but well worded. Look —it'is complete. It is even acknowledged before a United States consul in Central America —acknowledged by you. fair one.” “It is not,” snapped Annette. “Fair Inez here,’’ went on Hernandez, “signed it Annette Ilington—the consul was quite satisfied that she was you. But —I have erased her signature she lacks the cleverness called forgery. And your signature may be on record somewhere —who knows. Comparisons are odious. Let us therefore pe complete. Take in hand a pen, my pretty. Sign your name, over this erasure—ropposite this seal.”

“I’ll never sign,” returned Annette. “You will sign,” said Hernandez -evenly, “and you will hand over to us aIT the evidence you have upon your person. Sign.” “No,” said Annette. “Well arid good,” went on Hernandez in honeyed accents. “Beast—| hold her firm. Disobey and the lash for yours.” Hernandez took from his coat pocket a piece of cord. He tied the ends together. Despite her struggles he fitted this noose-like cord over Annette’s head and thrust into it a piece of wood.

“Tell me when you’ve had enough,” he said. f Like a stone from a catapult Joe Welcher hurled himself across the room and was upon Hernandez in a flash.— Under the assault Hernandez retreated violently to the wall, striking his head against the mantel. “Are you crazy, you—worm?” cried Hernandez with a snarl. turn. Without waiting for breath he flung himself once more at Hernandez. “Help!” cried Hernandez. “Inez — tackle this mosquito.” Inez was a valuable ally. She attacked Joe from the rear, and her assault was effectual. Her onslaught was so severe that it caused Joe to retreat. He 'did retreat until he faced them both. ' “ —— “Now,” said Hernandez. And both descended upon him. Joe was ready for them. He seized a chair and whirled it about his head —frenzy lending him violence and strength. “Come on!” he cried, “all three of you at once!” With one wild final swing he brought the chair crashing down on Hernandez’. head. No, not on Hernandez’ head. It fell short of that, but crashed on something else —the chandelier above Hernandez’, head. There was a ripping, tearing, eracking sound —and then a crash. Down came the chandelier in a tangled heap upon the floor. For one instant thefre was a cessation of hostilities. The shades were down —the lights extinguished —the room plunged into semi-darkness. Annette watched in affright. Suddenly a strange, familiar odor assailed her nostrils. “Stop—stop!” she cried. I But none heeded her. The Brute still held her fast. And Joe, in his new and ungovernable ffenzy, was once] more at it with the chair, clearing a

space about him on the floor, driving Inez and Hernandez before him into one corner after another. His chair whirling, touched a Jive wire—from which the insulation had been torn. The wire, recoiling from the blow, struck a piece of disjointed gas pipe still clinging to the ceiling. Then —fizz —a spark—a multitude of sparks. A pause—a second's pause. And then the whole room, with a mighty roar, bjirst itself out into the open air. A horseman, speeding down the straight road, heard the boom. He saW the explosion. He spurred his horse. He reached the wayside lane. Joe- Welchar, his head ,cyt and bleeding, was thee first to revive. His remorseful frenzy still • lent him -strength- and., -energy. He to .his feet—lookedlfor Annette. He noticed nothing else —save that the was wrecked. ' ~ - He found Annette, picked her up and carried her without. - She was stunned, but practically unhurt But Joe didn’t know ' all this. He bad

killed her—he must bring her to life again. With her in his arms he started up -the-lane whither he knew not , Suddenly, in the distance, he saw Neal —on horseback. Welcher broke into a run toward his foster brother. “She —she lives,” said Joe thickly, “at any rate —you can tell her —tell mother—tell yourself—that I brought her back—to life. That pays up—phys up—for—” He fell prone upon the ground,-—-Neal knelt by his side. “Gone,” he said, taking off his hat, "gone, Annette.” “We’ll forget everything,” she answered sobbing, “except that he saved - me—that he died a hero —a real hero—at the last!”

CHAPTER LIV. A Piece of Steel.' Neal’s first duty was toward Annette—his Joe—-He-carried Joe tenderly to the side of the road and left him there, covered with green boughs. Then he lifted Annette upon his steed and set off for help. -It took time tQ find a surgeon —time to get a car. Meantime things happened at the furnished house —the house so swiftly -and violently unfurnished by its 'tirtopn^’TeiEtntHr'———-—-Inside the room nothing but a mass of wreckage was to be seen. But slowly, painfully, impelled by some unseen force, this mass of wreckage slowly rose. Beneath it some giant writhed and wriggled. Finally a head appeared—the Brute’s head. He looked about the room. Nothing was to be seen. He peered into the depths from which he had just emerged. Then suddenly he saw something. Seeing—he worked away like mad.

Inside of ten minutes, Inez, in a stupor, i was staring at the" Brute from one side of the room —Hernandez from the other. Hernandez shook the lethargy from him. He crawled to Inez. “Up—up," he cried, tugging at her, “we have no time to lose. Come on, you beast —come on." Seizing them both, tearing at them frantically, like mad, he sped with them toward a cluster of trees on the other side of the road. In the midst of fil had hidden his machine. Panting with frenzy, his glance ever over his shoulder, he forced them into the car, sprang to the wheel, the clutch, and was off. It was three days later, on the high seas, that Hernandez —his other two companions well hidden in the hold — stole out of the companion way of a fruit steamer bound for the southern seas. He glanced cautiously around a corner. The first figure that met his sigh'; was Neal Hardin —an ensign in the navy. “What’s he doing here?” demanded Hernandez of himself. . He watched warily. What he saw disturbed him. Neal was giving orders to the captain of the^ship. Hernandez looked about him. Suddenly he darted forward, stooped, and picked up something from the floor. "What is it?” queried Inez. "A piece of steel,” he said. That night, well muffled, he stole toward the compass, and concealed*his piece of steel where it would do the most good—or most harm, as you prefer. No one saw him—no one knew. But on his return, turning a corner,, he ran full tilt into Ensign Neal Hardin himself. Neal sprang upon the muffled figure and tore the enveloping cloak from Hernandez’ grasp. “You,” cried Neal, leaping for Hernandez, “I’ve got you now.” They struggled like tigers, but Neal took no chances. This was no test bout. He wanted to make sure of his man. He called for help. Help came. A dozen men pounced upon Hernandez. ... When he was safely chained Neal rose to his* feet. "We’ve got him,” said Neal briefly. ■He gave an orflerT ~ "Seatehthe ship/-' he said. ■ ' The ship was searched, and within. the next quarter of an hour Inez and the Brute, each in the clutch of many powerful men, came into view on deck - -

"Up—Up,” He Cried, Tugging at Her.

Hernandez, heavy with his irons, clung to the Brute. The Brute was still a paragon of strength. With both Hernandez’ hands upon his brawny shoulders—with the dragging weight of Hernandez’ irons upon,, him, he even, steady strokes, toward the shore —swam for an hour, tirelessly, like some huge dog. Suddenly bis feet torched sand. . . . Neal and Annette stood upon a strip of beach, staring all about them. “This,” said Annette, “must be Lost Isle—and the admiral was right—it is deserted. Unless we find a Robinson Crusoe here —possibly—my father.” Neal shook his head. “I’m not sure it’s Lost Isle,” he commented, “and I’m not sure it’s deserted. See that turn in the short line —let’s round the ’ corner and have a better look” Arouhd the corner, some three-quar-ters of a mile away, a group of naked natives clustered greedily about a fire. Above the fire something—horribly gruesome—turned and turned upon a slowly-revolving spit. Scattered about upon the ground, were human skulls. ... One of the natives held up his arms, uttering guttural sounds and pointed off the shore. The whole crowd broke into a run—reached the shore and waited. . '■■ ■ Two men staggered from the water toward the beach. 't The group of natives set up a yell of triumph . . . here, then, were two more human skulls —two more gruesome forms to be turned upon a spit over a hot fire,. Yes. Mariners were quite right. These were indeed, uncharted seas—Hernandez and the Brute were pioneers. The Brute looked straight ahead. He placed his arm about his master’s quivering shoulders and stepped up out of the sea, straight into that dia- , bolical group of twentieth-century anthropophagi. The Brute knew no fear. The black brutes reached forth clutching hands and 1 touched him — seized Hernandez. The Brute stretched forth a band, seized a savage by the neck, and whirled him round and round.about his head, striking the black men right and left. ... Then he tossed his captive into the sea, leaving him to struggle out a 3 best Me might Those was a wild cry among the na-. suddenly, they prostrated , themselves before the Brute. i % - “He has a white face—white beard." they told each other, “down, down on your faces. He is a god—our god,” {TO BE CONTINUED.)

“Lock the woman in a cabin,” commanded Neal, “and keep guard upon her day and night.” All night he lay, chained heavily, solitary, in the lazarette, working out his own salvation-—not eternal, but material. And he always came to one conclusion —“I’ll beat them yet.” All night the pilot puzzled his head over his compass. As dawn broke, in the' crow’s nest aloft, the lookout shaded his eyes with his hand—then with the same hand shaded his mouth. "Land ho!” he cried, “land ho!” Neal heard him and hurried to the pilot’s side. “Can’t be Lost Isle," he exclaimed. “Must be,” said the pilot, “we’rw headed straight for her—straight as the crow flies, sir. But I can’t understand it, either —blest if I—" The sentence was unfinished. With a terrific shock the vessel crashed into an unseen reef —an unknown rse£ tor they had ventured into uncharted seas. Neal understood the danger. The shock was too terrific to be ignored. It meant a wreck-r-it would be a matter of minutes only before she filled. "Man the boats,” ‘he cried, "order all on deck. Make haste.” He rushed in person to Annette’s door and threw it open. In person he lifted Annette and her mother into the first boat. Inez also was Included. It was lowered safely. Neal turned to his crew. “Get the lazarette prisoner," he commanded, “drag him into this boat here. Be about it now." ~ Hernandez, in a frenzy of fear, had been beating with his chains upon the barred door of the lazarette. They dragged him forth, his face working with fear and rage, and bundled him into the second boat —the Brute leaping in behind. Half way down the side something happened—the gear broke. The boat dropped—its one end still held to the tackle —and plunged its human burden into the sea beneath.