Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1916 — Page 2

NEAL of the NAVY

By WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

Novelized from the Photo Pley of the Seme Name Produced by. the Paths Exchange, Inc.

SYNOPSIS. ---X-'r. \ ' On the day of the eruption of Mount Pelee Cipt. John Hardin of the steamer Princess rescues five-year-old Annette Hington from an open boat, but is forced to leave behind her father and his companions. Hington Is assaulted by Hernandez and Ponto in ar vain attempt to get papers wh|ch Ilingtijn has managed to send aboard the Princess with his daughter, papers proving his title toana telling the whereabouts of the lost island of Cinnabar. Ilington’s injury causes his mind to become a blank. Thirteen years elapse. Hernandez, now an opium smuggler with Ponto, Inez, a female accomplice, and the mindless brute that once was Hington, come to Seaport, where the widow of Captain Hardin is living with her son Neal and Annette Hington, and plot to steal the .papers left to Annette by het 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. In a 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 Hernandez, but are rescued by sailors from the Albany. Inez tries to fob Annette and escapes. On her way to Chantillo Arinette is captured. Neal is promoted and leads a party of transferred men toward Chantillo, but is caught in a train wreck on the wav. Hernandez and Inez present the false identification papers to Brother Anselmo at Santa Maria mission. Ponto is caught and killed in his own trap, set for Annette. Annette proves title and turns over Lost Island to the government. Welcher dies in a remorseful effort to save her from Hernandez. Annette and Neal, on their way to Lost Island, are wrecked on a cannibal Island by Hernandez’ trickery. The Brute is accepted by the cannibals as their god. Hernandez shows his power over the Brute and is accepted by the cannibals. Annette is captured but rescued by Neal and a party from the Missouri. Hernandez and Inez escape in an open boat.

FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT “THE GREAT GOAL” CHAPT E R LIX. “ Who Am T? . In the sick bay of the battleship Missouri an anxious little group—uniformed and otherwise —grouped themselves around the form of an unconscious man. He lay upon a cot. His head was swathed in bandages. The surgeon, seated on a camp stool by his side, raised his head and glanced at those about him. “The vitality of this man is little less than marvelous,” he said. Annette Hington started forward. “Then he will live?” she said. The surgeon podded. —The little group bent forward. And with good reason. The figure on the couch stirred slightly— huge form quivered. At last the unconscious man became no longer so. He opened wide his eyes. He stared wildly about the cabin, struggling the while to rise. •‘You’ll never know from me where Lost Isle is,” he muttered. “Look at Pelee —death —destruction. Pray God, the Princess—” _ He lifted his head. The surgeon seizedhim by one arm and a uniformed attendant by another. But he tossed them from him as though by the turn of a wrist apd struggled to a sitting posture. *You will,” he snarled, clutching at the two men. “It’s just as well I found you out, Hernandez —you and your henchman, Ponto; just as well before — Come on, both of you together.” In another instant he would have been upon his feet. But his eyes fell upon Annette Hington. "Anne,” he cried. • He stretched forth a hand as though toFt&uch her, then suddenly withdrew -it. He shrugged his shoulders. “What’s the use?” he muttered to himself, “I’m dreaming—dreaming.”

“Dreaming,” said the surgeon somberly, “for thirteen years.” Neal gripped his mother’s arm. “Look at his--eyes,” he- whispered, “his eyes" Something has happened to him. He has become a man.” The brute man glanced inquiringly at the surgeon. “What is the matter with me, doctor?” he exclaimed, his voice strong, his tones resonant' with reason. “Did my friend .the Portuguese—Hernandez —get me after all? 1 know I struggled with him; that’s the last thing I remember.' The Mexican must have black-jacked me from behind.” The surgeon smiled. “He blackjacked you from behind, all right,” he ■aid. "Where’s Manuella?” went on the figure on the cot. “And where is the little girl?” ’ The surgeon nodded to Neal. “He’s a man all right,” he whispered. “The soul has back into the body after many years.” “The little gi rl »” went on the brute man. His glance shifted and again he sought Annette. “Anne,” he cried again. Once more his glance became doubtful. i> “Excuse me, nurse,” he went on, nodding to Annette, “I thought you were my wife come back to life. May I ask your name?” ain not a nurse,” said Annette.' “My name is Annette Ilington.” . The man started.

Author of "Red Moure. '* "Running Fight, “ "Catrpaw. ** '"Blue Buckle. ’* etc.

(Copyright, 1918, by Wlliiem Hamilton Osborne)

. He dropped his head upon his chest; then he clutched something with his hand. It was his beard—the growth of 'many years. He held it out before him. “What's this,” he said, “another joke?” “Pull it and see/’ suggested the surgeon. The man gave the beard a mighty tug. "Ouch,” again he cried. "It’s glued. ’ The surgeon, somewhat' uncertain of his — ground— fearful of results touched the man upon, the arm. “It is not glued,” he said, smiling and watching fearfully for the slightest change of expression. “It grew —it has been growing for over thirteen years. You’re a Rip Van Winkle —you have come back to life.” He paused and waited while that, fact sank home. Then in a businesslike" manner he drew forth a memorandum book and without further glancing at his patient held his fountain pen poised in air. “Your name, sir—and address,” he said. The matter-of-fact tone roused the patient from a dangerous reverie. “Me,” he exclaimed. “Who am I? I am Hington —Hington of Martinique.” * * * • * * ♦ A few days later Hington, clean shaven, sat upon the deck of the Missouri. He was a handsome man —as handsome as he had been some thirteen years before —save that time had carved deep lines upon his face. His forehead still was bandaged. Annette crouched at his side and she held between her hands the hand of Hington —the hand that had been so often raised to strike her down. Neal strode to the little group and saluted. “Off duty for the present,” he explained. “How is the head?” Ilington grunted. “Sore as the dickens outside,” he returned, “but Working right inside —at least so far as I can tell.” He glanced quizzically at Neal. “Ensign,” he said, “I can’t get information out of anybody. They think I’ve got to grow up like a child; but today lam feeling fit —I am all here and I want to know. Tell me something.” “I’ll tell you everything,” said Neal. “The surgeon quite agrees with you. He has discharged’ you cured.” And then they told him —and it took hours in the telling. They told him the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “Let me get hold of that Portuguese, just once,” he muttered, “and 111 tear him with my bare hands, limb from limb.”

CHAPTER LX, Quicksilver. Out of the sea at sunset, bearing in his arms a burden, staggering up upon the shore of the Lost Isle of Cinnabar—there strode a man. Behind him, silhouetted against the horizon, was a small sailboat, deserted and stranded oh a sandbar. The man was the Portuguese adventurer, Hernandez. The burden in his arms was a woman, and the woman was Inez Castro, his companion. He dropped her gently to the ground, and she lay there for ah instant, well spent, half exhausted. Then she, too, staggered to her feet. “This,” cried Hernandez, “is Lost island. We are in possession—and possession is nine points of the law.. The god of chance has favored us so far, little one, and so long as the god of chance joins with Hernandez, Hernandez wins.” They traveled inland. The sun had set, the moon was full. For many minutes they had traveled through a clearing, and suddenly before them, rough, ragged and forbidding in the moonlight, there loomed a ruined structure built of stone. _ “It’s the fort,” whiskered Hernandez, “the Morro castle of, the Ilington map.” In. the far distance there was a red glow against the sky and the dull, faint clang of metal against metal. “We are not alone,” whispered Hernandez. “Someone works the mines. So much the better. We shall have allies. Let us seek them now.” Inez sank down at his feet. “Leave me alone—here,” she whispered. “You can find me easily. I can go no farther and I am afraid —afraid.” Already -Hernandez had bounded across the clearing, turned a corner of the crumbling ruin and was on his way. Within the next few moments he was standing on the edge of what seemed to be a crater of a volcano—a huge pit that seemed to belch forth fire. But it was not a volcano and it did not belch forth fire. It was a cinnabar mine—ot a series of cinnabar mines—pits cut into the surface of the earth arid Hernandez crouched upon the edge of this huge man-ihade crater and. watched the scene with interest. In, each pit half a dozen men or more worked away like ants;, their shadows flung against the walls in fantastic shapes-

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

Hernandez drew a deep breath of satisfaction. , “This is the life,’’ he said to himself. "These men are my men or my name is not Hernandez.” He drew forth a brace Of pistols and examined them carefully inthe moonlight. Satisfied that they were in working order, he rose and skirted the edge of the crater, creeping stealthily around behind the furnace. Then, with remarkable agility, he hurled himself as from the skies into a circle of bright light, lifted up his voice and called aloud. In an instant he was surrounded by a motley crew of men —men strange, weird —men whose faces were overgrown with a rank, untrimmed crop hr half. and beard. They hailed his advent with delight. Out of this multitude a huge individual pushed his way through to Hernandez and placed a grimy hand upon the latter’s shoulder. “Whence come you?” he queried In Spanish. Hernandez answered him. “I was set adrift in a small boat,” he returned, “and ! came ashore here not knowing where I was. Who, sir, are you, my countryman?” “Twelve, years ago,” said the pirate chief, “we were wrecked —ground to pieces on this %hore. And we found what? Enough to eat? Yes. A place to sleep—a place to live. But this is a God forsaken island, senor. Only the mines have kept us from going mad. We have worked for wealth madly—hoping against hope.” “What ’do you mine?” asked Hernandez.

“Cinnabar,” returned the chief. Hernandez raised his eyebrows. “Quicksilver,” he said. “It should make you rich.” The chief held up his arms. “Rich,” he cried. "Senor, follow me.” He called for a torch and nodding toHernanaezie?rtTre"way-t(Tttieedge of a nearby pit and down a ladder. At the foot of the ladder he crawled into an opening and hade Hernandez follow. The opening was a cave —a cave whose floor was covered with huge earthen jars. “Quicksilver, senor,” hissed the pirate chief —“millions of pesetas worth —possibly a billion —who knows.” “Did you come alone, senor,” he asked. “Is there any woman with you?” ; Hernandez shook his head, but B terrific fear clutched his soul. “No woman,” he returned. “I am alone.” The chief fell back, disappointed; then he raised his voice to its normal tones again. “All this, senor,” he exclaimed, appealing to his companions, “a king’s treasure. We have carted it for twelve long years. We would give it all for women.” He thrust his face into Hernandez’. “I, senor, would give it all for one.” CHAPTER LXI. Cutthroats. As the keel of the Missouri’s launch grated against the sand, Annette

“He Has a Right to Know, "She Said.

sprang out and waded gleefully ashore. Neal was a close second. Two sailors carried Mrs. Hardin through the shallow water. A lieutenant leaped out with Ilington, and bounded to dry land. It was two hours later that Annette, pursuing a hairless little tropical animal along the beach, rounded 'a corner, and espied a sail. Her heart leaped into her throat. Upon her person she carried a sure fire automatic; she examined it and found it in excellent condition. Then she turned her glance once more upon the sail. . . And then Annette’s heart stood still again. For within the boat there was a human figure. Annette shrank behind a rock and watched. And suddenly she knew — “ - The figure was Inez. She was alone, and seemed to be making frantic efforts to sail the boat. Annette watched her with interest. And While she watched a stiff breeze sprang up and nearly * swamped the boat. - —— “Inez —Inez,” she cried, “do as I say —lnez —” Inez heard her, and immediately forsook the tiller and the rope and held out her hands beseechingly over the gunwale of the boat. It was the best course she could have pursued. The

little boat, left to itself, swung about and plunged full tilt toward the shore; - As It struck Annette was there to meet it. She dashed into the surf and dragged Inez in safely to dry land. Inez was* frantic with fear. "Where, asked Annette, “18L_thg Portuguese; Hernandez?” Inez waved her hand wildly inshore. “Somewhere —in —there —with —the beasts,” she cried. “Don’t ask me. I don’t know. I —l ran away from him.” “The beasts?” faltered Annette. “Worse than that,” returned Inez, “you're a woman. I’m a woman. I’ve been hiding from them —even from him—for three days. He —he doesn’t know where I am—he hasn’t found me. Oh!” She sank upon the sand —her form shook with agitation. Annette, wondering, knelt by her side. “Why have you run from him?” she queried. , “I—l can’t blame him,” cried Inez, suddenly facing Annette. “He's mad —crazy for wealth, Hernandez. So am I. And wealth is here —you don t know— —- He told me all about it —before I began to suspect—” “Suspect—what?” asked Annette. — “Ah,” went on Inez, checking her agitation, for the presence of Annette gave her courage, "you should see—he told me —there are millions of dollars worth of quicksilver —all ready for the market—stored away. Millions of dollars’ worth. And the mines—they’re not half worked. And these beasts are working them —” “Beasts?” said Annette again. "Cutthroats —men—all of them, men,” groaned Inez, “and they’ve been here years and years—and they’ve been alone. They’re wild-eyed enough to kill each other. And they offered Hernandez all the quicksilver that they’ve got if he’ll find some way to bring them women. Ah, for hour after hour he harped on that —to me. Hour after hour he repeated it —talked about it in his sleep. And finally I understood —” “You’re safe,” said Annette, “at least so far as Hernandez and these — beasts are concerned. There’s a battleship riding in the bay around the bend. Nothing can harm you now” Inez gasped with relief. “Nothing can—•” she began. Then she uttered a wild yell. “Ugh —arg-g-gh—look.” Annette looked —almost too late. Out of the brush behind them bounded two frightful figures —half-clad — with matted hair and bekrd. With hoarse cries they darted toward the women. Inez turned frantically and fled up the beach One of the cutthroats darted after her. Annette swiftly drew her pistol, aimed and fired. The pursuer of Inez dropped in his tracks. But in another Instant Annette was seized in a pair of strong arms and tossed over the shoulders of a giant and carried swiftly inland. Suddenly their path was blocked. A figure shot out before them and stood with folded arms. This figure was Hernandez—and Annette almost hailed him as a friend.

“So,”“siWTrernaWz. “I have kept my promise. The woman is yours—the treasure is mine. It is a bargain.” Then he uttered a sudden exclamation. “It is not Inez,” he cried, “it is you—you little wildcat of an Ilington. So you have arrived. It is better so — better so.” t “It is barter, eh?” he queried, “you the woman. I the jars of quicksilver.” The chief regarded him fiercely. “You lie in your throat, stranger,” he exclaimed in guttural tones. “I captured the woman —you kept her from me I took her by force —and. I have waited long.” He laughed loud —a derisive laugh. “I took her by force. I have her. Yes, and you have our treasure—after you, too, have waited long—after you have taken it by force. Ho, ho.” Hernandez understood. He sprang at the pirate chief, striking at him frantically, and clutching at Annette, trying to tear her from him. In a moment a multitude of beasts swarmed through the underbrush — entered the arena of events. .«■. CHAPTER LXII. Onslaught. On the part it was a horri-

ble mistake. In his momentary excitement he had thought to exterminate Hernandez. But the cutthroats who bounded Into view never even saw Hernandez. Hernandez was there, agile, alert, ready to defend himself. But they didn’t know it. The only thing they saw was Annette Ilington, clutched in the mighty grasp of their chief. Like a mob of ravenous wolves they pounced upon her. The chief beat them off. . “There are two,” he exclaimed, "two. The other runs free upon the beach. This one is mine. The other o'n the find Some half dozen of the crew, accustomed to obedience, scampered off. But not so the rest. Shoulder to shoulder, thigh to thigh, they struggled on after their chief holding out their hands toward the trembling girl upon his shoulder. Step by step he fought his way, clutching her firmly to him, until he reached the entrance to a cave—his cave. He stooped to enter. Then broke the storm. Down on shore Neal and Ilington, alarmed at the prolonged absence of Annette, had scattered —Neal scoured the beach in one direction —Ilington in another. At last Neal found her —Inez, crouchingbehind a rock. Inez, panting with fear, leaped into his arms. He cast her off —for he did not understand. “Annette,” she cried, “they’ve gother —there —that way—that way.” Annette, numb with fear, lay quivering just within the mouth of the cave. Behind her was the dark —the unknown. She was too terror-strick-en to move. But she was quick-wit-ted and she «aw=and understood—that this terrific fight was helping her. She' collected herself —she began to plan. Inch by inch she crept farther into the darkness. When the fight was at its hottest the chief lunged far out in the midst of it and left the cave’s mouth temporarily uncovered. Like a flash Annette wriggled out of the cave and slunk swiftly toward the undergrowth. She reached it, when a figure blocked her path. It was Neal. With a wild cry she flung herself into his arms. But Neal repulsed her for the instant, and with forethought. Almost brutally he flung her behind him, and unshipped his navy gun. For action was at hand.

One man and only one had seen Annette crawl from the cave's mouth and that man was the pirate chief. As soon as he could? disentangle himself, he was away and after her. And here he came, tearing through the undergrowth with savage bounds. Neal fired thrice—hit once—missed twice —and then the- cutthroat was upon him. Ilington from the shore, heard the shots. He looked upward and saw, peering down at him from at eminence, the face of his arch enemy, Hernandez. He shook a massive fist at the facb, and the face disappeared. Ilington hastened back to the temporary camp and found that the lieutenant and his men were making ready ■for a run. “Come on, loot,” cried Ilington, leaping into the undergrowth, '‘l’m ready for a fight. I saw a head just now, and I’m going to hit it hard.” Neal fought with fury, but his fight was,futile. So, be it said, was the fight of the pirate chief. For Neal’s shots had brought the other beasts swarming like human hornets about : their heads. Annette’s temporary escape had been discovered—they had been cheated—vengeance was their due. They pounced upon Neal and their chief like harpies—once more pandemonium reigned. Annette crouched unseen —horror-stricken. Suddenly ghe shrieked aloud—for Neal had disappeared beneath a mass of men —. She shrieked and ran like wild for the shore —for succor. There was no fight in her—she was beaten by fear. That shriek was fortunate for Neal. His (assailants left him and darted after her —scurrying like wild dogs through the brush. And then—crack —crack —crack— The bark of a dozen navy rifles. A dozen men plunged headlong. It yras a bad fight—?a desperate fight. Neal’s men were outnumbered. Meantime a solitary figure slunk through the brush and crept past all the fighters. This was Hernandez. Ilington. during a lull, saw hita pass, but knew not where he went. Hernandez knew. He was still hoping

Caught Her in His Arms.

against hope—he still lusted blindly after treasure. He reached the edge of the artificial crater and crept down a ladder and plunged into the treasure cave. He plunged his hands —his arms, into the living quicksilver —he tossed it into the air. “They’ve never beaten me yet,” he cried, "this is mine—all mine.” He started suddenly. Across the pit there was a lull. And then the deadly crack —crack—crack of rifles. “Re-enforcements,” he muttered. He was right. One boatload of marines had reached the shore in another launch, had plunged through-the thicket and had reached the conflict just in the nick of time.

CHAPTER LXIII. The Edge of the World. Hernandez crouched behind one of the huge earthen jars. The light that streamed; in at the cave’s mouth darkened suddenly, and a huge figure crept In. At first Hernandez thought this was the pirate chief —but that fierce fighter was lying far across the pit with a bullet through his head. The figure crept on farther —then Hernandez saw. It was Ilington. Ilington was unarmed—his face was blood covered. He was a figure fearful to behold. Hernandez climbed the ladder in fearful haste. Ilington saw him and followed, caught him, tore from him Hernandez* ever ready knife, and faced him squarely. “I swore to tear you apart with my hands,” cried Ilington beside himself with rage, “and I’m going to do it.” “Two can play at that,” panted Hernandez, "come on.” Ilington came on—reckless of the fact that he was fighting on the edge of a precipice. Far to the rear Annette plucked Neal's wrist. “Look—look,” she cried, “Hernandez and my father—and the Portuguese has a knife.” She was not the only watcher. Below on shore a fresh boatload of marines were landing. They had seen the fight—they watched it now. Their officer peered through his glasses. “Our friend the Portuguese,” he said, “we’ve got to get him and take him back. The world needs one Hernandez less.” Even as he spoke, Hernandez struck with his knife and ripped open Ilington’s arm. With a wild cry the fresh marines scrambled up the cliff. Hernandez, cool with coolness of desperation, sidestepped, and lifting one foot, neatly tripped his man. Ilington fell heavily, with one arm hanging over the precipice. And then Hernandez looked —for the first time he took note of his surroundings. Behind him ranged Neal and his squad, with fixed bayonets and with death shining in their eyes. Below, scrambling up the cliff were twenty men, dangerous —desperate. Hernandez., paused—his eyes narrowed. He was beaten and he knew it. Hernandez rose to his full height. “Sorry gentlemen,”, he said, "but you’ve never beat me yet and you cannot beat me now.” He retreated a pace or two, gave a sudden run—and leaped far out over the edge of the precipice. Neal formed his men in line—they were joined by the squad that climbed the cliff. L “Forward, march,” said Neal. ’’Aa? nette and her father followed them. Inside of fifteen minutes the little squad were scurrying about the inside of the cave. They were plunging their hands into the liquid metal and letting it run through their fingers. “Some little island, this,” they commented. . ' “It took you boys to get it for us,” returned Ilington, "without you, Lost Island would have been lost forever, and so would we." He turned to Annette, "Annette,” he said, “this is yours—all yours. You are a princess—this is your kingdom.” He stretched wide his arms to include all Lost Island. “Your kingdom,” he repeated. Annette looked at Neal. Neal loked at Annette—then he rushed forward and caught her in his arms. Annette glanced at the boys in bh-a “And this—my king,” she said. , ' THE END < ' ''■