Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 11, 1916, Page 3

RCH 11, 1918 Bert Getchell returned this morn- ing from a business trip to Kelliher. Alec Breyette, who was operated on Tuesday for eye trouble at St. An- thony’s hospital, is reported to be improving rapidly. Mrs. I. J. Cool and daughter, Gladys, will leave tonight for ' Chi- cago for a few weeks’ visit as the guests of relatives. One of these nice days you ought tc go to Hakkerup’s and have your plcture taken.—Adv. 14tt Attorney J. L. Brown returned yes- terday afternoon from Boy River’ where he spent some time attending to legal matters. Misses Elaine Boyd and Selma Hedman departed last evening for Turtle River at which place they at- tended a basket social. Miss Medora Rice left last evening for Tenstrike where she will spend a few days over Sunday visiting as the guest of her parents. Louis Burchard, teacher of violin. Phone 637. Call City Hall. Begin- ners not accepted..—Adv. 3d311 J. K. Given and Whitney Brown returned this morning from Turtle River where they went last evening to attend a basket social. Miss Anna Klein arrived in the city this morning from Turtle River, where she is teaching school, to visit tor a few days with her parents. John Stechman, a semior in the high school, left last evening for Tenstrike where he will visit for a day with his father, H. Stechman. Dancing every Saturday night at the City Hall. Admission free. Come and bring your friends.—Adv. 3d311 Miss Margaret Anderson returned last evening from a four months’ visit with friends and relatives at Stanley, Wis., Minneapolis and South Stillwater. Miss May Wood, who has been the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Wood for the past three weeks, left last evening for her home at Ells- worth, Wis, H. E. Rice of the Crookston Lum- ber company, returned this morning to his home in Bemidji after spend- ing several days in Kelliher on busi- ness matters, Edward Grytbak, who has been op- erating a dredge for some time in the Floodwood country, returned yester- day to this city where he will visit for a short time. J. C. Charboneau left yesterday afternoon for Gully where he will attend to business matters relative to the Beltrami Music “house, of whieh he is proprietor. W. H. Aitkin arrived in the city Jast evening from International Falls where he is employed by a banking concern, to temporarily take a posi- tion in the First National bank. Mrs. J. F. Burke and son left last night for Stillwater where they will attend the funeral of Mrs. John (Brien, who died in Vancouver, B. ., and will be buried in Stillwater. A number of young people from Bemidji went last evening to Walker where they witnessed the production of the play, “Mr. Bob,” given by home talent. The play was well produced. Thomas Symons, manager of the Bemidji branch of the Minneapolis Brewing company, returned this morning from Kelliher where he spent a few hours last night on busi- ness matters. Carl Neuman, after spending sev- cral weeks on business near Flood- wood, Minn., returned yesterday to LIST Your city property with Glayton C. Cross Markham Hotel Building FOR SALE OR RENT Good Service Reasonable Commission Louis Burchard Teacher of VIOLIN Phone 637 Call City Hal! leglnners Not Accepted. Dwight D. Miller ol e e iR A bl Insurance Specialist I can Insure ' * After a short visit w} this city. to Floodwood. a few hours between trains yeste: in the evening to their Clearbrook. home conducting a land sale at NEAL of Author of ““Red SYNOPSIS, On the day of the eruption of Mount Pelee Capt. John Hardin of the steamer Frincess rescues five-year-old Annette Ilington from an open boat, but is forced to leave behind her father and his com- panions. [lington is assaulted by Her- nandez 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 his mind to become a blank. Thirteen years elapse. Hernandez, now an opium smug- gler, with Ponto, Inez, a female accom- plice, 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 illngton, 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. In a struggle for possession of the map Her- nandez, Annette and Neal each secure a search of her father. nette and Neal are captured, but are res- cued. by a sponge diver. Inez forges iden- In an insurrcction Neal and Annette are agaln captured, carried to the Sun City and Anneite is offered as a sacrifice to the sun god. They are rescued by ma- rines from the Albany. Landed in Tortu- ga. Annette and.Neal are captured and exposed to yellow fever infection by Her- | nandez, but are rescued by sailors from the Albany. Inez tries to rob Annette and escapes. On her way to Chantillo An- nette is captured. Neal is promoted and 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. Ponto is caught and killed in his own trap, set for Annette. Annette proves title i turns over Lost Island to the gov ment. Welcher dies in a remorseful e to save her from Hernandcz. Annette and Neal, on their way to Lost Island, ‘are \recked un a cannibal_island by ‘Her- | nandez tiickery. The Brute Is accepted , by the shows his power over the Brute and is. the cannibals. Annetie is accepted by “THE GREAT GOAL” GHAPTER LIX. Who Am 12 souri an anxious little group—uni- formed and otherwise—grouped them- selves around the form of an uncon- scious man. He Jay 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 Ilington started forward. “Then he will live?” she said, The surgeon nodded. The little group bent forward, And with good reason. The figure on the couch stirred slightly—the huge form quivered. At last the unconscious man became no longer so. He opened wide his eyes. He stared wildiy 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 seized him by one arm and a uni- formed attendant by another. But he tossed them from him as though by the turn of a wrist and 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 to- gether.” In another instant he would have been upon his feet. But his eyes fell upon Annette Ilington. “Anne,” he cried. He stretched forth a hand as though to touch her, dreaming—dreaming.” berly, “for thirteen years.” Neal gripped his mother’'s arm. “Look at his eyes,” he whispered, “his eyes. Something has happenegd 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. guese—Hernandez—get me after all? I kpow I struggled with him; that's the last thing I remember. behind.” The surgeon smiled. said. figure on the cot. little girl?” The surgeon nodded to Neal. 3 man all right,” he whispered, many years.” sought Annette: again. doubt{ul. “Anne,” «Anything Anywhere “Telephone 360-W. Offices ‘| SECURITY STATE BANK BLDG. “Excuse, me, nurse,” }I ask your name?” fysname is Annette mnm The méan started. relatives here he expects to return Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Nelson qunn day visiting with friends and doing some week-end shopping, returning at Oscar Arneson and Clarence Whit- rud of the state auditor’s office, after Walker portion. Annette sails on the Coronado in | In Martinique An- | tification papers for herself as Annette. | leads a party of transferred men toward , annibals as their god. Hernandez | In the sick bay of the battleship Mis- : “Dreaming,” said the surgeon som- “Did my friend the Portu- The Mexi- can must have black-jacked me from “He black- jacked you from behind, all right,” he “Where’s Manuella?” went on the “And where is the “He's “The goul has come back into the body after “The little girl,” went on the hrute man. His glance shifted and again he he cried Once more his glance became he went .on,. nodding to Annette,” “I thought you : were my-wife come back to life. May “I am not a nurse,” said Annette. yesterday, during which 1,800 acres of 'state land were sold, returned to St Paul last night. MIBB Rachnel Gerlinger, a student in the Bemlflji ‘high s ool left last evening for Turtle River where she attended a basket social: She went| from Turtle River to Spur to visit over Sunday at her home. A. T. Scott, lineman in the employ- ment of the Northwestern Telephone Exchange of this city, returned yes- the NAVY By" WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE Mouse, * “Running * Blue Buckle, :* elc. Novelized from the Photo Play of the Same Name Produced by the Pathe Exchange, Inc. (Copryright, 1916, by Willlam Hamilton Usborne) ' i | He dropved 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,” Joke?” “Pull it and see,” suggested the sur: geon, 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 sald, smiling and watching fearfully for the slight- est change of expression. “It grew —it has been growing for over thir- teen 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 business- like_manner he drew forth a memo- randum book and without further | glancing at his patient held his foun- | tain pen poised in air. “Your name, sir—and address,” he ! said. he said, “another ! patient from a dangerous reverie. “Me,” he exclaimed. “Who am I? I am Ilington—Ilington of Martinique,” ok x x & x % A few days later Ilington, clean i1 ndsome as he had been some thir- teen years before—save that time had carved deep lines upon his face. His | forehead still was bandaged. Annette crouched at his side and ‘she hé&ld between her hands the hand £E5m he "Misscurl,- Hernandes ai. "iney | Of llington—the hand that had been escape in an open hoat. iso often raised to strike her down. 0 IneT Neal strode to the little group and sa- FOURTEENTH INSTALLY NT jeos’ L “Off duty for the present " he ex- plained. “How is the head?” Ilington grunted. “Sore as- the i dickens outside,” he returned, “but | werking 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 I am feeling #t—I am all here and I want to know. Tell me something.” “Tll tell you everything,” said Neal. “The surgeon quite agrées 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 noth- ing but the truth. “Let me get hold of that Porm— guese, just once,” he muttered, “and T'll tear him with my bare hands, limb from limb.” i CHAPTER LX, Quicksilver, Out of the sea at sunset, hearing in his arms a burden, staggering up upon’ the shore of the Lost Isle of Cinna- bar—there strode a man. Behind him, silhouetted against the horizon, was a small sailboat, deserted and strand- ed on a sandbar. The man was the Portuguese adven- turer, 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 an in- stant, 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 god of chance joins with Hernandez, then suddenly withdrew it. He | Hernandez wins.” shrugged his shoulders. “What's the They traveled inland. The sun had use?” he muttered to himself, “I'm | set, the moon was full. For many min- utes they had traveled through a cleaf- ing, and suddenly before them, rough, ragged and forbidding in the moon- light, there loomed a ruined structure built of stone. “It’'s the fort,” whispered Heynan- dez, “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 Her- nandez. ‘“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-o far- ther 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 De a prater of a volcano— a huge pit that seemed to beleh forth fire. But it was not a voleano and it did not belch forth fire. It was a cinna- bar ‘mine—or ‘a series of cinnabar mines—pits cut’ into the surface ‘of the earth and illumined by hrush fires. Hernandez crouched upon the edge of this huge man-made crater and watched the scene with interest. In each pit hdlf a dozen men or more worked away like ants, their shadows snapes, The matter-of-fact tone roused the | shaven, sat upon the deck ot the Mis- | He was a handsome man—as | so far, little one, and so long as the: flung against the wllll i hnm: | self. terday afternoon to his headquarters here, from Henriétta, where he ‘'was called several days ago for line re- pair -work. A large delegation of . the Pres- hyterlan church ‘last evening at~ tended the basket social at Turtle River. Among those who attended are: Misses Catherine MecGregor, Lottie Madson, .Belle Henry, Myrtle Madson, Grace Brazzier and Genrge Armstron Hernandez drew a deep brenflx of satisfaction. = “This is the life,” he uid to him- “These men are my men or ,my name is not Hernandez.” He drew forth a brace of pistols and examined them carefully in'the moon- ‘light. " Satisfled “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 & 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 over- grown with a rank, untrimmed crop of hair and beard. They hailed his advent with delight. Out of this multitude a huge individ- ual pushed his way through to Her- nandez and placed a grimy hand upon the latter’s shoulder. “Whence come you?” he queried in Spanish. Hernandez ‘answered him. “I was set adrift iiv’a:§mall ‘boat,” he returned, “and I came. aghore here not knowing where I was. ‘Who, sir, are’'you, my countryman?” “Twelve years ago,” said the pirate chief, “we were wrecked—ground to pleces on this shore. And we found what? Enough to eat? Yes. A place to sleep—a place to live. But this i8 a God forsaken island, senor, Only the mines have kept us from going mad. We have worked for wealth madly—hoping against hope.” business affairs of = the John Achenbach returned this morning from the Twin Cities where he has been for the past two weeks. Mrs. Achenbach recently underwent little boat, left to itself, swung about and plunged full “tilt toward ‘he 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, Portuguese, Hernandez?” Inez waved her hand wildly in- skhore. —the beasts,” she cried. “Don’t ask me. I don’t know. I—I ran.away from him.” “The beasts?” faltered Annette. “Worse than that,” returned In¢g,. I'7e “you're a woman. I'm a woman. 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 su,nd-ber form shook with agitation. Annette, wondering, knelt by uer |, side. “Why have you run from him?" she queried. “I—I can’t blame him,” suddenly facing Annette. cried Tnez “He's mad &) -—crazy for wealth, Hernandez. So aui And wealth is here—you dent ' He told me all about jt—be- | L know— fore I began to suspect—" “Buspect—what?” asked Annette, “Ah,” went on Inez, checking her agitation, for the presence of An- nette gave her courage, “you should see—he told me—there are millions | of dollars worth of quicksilver—all wady for the market—stored away. Milliong of dollars’ worth, And the | mines—they're not half worked. And | “What do you mine?’ asked Her- | these becasts are working them——" nandez, “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." g He called for a torch and nodding to Hernandez led the way to the edge ' “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 aft. of a nearby pit and down & ladder. | er hour he harped on that—to me, At the foot of the ladder he crawled | Hour after hour he repeated it—talked into an opening and bade Hernandes follow. The opening was a cave—a cave whose floor was covered with ! huge earthen jars. “Quicksilver, senor,” hissed the pi- rate chief—"“millions of pesetas worth —possibly a billion—who knows,” “Did you come alone, semor,” he | “Is there any woman with | asked. you?” ‘“Hernandez shook his ‘head, but & terrific fear clutched his soul, “No woman,” ‘he Teturned. alone.” The chiet~fell back, disnppolnted' then he raised his Voice to its normal tones again. “All this, senor,” he ex- | claimed, appealing to his companiops, “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.” “I am CHAPTER LXI. Cutthroats. As the keel of the Missouri’s launch was Hernandez—and Annette almost f about it in his sleep. And finally I yn. derstaod—" “You're safe,” sald Annette, “at least 80 far ‘as Hernandez and these— beasts are concerned. There’s a bat. tleship 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-gsh—Ilook."” Annette looked—almost too late. Out of the brush behind them botnd- ed two frightfil figures—half-clad— with matted hair and beard. With hoarse cries they darted toward the women. Inez turned frantically and. fled up the beach One of the cut- throats 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, i'A’ figure shot out before them and stood with folded arms. This figure grated against ‘the sand, Annette ' hailed bim as a friend. “He ‘Has a Right t@ Know, "She Said. sprang out and waded gleefalky ashore. Nedl was a close second. Two sailors carried Mrs. Hardin through the shallow water. A lieutear ant leaped out with ‘Ilington, and bounded to dry land. It was two hours later that Annette, pursuing a hairless little tropical ani- mal along the heach, rounded & cor- ner, and espied a sail. Her heart leaped into her throat, Upon her pergon she carried a sure fire automatie; she examined it“and | found it in excellent condition. Then she turned her ‘glance once more up- en the sail And then Annette’s heart stood still again. & human flgure. hind a rock and watched, denly she knew— The figure wag Inez. She was alone, and ‘seemed ‘to he’ forts to sail the hoat. Annette watched her with interest. And while she watched a stiff ‘breeze sprang’ up and nearly swamped the boat. “Ingz—~—Inez,” she cried, “do as I say —Ines—" %o Inez heard her; lnd immediately for- 800k the tfller and the rope'and held out her hands belmhlnsly over the Annette shrank be- And sud- For withjn the boat there wag:! eking frantic ef- | nwale of the boat. It was the best ot BRVe purmit T “So,” said Hernandez, “I have kem ny promise. The woman is yours— the treasure is mine. It is a bargain.” Then lre 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— bettér so.” “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.’” “T cap- tured the woman—you kept: her from me. I took her by force—and I have waited long.” He laughed loud—a de- risive laugh. “I took her by force. I have her.« treasure—after you, too, have waited long—after you have taken it by torce. Ho, ho" Hernandez understood. He sprang at the pirate’ chief, Btriks ing at him frantically, and clutching at Annette, trying to tear her”from him, In'a moment a multi\mde of beastl swarmed through the Underbrush— ‘entered thé arena of events, Feiian GHAPTER LXI.~ Onslaught, S part it-wid A. M. Bagley left last evening for Minneapolis and St. Paul” where he ‘will spend a few days'attending to Bemidji 'Manufa:cturing company, of which he is'manager® He will also attend to business matters in' Wisconsin before returning. “ig the | i “Somewhere—in—ihere-—with ' Yes, .and .yoh‘‘have our | an operation in Minneapolis and her condition is reported satisfactory. She will remain in Minneapolis for several weeks. Mrs. J. A. Younggren and Mrs. George T. Baker are hostesses a a parcel shower and luncheon this af- ternoon at the latter’s home in honor | of Miss Beatrice Backus, whose mar- riage to Eugene Voight of Ohio, now manual training instructor at Anoka, . |the The house has been cleverly and be- - comingly decorated in pink. The guest of-honor’s place was decorated in pink sweet peas and roses. Among guests -are Misses Beatrice iBackus, Helen Backus, Capitola |Stewart, Mesdames J. B. Fitzgerald, E. H. Denu, R. L. Given, W. Z. Rob- inson, B. M. Gile, William Chichester, L. A. LaBaw, J. Anderson; W. P. Dyer, I. J. Cool, L. W. Griffith and will take place in the early spring. I I ~ Caught Her : ble mistake. In his momentary excite- ment he had thought td exterminate Hernandez. But the cutthroats who bounded into view never even saw Her- nandez. Hernandez was there, agile, | alert, ready to defend himself. But they' {didn’t know it. i ~The only thing they saw was An- "nette 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 on the heach. Scatter and find her.” Some half dozen of the crew, accus- tomed to obedience, scampered off. But not se the rest. Shoulder to shoul- der, 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 enother. At last Neal found her—Inez, crouch- ing behind a rock. Inez, panting with fear, leaped int6 his’arms. He cast her off—for he did not understand. “Annette,” she cried, “they've got her—there—that way—that way.” Annette, numb with fear, lay quiv- i ering 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 saw—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' i and left the cave’s mouth temporarily, uncovered. Likea flash Annette wrig- gled 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 An- nette 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 under- growth with savage bounds. Neal fired thrice—hit once—missed twice—and then the cutthroat was up- on him. Ilington from theeshore, heard the shots. He looked upward and saw,’ i peering down at him from at eminence, the face of his arch enemy, Her nandez. He shook & massive fist at the face, and the face disappeared. Ilington hastened back to the tem- porary camp and found that the lieu- tenant and his men were making ready, lor a run. H “Come on, loot,” cried Ilington, leap- ing into the undergrowth, “I'm ready: for a fight. I saw a head just now, and km going to hit it jard.” 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 Hke human hornets lbmlt‘ their heads. Annette’s temporary es-; cape 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 she 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 af- ter her—sourrying like wild dogu through the brush. And thsn——crack—emck—cruck-—. The bark of a dozen navy rifles. A ‘dozen’ men plunged headlong. 2331 It was a bad fight—a desperate fight.' Neal’'s men were outnumbered. Meantime a solitary figure slunk tarough the brush nnd crept _past all ‘the “fighters. ~THis" was Hernandez. Ilington, during a lull, saw him pass, but knew.not where he went. Her- “fandez kiew. ~ He was still hoping French of Blackduck. in His Arms. egainst 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,” ha 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 ma- rines had reached the shore in another launch, had plunged through the thick. et and had reached the conflict just in the nick of time. CHAPTER LXIH. The Edge of the World. Hernandez crouched behind one of the huge earthen jars. The light that streamed in at the cave’s mouth dark- ened 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 Her- nandez saw. It was Ilington. Ilington was un- armed—his face was blood covered. He was a figure fearful to behold. Hernandez climbed the ladder in fear ful haste. Ilington saw him and fol- lowed, caught him, tore from him Her nandez’ ever ready knite, 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 Her- nandez, “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, “Hernandea and my father—and the Portuguese has a knife.” She was not the only watcher. Be- low on shore a fresh boatload of ma- rines 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 Her- nandez less.” Even as he spoke, Hernandez struck with his knife and ripped open Iling- ton’s arm. With a wild cry the fresh marines scrambled up the cliff. Hernandez, cool with coolness of desperation, side- stepped, 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 surround- ings. Behind him ranged Neal and his squad, with fixed” bayonets and with death shining in their eyes. Below, scrambling up the cliff ‘were twemty men, dangerous—despgrate. Hernandez paused—his eyes nar- rowed. 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 can- not beat me now.” He retreated a pace or two, gave a sudden run—and leaped far out 6ver the edge of the precipice. Neal formed his men in line—they were joined by the squad that climbed the cliff. “Forward, march,” said Neal. An- 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 com- mented. “It took you boys to get it for us,” returned Ilington, “without you, Lost Island: would have"been-lost’ forever, and so would we.” ‘Hé turned to Annette, “Annette,” he said, “this is yours—all yours. You are a princess—this is your kingdom.” He Btretched wide his‘armsto‘include all Lost Island. “Your kingdom,” he repeated, ‘Annette ' looked 'at Neal." Neak lokedat_Annette—then. he rushed for- ward and caught hier fi his arms. Annette glanced at the boys in blue “And this—my king,” she said. THE END.