Help with a direction in pattern

[ccjones0301]

The pattern reads” *ch1, sk1, DC in 9 sts, ch1, sk1**, DC in 13 sts; rep from * “1 time more, ending at **
Do I chain1 skip the next stitch and then double crochet in the next 9 stitches or do I do the above over 9 stitches all together?

Thank you for any advice you have in advance 

[Granny Square]

Welcome to the ville! 

There's 2 things going on here. First, when a pattern says "DC in 9 stitches", or often just "9 DC", and does not tell you where to put them, it means "put 1 DC into each of the next 9 (or whatever number it says) stitches".  If it meant for you to do something else, like put all 9 into 1 stitch, it would specifically say where to put them, like "9 DC in the next stitch".  1 stitch into 1 stitch is always the default.  

When you see a single asterisk, it means the start of a repeat; when you see a double asterisk, it is usually 'inside' a repeat, and is to be ignored until the pattern specifically mentions it, and tells you what to do at that spot; it is sort of like a bookmark. 

In your pattern, you do one full repeat ignoring the **, (so the first repeat includes the 13 DCs at the end).  Then the second time (in your pattern) you stop when you reach ** .