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LUCILLE LOVE. The Girl of Musleru
*By the “MASTE'R
Copyright, 1914 . All moving picture rights reserved by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, who
arm now exhibiting this production in leading theaters. Infringements will be vigorously prosecuted.
(Synopsis of preceding chapters.)
Whilo wtudentfs together at West Point, an<l In lov*
With tho lane *rirl, Sumpter Love proves Hugo tXwiIyQUJ
a thief, and Loubeque 1*» dishonorably discharged. Loy®
wins the grlrl Tine enmity thus begun finds outlet in
later years at Manila, when a butler thiof In the
of Loubeque, now an International spy, steals TsJuaDie
Kpera from the Government safe of General J/>ve.
•übeque sails with them on the steamship krnP rc ®*j
and General J.ityve accuses Lieut. Gibson, his aide ano
the hw#m thwart of his daughter Lucille, of the cri. e.
I/oubeque sends a wireless messago cleverly Inslnuai ng
that General Ixrve had sold the papers to a foreign
power. To save the honor of the man she loved and
to erjiee the stigma from her father's name, Lucille
prevails upon Harley, a government aviator, to tajce
her out to the ship, in his aeroplane. To foil Lucille,
I»ubeqiu» destroys (he wlreb-ss apparatus on the Lrn
press and la hurt In the resulting explosion. In ner
■eareb for the pajtf rs, Lucille becomes his nurse, and
when the ship taken fire, s*eurc-s them. The vessel i*
burned to the water’s edge and Luclll* drifts to a
strange island on the out or s. crushed lifeboat. Lucille
Is rescued by friendly savages. Kha is given an amulet
for miring the chiefs daughter, and it proved potent
• gainst the machinations of Hugo I/iubMUft. who, HKs
wise cast on thi Inland, plans to get the papers. He
burns LucUL s hut. l ut she escapes with the pwlnus
paitera. He sends a decoy message asking her to co
to the ho mt >if a neighboring chief, whose wife Is 111
and in need of nursing. On the way there she falls
Into a covuvd Pit. dug by Loubeque aero** her path.
Her gulf)* an old cr<>n<. pikes the papers from Lucille,
and gUv* th rn to Loubeque. who gt»e« with them to
the jungh . Ills guide und servant steals them, but is
killed by a lion, and LurllK who had trailed them
three days, recovers them from the body. Luclll#
meets a strancri raw-'‘wiling people, 1s attacked r>y
monkeys, m« s 1n a <*nne and Is carried Into an
underground whirlpool. She is rescued by * aptaln
W*tti"rell and Inkrn aboard hi* yacht Tlmr* she
nv**t* Goubeaue. who I* rtlfui plrked up by th" yacht,
which is carrying conlrshabd erms to r*hln"ao rebel*.
\Vln.-i war-nip in ran.-, WtUier*!! erizcH the papers "no
pul, i.uellle end 1-oubi-nue to In an open boat, be
cause l her know too much of hi* plan* Tholr water
Klv<» Out and Lucille m arly (V.** before they reach
China Ih safety. Hugo, after nuralmr laiellle back to
Ilf*', Rd. n Ilf:,,- W. the. ■ II to pet the papers back, and
captho s him. I.udlle follows l.ouheone. aboard a liner,
and ,ha<lov.s him. She It* discovered durlntc the trip to
i*n Fi-1nci,..... In the hold, and on being released,
search** LOubcqua's r* "* for the paper*. He e**eh#s
her. tie* In i up, mnvlneei; tin *hi lain that she is
iriMin*. end on the ve*y -T* irilvnl til port l.a* her
Whirled away In a t iVI to n oranre home with movable
floor* rui-1 my:'!"■•lona healed figures and -and 1 ■*(U
bentio. Kite Idetil* t‘te pain rs once more from him and
escapes, hut la - Mlehl laHi'eiple deride* to send her
lo hi* ranch in Mexico for saf> keeping.
CHARTER XXXI.
Thompson I’itvh on Article of Interest.
R Thompson, the butler-thief, swift-
Ily descended to the ground-floor
null out into (be court to seeret*
tlie liody of the man who had
fallen from tlie roof top. there waa
- no trace upon Ilia immobile conn
-8 tcnajiee of tho desperate struggle
through which he had just been.
Kerry movement of the man
accrued timed, perfectly attuned.
A* he hint over t-he body, one
T
leg of which "111 twlrted out at ft grotesque
nup-le, Ihe habit of his life Mill clung. Kneeling,
hie hand* fluttered over the man like tiny, white
bird*. Through the pockets he went, rifling them
completely and replacing those things which
could be of no value to him. lie stopped as he
unwrapped the note Lucille had written on the
aorup of paper and hound about the ruby.
for jest u fractional snare of time, Incredu
lity, avarice, and pu/xled delight fought, for
mastery upon hts fact*, In hie eyes. Round and
round be turned the great, glowing ruby, his
flaming eves matching in brilliancy the ihafts of
light which the facet a cast forth.
Tint Thompson was perfectly trained. Secret
ing th* ruiiv in lo picket, he cure fully lifted his
birnlr : rod carried it to the basement of tha
loule. ‘■ jv lie vs quite through with his task,
he carefully removed the traces of dust which
his gne-i.ic' tick had forced upon him. Then
be look on' lasi, loving look at his find and
started in . of hi - muster. Already ft plan
had entered his cunning brain to gsiu the rest
Of the necklace, u plan whereby Loubequo was
to be no gainer,
CHAITER XXXTI.
A Thief In Rudely f oiled.
ryjIETLV, Lucille allowed herself to be con.
duoted hack to the room from which she hud
just, made lift; • -cape, ller heart was so heavy
she did not care what happened. Hemombrane#
of her mission had faded into ft blauk before
the omnipresent horror of the grotesque death
of the ship's captain who, out of the chivalry of
his own nature, had volunteered to save her.
Beside the broken window she sat, plotting,
planning, scheming, doing anything to drive
away the morbid thoughts which harried her,
the terrible visions that hovered everywhere
around her. She had tried her beat but still fail
ure dogged her foot.stepe! ller sweetheart hud
resigned from th* army under such a cloud as
must have broken hl» spirit completely. His
heart she knew was already broken by her
aeeniing disbelief in him; her father was en
tangled in the same net w ith his aide. And she
held the key to the situation, a key with no
lock to fit. She alone knew where the papers
that, would clear up the entire mystery were lo
cated and she was a prisoner of the man who
had not only woven but had also cast the net
about hiut
‘•Mr. Lonheque's compliments, Miss Lucille,"
murmured the butler, as he noialessly approached
with a tiny glass of liquor, “and he thought a
tiny sip might prove beneficial to the nerves."
“Thank you, Thompson," she murmured
sweetly. “Tell your present employer 1 shall
gladly do ao. Hut." she added, her eyea flashing
maliciously, “1 forgot Mr. Loubeque has been
your employer right along.”
The man showed by no sign that the arrow
had pierced his perfect armor of deference. He
merely bowed.
“i)viitc so, Miss Lucille. Thank you.”
Before his perfect aplomb, Lucille stood un
decided. Her nerves were shattered and the
drink, she knew, would do her good. But there
had been that look in the man's eyes. She could
not be mistaken In it. Still, how wonld he dare
attempt anything In the house of Loubeque? She
touched her tongue to the delicious, A ary stuff
and waited. A sensation of comfort slowly ap-
J coached her weary spirit, a feeling of lassitude,
elightful after the harrowiug thoughts that had
annoyed her. She fought the sensation away,
confident tlust such a tiny sip would hare no
mich eflfcct unless it had been doctored.
Pouring out the liquor carefully, she lay
against the pillows in a posture of dreamless
sleep. It was half an hour before her patience was
reworded. Then Thompson slipped stealthily into
the room, a smile of eager triumph breaking the
mask of his face as lie glanced toward her.
Lucille flexed hereelf, a steal spring wound to its
last notch.
Thompson approached swiftly, silently, with
a surety that she hail always identified with him,
which had made her regard him s* a perfect
servant before, but which appalled her now. He
was beside her, leaning over her, his hand grop
ing at her throat. First ahe thought he wae
about to eloee his finger* upon her throat, but
they moved, awiftly, deltoatelv. so lightly she
•onld scarcely feel their weight. A little ex
clamation of triumph as his finger pads touched
necklace. It was iu iu* hands. And then the
*tccl spring uncoiled with tremendous suddenness.
Taken by surprise before the vicious fury of
the girl's attack the butler staggered back. Be
fore he couldi recover she was u|>on him, driving
him toward the door. He lifted his hands to
feud his face then stopped abruptly as he stag
gerer! into his master, just entering the room.
Hugo Loubeque waited, watching the furiou*
girl and the ruffled butler curiously. A smile
curved his lips a* he turned toward her.
“You object to the draught, I presume. I
assure you it has no ill effects and will make
the journey one of pleasure instead of weari
ness." Then he whirled upon the butler, his face
hard ns granite, his teeth clipping off each word
like steel particles.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see if the draught had taken ef
fect," silkily murmured the butler.
“By what authority?”
“Asking your pardon, sir, but I suggested it
and was afraid it might have a bad effect. I
grew to take an interest, in Miss Lucille in
Manila, sir, and did not. wish—”
Loubeque frowned heavily but cut him short
with an impatient wave of his hand. Lucille felt
a sudden impulse to tell him the truth hut con
quered it swiftly. She could fight Thom peon
much easier lhati this man. She must keep her
own council. The spy turned to her again.
“You did not isle the draught?”
“No!"
“I assure you on my word as a gentleman
that it will cause you no inconvenience. Further,
I hoped not to be obliged to tell you that if
you do not take it willingly, you will be com
pelled io get it down.”
She t»cnt her head docilely. Resistance was
out of the question, and, nfter all, she must save
her strength to fight the lug tilings. As he turned
to give an order to the butler she interposed.
“I will do as you ask,” she said quietly.
"But. J would prefer a woman's bringing it to
me. Also I would like your word that I shall
have the constant attendance of a woman while
it is effective.”
Hugo Loubeque bowed slowly, and, waving
his servant liefore him left the room. Lucille,
ten minutes later, accepted the fragile glass from
the mysterious woman who had abducted her at
the wharf. After a moment’s hesitation, a shud
der at the enticing colors shed from the stuff,
she drained the glass.
Languor—comfort—peace—. She gave her
self up to the drug with a prayer; a prayer she
felt so certain would be heeded, that, in her
slumber, a smile patted her lips, played about
her countenance. And when she awoke she was
at Loubcquc's Mexican ranch.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
At the Wishing Well
rambling houses of Spanish architecture
dotted the great area which the curiously fan
tastic, wholly artistic fence enclosed. The
ground* were laid* out in orderly fashion, bloom
ing like the Garden of Eden with a riotous pro
fusion of flowers that rested their heavy per
fumes lazily upon the ether, blending and har
monizing yet never cloying and never oppressive,
Monstrous cacti, tiny hedgerows, minute sword
palms, bayonet trees, everything seemed to have
■ought, thi* soil. Never a suggestion of the lack
of originality which the landscape gardner gives
an estate, but showing a decided character that
would have told the most undiscuerning something
of tlie owner's character.
Thi* new Loubeque I Always had *he asso
ciated Idm with tlie manner of her knowing him.
Timeh he had been tender, other times he had
been cruel, always was lie crafty, cunning, cour
ageous, a one-ideal man. But now he seemed all
poet, painter. She could hear the softened tones
of hia voice n», with some of his companions, he
wandered about, the grounds, tenderly explain
ing to them tlie history, the beauty of the flow
ers, the rare species he had Imported for the
place. Always would he show a tender regard
for the beauty of Nature which struck Lucill*
a * almost, feminine. Khe feared this man more
than she did the one of-the diary, feared him
because she was learning that the warm climate
was slipping her of her pur|io*e, forcing lethargy
upon her more powerful than bands of Iron.
It was after one of these rambles that she
noticed signs of tome impending change about
the menage. It was while she watched the spy
wandering about tin* gardens of a morning, won
dering at the tenderness with which he would
bend to the flowers, inhaling the fragrance, ex
amining their budß and blossom*, that he sud
denly walked toward her, entering the house to
shortly enter her room.
“1 am leaving today," he began abruptly, all
the nature-lover gone from his cold, stern man
ner. "Again I ask you to tell me where vou put
the papers."
"Then they haven’t been found—” She
stopped abruptly, realizing that her delight had
revealed quite as much as his demand.
Loubeque shook hi* head, etudving her face
keenly, evidently recognizing the eteel of an un
breakable nature. He held out hia hand and
clasped her own, hi* eyes steadily fastened upon
her face.
“I am sorry, Lucille, that you cannot aee the
folly of this. It ia your last chance to tel! me.
It la your last chance to count me a friend. I
am waiting.”
She did not an*wer. Their eye* met and
held, both tilled with an unaltered purpose. Then
Loubeque, without a word, left the room.
Nor did »he aee him again. That he had
gone she knew from the laxness about the
household, nmong his servants. It gave her food
for hope. She must escape. She must. She must
escape before the iron grip of dreamy languor
about the place tiecamo unbreakable.
She had to fight against losing thought of
everything in this bower of content, iluman
emotions seemed so far a wav from the spiritual
ones which reached out and grasped at her with
greedy finger*. She could close her eye* and.
lulled by the intoxicating perfume*, wander off
into day dreams of fancy rarer even than those
which had come to her maiden soul In the hours
when her sweetheart was by her aide and per
fect happiness dwelt in her heart and shadow*
dared not Intrude.
But always when ahe wandered thus, always
when her feet moved with her spirit, she would
encounter one of Loubeque'. aide*, always
masked, always casually surprised at coming
upon her, always urb*ne and polite yet insistent
upon turning hrr in an opposite direction. The
surveillance waa of stick a nature aa never to be
obtrusive amt never to be out of her mind. It
seemed so incongruous in this place, just as the
nppearance of a horde of wild beast* might have
appeared incongruous.
It got upon her nerve* to such on extent
that she finally took to the bcwiae and remained
there. She felt the prison atmosphere here and
there was no auch startling contrast between the
dream and the reality to bring her from out the
cloud* of her dream spirit. Every room was
grated and, though she knew they were not her*
tor the purpose, thev **i«ed it admirably.
From here her resolution was always clear
before her, her purpose indomitable. Looking out
upon the courtyard from her grated window,
there was something ominous about the Striped
Spanish sword grass, the giant cacti with its
huge fingers pointing heavenward, the stone
patio that suited the mood of resolution into
which she had forced herself and against which
the heavy odors of the flowers, the blossoming
citrus and orange trees made but scant headway.
Idling here, yet always plotting the first
move to be made when she escaped, she noticed
the slightest trifle, grew acutely sensitive to
every incident.
Thompson seemed upon his master’s depart
ure to have lost poise as thoughts of the ruby
necklace his fingers had touched seared itself
upon his brain.
She recalled how he had served in her
father’s house so long with never a suspicion
from anyone that he was other than the perfect
butler with a thought outside of his work. And
then she recalled the incident of the necklace,
the manner of his entering the room when he
thought her under the influence of the drug, the
nimble fingers that caressed her throat without
touching it — Always would she shudder at the
recollection, then deliberately drive it from her
mind.
It waa the fourth day since the departure
Th« Spy Turned to Her Again. “You Did Not Toko the Draught ?” He Said .
of the master of the place, that, standing beside
her iron barred window, she saw the figure of a
man topping a rise in the distance and drawing
swiftly nearer. There was something strangely
familiar about him, something she seemed to re
call. About fifteen yards away he held a short
conversation with a sentry wiio sprang ont be
fore him. The man nodded, satisfied, and moved
away. In slashed bolero, tight trousers and gold
braided sombrero of straw, his long black hair
waving gracefully to his shoulders, the man
made an impressive figure as he fastened steady,
undeviating eyes upon her window until ahe was
positive he was looking at her for a purpose.
Suddenly, his right hand shot up and remained
there in an obvious signal. After a moment he
spurred hi* horse to the court yard and stamped
inside. Low voices hummed in conversation, then
the man appeared before her, offering his arm.
"Senor Loubeque sent me that I might es
cort you about the grounds, might place myself
at your disposal,” he murmured.
Lucille drew away from him at mention of
his muster, but something in the meaning eyes
behind the mask reassured her and she moved
out into the patio. Here they pasted Thompson,
whose eyes darted* a message of .suspicion at
them, whose body seemed intent upon following.
She felt the biceps of her escort flexing even
after they were, out of eight.
“He thinks all is not right ” said the man
quietly. “Well," he added with a low sigh, “he
ia right in his suspicion. I could not hope to
fool that man. Only a little less wise is he than
Hugo himself."
“Not right.!” Exclamation and question it
was. She drew away, clasping her hands delight
edly. “Then you have come to help me —”
“I have come.” he answered quietly, “be
cause I could not help coming. I have come be
cause since first I looked upon you —you will for
give me—there in the city home of Hugo, when
T looked upon your face I have seen no other. I
have come because I could not stay away. I have
come against- the will of the man to whom I
owe everything, the man I love, because you
called me, because—"
She touched his arm lightly with her fingers
In mute appeal. Her woman's instinct told her
that such a love as this might- be turned to ac
count, and, though she hated herself for the
eelf-divinatlon, ahe knew the woman in her
would urge along anything to save her sweet
heart. The blood of the leopard is that of the
purring house-cat.
Slowly they wandered through the beautiful
gardens, .speaking of what they saw, yet never
touching upon the subject nearest both their
heart*. Suddenly the man seemed unable to
stand the strain longer and she touched hia arm
sympathetically, but he drew away with a little
cry of near-pain.
“Come with me to the crystal ball," be
cried, “and see the vision that tins haunted my
eyes ao long * time. Come with roe to the
crystal and see the face that has made me for
get my vows, forget, the one I love and fear, for
get everything save the desire for life that I
may lay down to bring a smile to it. Como with
m«v to the crystal and ace the face that, close
my eyes tightly as 1 may, will always stand- in
that narrow slit between the lid and retina; see
the face that has made roe cry through the
night, cry to the moon and to the stars, to every
thing In Nature for aid in gaining it; see the
face that peep* at uie from the heart of the rose
and makes the rose blush for its own tawdriness.
Come with me, lady of my heart."
Before the tempestuousnes* of hia voice,
Lucille followed hia lead. Gone from her waa
every thought of immediate escape. She saw
that the man could not lie handled easily, that
she could not escape from him any more than
she could from the other minions of the spy
without the use of craft. And vet she felt a
curious sympathy for him, pfin that ahe must
barm him.
Before the great crystal ball that was set
upon the flagging beside the patio fountain, be
side which stood the monstrous, hoary, grey
palm tree, he halted, staring through the slits of
his mask into its clear depths. She trembled as
she upon the flaming eyes so close to the
reflection of her own face. Suddenly he tore the
mask from him and tossed it to one side, closing
his arm fiercely about her waist and drawing her
soft cheek against his swarthy one. Together they
stared into the ball, hts eyes luminous with a
wild love, liers moist with mingled sympathy and
fear. Gently she disentangled his fingers, sur
prised at the numbness of them, the ease with
which they responded to her will.
"iou must go back,”- he murmured hoarsely,
5) jB
"I was mad to think of such a plan.”
She did not answer for a moment. Two
great tears slowly welled to her eyes, rested on
the fringe of lashes a moment then splashed
upon his hand. He stared at them stupidly, rev
erently. ,
“I see a face,” she murmured softly, her
Toiee very low and far away. “I see a face and a
scene that is different from the one you see. I
see Manila—home—lQved ones—loved ones griev
ing for a girl they think is lost to them for
ever. I see a man, the handsomest, bravest,
trviest tnan in the world—the man I love. He is
disgraced. He is heart broken. He is giving up
the sword he loved, the sword he swore to never
lift save in defense of his country’s honor and
the honor of a woman. Ho is giving up all that
life holds dear to him, just as he has long since
been bereft of all he cared to have from life,
because I am imprisoned here.”
She stopped, her eyes large and luminous
and far away as though the scene was actually
mirrored in the ball. Slowly she continued.
“And I—do1 —do not care for anything except his
happiness. 1 do not care for freedom, I do not
care for anything except his happiness. He is all
I have to love. He is my whole world. I would
sacrifice everything for him and for his honor.”
She turned swiftly, her hands reaching toward
her neck and unfastening the ruby necklace.
“Here, my friend, take this. It is all I have to
give except my gratitude. Take it and help me
to the man I love.”
He took the necklace, turning it idly about
in his hands, then hungrily lifted his eyes to her
face, as though inanimate beauty was a thing
of no account in comparison. He took her arm
again and thoughtfully led her, round devious
paths, to a deep, sunken well, before which he
paused, a curious smile ttpon his lips.
“It is the Wishing Well,” he murmured, ‘‘the
Wishing Well before which all who have looked
into the crystal ball and seen that their heart
most desires must kneel and make request. It is
the legend, but, ah!—” He turned away to hide
the swift contortion of jealousy and pain that
suffused his face. “But I,” he continued quietly,
“I cannot wish, my lady, for all that life holds
dear, all that life might promise has gone from
out my heart and left me nothing but ashes.
Look into the Wishing Well, my lady, and make
request.”
She knelt beside the well obediently, almost
fearful of the magic powers he ascribed to it,
knelt while he stood over her, staring longingly
at her exquisite figure, the beautiful face mir
rored so plainly back at him by the hushed wa
ters. She clasped her hands.
“Oh, Wishing Well, let me but hold in my
hands the honor of my sweetheart that I may
give it back to him; let me but serve his hap
piness and I shall ask for nothing more. Do
with me as you desire but grant, my only wish.”
He touched her lightly upon the arm and
she rose obediently, her eyes glowing like jewels
at the privilege of baring all the emotion that
had been locked within her heart, with never a
chance for expression. Lightly he tossed the
ruby necklace up and down in his palm, then
placed it .gently about her neck.
“One look in yottr eyes,” he said softly, his
mellow voice breaking under the torment of
what he knew to be a hopeless love, “is more
beautiful, more rare, more precious to me than
any jewel. And I shall treasure each look in the
hours when my soul suffers because I have been
faithless to the man I reverence and love. Come.”
Lucille stooped swiftly, plucking a rose from
the bush beside her and impulsively lifting it to
her lips and crushing them against the petals.
Blushing with eonhisiotf# she offered it to him.
He took it reverently, staring at the dew drop
upon one of its petals. A miraculous dew drop,
for the grass was dry and no other liquid dia
mond sparkled anywhere about.”
Slowly, silently, yet In perfect understand
ing, they moved tack to the house.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Thompson's Plans Go Wrong.
I T " ,as following day that, leaning against
, v j Seating of iron, she was aston
ished to find it bending before her. She looked
more closely and was astonished to find that one
r hnd been cut cleanly through. She examined
the remainder of the bars. They appeared ab
solutely untouched but when she pulled harshly
®v J p ™’ eTer y one gave way. For half an hour
I s , e .,, 1 “ not rea ßze what had happened. Then a
tnrill of thanksgiving went throbbing through
er heart. Ready-made was her means of escape.
Almost simultaneously with the thought
came another and more terrifying one. This waa
probably- not a means of escape so much as a
means of entrance. Instantly her mind flashed
a picture of the silent Thompson. First she waa
tempted to call for help and expose the man.
second thought advised against this. No one
must know about the rubies, no one must know
about, priceless stones. But what could she do?
i" aS ? onderinß, the Problem that
night when still fully dressed she stood beside
toe window looking out- over the moon-splashed
imtio. A furtive figure detached itself from the
shadows and- crept toward her. Strangely enough
ci d i, " ot . frlfrilten her to recognize the butler.
She had tried her strength against the man once
\ that ? hc could 0311 for assistance
should he enter the room.
She crouched in the opposite side of the
room, listening to the faint tinkle of snapping
iron bars as the man detached the ends from
their sockets. His head and shoulders appeared
in the opening. Longer aud longer grew hia
shadow in the room, then the faintest pat as he
slipped to the floor.
Bi eathlessly she watched his aproach. Thera
was nothing undecided about his movements. He
was swift; he was certain; he was sure. Not a
motion not a step was wasted. His whole body
was coiled like a spring, ready to leap in any di
rection, yet there was no fear or indecision about
it. He was almost over the bed, when Lucill*
sprang from her hiding place behind the door.
Instantly he turned, his head darting from
side to side like that of a giant reptile, his beady
eyes holding her own and striking terror into
the very soul of her. She realized in a flash what
it meant to stop a desperate thief in the midst
of his marauding, realized that the man she al
ways thought of as a servant was now a hunted
beast, cornered and at bay. Icy fingers clutched
at her spine, while little ants’ nests of nerves
tingled at the back of her neck. Thompson did
not speak. Slowly his hands opened and closed,
while a grin crossed his face, widened his mouth,
a. hideously inhuman grin. She tried to cry out
but her lips were frozen shut. The capable
hands, the hand* she recalled as always being so
competent to handle anything, were opening and
closing as he advanced upon her, with swiftness,
with certainty and with sureness, as though al
ready they felt in their strong yet delicate pads,
the feel of her throat.
He had almost reached her aide when he
Stopped suddenly, whirling toward the window.
Lucille unconsciously followed the direction of
his gaze. A long arm, the jacket sleeve of which
was slashed and pieced out with gold-trimmed*
doe-skin was being extended into the room. Just
an arm it was, yet the hand that tipped it ex
tended still further within the room by reason
of a long revolver it held. From the aarkness
outside came a hissing sound, an angry, snake
like sound. Then, simultaneously, with the drop
ping of Thompson to the floor, an orange spurt
of fire leaped into the room, the whine of a bul
let struck against her ears. But no report.
Lucille staggered back as her defender, the
lover who had promised his assistance, leaped
lightly into the room. His hand was upon her
arm. his lips at her ear. Reading hie thoughts,
yet hearing nothing, she moved toward the win
dow and lifted her tiny foot as though to mount
a horse. His hands cupped about it. She vaulted
to the casement and, in a second, had scrambled
through. The breath of the open, redolent with
all the perfumes of the night, assailed her nos
trils and ahe opened her mouth, laving her throat
with them.
By her side stood the man. For a moment
he waited, then urged her forward. She was
free, free, free! Of course there were pickets to
be passed, but she had made one providential
escape tonight, why not another.
Out of sight of the building she paused and
looked about her. How calm and peaceful and
friendly appeared the night. On such a night
Leander swam the Hellespont and here, beside
her, stood another Leander who would brave as
much, had already braved more than ever did
fabled hero. The moon was full, rolling lazily
about atop a mountain peak as though shaking
his jolly sides with laughter at this triumph of
one he loved. The stars winked merrily at her,
urging her on her way. Looking back .at the
building from which she had come it appeared
made of silver and all the windows were dia
monds crusted there, the rigid leaves of the
bayonet tree* stretched upward as though guard
ing it, sentinel-like, against intrusion from the
outside. The touch of a timid finger upon her
arm brought her from her reveries.
“The horses wait, my lady.”
Came a swift flashing of lights from the
house they had left behind, a scurry of feet, the
sound of voices, loud, shrill, insistent. The Mexi
can seized her arm fiercely and half dragged her
from off the oourt to a clump of bushes where
two horses stood, saddled and bridled. In a sec
ond she was in the saddle, the man beside her.
The clatter of hoofs rang out upon the sil
ence. Looking back she caught glimpses of dark
figures silhouetted against the tropical vegeta
tion in the patio. • A spurt of fire leaped out. at
them like a living thing. The Mexican muttered
a guttural oath and urged his horse to more
speed. Lucille bent over her horse’s head, bent
low, for the whine of bullets was in the air
about them.
Suddenly the Mexican grunted loudly. Hia
hands shot high in the air, then the horse fairly
ran from under him. Upon the ground he
swayed a second then leaped against the shadow
of a giant fingered cactus plant. Lucille sprang
from her saddle and sought his side.
Red, warm blood gushed- from the wound In
his chest. But not more red it was than the
rose hia tightening fingers clasped unto his
heart, a rose from which the dew drop of the
day before had disappeared. His eyes were glaz
ing when she stooped and brushed her lips across
his forehead. A shadowy smile crossed his face
as he opened his eyes once more, eyes that were
soft and tender before they glazed.
“Go!" be muttered. “Go!” Then his voice
took on the resonant tone of a scant'day or less
before. “It is the ripple of the Wishing Well,
tny lady. Go! Ride—to the one—your —heart-
desires."
He stiffened suddenly and a spurt of tears
came from her eyes. Louder grew the shout*,
the voice*. The air waa alive with long, darting
flames. Loubeque’* hive waa swarming.
She leaped into the saddle once more and
dug her heeJa into the horse’s aides. Through the
night she rode with all the Devil* of Hell behind
her and all the seer of a thousand times aa
many demons in her heart, but with the ripple
of the Wishing Well in her ears. -
(Continued T JXt Week-i