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LUCILLE LO /E. The Girl of* Mysleru
By the “MASTESR PEW"
Copyright 1914. All moving picture rights reserved by the Univereal Film Manufacturing Company, who
are now exhibiting thie production in leading theatere. Infringement will be vigoroutly prosecuted.
CHAPTER XXXV.
A (Hil With One Idea.
EH INI* her, Lucille could hear the
pursuit. Not a second could she
1 spare for thought of regret, Ihe
wounded, dying man, even though
I he had given up his life to assist
1 her was obliterated from her mind
ns 'she dug tiny heels into the
flanks of her mount, arid urged him
onward. . .
The moon that had seemed so
friendly but. a short while before,
W
•«,* Mars that hud warned friendly candle*
placed in their « - tbil sockets to light her
wax had now l«om«' dread enemies, liffhtinfr up
h, wa taking. Only the thick trop
ical vegetation helped her at all, the giant ( acti,
the huge palms with their low hung fronds, the
shadows of the hushes and hedges casting mystic
shape- here, there, and everywhere qml bewild
ering those who followed. , , ,
Times, above the ringing of her horse s hoofs,
dhf would hear the shout* of those behind her.
Bow and then a message of lead would' whine it*
dreadful tale into her ears, but all these were
growing fainter, lean distinct with every leap of
the animal she bcKt/rode. Remained now lait the
last line of pickets she knew Loubeque had
postid about the ranch. If only she could get
past that line then it would i>e a desperate un
dertaking for the one who met her on neutral
ground. , ... *
U bud Wn n biUor to bid© her
time Often she had felt the temptation to rn»
away from this place, even though she knew her
chances for final success were nil, but always had
she conquered and waited for the ripening of op
port unit v. , , .
And just when everything appeared hopeless,
when the long road was darkest, love hud planted
it* seed within the heart, of I.onheque’s follower
and urged him to the sacrifice of honor and life
to her isch|m\ Surely she eould not fml after
the manner of her coming this far.
Came the tolling of a bell from the ranch
house. There was the unmistakable message of
her escape in its bra/.en tongue. She looked hack,
frightened Rockets of vnii-colored flames were
criss-crossing the blue vault of night a myriad
of man-mi) do shooting ftara her flig'Dt
to every' one of the band.
Desperate though she knew they were, from
these signs, a feeling of des|siir instead of con
fidence grew steadily in her heart. Respite tfm
ape,.,| of her mount, the limits of Lotlbeque a
great ranch had not v eit been reached. And after
the ranch—if there wns to lx- any “after"—what
then ?
As though in Bturwer to the unspoken ques
tion, simultaneously with the looming of the
bayonet fenre Wore her. two men leaped from
the shadows, springing at the horse’s hit. The
beast swerved violently, almost unseating li«r
ami tossing the man on liia left Into a ciwttns,
where he rolled, howling in painful rage, as the
pcevi le.s pirreed him 'I he second man had a firm
hold upon the horse's head. Lucille saw he luvd
eaiight the brute by the nostril* with hia free
hand and was smothering him Into docility. In
stinctively she leaned far over and snatched the
revolver he wore from its holster, jamming it
viciously up under his chin. The fellow » head
■hot lack jerkily, his eyes glaring glossily into
hers, then he staggered hark, clutching futi I*l y
for the weapon she had seized.
With a hard, trickling, little laugh, *ha
elnhlved the weapon and drew the sight roughly
across her IvoraeN neck, scratching hltn so fierce
ly he fairly lea|ssl over the distance thist wpar
■ted tier from the broad gate beside which the
two sentinel* hud stood. As he darted madly
through. Ihe whine of a bit of had passed so
ekvsr she could feel the bi-eath of it upon her
cheek.
Something primitive within her was rrmsed,
a wild, tierce joy of combat which she had never
felt before. Leaning far forward upon the
brute's neck, she turned and fired squarely at
the spurt of flume that was leaping towards her
out of the night. She saw the man leap into the
flame, hia arms outstretched as a broad jumper
throws himself at the tajve, then dug her heels
once more into the dumb brute's flanks and sped
on through the night.
Hours, it seemed, she rode, with never the
•digktmt slackening of the mad pace to which
she originally set her mount, lie was lathered
with foam but she had no pity on hltn. Her
brain was fiercely chaotic, wild with the bloody
memories of the night, intoxicated with the mad
ness which had made a primitive thing out of
her femininity, obsessed bv the delight of feel
ing herself nivle to lie self-protecting among the
most desperate of men.
before, unconsciously, she had feared the
potentialitties of Hugo Loubeque's strength. The
mental power of her beauty and Innocence. Now,
she knew these things to lie but. a cloak with
which she had masked a woman, unrecognisable
even to herself. She feared him no more, feared
his threats no more. An old saying aha had
beard a grizzled vet err. ti of her father’s command
once utter came lruck to her ns she looked at
the heavy wea|svn she still clung to: "Judge
Colt made all men equal." She laughed triumph
antly at the knowledge gained first hand of the
truth of this saying.
From is'vv on site had every advantage. She
writ free and she knew where the stolen paper*
and documents were secreted in the mysterious
house of inexplicable disappearing rooms and
stairs. She had the diary of Hugo Loubequn in
her possession. and she had the ruby necklace
which was equivalent to vast wealth. Hlie hail
the outward seeming of guilelcaKticKH, was girl
ish and delightfully effeminate, but alia knew
the power of the claws she had, and her eyes
rested fondly on the revolver, even as she urged
her horse to greater speed.
Across the 1 rootles* plain she rode w ith only
the moon nnd stars looking down upon her, a
wild, eerie figure of a bareheaded girl, llrhlnd
the pursuit hud died away and before there was
nothing save a slender ribbon of water that th#
moon buried it* face Jn contentedly.
Bhe heard voices, low pitched, yet carrying
far in the silence of the night. Instantly 'she
drew- rein and flung herself to the ground, listen
ing Intently. Creeping cautiously to a slight rise,
•he looked down ujsm an adobe shack, before
which a little aquad of barefooted Mexicans
loafed idly, their brown hnnda lazily supporting
old-fashioned Springfield rifles, such as she re
called the soldiers of Uncle Sam to have carried
in the old dsn.
From where she watched she suddenly no
ticed a atir among the men. From the interior
of th* shack atejiped a gaudily dressed little
Mexican, evidently an officer, from the awkward
salutes accorded him by the tatterdemalions
gathered before the house. For some reason she
could not analyse, Lucille listened eagerly, her
breath coming in quick, eager gasp* as she over
heard their daring plot to cross the river and
stampede the corral of an American ranchman.
A little cry of deHfht came from Let lip j s the
heard their allusions to the United States cav
alry they must sift through before hoping for
success.
Her eye* were glittering with excitement
when she stole cautiously to the adobe shack,
peering inside slowly and carefully liefore en
tering. She knew all their plans and her blood
was boiling but she also knew from what they
had said that they too would tie on t.he look-out
for any upset to the well laid plot.
From a chest in the corner, which she hur
riedly overhauled, she drew a similar suit to the
one the little leader had worn. It would just
about fit her and she must take no chances of
trying to crois the Rio Grande attired as she
was.
Swiftly she ehanged, for every moment now
was precious to others as well as to heraelf.
Daughter of General Sumpter Love, she was afire
with rape at the way the Mexicans had spoken
of the border patrol of her country, the pre
sumption of the plan she had heard outlined.
The gaudy costume fitted her beautifully and
the broad straw sombrero, with Its weight of
silver eording and tassels made it easy for her
feminine features to Vie unrecognizable even as
it concealed her long hair.
She was well pleased with herself when,
again, she mounted her horse. The beast had
been ready to drop in his track* any moment
arid she had killed two birds with one stona
while changing her costume. Cautiously toward
the glittering ribbon of river she rode, her eyes
always alert for any aign of the Mexican forag
ing party.
The horse hesitated at the hank of the
si ream hut Lucille 1 wildly urged him forward.
Cautiously the beast advanced one foot before
the other, sinking lower and lower in the water,
until, his feet giving out from under him, he
launched out. Lucille held to the reins and
thanked her stars for the forethought which had
Induced her to change the skirts which would
have weighted her down.
She heard a huge sigh of relief as, dripping
nnd dishevelled she stood upon the “right side
of the Rio.” Up and down the Wink she looked
for signs of the border patrol but none was in
sight, Breathlessly she remounted and rodp up
and. down. Still no welcome challenge from a
soldier. Hut in the distance she could make out
a tiny speck.
The chances were It was one of the Mexican*.
Rut something must, be done If the ranchman
was to lie saved from, the plot she had over
heard. Fiercely she urged her mount toward the
speck in the distance, until her heart sank as
she recognised the man for one of the plotter*.
Cautiously she followed him, finding it very
difficult because of the man’s own fear of detec
tion. Hours it seemed to her she pursued the
slinking figure until ft joined with two others.
Gradually, after a few miles journeying, a great
blaze shot high in air, a blaze punctuated by
allots nnd wild cries.
The three men cruelly dashed their spur*
into the sides of their horse*. Came a thunder
of sound as a great bunch of cattle from the
remuda of the Amerioan were driven toward
her by the fiendish Mexicans, lasi lie saw the
danger she was in of being trampled underfoot
by that wild herd, driven to frenzy by the flames
end flopping revolvers from behind them. She
urged her own horse to the right, escaping just
os the remuda whizzed by her 1n a wild riot of
sound. Here and there the Mexican* had as
sembled themselves, always alert, tnarvelou*
horsemen all, keeping the frightened beast* to
gether while they drove them in a direct line for
the river.
Lucille felt a shot slash through the sleeve
of her jacket. She reined in her horse instantly,
for she knew the Mexicans hail passed. As she
turned, she almost collided with a long-mous
tafhed, grizzled man, driving bullet after bullet
after the marauders. She did not apeak, did not
even rein in, but urged her own horse beside hia,
lirawing her revolver.
The ranchman uttered a bewildered ejacula
tion as he saw »he was of his own blood.
“1 was trying to get there in time to warn
you," she gasped. “There'* a chance of driving
them into the patrol, if you know where it I*."
Again he grunted his amazement at her
woman's voice.
Without another word, as though complete
understanding had been established, he waved
to the rights She drew hi;r revolver as her fresh
ened horse ate up the ground beneath his feet.
Time and again she tired, the sound of her own
gun mingling with the rapid discharge of the
ranchman’s to make it sound like a fusillade.
Came a sudden abrupt wheeling of the stampede.
Came a rifle shot, more like u cloth being ripped
it was than anything else. Lucille heard the
sharp voice of the sentry, saw the hesitancy of
the Mexicans even as they huddled close together,
facing that solitary figure in olive khaki, be
striding his mount as though carved from
granite.
They looked hesitatingly behind them. The
ranchman's revolver sounded and their leader
threw his hands in the air and flopped over upon
his horse's neck. The soldier's voice rang out to
them and the frightened bandits threw down
their short, carbine* in token of surrender. The
sentry waited until Lucille and the ranchman
catne up then listened to their story, at the end
demanding their presence before hi* command
ing officer.
The girl listened silently to the expressions
of gratitude bestowed upon her by the ranch
man, then WBtched him as, following the cap
tives lie entered the house to which they had
been brought. It took but a little w-hile for the
sentry to emerge with his captives, theu she
caught her breath with a cry of delight as she
recognized a young officer whom she had known
in the Philippine®. He beckoned her silently,
seating himself at. his desk and writing busiiy
for a moment before nodding briskly that she
should speak. A dancing imp of mischief was
in her eyes as she uttered his name.
'AJeutenant Uarmody, don’t you remember
- OH
me i
The younir officer** eve« opened a* wide as
his month. He stared dumbly at the slender
figure before him, knitting his' brows in an at
tempt at concentration. Then Lucille removed
her hat, allowing the roughly piled-up masses of
hair to tumble over her shoulders while she
laughed roguishly as she saw that still he did
not dearly recall her.
"Lucille Ixvve!" he gasped, half rising from
his scat, his hands clutching the table edge so
tightly hi* knuckles glinted a hlueiah black in
the light from the incandescent bulb. “Lucille
Love or her ghosts"
“A very tired and hungry ghoat,” the
laughed delightedly. "Jiist try me and see."
Aa he summoned his orderly and guv* him
instruction* to bring instantly some canned
stuff, Lucille hurriedly sketched out her adven
ture* to him. eagerly persuading him when his
face showed that he half believed she had taken
leave of her senses. Him expression was very
grave when she finished.
“1 suppose }on kuoii that Gibson was per-
tnltted to resign and nobody knows where he
went?” he queried.
Hugo Loubeque showed me the newspaper,"
she nodded. "And father—” Her tone was
numbed at being brought into such oiose contact
with one who could realize what all these things
meant.
Ihe General is under a heavy cloud of suspic
ion. He has requested an inquiry into his own
conduct in the affair. The messages were most
important, in fact their sale could harm us
greatly.”
“And the people think that I— ■"
“You have long since been given up for
drowned. Harley told of taking’ yon aboard the
Empress. The. wreck is common knowledge, of
oourse. I must, reassure them immediately.”
“No,” she shook her head decidedly. “I have
gone this far and I firmly believe some influence
is at work on my behalf, helping me to do thingß
better than any man could do them. The grief
nrf my loved ones must- have let down a bit by
now and it would be so much better if I could
let them know that I am alive when I am su*>
cessful.”
"Rut- —” he protested.
“No,” she shook her head firmly. “Yon hare
no idea how dangerous a game it is, working
against Hugo Ixtubeque. There is every chance
that he may yet defeat me, that I may be killed
or injured before I succeed. Father would de
mand my return, papers or no papers. Can't you
see what it means to me. what it would mean to
be eompelled to stop the tight after all I have
been through, after everything tells me that
Providence is working with me against this
man? Can’t you see that the man who has ruled
and mined nations, who has compelled thousands
to do his will, has every chance of success
against anything a man could do?"
The officer smiled the superior smile with
which men are accustomed to treat the state
ments of women, when they magnify the work
they have done and the influence against them.
Lucille merely took the diary of the spy from
its hiding place and placed it in his hands,
watching the swift changes of expression upon
his face as he read, the muttered ejaculations of
incredulous wonder and admiration and fear and
terror with which he perused the items in the
career of the greatest power working against his
country. Finally he returned it to the owner.
“Please eat," he said quietly, motioning to
ward the end of the desk where the orderly was
spreading a cold repast of canned meats and
vegetables and steaming coffee, “and forgive me
If I can’t talk now. I must think what is best
to be done.”
Lucille smiled as she devoted her attention
to the repast. It seemed that centuries must. have
elapsed since she discovered the bars of her win
dow had been sawed through. It seemed that
nothing so delicious had ever been served a mere
mortal as the coarse food before her. She finally
finished to find young Lieutenant Carmody star
ing fixedly at her, his brow clouded.
“It’a too much for me,” he muttered.
“Of course it is,” she laugheij heartily. “And
it would have frightened me almost to death if
I had known beforehand what manner of man
he was. But I have tested strength against him
so often that it’s becoming the very breath of
life to me. I firmly believe that I will win.”
“But why?”
“Because,” and all the mirth had gone from
her face, all the laughter from the eyes that
were reverently lifted, "because everything I have
done has been done for the sake of love, and
because love has watched over me and helped
me. That is the reason. Lieutenant Carmody.
Hugo Loubeque can never be beaten or brought
to justice because of fear or hate, for his own
powers in that direction ure greater than those
of nations. He believes and has proven his be
lief that nations are no stronger than the weak
est man who is vested with any authority in
them. Ilis diary shows that. I know that.”
“Well?” The officer unwillingly agreed.
“What do von propose doing? Isn’t there some
way in which I can help you?”
“Yes,” she answered promptly, “yon can let
me have money. You can tell me how to dispose
of one of these valuable rubies, or all of them,
and you van help me catch the first train for San
Francisco.”
Carmody whistled aloud his amazed delight
as he regarded the marvelous jewels in the neck
lace she laid upon the table. Carefully he ex
patiated upon the fabulous value of the thing,
the care she must use in disposing of such jewels,
jew els which would tempt the most honest men
to forsake the paths of rectitude. Then he
loaned her the money he had and Insisted upon
her lying down and resting until he could skirm
ish up some proper clothing and find out about
the trains.
It was dawn before she wakened and,
thought ehe felt alarm lest he hod allowed her
to nusa a train, hl§ reassurance and the eight of
the clothing he had found for her made things
seem much brighter. Then, too, the ninety odd
dollars in currency seemed far more than even
the ruble* about her neck. Several hours later
she Imarded the train, assisted by a worried
looking young officer, her heart light and gay
for she felt within herself that the journey that
had heen so long and so hazardous was finally
nearing an end: that the famill-r, dear faces
would surround her ou e'try side.
Lucille’t Eyas Wars Glittering With Excitement.
The reflection made the dreary trip a very
happy one, served to while away the time with
dreams of such surpassing beauty that, at times,
she hail to close her eyes to shut out the radi
ance of them. With every clamping of the
wheels upon the frogs of the track, her heart
gave up a song of confidence. For Hugo Lou
beque had put forward his own strength against
her and added to this the strength of a portion
of his organization. He had imprisoned her in
two apparently impregnable places, and still she
was here, all unbeknownst to him, speeding to
ward his house, intent upon beating him once
and for all.
And, in the compartment at which she stared
with unseeing eyes Thompson regarded her in
the mirror, his own eyes glittering with mali
cious -triumph and with avarice.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Thompson Finds Persistence Is Its Own Rexmrd.
’J'HOMPSON crouched bock in his compartment,
feigning slumber while the porter made up
hls bed. He awakened drowsily and tipped the
man, then made pretence of slipping out of his
coat, Immediately the porter disappeared he
became the incarnation of energy. His hands
nervously fumbled with the lock of his grip,
opening it finally and disclosing a secret trap in
the bottom from which he took an atomizer, a
pair of nippers, and a bottle of pale viscid fluid.
For an hour he waited, motionless, not even
his fixed eyes blinking as he regarded the cur
tains of the berth Lucille occupied. After that
time he slipped to the smoking compartment, to
find the porter engaged in an argument with
the club car man. He listened a moment then
strolled back to his compartment.
He was swift; he was certain; he was sure.
Not a sound did he make as he strode boldly
down the lurching aisle, his tools in big hand.
Deftly parting the curtains, he looked down upon
the sleeping girl. No atom of pity was in his
heart. All the thief now, his eyes glittered as
he allowed them to rest upon the glowing strand
of stones about her neck.
Swiftly he leaned over, applying his pinchers
to the gas jet and unscrewing it so that the
odor of the gas slowly began filling the stuffy
section. Then he gently sprayed the ether across
her face, never moving when she unconsciously
stirred to fight off the anaesthetic.
Her breathing became heavier while her lips
took on a bluish tinge. The gas was becoming
stronger and he knew her condition would be
ascribed to asphyxiation when she recovered
from the effects of the ether. Stooping, with no
appearance of care now, he unfastened the
rubies from her throat. A moment he waited,
slipping them in his pocket, then he slipped back
to his own compartment.
Carefully he repacked his grip, tucking the
necklace in his breast pocket. Against the door
he crouched, waiting.
No trace of anxiety he showed. He was con
fident of himself. Came a clamping down upon
the ties as the air brakes worked. Thompson
threw open his window, looking out to discover
it was opposite a tiny station. With a pocket
knife he cut out the screen that separated him
from the tracks.
Cautiously he looked up and down the track.
The train was slowing down. He tossed his bag
far out from him then slipped partially through
the window. The lights of the station were al
most in hls eyes when he jumped, landing on
his feet and regaining his balance with an effort.
Then he permitted himself the luxury of a smile.
The next train through would be time
enough and—the booty in his breast pocket was
worth many risks.
CHAPTER XXXVTI.
The Colorless Passenger With a Scar.
TUCILLE felt herself struggling with a desper
ate enemy, one whose fingers were of steel as
they fastened themselves about her throat,
grasped at her breath and held it despite her
utmost efforts. Even in the effort to waken, un
successful though it was, she seemed to recog
nise the calm, imperturbable, business-like fea
tures of Thompson.
Then she felt a sensation of ease and com
fort and peace such as had not heen hers for a
long time, and she allowed herself to drift away
upon the gently flowing river that hummed its
song in her ears.
She awakened to find herself being shaken
violently by the conductor and a porter whose
ebony face had changed to a saffron shade. Her
head ached so fearfully that she pressed her
feverish palms to her temples to keep it from
bursting. Her throat and mouth felt as though
she had been subsisting upon a diet of cotton
soaked in oil.
She staggered to her feet and stood, dazed
and bewildered, in the aisle of the car. The con
ductor turned her over to two women, who stood
with her upon the platform, supporting her
trembling figure while the fresh air drove awai
the fumes of chloroform and gas to which she
had been subjected.
First she felt the rush of the train, the dot
ting of lights in the distance, the rush of the
train past the lights only to come upon a new
cluster. And she was rushing—rushing —rushing
just like these lights to a vai eruous blackness
which she could not describe even to herself.
Suddenly the reason for her being upon the
tram came to her and her hands sought her
breast, then her throat. With a little cry she
staggered back into the arms of the women.
“Robbed 1” she gasped. “I have been robbed!”
The women looked at one another pityingly,
then incredulously and finally believingly as they
caught the pallor and sanity on the girl's face.
Tr X think, my dear,” one of them plead
t°u have been asphyxiated—the light-socket in
your section was loose and the escaping gas—"
Lucille did not answer. Summoning all her
strength, she turned the knob of the door and
sought the conductor. He looked incredulous at
the girl's charge, but investigation showed that
the light had been tampered with. Nothing,
however, could be done before reaching San
Francisco except a search of the car.
Lucille went with him from place to place,
scanning every face. But she knew who had
done this thing. AA’hen she fought against the
fingers of the drug they had been the fingers of
Thompson. When she had slipped from peaceful
slumber into the drugged stupor it was Thomp
son she had been bravely fighting.
But Thompson—where had he disappeared?
What had become of the man? She knew it had
been him, knew it even though the face she
looked into while she fought had been scarred
recently, showed a white streak that gave a
sinister expression to his otherwise smug '*nnt
tenance. *
She wondered if that streak had been
bullet-made one of the Mexican who, for love of
her had given up his life out there on the ranch
of Loubeque. Whether or no, she was positive
that Thompson was the thief.
“We know who the thief was. Miss,” re
ported the conductor a little later. “He had the
compartment facing your section. The screen is
cut out. He must have dropped out the window
after working his game.”
Lucille smiled faintly.
“A medium sized man, rather dark, plainly
dressed, with features that nobody would notioe
especially and—a livid scar across the side of his
face,” she murmured.
The man looked at her in surprise.
“Thompson,” she murmured. “Yes, it was
Thompson. I was positive from the first.”
As the conductor corroborated her descrip
tion of the thief, she lay back against the dusty
cushions of her seat, idly watching the train
charging across the landscape. She had started
badly but she clenched her teeth firmly. Her
purpose was firm as ever, her rage a bit higher.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The Kern Eyes of Loubeque.
J-JUOO LOUBEQUE cursed profoundly to him
self as he paced up and down the floor of
his San Francisco house. From below came the
sounds of his servants, searching into every
nook and 1 cranny of the mysterious house for
the packet of papers and documents he knew
Lucille had hidden here. Already they had been
through the place twice and as yet no sip- ’’ad
come to light of their resting place. •
He frowned heavily as he went to the -vin
dow- and looked down upon the street, deserted
now save for the old woman who trudged toward
the place. She carried a basket of fruit over
her arm and Loubeque smiled grimly as she dis
appeared from his sight, then reappeared after
being turned away from the door by the servant.
They had been bothered a great deal the
last two days by all sorts of women, venders and
peddlers and agents, bothered until he had or
dered an explicit sign over the entrance, barring
them. But now, as he idly studied the woman,
something about her caught and held his atten
tion. She moved slowly but there was an affecta
tion about that slowness which had no kin with
decrepitude.
Came a ring at the door bell as the post
man stepped up the little walk. But Loubeque
did not heed him. His eyes w’ere fastened, like
those of a hawk now, upon the old woman. She
had stopped beside the alarm box on the corner
lamp post. Suddenly the bent form straightened
and he read the impulsive resolve of Youth in
every movement of the illy attired old woman
Her hand groped upon the ground. He saw her
pick tip a stone and smash the fire alarm. He
waited, his eyes still fastened undeviatingly upon
her figure.
Came the sound of fire engines, rolling down
the street in a black cloud of smoke, engines,
they always seemed, of destruction that could
have nothing to do with saving lives or property,
loubeque watched the woman. She dashed to
ward the captain as he darted up in his light
buggy, pointing eagerly toward the house of the
spy, her eyes glowing with excitement. Then
Loubeque smiled as he pressed a bell and or
dered the search to stop immediately.
Before the rush of firemen with their hose
the door opened. Their heavy feet slumped upon
the stairs, throughout the house. But Loubeque
did not move. He watched Lucille as she tossed
aside the habiliments she had worn over her girl
ish clothes. She looked swiftly about to make
certain no one was in sight. Then she swiftly
approached the extra truck upon which the
slickers and hats of the firemen were laid. Once
more she looked about her then flung herself
into a long rubber coat and jammed a helmet
over her head.
Loubeque smiled once more, a broader smile
this time, as she darted up the walk and into
his house. Swiftly he peered over the stairs.
Without an instant’s hesitation Lucille had sped
to the basement. He tiptoed to the room that
had been assigned her when he held her captive
here. Pressing a button, one wall of the room
opened. He peered below, watching her as, be
low, she searched feverishly for the papers.
Loubeque quietly moved back to his own
room. Slowly his fingers reached out. Came a
slight clink of machinery. Then the spy stepped
below and received the assurance of the fire cap
tain that everything was well. His smile was
that of a man quite positive that everything waa
more than well.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Best Laid Plans. *
T UCILLE started violently, just as her hands
enocuntered the packet of begrimed papers
and documents. A faint, humming sound mingled
with the heavy tread of the firemen above stairs.
But she had won, was victorious after many de
feats. Still, that sound—
She seemed to have heard it before. With a
little cry of horror she looked up, her hands
clasping the packet to her breast. The room
that had been her boudoir was slowly closing
down upon her, was moving down, down, down,
its dark floor threatening to crush her like a
letter-press closes upon its contents. Then it
stopped.
She looked toward the door through which
she had entered, her delight at the escape dying
before the sight of Loubeque's tall, saturnine fig
ure in the doorway, the glowing cigar tip pick
ing out hi* every feature, the hateful smile upon
his face. He extended his hand, bowing grace
fully, sardonically.
‘“The packet of papers. Miss Lucille, if you
please," he murmured.
((\nitiuued Next Week.^