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LUCILLE LOVE. The Girl of Musieru By the “MA.STE'R VEJT’ Copyright, 1014. All movini picture rights reserved by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company; who ore now exhibiting this production in leading theaters. Infringements will be vigorously prosecuted. CHAPTER XXXXIV A reident. OW In the seat beside the driver crouched Lucille, still a bit numbed by the rapid succession of events which preceded her finding herself I free once more from the spy’s sur veillance. Scarcely more than an hour had It l>ecn that, she sat, op posite him at dinner and found the note from the butler hinting to her of a safety she had almost, for- A gotten how to hope for. I h>* two hoots of the p-' udo owl the instinct of terror which had Id hi to Loulieque’s quarters barely in time to rr m- the precious paper* and ruble* from the pair, the wailing automobile the butler hail ana. cd for hin If and which she occupied alone all lite r seined now things that had happened in the long ago. Suddenly she leaned forward, beating her lit tle fists together, urging the Mexican chauffeur to accelerate his speed. The man smiled down at her, shaking hi head to signify he did not un derstand the words, even as he stepped on the clutch and shot the ear forward like a huge arrow newly released from the lxyw. Like a living thing, all a-tremble with his precious cargo, throbbing with the sac red ness of bis rnee, the ear leaped through the night, eating tip the zig-zag stretch of road like some giant monster, then spewing it forth again and con tinuing his orgv. And behind somewhere, upon ♦he same mail, here was another machine with a determined man in it, a man who had never yet allowed machine or man or even the ele ments to thwart him. . Then came the dull crunching sound from before her. The ear swerved viciously, swung in •ueb an abrupt circle she clt.ng to the side of her seat to avoid being hurled out. The driver righted hi machine swiftly, dexterously and she Started to heave a huge sigh of relief. But only started to. For the front wheels suddenlv slip[ I. - ' mrd smoothly to bo gliding upon a irfaee of nothingness, clawing for a foot-hold. The cliatiffein reversed heavily, fought with his \vhM*l, but vainly. Then tin* Ihmiw car Inst balance, tilted heav ily and rolled d<»" •’ <iown down- Lucille felt no fear. It was all too deadly for that. She \\u ,j only conscious, even as her tiny hands clutch* <1 tin of her ueut, of a droning nound from behind that waa jfrowlnff Into the r yt limit hum of a motor car. And even »k nhe recnirnl/ed the ound. her hand* loonened their grip and pn ved the precious papers more fervently to her breast. Came a long period of delicious languor, of sinking, much a though - lie floated upon ether. A harsh, crunching idt and blackness merciful unconsciousness that eli eii black shutters across the mental vision of her and brought a sweet smile to the lip that had been tightened bo long. Sleep— CIIAI’TFR XXXXV. A Tenacious Thief. -pFIKHK are but two stages to unconsciousness— * the blank state attd the drowsy stage where scene* transpiring are vaguely sensed by the sufferer only to be obliterated completely ns the murmur of a brook is wiped from memory of the ear. Lueille pieced together happenings vaguely after that, then dismissed them ns of no ac count. Nothing appeared to matter. She wa* comfortable and partially content. She recol lected for a fractional space of time being lifted and carried away by strong, friendly, pitying arms; the memory passed Immediately with the coming of an impression of swift travel in a motor ear. which in turn guvr way to the more sharply etched impression of being wheeled •board a train in an Invalid's chair. 'liven came • vision of the lean, powerful face of Lonbetpie close to her own, the gentle whisper of hi* voice close to her ear, calling her name over and over •gain, wltile, matching the suffering in his tones wa* the deeply curved lines of agony U|>on his face. Over and over agnin the man called to her, nnd yet she knew it was not to her he called but to the mother whom she resembled, the woman he had loved and lost and whose memory had stirred up such a hatred in hi* heart that he had been obliged to spend hi* life torturing shc daughter of the loved one. As though something hnd snapped Inside her brain the voice and face of the mutt lirot ght her to a consciousness so keenly acute It was positive •offering. As had happened an many times be fore she felt all her syni|)athy going out to this man who had proved such a hitter enemy, who had brought such catastrophe upon her and her’s, and who would again prove so Talentless should she attempt to take advantage of his temporary weakness to appeal to the better aide of him. She fought hack the words of sympathy that came to her with an effort, even ns she closed her eyes and feigned •lumber. Her brain was working at a rate that pained her, aa though it wa* forced to make up its tnrdlness. Loubeque had caught and rescued her. Undoubtedly he was • gain In possession of the papers, Hiuldenly aha felt that he hnd conquered his emotions and moved away. Stic slowly opened her eyes and looked about. She was in her own privute com partment on the train. Vilte was alone. Tremuloualy, fearful yet almost positive her hand* would not encounter that which she •ought, she touched her bosom. The feel of the necklace and i«v)>ers reassured her, drove away the last mists of unreality. Where she was go ing she did not know nor care. With the precious paper* she could do anything. Simultaneously with the thought came one of terror. Vague at first it spread over her spirit like a Tell that obliterated all light, all hojav. She tiptoed to the door, locking it. then stood a moment in the center of the tiny pltvce, her finger* arrking for the palter* which her courage would not allow her to touch. A* though forcing herself agalnat her will, •he closed her eyes and drew forth the bundle *nd necklace. Yes, there could be no doubting the genuineness of the rubies. Their aeintillant luster was fairly blinding. Hut she paid them little heed. Her fingere groped at the lav per* even as her eyes snapped open. Then a little cry of rage and chagrin came from her llpa. The jsickt-t upon the table had evidently heen nothing but a blind. Hugo Loubeque had taken no chances with the stolen papers even while awake. Bhc had stolen a sheaf of worth ies* waste |>aper. The international spy still held the whip band. She clenched her pretty teeth tightly to gether even a* she kept repeating to herself over and over again the question of why —why hnd he bothered to pursue her when he knew how she had been misled; why had he not allowed her to go her way nnd leave hltn safe to transact the last act In hjs plan of revenge? Why—why— why had he taken to himself so dangerous an enemy ? She knew he was fond of her, fond of her in the same way her own father was—but what of that? Alone, with the ruby necklace, she had sufficient means to do as she pleased and be per fectly safe from any danger? But was she safe from any danger? Had she not, been in danger before—yes, on the train. And the reason was because Thompson knew she held the ruby necklace. Thompson was one to be feared and respected. He hail well nigh proven himself able to cope with the mighty Loubeque himself. She unlocked the door very softly and slipped down tin v e i Mailed aisle. She had reasoned out the answer. Thompson had escaped Loubeque and, foiled in his attempt to gain the. necklace, was still one of the pursuit. Swiftly she stepped down the aisle, through ear after car until she halted abruptly and moved hack again. For, dozing against a pillow in the tourist ear, a long gash over his eye ren dering him a bit villainous looking was the but ler-thief. Lueille sought her compartment, her brain a-whirl. It wa a three cornered fight now. Loubeque to retain the papers and to protect her in her wealth; Thompson to gain the ruby neck laee and revepgr himself upon bis master. But •he— Lucille only sought the papers. Nothing else counted as against that. And Ixjubequc held the papers. Let the three, cornered fight go oq. All the parties to it Rave herself hail double motives. She wanted but the pa|>er that would lead to the fulfillment of her heart’s desire. Nothing could divert her from that. And she was so close to them —so close —so close that she must win. CHATTER XXXXVI. Lucille Induiprs a Feminine Instinct. IUCILLE thrilled with Inexpressible delight when she found herself once more in San Francisco. Somehow, it seemed a harbinger of good that she should oome back to the place where Inst she had seen her sweetheart. She imagined him roving the city, using every means in his jKiwer to find her. She knew he had read aright the message she shot him from the win dow of Loubeque’* mysterious house, that he had led the assault upon that house, ami that not even the secret exit made by the occupants could divert him from his purpose of finding her. All woman at that thought, she fought against the natural instinct to hunt him lip and rely upon him. She had a far better chance than he with Loubeque. She only caught, herself hoping that the international spy would return to his home. She knew the hope was foolish as it immed iately turned out to be. Not for the cunning brain of such a one aa the spy to go buck to a place from whleh he had l>een driven and which he had every reason to believe would be under surveillance. Instead of doing this he promptly took a motor to the St. Francis, relying upon the very audacity of his move to protect him. Lueille followed him quietly, almost meekly. They had but little to say to each other. Both knew the other’s thoughts too well to waste time in words; both knew the other’s relentlessness of purpose. And, more than anything and every thing else, both knew that the fight between them must be settled very shortly, that any move must he made quickly. Lvieille slipped out of the hotel her second day, undecided us to what to do anil earing little to plan or plot. Before this opportunities had pre sented themselves, Providential opportunities which no one could have foreseen. Only at such limes had she been enabled to make a satisfac tory move. And she felt convinced that the. very justice of her cause would permit her to win when the last hands were dealt in this ktranpe game. And always there was Thompson to be reckoned with. Thompson was the man who had heen capa ble enough to be the right hand of Hugo Lou lirque; Thompson was the one who, when he turned against his former mnster, was the one who excited such alarm in the spy that he took the most elaborate precautions against him; Thompson was the man upon whom she con vinced herself with feminine intuition she must depend. Thompson would lay open a way. And the hate of Thompson would turn itself against the hate of Loubeque nnd then her own great Love would have its innings. Somehow this utterly illogical, unreasonable viewpoint upon the situatior buoyed her hopes to such on extent that she went out the great doors of the hotel, fairly betmitig with satisfac tion. And in this mood, for the first time since leaving Manila to abruptly In the aeroplane of Harley, her thought turned from the sweetheart she felt was In the eity to the thought of meet ing him. And simultaneously with this thought came a dismayed alarm. She stopped short, the song upon her lips frozen there as she looked down at herself. For the first time In months an idea recurred to her, an Idea that seemed to have formed a major portion of her ideas in life before that time clothes. Clothes! She fairly blushed as she looked upon the beautiful dressed women upon the strret. Clothes 1 Why, she looked a perfect rag amuffin. She became frightfully self-conscious, ascribing the glances of admiration bestowed upon her from pedestrians to her shahbines*. Uncon sciously her hands sought the precious necklace. She shuddered and drew- into an areaway. Sup pose she should meet Lieutenant Gibaon here. Would he not he a hit ashamed of her? She speeded swiftly and furtively down the street. Self-reliance hnd become a part of her from her experiences but the thought of obtain ing money wa* something that appalled her. She had never known anything of money in her life. Things had always seemed to just come to her without the necessity for worrying. Resolutely she bit her lip* nnd forced her way through the doors of a jewelry establish ment, fighting her resolution to the point of ap proaching the bespectacled, important looking man behind the counter. Somehow, she could not repress a faint smile at sight of the glittering baubles so temptingly outlined beneath the glass. She found her amusement intensified by the obvious lack of impression she made upon the salesman as he looked her over. As he bent forward politely, questioning her ns to her pleasure, her hand sought the necklace nnd brought it forth, laying it quietly upon th,? counter. “I wished to sell,'* sh* murmured bashfully. The salesman stared from her to the neck lace. his eye* growing wider and wider with be wilderment ns he looked upon such stones as he had never seen liefore in his life. "The proprietor-“ he muttered. Lueille followed the direction of his pointed finger, on the verge of bursting into laughter at the change In his demeanor. With added con fidence she pushed own the ground glass door upon which wa* marked a caution for all out siders to keep out. A keen eyed little man turned upon her abruptly, hi* lip-, half open for a protest against the intrusion wbeu his eyes fell upon the neck- lace she carried loosely in her hands. "1 wished some ready money,” Lucille quick ly explained, blushing al her own temerity as she placed the precious necklace upon the desk. I don’t know what ihe stones are worth but I would like to realize as much as I can upon them.” The. man drew- a jewler’s glass from his drawer nnd stooped to examine each stone, his lips pursing to vent a little whistle of awe and admiration every few moments. After what seemed an interminable length of time he turned abruptly upon her, his mouth very stern. “Where did you get this necklace, Miss? I presume you realize something of its value?” "No, sir,” she was frightened at his stern manner. “I—l found it—” The man sneered incredulously. Found it ! Where, may 1 ask?” “I- I really don't know exactly where,” she w-as on the verge of tears now as she reached for her possession. “It was on a savage island where I was east away- an island just eight days out of Manila.” “A savage island—from Manila—” A bit of the incredulity had left his manner already. Once more he stooped to examine the necklace. Yes,” he muttered, “the cutting of the stones is different from any I have ever encountered- —Old Asiatic, undoubtedly.” Again he turned to her. “How long ago was this. Miss? What is this story of being cast away? I do not recollect any wrecks —” “The Empress.” Lucille quickly explained, her eyes clouding with terror as she recollected the horors of the subterranean cavern into w hich she had fallen, recalled the clammy touch of the sightless inhabitants, the grinning, hideous mon ster-ape squatting in the arms of the still more hideous idol. “There —there,”—the little man was bending over her, a glass of water in his hands which he pressed upon her. “I believe you, my dear young woman. 1 merely wished to know —” “It isn't that.” she smiled faintly. “It’s recol lecting the terrible place underground—the hor rible creatures —everything —” “Well, well, well,” he rubbed his hands to gether in frank amazement. “To think that any one escaped from the wreck of the Empress!” Once more his lips pursued. “But why have you not reached friends?” “I am Lucille Love," she said quietly. “I can not go back—” “Lucille Love—daughter of General Love?” He studied her keenly, nodding his head from Bide to aide. “Yes. yes. your father and f were quite well acquainted when he was stationed at the Presidio here. And you will not go back be cause of tlve disgrace that caused you to leave when the orders from Washington were stolen?” Lucille rose haughtily from her chair, tak ing the necklace from the table and moving to ward the door. “There was no disgrace,” she explained clear ly, her tones fairly chilling. “The papers were stolen by an outsider, sir. That was why I hoarded the Empress. That is why I am here. That is why I seek money; why I am still search ing.” “There—there—” The jeweler’s manner was frankly proprietory. “I meant no offense. I merely wished to know—” “I enme to know if you cared to purchase the necklace," she coldly retorted, preparing to replace it about her neck. “But my dear Miss Love," he smiled, “yon must realize that there i» not money enough in the establishment to purchase such a wonderful necklace as the one you own. A few stones—pos sibly, or.” he added as an afterthought, “I might purchase an option on the necklace for, say a* much of a reasonable sum as you desire at pres ent, nnd will then look about for a purchaser." Lucille's face showed her relief. “I will give you ten thousand dollar* for an option to sell the necklace within six months." the man continued quickly. “Meanwhile, I will keep it- here and give you a receipt for it, in order that I may show it to possible customers." “Ten thousand dollars!” Lucille's eyes were wide |n wonderment. She had never thought in terms of dollars and cents before and the sum seemed incredible to her. It was not ten minutes later, with a mutual promise to say nothing of the transaction that she left the shop vvith a certified check for the sum mentioned in her tightly eleuched fist, ac companied by a clerk. A strange shadow seemed to have fallen upon her. one which look a large part of the amuse ment »hc anticipated petting from her shopping away. She could only ascribe it to meeting with one who had known her father, who unwittingly showed her what the judgment of the world had been in regard to the missing orders, the neces sity for immediately foiling Hugo Loubeque. A* she left the bank with ihq roll of bank notes in her hand and a warning from the clerk still ringing In her ears, she thought no longer of adorning herself, had forgotten her shahbiness and her fear of meeting her sweetheart. Her thoughts were still utxvti elothes, the most gorgeous clothe*. And her thoughts were also upon Hugo Loobeque, the international spy. the man who stood lietween her nnd the fruition of nil her hopes, the nvan who hnd brought such an estimate upon the one.- she loved, the man who had softened toward her. th # man and a warm Rush suffused her chicks which she fought down swiftly—who was constantly proving himself but a mere man, after all; a man susceptible to woman’s charms just as the greatest and strong est men of history had proven themselves sus ceptible. With the thought, Lucille sepmed to change; to shrink away from herself as though she were defiled slightly by the mere thought. But her head was high, her cheeks sparkling as she en tered the first fashionable shop she came to; her manner such that the crowding, jostling women made way for her as for a queen in regal attire instead of a young girl with habiliments torn and dishevelled by such privations and adven tures as those about her never dreamed of. And always, alongside the doors of all the establishments she entered waiting- patiently waiting—furtively waiting, a rather servile ap pearing man stood, respectful, quiet, contained. Swift, certain, sure as the evening he had His Voice Was Hoarse, Terrifying in Its Bitter ness, Its Scorn. stolen the papers from the safe of General Love, leaving the banknotes in their stead which planted suspicion at the feet of the old warrior’s aide, Thompson trailed. CHAPTER XXXXVII. A Mysterious Cabaret Number. T l CILLE’S return to her apartment at the ho tel was greeted with an apparent respect that spoke plainly of the arrival of the flood of pack ages she had ordered sent immediately. Her lips were still tightened, her eyes cold as ice, her head high as she entered the elevator and shot to the cozy room where the bundles and boxes were piled. Upon every conceivable article in the room they were, but she seemed to take little pleasure in opening them. In piles she assorted them, hats, gowns, lingerie, gloves, hose, little trinkets dear to the heart of all women. Then she seated herself and carefully, coldly made choice of what she intended wearing for the conquest of Lou beque. How odd it all seemed! Before her rose a picture of the great spy, many pictures, and a curiously sad little smile twisted her lips as she realized that winning over him would give a bit terness to her life which she could never forget, the bitterness of losing the great respect she held for him as an enemy, the bitterness of hav ing obliterated from memory those times when the tenderness dormant in him had come to the surface as he cared for a poor, sick girl, fighting an unequal battle. It was several hours later that she looked at herself in the long cheval glass, frank admira tion and wonder tingling within her, mantling her cheeks with roses that no rubv necklaces could have purchased. For the first time she real ized that she was wonderfully beautiful, that the girl who had landed aboard the Empress in her riding habit, who had fought her way through the jungles in tattered skirt of black had grown into a wonderful woman whom men worship and fall down before in breathless admiration. Her eyes, too, were slanting, the eyes of an odalesque, while there was just the curling hint of invita tion in the full, red lips that tended to beguile. Yes, adventure, purpose and fullness, the con stant battling for others, the omnipresent Love within her had broadened and ripened her into a full, rich W'omanhood such as she had not dreamed possible. And even as she stood there came a clear tapping upon the door. With a smile upon her lips she moved toward it, allow ing it to open, the slightest fraction at a time, all the dramaturgic which is part of femininity telling her how to enhance the effect of her ap pearance. Hugo Loubeque stepped within. It was char acteristic of the man that he. did not halt im mediately he saw her but moved on until he was well inside. Then he turned, immaculate in his evening clothes, and bowed gravely, his eves tak ing her in from head to toe, frank admiration glowing in them. Neither mentioned the contrast in her appearance. The spy merely waited, while into his eyes crept the hint of a challenge min gled with the cloud of a premonition of danger. Instantly she resented it. "\ou will dine with me?" His manner was courteous as ever, yet there was a change. Some thing already was lost between them, some of the strands which bound them together as in separably through enmity as ever could have bonds of friendship slackened, dropped apart never to be put together again. Lucille merely nodded. Her heart was grow ing larger and larger, and she found herself frightened. Bangers of all sorts, adventures, everything she could endure with not the slight est fear but there was something in her now that set her pulses throbbing irregularly and rendered her speechless. She rested her hand upon his sleeve and allowed him to escort her to the din ingroom. In the dining-room she gave herself over to a mood effervescent as the champagne that bub bled in the glass before her, creaming and cast ing up its little spirals of sprites, laughing glee fully with her own thrilling mirth a bit too nerv ous to be quite unaffected. Loubeque had not proven adamant against the fra aft admiration which went the length of the room at the appearance of Lucille. His own manner was bending, yielding and it was clear to her that he was looking at her from a new angle, one which frankly surprised him, that Lucille had become a gorgeously wonderful wom an to him and not merely the pretty daughter of the woman he had loved in the lxmg Ago. She was playing a part she had never dreamed of playing until she caught sight of her beauti ful reflection mirrored back at her from the long, glass in her apartment; was playing a part which she would not characterize even to herself, was playing it as though born to just such a role. And a great shame was upon her, even as her growing self-disgust divided itself between shame at seeing the great Loubeque falling into the net she was deftly weaving for him. The creaming champagne had no effect upon her. She was astonished to see how- it worked upon the spy, not realizing his mood was one of self-relaxation while her’s was grounding upon one all-obsessing idea. She watched him narrowly-, marking the constantly grow ing boldness of his frank admira tion. A rather pretty girl whirled into the center of the. big dining-room and without waiting for the faint, murmur of applause that greeted her appearance to subside, began to dance. Lucille noticed that Loubeque had so far given himself over to the spirit of revery that his dishes went untouched as he watched the indifferent dancing. Inspiration came to Lucille, a daring thought that tired her eyes, that made her cheeks flush so hotly she lifted her glass to conceal it from her escort. Before this she had acted on a vague impulse without seeing any definite result, that could come from her endeavors. She saw the weak spot in Hugo Loubeque’s well-nigh perfect armor, thought she saw a method of reaching it. Quietly, she excused herself and left the room, graceful, apparently unconscious of the undis guised admiration bestowed upon her. Once at the end of the room her manner changed. Swiftly she turned, taking the direc tion she had seen the dancer leave and coming into a small room where the entertainers sat. For just a second she paused, not knowing ex actly how to do what she had started now that she actually confronted the situation. Taking her self firmly in hand she approached the girl, draw ing her to one side. “If 1 pay you well,” she whispered eagerly, “would you let me dance in vour place the next time pay you one hundred—five hundred dol lars,’ she added as the girl regarded her suspi ciously. “live hundred dollars!” Wonderment glinted in the eyes upon her. "What, do you w-ant—to get. a chance at cabaret work?” "No—no. I can dance, but I merely wish to do it once. There is a reason I cannot explain now. But it means everything to me. Please— please ” Tears glistened in eyes filled to over flowing with such honest pleading that the girl quickly nodded. “Let's see you work,” she demanded. “What line, Miss?” Lucille slowly recalled an old Spanish dance she had learned years before, one she had danced in private theatricals. The cabaret dancer whis pered to a young man in the corner who took his guitar from its' case and thrummed lightly until Lucille nodded. Five minutes later, a bit flushed but perfectly confident she has aquitted herself well, she halted at a sharp word from the woman she sought to supplant. . “A ou’ll do,” the girl said quickly, 1 nen, with a tinge of envy in her voice and eyes, “dead sure you ain’t after me job?” Lucille pressed the money upon her, warmly assuring her over and over again that such was not her intention. “All right then. You’re due in half an hour. I II fix it with the manager and put the orchestra leader wise to the game. That dress ain’t quite the stuff fer ” Lucille nodded gayly. Half an hour could be ample time for her to make a change. Hur riedly she scribbled a note to Loubeque, reassur ing him as to her delay and begging him to wait a short time until she came. Then she darted to her suite, fairly tearing her gown from her in her haste. She did not know what odd whimsy had induced her to purchase the little coquettish fluff of a dgneing gown that fitted the part she intended playing so perfectly. A bit breathless she returned to the cabaret room barely in time to make her entrance. She turned a bit cold as she waited, frightened of her own temerity. The girl gave her a shove forward and she found herself standing in the big room, heard, as' from a long ways off. the stringed or chestra brilliantly playing La Paloma. playing so irresistibly that, even with all her fear, her toes tapped in time to the music. “O’wan! Beat it 1” It was the voice of the cabaret dancer. Lucille knew then that she must go through vvith what she had started. Taking a long breath, her body swayed to the strains. Slowly, grace fully she glided into the room, her face par tially concealed by the mantilla. A gasp of sur prise followed her appearance, men and women leaned forward, forgetful of their dinner, lured by her infectious grace and charm. But she had eye's for but one man, the international spy, who. a surprised, puzzled expression on his face, leaned far forward in his chair, watching thk? woman who danced so wonderfully, vvith such innocent abandon and charm, who had eves for no onfe, thought of nothing save her work. Then suddenly the music changed. Lucille flashed a glance at Loubeque and from that moment danced to him and him alone. It was per fectly obvious to everyone in the room. The spy sank back in his chair, a bit embarrassed but quite aglow with delight. The music was growing •lower, slower, and, w ith a trickling laugh of imp ish merriment, Lucille flung wide her mantilla nnd bowed mockingly, yet with the pleading ex pression of a child seeking applause, to the arch spy. For Just a second his splendid mouth gaped, then, with eyes that shot strange fires at her, his paints crackled vigorously together as he led off the whirlwind of applause that *et the glasses tnd cutlery dancing. The orchestra leader Waved his baton toward Lucille for an encore and. from her chair op|iosite Loubeque into which she had sunk, she half rose to respond with a bow. "My God!" “My God!” The voice was hoarse, terrifying in its ness, its scorn, l.ueille turned, startled, then, in voluntarily. her hands reached out toward the man who was standing, tense, a horrified expres sion of disgust and unbelief upon his countenance, “Dick!” she quavered. Lieutenant Gibson moved away as her slender figure swayed toward him. ner hands were lqton his wristv. He looked at them a second then slow ly detached them and turned away, leaving the great room, leaving behind the woman who dared everything for him. And Lucille, the radiant face of a moment before gone into a mask, a frigid, icy mask, watched him as. without turning, he left her alone to fight alone the battle for hltn. Loubeque touched her shoulder sympathetically. "I’oor child. Lucille!” he murmured. "It was Gibson. After all you might hnve ltelieved of him, to have him turn that wav instantly ’’ “Dick is a man." she smiled sadly. “Man is full of suspicion. But when a woman loves she docs' not n*k for references.” (Continued Next Week.)