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LUCILLE LOVE. The Girl of Mustau
B y the “ MASTE'R TEJV”
Copyright, 1914. All moving picture rights reserved by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, who
are now exhibiting this production in leading theaters. Infringement! will be vigorously prosecuted.
CHAPTER XXXXXIIL
Defeat In the Hour of Victory
HUE ia the cutter, Lucille, for the
first time heaved a huge sigh of
relief as she glanced bank toward
| the shore and saw Hugo Loubeque
I jump from the ear in which he had
la-e.ii pursuing her and glance hur,
riedly up and down the, harbor
front.
She glanced approvingly now at
the broad shoulder* of the sailors,
revelled in the long swing of the
tar* that took her out of the Npj* r**n< A| -
pra.vn her hand* pressed against. the at
Her heart They "ere in her possession now,
they wire hers, and the honor of the ones she
•rid most dear was in her keeping, never to be
lost again.
Hho clambered over the rides of the waiting
government vessel, being met at the deck by she
Captain himself. His rye-brown rose in surprise
is hr regarded the slender slip of a girl facing
tint, her eyes wet with tears.
"Knsign Howell informed roe that Mr. i/oo
trqne " lm began when she interrupted.
“The paper* are here, Captain. 1 bare them,
i Htey are safe now.’’
Kor a moment he studied her meditatively.
Ihe felt an ley chill running up and down he.r
ipuir. Would he see the frantic man tt|Hin the
i shore? Would he hesitate? Would he not be-
Jeve her when she told him the truth regarding
t the documents? Would he turn hack and foroe
L jsr to return the (aqs-rs? At the very suggm-
Uon her face flexed in every muscle while her
n«i met his coldly and steadily, a purpoae in
: their depths which even the officer turned away
horn, convinced that all wa well.
And now tlial she was safe, the nervous reac
“ don came upon her. In her ov.n liny cabin, safe
Inallv from the man »he had la seen u|s>n the
dmre it seemed ttie very air was fraught with
(errors, horrible fears reaching toward her, gib
bering at her with threats of perils greater even
than those she had come through already. A
■ fight tapping on the door brought her to her
hs-t. heartily ashamed of the false terrors she
tad allowed to unnerve her. Hhe opened the door
tnd Knsign Howell entered,
Lucille regarded him coldly, In far different
(isnner from the coquettish young woman who
bed put hint off at the house of I.oubsque. HU
Ives were frowning, at first, then under the «I
|uUite beauty of her, they melted and he took
sn involuntary step forward.
"Miss Miss ” he stammered, “why did yon
lend me away from the appointment? The ( are
bain wishes to speak with you and when you tell
bini tike truth, It will appear as though I—"
"Yovi need have no fear/’ she answered quiet
ly, Ignoring ihe expression of the mnn which
kild her that even his dread of a reprimand
fismi his superior was of far less consequence
than her o|iinlon of him. "Will you kindly con
|uot me to t.h» Captain. I will explain every
Mtag."
The Captain of the Terror regarded her
itesnTily as she was brought Is*forr him. Heated
st his desk, in the very throne of his authority,
■■power that ruled the depths of the ocean, with
lae young Knsign at his side, heels together, toes
"»nd chest out In rigid, stern attention, T.ne.Ule
belt him a very much more formidable being
than when she met him on the deck. Thts man
arm, her enemy, would be her enemy until the
sure lion of possession of the (tapers had iree.lt
Qvuni igtily threshed out.
“Your luuua, itleasc?” queried the enmmander
; itortiy.
Lucille feH a thrill of pride running through
ker, taking jtossession of every particle of spane
within her slender body. Her name that Was
the beginning ami end of it all, the weeks of
peril, privation, hardship, danger. Her name •
the name of Love, the name that this man and
the great government which ruled the flag under
which this boat of the seas sailed, had and was
endeavoring to traduce.
“M,v name, air,” she said quite simply, yet
Ea tremolo of pride iministuknhla, "la Lucille
—daughter of General Sumpter Love, United
sa Army,"
"Impossible I"
Am though the two voices had been one, the
Oaptain and his junior hurst forth in the ex
bln million Lucille merely smiled its she saw the
wondering incredulity upon (heir fuces change
Id one of understanding thru of reaolve for war
lore.
The commander held out his hand.
“1 am in receipt of orders from Washing
ton." h»* Biki quietly, “to mrrt Hugo Loubequ*,
•rim would turn over to m* certain j I*l*4* and
onkrt which hr received from WaAhiugton whll*
In command at Manila, and which he wold
"It** u lie V* Lucille** voice had no irtuuolo
now, Instead it ranff ag’uinrt the side* of the
inhin with a vibrant force that made the two
htan start violently.
“Yea. a lie," she repeated, quirting Ihe fury
adlloh was racking her. “My fattier did re>“-ive
the paper*. There was n military hall in progress
at the time, lie gave them to hta aide, l.ieuten
out Gfbaon, my flannee, to |>nt In the safe. 11i.it
Bight they were stolen by tt servant. In the am
pt',y of Ibigv* Loubeque; stolen, 1 tell you. But
Tlie Commander nodded ooMly.
“Your contention is a matter for the CVairt
Of Inquiry to thresh out. 1 atn under outers to
Nradvc the pocket of paprrs and take them to
net court, together with the affidavit of Hugo
toabeque that they were sold to him. If they
orv In your possession, 1 will take them; If not,
1 aboil be forced to turn bark and 11ml Mr. Lou
baijns "
“The pajiem are lit my possession, air. They
belong to me until 1 ran turn there over to my
father, to whom they were sent. What he will
do with thorn is a matte* for the fosirt of In
quiry to decide."
“That is quite Impossible," the man snajiped
■harp l ,' "In the firs* place, yvnir story la quits
Incrvihlile -I.ucille Love was drowned when the
Btnprrs- took fire,”
“Lucille Love Is here, sir. Lucille love was
•board the Empress, flew tliere with Mr. llarlry,
the government aviator, because she knew from
• message she cut iu on upon the telephone that
Hugo Loubeque was aboard the Km pres* ami
that hr havi the |>apers. Kvcr since, tlimugh
r ingle, desert, lund and miter, 1 have followed
tin. 1 have seen the spy’s diary, it is here with
khe papers always. That will show his hatred
for m.v father That will explain. That will
prove ray story."
Kven as the Captain nodded, rising to hi*
foet to eagerly watch the girl's frantic search
through the packet, ail u-qutver himself to have
her prove her case so unmistakably, n little, dry
Sob broke from her lips As the Illy droops upon
Its stent, so did the slender figure of the girl
•lowly- sink- sink- sink -
She recovered herself wiih an effort, shaking
her head a* though to drive away the mists of
-faintnews which tills the crowning misfortune,
had delivered her. The diary of Hugo Loubequo
was not among the papers she had recovered.
The Captain nodded toward his Ensign, who,
with a glance, of sympathy toward the stricken
girl, scooped up the papers and laid them before
hi* commanding officer.
Lucille turned and slowly left the room. Her
eves were fastened directly ahead but she walked
a- one who journeys in slumber, unseeing, be
numbed. And her lips repeated over and over
again:
“Too cruel! Cruel! Cruel!"
CHAPTER XX XXXIV.
Exit Hugo houbeifue.
OEROEANT DALY, plain clothes man of the San
Francisco police department, showed scarcely
a sign of Interest ns he was assigned to the mys
terious case at the Ht. Francis. The meagre de
tails trickled through his ears and were lost
forever. That was a part of the raethpd which
hail made him the greatest sleuth of the depart
ment he always found out for himself and never
trusted to advance information.
Hwiftly he took In the salient details of the
house detective, the discovery of a man’s dead
body in the suite of a young woman who had
registered there under the name of Lucille Love.
Then he went immediately to the room and ex
amined the corpse.
Thompson hail not been touched. He lay as
he had been when Hugo Loubeque looked book
at him, from the doorway, his Isidy twisted a bit
from the struggle with the spy, his right hand
tightly clenching the revolver in his mouth. Daly
bent, over him, uttering a little ejaculation of
surprise which whetted the curiosity of the man
ager instantly. After a long interval he rose to
his feet, holding a soiled linen label in his hand.
“Frank Thompson," he smiled quietly. “Here
is the name of the tailor who miulo the suit hs
wears. I wondar how he ever came to go to
Manila.”
"Manila?” Frankly curious was the manager.
“Ye* Manila. No wonder that crook hasn’t
been active in the Htates for the last, couple of
years. Wonder wliatever pulled Chicago Tom
that far away from Ktate Htreat.”
"Then he was a crook?”
“It’s my turn to ask questions,’’ the Sergeant
Interrupted sharply. “You say this suite was
assigned to Lucills love
“A young woman who was arrested yester
day, Sergeant, when she was caught on the firs
esca|M* outside Mr. Loubeque's suite. She cams
here with Mr. I-oiibeque and he registered her.
Her first night here she created a sensation by
paying one of the cabaret to allow her to dancs
in her place. Yesterday a call came to the of
fice from Lotiheqtta's suite that a hotel sneak
thief was In his apartment. When the detectives
arrived the place was vacant but the young
woman was caught on the fire escape and ar
rested, paroled In the custody of Mr. Roller, the
big jeweler. It is a case of suicide, Sergeant?"
Daly shook his head.
“Suicide I I should rather guess not. Look
at the man's gums. The gun was forced into hi*
mouth and the gums badly bruised in the doing
of it. Where can I find this Lnollle Love or Lou
bequn?"
before the manager oould answer the tele
phone liell tinkled. He turned to the detective
excitedly, his hand pressed over the 'phone
mouthpiece.
"A Lieutenant Gibson calling on Miss Lova*"
he explained.
"Tell him to watt."
Richard Oibsou wa* ltt.tle inclined for cross
examination when first t.he two men approached
him. Shamed of his unreasoning Jealousy of the
girl he loved, aghast at his conduct in turning
sway from the woman who had left him so un
ceremoniously In order to prove his lnnocenoe
of stealing the papers from General ljove’s safe,
he lmd fought the battle out with himself, com
ing to the conclusion that there must be a rea
sonable explanation for her conduot. Sergeant
Daly regarded him steadily a moment, then told
him the reason for his wishing to know every
thing Gibson whirled upon the manager, his
tuce livid with rage, fists clenched.
“And yon had her arrested- -you had her-
Daly lielil the arm that was about to strike,
soothing him with quieting words.
“Evidently he can tell us nothing," Daly mut
tered to the manager. “Ho didn’t even know
about the arrest and bailment until I told him."
Gibson flung upon his heel and ieft the ho
tel, black hatred, suspicion, fear, a thousand and
one emottone In his heart. At the Jeweler'B his
tale eaiunyt the proprietor to almost have e
stroke of apoplexy.
"A murdered man In her (mite while she was
In the station house," he gasped. "Then she
won't--” He fairly wept In the depths of hta
emotions* “Then the necklace must have been
stolen," he finally oried, his eyvw flashing vindic
tively. “nut she shunt, have ihe money for It.
HI keep that until the rightful owner cranes
along. Perhaps I may get back the ten thousand
dollars I jiaid her tor an option on It."
"Sold -this necklace sold -who bought it?"
The Jeweler agitatedly sought the memoran
dum of the purchase!.
“A Mister Hugo Loubeque—never heard of a
t m»V'**atre by such a name hut he had the two
hundred Slow sand to buy It and 1 let it go-”
“Hqj i loubeque!" Gibson grasped the
•snared isi V v the shoulders and fairly shook
siusw* frov hlra, st the re-mnntkm of this
name that kept continually cropping up hefore
him.
Dlok Oilieon rushed from the establishment
finally, an idea in his head which he cursed him
self for not fiaving thought of before. The house
where he had last seen Lucille! The house from
the seoond story window of which she had
looked down at him with the light of a great
fear and love and pleading and a call for assist
ance In her eyes! The house he had caused to
l>e raided and in which there was nothing to he
found, not even a sign of life! Might not, was
not this mysterious Ixuibeque the one whose hand
he had seen dragging her from the window?
Breathlessly he darted up to the door and,
finding the lock still unrepaired, dashed lnaide
and up the stairs. He did not expect to find
Lucille there, did not know exactly what he
would find, hut ’there was surcease from torture
In action, and his brain had been fanned Into
flame by the mysterious tales he had heard re
garding his sweetheart and the strange crimes
which seemed to link her name so inextricably
with them.
Suddenly he stopped, halted abruptly, lie
could hear no sound yet was positive someone
was dose to him, that he was being watched.
For a full five minutes he waited, there upon the
stairs. The silence of the place was oppressive,
deadly.
"You wished to see me, sir’?"
Smiling and suave, hi* great, brooding eyes
holding a light of melancholy and sorrow such
as the young officer had never witnessed before,
appearing as If by magic, and now facing him
was Hugo Loulieque. lie knew it was the man he
sought yet the compelling personality of the spy
a hashed him, drove the blind rage front his heart
almost instautly and made him feel like a fool-
ish child who ha* asked a primer question of a
very wise man.
“Loubeque— ’’ he stammered.
The international spy bowed gravely, his
eye* still fastened upon the young man before
him, inscrutable eyes that seemed to search to
the very depths of the soul.
Ami, as his eyes sought the carpet, away
from the magnetic power of the man, all the
rage returned to 1 tie young officer. This man was
the one who had taken his sweetheart from him,
who had tangled her up in such base affairs as
those he had just heard of. His eyes roved the
ri >rn, lighting upon a pair of broadswords,
crossed upon the wall. He caught the smile on
The Three Were Silent. There Was ffo Room for Words in This Great Happiness.
the spy’s face when he looked again at him and
knew his thoughts had been read.
“What have you done with i/uoil)e Loref*' he
cried.
“Miss Love,” murmured Loubeque, hie voice
taking on a sighing note that fairly tortured the
listener’s ears. “Miss love is on a war ship
bound for Washington, I believe.”
“Yon know a man was murdered In her
suite —that she was arrested as a hotel sneak
theif?" Not so much a question as an accusation
was It.
“Miss Love has been through many more
trying situations than that,” answered loubeque
slowly, “since she pitted herself against me.”
“Pitted herself against you!” The light of a
great, understanding gleamed in Gibson’s eyes,
mingled with the murderous hatred there. "Then
it was you who stole the papers ”
“Quite so.” Hugo loubeque turned upon his
heel, but the iron grip of the officer was upon his
shoulder, whirling him übout so that their faocs
met. Gibson’s words came in a sibilant hiss.
“You —you coward! So 1 owe you ray dis
rse —my enforced resignation from the army.
General Love owes his trial and disgrace to
you. So you have kept Lucille from us, knowing
nothing of tier, thinking her dead ” Words
came so fust they choked him. Only his rolling
eyes testified to the full extent of his fury. Again
they lighted upon the broad swords." Like a
panther he leaped across the floor, seising them
and slopping them away from the fastening.
Loubeque gravely, quietly, without change of ex
pression accepted the one that was hurled at his
feet, placing himself on guard, easily turning the
insane slashes of the officer, who hurled himself
upon him.
Easily, by wrist alone, Loubeque played with
the man. lfis eye held no expression save that
rtf one looking very far away, sad. mournful,
distant. That look of indifference only served to
madden Gibson doubly. He pressed the attack
biit could force no recognition from his adver
sary. He was panting, breathing, Hnd the spy, de
spite his years, showed never a sign of fatigue.
Furiously ho lunged when suddenly, the Made of
his adversary whirled, sending out score* of
scintillating lights as it danced in the air above
Ms head. He could hear it whistling about, his
ears, singing sinister songs of Death. Yet ho was
unable to pierce that guard and make an im
pression. Summoning every last, ounce of
strength against his tormentor, he swept the
great blade high behind his back. Then he
brought it forward in one swoop that wotild have
severed the spy.
He fell back as from a blow, his wrist
numbed and deadened hv the wrench that had
carried the handle of the heavy sword from his
grasp. Hugo Loubeque had dropped his own blade
to the floor and was studying him quietly, no
glimmer in his eyes. Gibson glared over his head.
The sword was still swaying from side to side
from the fury with which it had licen driven into
the low hanging wooden beam overhead. Instinc*
tively his hand reached to recover his weapon
when Loubeque laid a hand of iron upon his
shoulder.
“That will do," he cried sternly. "He a man,
sir." Again that mellowed light drove the light
of anger from his eyes. His lips opened and the
voice of him wns little more than n sigh; “such
a man as Miss Lucille Love deserves."
Gibson looked at him. startled, aghast. Once
more Loubeque would have spoken when, from,
below stairs, came the shrill screech of a po
liceman's whistle, followed almost instantly by
a rush of feet upon the stairs.
The spy seemed in no wise perturbed, even
though the sounds were growing louder and
louder each fraction of a second. His right hand
moved along the desk, picking up a small ivory
box, exquisite!} carved, which he handed to Qis
man who had wo lately lusted for his blood.
“You will kindly give this to —Lucille—with
my compliments and felicitations," he murmured,
bowing again in the grave, Continental fashion
which had so impressed the other.
Gibson stared at him, wondering at the lack
of emotion on his face in this moment of peril.
Slowly, steadily Loubeque stepped backward. Then
suddenly a yawning panel stood beside him. He
stood in the cavity a second, smiling as the door
burst open and Sergeant Daly, followed by a
squad of uniformed officer* lurched into the
room.
“That’s him!” Daly’s shout turned into a wild
yelp of terror, as the room bhot from under the
feet of tho occupants and they found themselves
precipitated into the very bowels of the house.
It was half an hour before they managed to
find their way out; half an hour which swallowed
up the international spy completely as though it
had been the grave.
CHAPTER XXXXXV.
An Appeal and an Interruption.
Lucille finished her dressing
and turned to look out the hotel window
over Pennsylvania Avenue. Far in the distance
she could see the stately head of the Capitol
building. Upon the street she could make out
from the very manner of the pedestrians just
who was of importance in managing the ma
chinery of the great nation, citisensliip in which
had always been her proudest boast. She re
called the short year that had elapsed since last
she was in Washington, just before sailing for
Manila to join her father, happy and care-free
and ignorant of life’s struggle as ever a girl could
be. But now she was alone in this magnificent
city of distances, a girl seeking to save the
father to whom all men had done deference on
♦ hat former visit, from disgrace at the hands of
the country he had been so .proud to serve.
When the Captain of the Terror had spoken
of the Court of Inquiry before which Gen
eral Sumpter Love was being tried for selling
the papers he had received from Washington,
she had con jured up visions of him behind bars,
dreamed horrible dreams of a disgrace that was
being heaped hpon him physically as well as men
ially. But when she realized on reaching the city
that he Was at a hotel, living quite the same as
she herself was allowed to live; her joy had sub
merged almost every other feeling. It had been
four days now, however, and still she had not
called up sufficient courage to see him.
All night she had been awake trying to
scheme up some method of aiding him. The papers
she had recovered and it seemed that instead of
helping she had placed in the hands of the gov
ernment exactly what they wanted to convict.
She dared not meet the old man and tell him that
she had done this thing. And now, it seemed to
her she could stand the strain no longer. Surely,
there must be a justice in Washington, a some
body big enough* to help her father.
All the day before she hail sst in Lafayette
Park before the White House, seeing the Ih-e*d
dont of the United States come out for his walk,
return and leave once more. She had thought
liis face kindly, bad even started impulsively to
ward him to make a plea for just a few- moments
of hi* time to tell him why she was there. And
then—just at the supreme moment her courage
had failed. Kindly, his face was but she saw also
colld reason there and knew that everything
looked to lie against General Sumpter Love. Then,
too, she realized that clemency would scarcely
be forthcoming in the era of war which was
upon the nation, with this patient, calm Presi
dent fighting against the inevitable from his'
country’s Southern neighbor.
But there was the Secretary of War! Surely,
there might be some chance in an appeal to him.
She had managed to gain her way with other
men when sorely pressed. Why was it not worth
the trial. And so, this morning, after a long
timorous glance up and down the long avenue,
she had started for the Army and Navy Building
with steps thnt were fighting against her own
will all the way.
“Mi** Lucille Love —Lucille Love " The
Secretary turned the card over and over In his
hands while regarding her narrowly the while.
“I have heard of you. Miss Love, and of the
papers. You may rest assured your story will re
ceive every attention in the conduct of the trial
of your father. Certainly, you know the nation
can ill afford to lose such a man just at this
time." He sighed heavily, for the trial was a
weight upon his own shoulders even as it was
upon the shoulders of the entire army.
“But you can investigate—my story is
strange, unbelievable,” she pled impulsively,
reaching out her hands in a wide gesture of ap
peal toward him. "I know that. But if you
would only investigate. You would find that I
told the truth when I said I caught the Princess
on an aeroplane. I left word that I had received
information that led me to believe the papers were
in the possession of someone aboard tha* boat.
'You know I did that. I found the papers and re
covered them. I was shipwrecked with them upon
a savage island. Hugo Loubeque was also saved
and got the papers away once more. And then
he got them again in China —look into the records.
Ask the Chinese Ambassador to investigate a
death ”
“All details of your story have been proven,
Miss Love,” gravely, sadly answered the cabinet
minister, "but there is no evidence in your fath
er’s favor. What would be the motive for Hugo
Loubeque ”
“Revenge,” she answered quickly. “Can’t yo«
see ”
“If it could be proven——”
He was interrupted by the entrance of a clerk
with a card. The Secretary frowned, then list
ened to the whispered explanation of the man, a
slight smile upon his face. He nodded that admit
tance was to be granted, then turned again to
Lucille.
“Mr. Gibson—formerly Lieutenant Gibson—"
Lucille sprang to her feet, all confusion. She
•trained toward the door but a great fear was
holding her back. The last time she had seen her
sweetheart he had repulsed her, had turned away
from her, and now
Gibson entered quickly, halted abruptly at
sight of the woman he loved standing there, with
the gentle love light in her eyes and the reproach
of a maid offended in her form. Slowly, very
slowly, as one who would be forgiven yet cannot
hope for that forgiveness, he plaoed the little,
ivory box in her hands, the box which Hugo Lou
beque had given to him. She looked at him in
quiringly and his lips parted;
“From Hugo Loubeque with hopes tar for
giveness and felicitation.”
Hugo Loubeque I
With trembling fingers she pried open the
delicate lid, then gave a sharp cry of disappoint
ment that was echoed by one of mute admiration
and amuse from the others as, turning the box up
side down, the wonderful ruby neoklaoe fell upon
the floor, every blood red facet darting a thou
sand threats at them. But Lucille’s eyes paid the
necklaoe no heed. Instead they fastened upon a
little slip of paper in the bottom of the box, dirty
and torn, but whioh she dragged forth with a cry
of unutterable joy, pressing it to her heart in an
ecstasy of delight, fairly babbling over it«
Page from Diary of Hugo Loubeque.
In aocount with General Sumpter Loire so»
dismissal from West Point and robbing me of
Lucille
Theft committed
She read no farther but, sobbing wfth the
abandonment of a child, placed the page from tha
diary in the hands of the Secretary of War. Ha
turned it over and over in his hands, a light of
understanding growing in his eyes, a light whioh
softened as he looked upon the girl who watched
him.
“I Bee,” he murmured quietly. "You say, Mr,
Gibson, Hugo Loubeque gave this to you to hand
to Miss Love?”
“Yes sir.”
“If you do not object, Miss Love,” he said to
the girl, with a little knowing smile in the direo*
tion of her sweetheart, “I shall take this immedi
ately before the Board of Inquiry. I thintfj with
your story and the verifications I have gathered
of its details it will not only clear your father
but also return to the Army a young Lieutenant
who had been named Captain at the time thin un
fortunate incident occurred.”
“Mr. Secretary ”
He still smiled, as, embarrassed, she halted
midway toward him, her arms outstretched a*
though to throw them about his neck.
‘"Then I shall return it to you,” he said
quietly. “It reads: ‘Account finally cancelled by
Loubeqne because no hate is' strong enough but
would wither and die in him who knows lap
cille?*"
"You will excuse me,” he added, after a kmg
pause.
Bvtdently, Important cabinet officer though
he was, the Secretary expected no answer to#
he did not even glance back at the couple, who
were so forgetful of eitquette as to ignore hi*
question. But Lucille had her arms close, class
about the neck of Richard Gibson, and that young
man was only mindful of his burden at the mo
ment.
CHAPTER XXXXXVT.
Concerning Ghosts.
At his desk. General Sumpter Love smiled as
the murmur of two. voices came to him. His eye*
closed wearily and his head sank forward upon
his chest, a victim of dreams —dreams of the
long ago. It had been hard, giving up to an
other this daughter whom he had only just re
gained. And yet—and yet—there was another Lu
cille ——
“Lucille!"
His arms were outstretched toward the vision
of his dead wife and the cry of her name from
his lips, from hi 6 overburdened heart, wakened
him with a start. •
“You called, Father?”
Lucille's arms were about his neck, just as they
had been about his neck that other time in Ma
nila when she coaxed hi* consent to her marriage
to Gibson. And Gibson, with the straps of a
Captain, was standing once more in the doorway.
His hand rose to pat the rose petal cheek of
her. Then his fingers encountered the necklace
about her throat, the necklace of rubies which
the Washington papers had decanted upon so
voluminously in their accounts of the romantlo
postponed wedding. As though he had struck a
snake, his hand recoiled.
"Loubeque’s necklace!" he muttered.
The arms about his neck tightened. The
cheek was pressed against his own.
“Poor, poor Hugo," she murmured. “Poor,
poor man who did not know there was no room
for hate in a world that might be filled with
love. Poor, poor man.”
“I think, sometimes,” she murmured dream
ily. "I hear his voice as I heard it when he suf
fered gladly for me —when he nursed me—out
there In the open boat —without water—food —
anything- and always is it kind and gentle-f-”
General Sumpter Love turned away. His eyes
had suddenly become moist. Captain Gihson put
his hand gently upon the shaking shoulder of his
wife.
The three wore silent. There was no room
for words. Ghost* were all about—whispering,
soothing ghosts that would not be allayed—
ghosts that danced merrily through the leaping
flames of the grate fire, "that winked from the
ashes on the hearth, ghost* that murmured over
and over aguin—
“Lucille —Lucille ”
Ghosts that had an echo from the lips: of a
world-weary man directly under the earth front
them —Hugo Loubeque, alone with his ghosts tha#
murmured always
"Lueißc Lucille ”
(The End.)