Harrisburg telegraph. (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, April 11, 1914, Image 12

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    LUCILLE LOVE. The Girl of Mystery.
A Soul JhriUing Jtoru of £ove,Devotion.
ff AINTLY sweet the tantalizing per
fume lingered in the room, and the
rustle of Lucille Love's skirt"
seemed still to sound against the
walls of the tiny room which Gen
eral Sumpter Lore used as hi*
private office; the echo of Lieu ten
ant Gibson's pleading tones htr l
not departed when the door lead
Ing to the servants' quarters moved
A cautious fraction of an inch
at a time, a sound so faint that nothing l> ve "
between It and silence succeeded the departure
of the General's aide and the plrl he loves, th*
girl he means to marry. As the butler's face
framed Itself on the threshold, the door was
opened that led to the ball room, a burst of
music vibrated there, then nil was silence. The
butler closed the door swiftly behind him and
glided across the floor, stooping before the safe,
his dexterous fingers manipulating the knobs
with a careless certainty that spoke of the
master cracksman, his face against the cold
■teel, his ears fairly peaked with the tensity of
Ms listening for the click of falling tumblers
His expression betrayed no anxiety. Tie knew hi*
worth, knew the pregnabllity of the safe in
which his n aster placed so great confidence and
•o which he had consigned the papers and orders
he had Just received from Washington until the
I*ll was over and he had time to study the in
structions at his leisure.
The cracksman* heaved A sigh of relief as hi*
•ensltive finger tips told him the last tumbler
had fallen. The great, Iron door swung open to
his tug. For a second he waited, listened to the
■raffle of feet, the melody of the orchestra. Then
Us hand disappeared, exploring the contents of
the safe.
He was swift; he was certain: he was sure.
!fot a paper was disarranged. His fingers flut
tered like Mttle, white birds, drifting among the
General's papers with a certitude that bespoke
great familiarity. With a sigh of relief he stared
at tha sealed packet he had just seen the army
ofßcer receive and place here. The butler thrust
It In his pocket, drawing out a package of bank
notes and putting It in the tiny vault where the
Kpers had been. The door closed softly, the
obs whirring under the man's touch.
Again he waited, listening, listening. The
vibrations of the dancers' feet continued for a
second, tha strains of music died. With the
noiseless glide of a panther the butler slipped
across the floor and closed the door behind him.
Not one motion had been wasted. For
months he had served in his menial capacity for
this one opportunity. For months to come he
would continue to serve in order that no suspic
ion might rest upon him. Quletlj, as though
nothing had happened, he stepped to the great
kitchen where the little brown servants of the
bcusehold were scurrying heedlessly about
frightened at even the momentary absence of
their master when the elaborate collation for the
guests was still to be served.
A word here, a hint there and the Filipinos
rere on their way to the General's dining room
with their burdens. All capability, all deft cer
tainty, without wasting a word, a move, the
b> tier brought his underlings back to the state
of perfection Into which he had trained them
As unconscious of the stolen envelope i n his
breast pocket as though auch a thing as a bur
glarized safe had never been, Thompson alial
Tommy the Dude, alias "Chi" Tom and wanted
for just such jobs in many police departments of
the world went about his work, only heavin? a
huge sigh cf relief when General Love nodded
curtly in token that the room where the buffet
had been served might be cleared.
Ten minutes later the furtive expression
same back to his face, the stealthy crouch to his
frame. Noiselessly he glided out the rear of the
house, scurrying across the moon-splashed parade
ground and losing himself in devious windingj
among the officers' iomes upon the military
reservation. Manila slept noisily, the dronins
hum of the myriad insects rising and falling
with the ever-recurring waves of heat that
floated In from the ocean. Only the General's
mansion glowed with light, a gangling structure
transformed by the eerie witchery of night into
a fairy palace of gold, the windows huge dia
monds with each facet catching in its heart a
srore of moon-beams. Thompson nodded to him
self as though very well satisfied, then slipped
Awn a narrow side street, lined with disreput
able houses that leaned at drunken angles to
ward one another, the filthy windows winking
Wearily to their neighbors. Before the largest
of these place* the butler paused a second. His
hand reached toward the bell-pull. From some
distant part of the hoyse came back an echo
■lowly, very alowly the door swung open, swal
lowtng up the figure of the thief-butler.
CHAPTER 11.
Tho Finger of Butpioton.
General stmptfr love, u.s. a., smiled
tolerantly to himself as he overheard the
low voices of his aide and Lucille coming from
the little cozy eorner In which the young Ueu
tenant had hidden his sweetheart away from the
•vld dancers who would have taken her awav
from him. The old man closed his eyes a mo
ment, the harsh lines which absolute dictator
ship and war had sculped upon his face slowlv
disappearing before the softened expression
retrospection placed there, an expression sum
moned up by memories of the days at the Point
before ever a thought of oak leaves upon his
•boulders dared Intrude itself within his cadet
mind, before Lucille wa«i born, before Lucille'a
mother had made her choice.
The General shook his bulky shoulders and
rose, moving toward his private office. It WM
seldom such memories came to him and when
fhey left the pain of realizing them t 0 be not h.
Ing vn°re than memories provided pitif u j com _
pensatlon. He sighed heavily as he realized hp
stood on the threshold of another change that
the courtship of his aide had finally been suc
eeesful and another household would soon be oc
mpled In Officers' Row, leaving him alone in
this great house.
He wondered If all fathers felt this wav
wondered If he could gladly give his daughter
to another man and be happy watching that
other remould her world. And the time was so
short. That verv boat In the harbor now might
bear the Senate's confirmation of young Gibson'*
promotion to the rank and pay of Captain. The
two men had agreed that the marriage should
wait on that and the General had to admit that
the aide had lived tip to his word. But then UiU
ton alwavs did that.
Again the General shook his shoulders strid
ing briskly to his private office. Only in work
Kmld he get relief from these fits of depression.
And there was always work to be done, for tba
Httle brown people loved their fighting, were
never satisfied with peace and quiet. For a sec
ond he stood at the window, ataring at the great
boat in the harbor, at the dappling waters, rest
ful now save for the faintest movement when
•he soft tropical breeze moved caressingly across
It. And that boat might bring word of his aide'a
promotion. He turned and pressed the annuncia
*— *». r "nmmandlnir th« tioldlsr
-Bythe "MAS TEH
Copyright, 1914* All moving picture right* reserved by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company,
who are now exhibiting this production In leading theaters. Infringe
ments will be ngorousiy prosecuted.
( order " th at come tonight. Lieu
tenant," he said briakly, "you put
or ders and papers from Wash
ington in the safa as I told you 7
you * et l^em ' or
lbe aid * flu " hf,d » Mt, his
hiifsid playing at the gold strap at
mmmm _______"Why—why. General," he stain*
mered, "I left the combination mem- 1
n n»y wm. Lucille^
, lief, ""yoii 'have'already 'Sen here, sir?"
W%. ' 1 Ma "*® " General Love's tone was per
-1 \ | # i/lp y |*ji> \», 4 emptorv, crackling. lie did not relish
I 4 a I \m M delay of any sort. Tome, come! The L
■ -w A aff nftlDwLiildL. VPW paper* 1 gave yon. Lieutenant."
|j|V'Ja The aide fumbled through the pap-
' 1 fißffll li.HW era in the safe, the expression of con- e
iWI fidence on hi* face changing to one of i
f "' , t? '!£ vj ** \Mm blnnk incredulity, then utter dismay as j
v'i liV ! zm2.^/t'// rf 77^ :^^l'T —"~~~i —"T?'t3 a second thorough ransacking failed to t
T l l'm ' Err *•'mm * "*■'> $ {VJilifi mOJ reveal the big envelope. He drew a long v
11 \u| i| JPj|>, I wHWb.«■'• // V breath as he straightened to attention, f
fii'iif ••'( l-j&Bmlf 1»..M «l mrffinl his face very white and drawn, his voics T
mtlf lil'MiW' *t'Hfl' UhIWDIi / Bmll no more than a whisper,
wll. i 'Wkt ' 'V 'y Hjl fe'fi «M "General, thev are—not—there."
WwIVSIP himl'M: Bfni ' fWm " Not ,hpreT ,lcr crackling of
W 'flf Wilßi®' r fire In drr twir« wf« the old man's voice.
•■'Sot there, sir! Then perhaps they too .1
THE AWE US JEALOUS Or THE AW A TOE M „<«<«, ,
them in the order box. There was no t
money there at the time." e
who responded to send Lieutenant Gibson to him. The human body surcharges a room with B
General Love permitted a smils t«. play electricity at times of greatest stress. Rigidly r
about the eorners of his stern mouth as the the two men stared into each other's eres. donht, s
rustle of a woman's skirt reached his ears simul- changing to suspicion, suspicion to accusation on r
taneously with the click of his aide's boots. thfir" faces. But two men had access to that d
Came a brief, whispered conversation outside the safe, but two men knew of th» arrival of the t
door, then the aide stood upon the threshold at orders and papers. General Love suddenly rose, ««
attention, Lucille hiding behind him in an attl- th chair «crapine m*m the ten«e silence. b
tude of mock timidity. The old man bit his "Lieutenant Gibson," he began, hfa volea t
moustache viciously, then smiled broadly. rivaling the sound of the scraping chair, "Lucilla f
"Well?" he demanded, fumbling among the mentioned a moment ago that yon had suddenly
papers that littered hia desk. "What have you acquired sufficient money to jnatify an immediate S
got to sav for yourself, young woman?" marriage." ''
Lucille slipped across the floor, twining a "Yes. sir. A legacy ■ " t
pair of white arms about her father's neck, the General Lore snor+ed his dl«betlef. a
soft velvet of her cheek smoothing his brown. "Leaving the combination of this safe, with o
leathery one. Tt was the wav she had coaxed secrets which are Invnlnnble to the Tnited Htatesj t
him when a child, the way she had never out- with secrets that wouM he of untold value to t
grown or known to fail. t),(> enemies of the Tnited States: with secret! ti
"It's about Dick's promotion. T)»d." she that might mean the sacrifice of not territory a
whispered. "It hasn't come on the Empress and alone but countle** lives—does that not strlka v
that means wait at least another month. If there you a« strange, not to say suspicions that such a s
was any chance of the Senate's failing to con- nreclouc thing should be left In your room. Lien- o
firm It, we wouldn't bother you, but a month la tenant?" The tones of the General's voice had t'
such a long time and—and Dick has some money risen, a sneer vibrating through every syllable. ti
now " His aide did not answer. His llpa opened to *
"Yes—res—ves." the General retorted gruff- speak, then, with one look at the startled, fright- f
ly. a twinkle In his eve that belled the tone ened face of his sweetheart, they napped shut p
"Brit from what T've seen tonight and the last again. His grey eyes were hard and cold at o
week since Harler started his aeroplane maneu- steel, his mouth bttt a thin line, a »ewed-np gash tl
rres. I thought there might be some change in across his face under the dilating nostrils. His n
your plans." silence seemed to anger the commanding officer. li
Lucille flushed irrettllv. her eves flashing a Hia heavy flst slammed down npon the desk. e'
tnockinT smile at the stalwart young officer In "The papers. Lieutenant Gibson—immediately,
the dnorwav. Thin is your last chance." fi
"Mr. Harlev's a verv nice man." she de-> "I placed them In the safe and they are not e<
fended, "even If Dick doe« lea'o"s Re«!de* m r there now. sir." The tones were quiet, cold, de- t<
girl has to be amused somehow when busv old termired. a
generals keep their officers working all day and The General stepped swiftly forward, his flsts fi
nljfbt." clenched as for a blow. With an effart he eom-
The Genera' «tra«<»hterred In his chair. manded himself, then turned and pressed the an- fl
brought back to the work he had planned for nunciator. d
the evening bv her words. Lucille sighed as she "You will go to yonr quarters, sir. and con- ti
caught the difference, knew there wonld be no slder yourself under arrest. The hHmlllathHi of a
use teasing longer when his mind turned to tha an escort will be spared von. there will V
arduous duties which never ceased to pile npon be a guard about the place. li
A faint, little cry of protest sounded eJear m
«rrn ♦vs„v u «»r. d»»r." he said kindly. and distinct sgainwt the dead alienee. The young n
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
LOl/PEQUZ. THE [NTT./BNATZONAL
SPy rOLLOWED BY LUCILLE
" YOCT A/BE 1/NDEIB A/5 BEST ' "
maua j,,!.,... ironi saline a.- he stepped swiftly
toward his sweetheart. General Love's arm reach
ed out and drew the sobbing girl to him. his left
hand outstretched as though the mere touch of
hia aide would lie defiling. Gibson halted in hia
tracks. Again his arnftrose stiffly in salute then,
without a word, he turned, his steps falling
fainter npon the ears of the pair who listened
with leaden hearts. ,
CHAPTER 111.
A Han With Rut One Thought.
J-Jr GO LOTT.EQITE turned the packet of papers
a»>d ordprs over and over In his hand, a
brooding expression In his eves that told his
thoughts were very far awav from the butler
cracksman who had just bronghr them to him. A
massive figure of a man. he seemed to fill th*
room with his pretence, the chair In which h*
sat seemed to have been built shout him. the
room itself with its masrnificept furpishings was
dwarfed by Its occupant Greatest of Interna
tional spvs. the rise and fall of many nationa
might have been placed at his door, rivers of
blood had burst their barriers at th» touch of
those powerful fingers. As the musician plays
from the orrap loft upon the sweet-toned ch<mes
In the eh"ech steenle far above, so did Hnpo
Louberrtie plav upon human emotions, buying, sell
ing. defying, commanding nations to do his will
through his superhuman Inslpht Into the domin
ating characteristic* whleh mastered the rulers
of those nations. A thousand wires there were
throughout th« '••orld 4 hat responded to the mas
ter touch of fhU dark musician whose Instru
ment w»« huijnaultv, a thou«aud wlvs-aud vet
again a thousand, and all—all were directed to
wards revenge against one mm toward * «e de
struction of General T.ove. What hldeoiH mem
ories that name of Tore evoked Tt tent his
thoughts hack to the horrible event of his Ufa,
to the military colletre. the «c»ne of his disc-race
where he had been ernosed to the senrp of his
fellisw classmen. The proofs nt his dishonorable
plotting and treason work, hsd beep furnlsh«d
bv Cadet Sumpter Lore, his successful rival for
the love of a beautiful plrl The conclusive and
nneontrovertlhle proofs of his millt had rpsHted
In his dismissal from th» service and disew'ran
chlsement as a eltlren of his native country.
Bitter and still more maH?»uant grew this
feeling of hatred asa'net this felloe cadet of his
e*rlv manhood davs, this man now General Sump
ter T/iva. as his mind swept hack to the davs of
m never to be forrotten past, the days of hia down
fall and disgrace.
Over and over he turned the stolen papers.
Only another link It was In the chain he was
drawing abo-'t the old army officer Many more
there would be before his work was finished and.
already, his brooding eyes were sighted along th*
TBtnre—plnn^lng—planning —plotting. The but
ler coughed nervously and hia master looked up,
waving him sway without a word of praise. Th*
man had but don* hi* duty. Hugo Loubeqne ex
p f.- ed I® I*' 1 *' - Th ® telephone rang and th* spy
stiffened in his chair, no more the dreamer. Lon>
beque was at work, finishing this detail In hi*
schema of revenge.
CHAPTEB IV.
Tor the Bonor of • Man.*
Jit a world of mental and physical Inequalities
aiich as this there tvould be but scant chancS
for the weakling were It not for a kind Deatlny
taking the cards In his own handtt and stacking
them to make the game more equal. With the
ruins of every hope smashing about her. without
a thought save the need for a confidant and
friend in time of distress, she took up the tele
phone to apeak with her chum, the wife of a
young officer who had only just reached th* post
a month before.
On such slight things do hinge great eons*
qnences; en such trifles may be decided tb*
wrecking of the most cunning plot of the master
mind that dominates nations. For a second, sensi
tized by suffering though her mind was. she did
not catch the significance of the orders being
given by the man whose wire had crossed her
own. Then a feeling of faintnesa caused her to
reel at the power and strength she caught In th*
tones. She listened, conquering her fear in on*
triumphant throb of love for the imprisoned of
ficer. Barley snatches could she get:
"General Love's orders and papers are hi my
possession now. For Shanghai on the Empress
tonight. Have the launch ready."
And then the burring of the Instrument told
her that ahe could hear no more. Tt seemed too
cruel. ioo impossible that her hopes should b«
raised so high only to be shattered. The General**
orders and papers—The Empress for Shanghai
immediately. She rushed to the window, her
heart sinking at sight of the smoke curls spew
ing from the big liner's funnels. The impress was
ready—ready—and her sweetheart was arrested.
Resolution so vague as to be indefinable
urged her across the floor and out the door. She
did not stop to analyze the impulse which urged
her feet across the parade ground, down the
streets of Manila toward the dock. Her bosom
was rising and falling tempestuously with the ef*
fort and a mad despair possessed her as ah*
caught the signs of readiness from the Empress
and saw there was no boat to take her out to
the ship which carried the precious order*.
She beat her tiny fis-ts fiercely together. Tber*
must be a way. There must be. Faintly to her
ears came a humming sound from the boat. It
reminded her of another sound she had heard
recently, a sound she identified with the solution
of her problem—Harley and his aeroplane.
Tt was five mites, but her horse eonld do th*
distance In short time. Faster even than she had
reached the dock did she get to the stables. In
amarement the groom looked at her as he fol
lowed her orders. She leaped Into the saddle and
through the moonlight she dashed, the little mars
accepting this new freak of his mistress with d*»
%bt.
The aviator had onlv fust returned from th*
dance whep sh« flimg herself from the mare and
grasped him fiercely by the "shoulders, shaking
him in the vehemence of her command. He stared
at her unbelievingly as he made out what sh*
desired, but there was something In the entreat
ing eves, the drawn face. that, told her deadly
earnestness. His lips opened for a protest when
she commanded herself and. placing her hand*
upon 'his shoulders, looked deep in the man's eye*.
"Tt means the honor of the man T lov*. -
Harley turned away, turned toward the gtaat
plane.
Lucille was pleading for the honor of th*
man she loved—pleading as only a woman can
plead There at the water's ed«re a sonl stirring
tragedy was enacted. The aviator—a man among
men. "-as belne asked by the Mr' he loved to risk
her life, and Ms own. to save the name of his
atronpevt rival. Tom between conflicting emo
tions. he stared st her. half unbelievingly, aa with
appealing Intensity she pointed wildly out across
the bright hlue wsW to where the maiestle liner
was steaming ran Mlv towards the horlron. Ln
clllij h"«<» breathlessly on the aviator's every te
flon. His Hps onened for protest, hut there wn*
something In the entreating eves he could net
resist BreatVessly the watched him. awaiting
bis decision. There was a curiously twisted smil*
upon his Hp* when he faced her again.
"Get In" he motioned. She ha* won her anneal
Hugo Louheone leaned spalnst the liner's
rati, pencil noised prer the open nage of the diary
which was herded—Lonhenne's Account with Love,
Items wnon that Pare had b»en cancelled, mora
remained clear The hand started to draw throneh
one of these last when, faintly to his ear* reseheo
down a dmmmlnr sound from the heavens.
As his eyes wandered up the great bird In
mid heaven grew more and more distinct, the
figures of a man and woman emerging. A grin
■mile crossed the spy's face as be put the alary
and pencil back In hi* poeket. For Hugo Los
beque was thorough, and the Item might not b*
cancelled yet. (Continued Next S,>.•<«**».*