LUCILLE LOVE. The Girl of M 9S ler U
J} Soul Jhrilling Storyofj£ove. devotion. Danger and Jfntrigue
"By the "MA.STEK PE/t"
Copyright, 1914. All moving picture rights reserved by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, who
are now exhibiting this production in leading theaters. Infringements will be vigorously prosecuted.
CHAPTER XXXV.
A Girl With One Idea.
BEHIND her. Lucille could hear the
\ pursuit. Not a second could she
I spare for thought, of regret. The
| wounded, dying man, even though
I lie had given up his life to assist
/ her, was obliterated from her mind
* as she dug tiny heels into the
I 1 f flanks of her mount and urged him
ML# onward.
The moon that had seemed so
friendly but a short while before,
the stars that had seemed friendly candles
placed in their Celestial sockets to light her
way, had now become dread enemies, lighting up
the course she was taking. Only the thick, trop-»
ical vegetation helped her at all, the giant Cacti,
the huge palms with tlieir low liung fronds, the
shadows of the bushes and hedges casting mystic
shapes her*, there, and everywhere and bewild
ering those who followed.
Times, above the ringing of her horse'# hoofs,
she would l hear the shouts of those behind her.
Now and then a message of lead would' whine its
dreadful tale into her ears, but all these were
growing fainter, less distinct with every leap of
the animal she bestrode. Remained now but the
last line of pickets she knew Loubeque had
posted about the ranch. If only she could get
past that line then it would be a desperate un
dertaking for the one who met her on neutral
ground.
It had 1 been a bitter struggle to bide her
time. Often she had felt the temptation to run
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
portunity.
And just when everything appeared hopeless,
when the long road was darkest, love had planted
its seed within the heart of Loubeque's follower
and urged him.to the sacrifice of honor and life
to her escape. Surely she could not fail 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 brazen tongue. She looked back,
frightened. Rockets of vari-col'ored flames were
criss-crossing the blue vault of night, a myriad
of man-made shooting stars retailing her flight
to every one of the band.
Desperate though she knew they were, from
these signs, a feeling of despair instead of con
fidence grew steadily in her heart. Despite the
speed of her mount, the limits of Loubeque's
great ranch had not yet been reached. And after
the ranch —if there was to be any "after"—what
then?
As though in answer to the unspoken ques
tion, simultaneously with the looming of the
bayonet fence before her, two men leaped from
the shadows, springing at the horse's bit. The
beast swerved violently, almost unseating her
and tossing the man on his left into a cactus,
■where he rolled, howling in painful rage, as the
needles pierced him. The second man had a firm
hold upon the horse's head. Lucille saw. he had
caught the brute by the nostrils with his 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's head
shot back jerkily, his eyes glaring glassily into
hers, then he staggered back, clutching futilely
for the weapon she had seized.
With a hard, trickling, little laugh, she
clubbed the weapon and drew the sight roughly
across her horse's neck, scratching him so fierce
ly he fairly leaped over the distance that separ
ated her from the broad gate beside which the.
two sentinels had stood. As he darted madly
through, the whine of a bit of lead passed so
close she could feel the breath of it upon her
cheek.
Something primitive within her was roused,
a wild, fierce joy of combat which she had never
ielt before. Leaning far forward upon the
brute's neck, she turned and fired squarely at
the spurt of flame that was leaping towards her
Otit of the night. She saw the man leap into the
flame, his arms outstretched as a broad jumper
throws himself at the tape, 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
Slightest slackening of the mad pace to which
she originally set her mount. He was lathered
with foami but she had 110 pity on him. 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 by the delight of feel
ing herself able to be self-protecting among the
most, desperate of men.
Before, unconsciously, she had feared the
potentialities of Hugo Loubeque's strength. The
mental power of her beauty and innocence. Now,
she knew these things to be but a cloak with
which she had masked a woman, unrecognizable
even to herself. She feared him no more, feared
his threats 110 more. An old saying she had
heard a grizzled veteran of her father's command
once utter came back to her as she. looked at
the heavy weapon 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 now on she had every advantage. She
was free and she knew where the stolen papers
and documents were secreted in the mysterious
house of inexplicable disappearing rooms and
stairs. She had the diary of Hugo Loubeque in
her possession, and she had the ruby necldace
Which was equivalent to vast, wealth. She had
the outward seeming of guilelessness, was girl
ish and delightfully effeminate, but she knew
the power of the claws she had, and her eyes
rested fondly 011 the revolver, even as she urged
her horse to greater speed.
Across the tractless#f>lain she rode with only
the moon and stars looking down upon her, a
wild, f.erie figure of a bareheaded girl. Behind
the pursuit had died away andi before there was
nothing save a slender ribbon of water that the
moon buried its face iu contentedly.
She heard voices, low pitched, j*t 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,
she looked down upon an adobe shack, before
which a little squad of barefooted Mexicans *
loafed idly, their brown hands lazily supporting
old-fashioned Springfield rifles, such as she re
called the soldiers of Uncle Sam to have carried
in the old days.
From where she watched she suddenly no
ticed a stir among the men. From the interior
of the shack stepped 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 analyze, Lucille listened eagerlv. *
breath coming in quick, eager gasps as she over
heard their daring plot to cross the river and
stampede the corral of an American ranchman.
'A little cry of delight came from her lips "as she
r
heard their allusions to the United States cav
alry they must sift through before hoping for
success.
Her eyes were glittering with excitement
when she stole cautiously to the adobe shack,"
peering inside slowly y and carefully before 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 be on the 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 cross the Rio Grande attired as she
was.
• Swiftly she changed, for every moment now
was' precious to others as well as to herself.
Daughter of General Sumpter Love, she was afire
with rage 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 anfl
the, broad straw sombrero, with its weight of
silver cording and tassels made it easy for her
feminine features to be unrecognizable even M
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 tracks any moment
and she had killed two birds with one stone
while changing her costume. Cautiously toward
the glittering ribbon of river she rode, her eyes
always alert for any sign of the Mexican forag
ing party.
The horse hesitated at the bank of the
stream but Lucille boldly 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
and dishevelled she stood upon the "right sid#
of the Rio." Up and down the bank she looked
for signs of the border patrol but none was in
sight. Breathlessly she remounted and rode up
and down. Still no welcome challenge from a
soldier. But in the distance she could make out
a tiny speck.
The chances were it was one of the Mexicans.
But something must be done if the ranchman
was to be 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 recognized the man for one of the plotters.
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 it joined with two others.
Gradually, after a few miles journeying, a great
blaze shot high in air, a blaze punctuated by
shots and wild cries.
The three men cruelly dashed their spurs
into the sides of their horses. Came a thunder
of sound as a great bunch of cattle from the
remuda of the American were driven toward
her by the fiendish Mexicans, Lucille saw the
danger she was in of being trampled underfoot
by that wild herd, driven to frenzy by the flames
and popping revolvers from behind them. She
urged her own horse to the right, escaping just
as the remuda whizzed by her in a wild riot of
sound. Here and there the Mexicans had as
sembled 1 themselves, always alert, marvelous
horsemen all, keeping the frightened beasts 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 had passed. As she
turned, she almost collided with a long-mous
tached, grizzled man, driving bullet after bullet
after the marauders. She did not speak, did not
even rein in, but urged her own horse beside his,
drawing her revolver.
The ranchman uttered a bewildered ejacula
tion as he saw she was of his own blood.
"I was trying to get there in time to warn
you," she gasped. "There's a chance of driving
them into the patrol, if you know where it is."
Again he grunted his amazement at her
woman's voice.
Without another word, as though complete
understanding had been established, he waved
to the right. She drew her revolver as her fresh
ened horse ate up the ground beneath his feet.
Time and again she fired, 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 a 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 toget>..-
facing that solitary figure in olive khr'_,
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, carbines in token of surrender. The
sentry waited until Lucille and the ranchman
came up then listened to their story, at the end
demanding their presence before his command
ing officer.
The girl listened silently to the expressions
of gratitude bestowed upon her by the ranch
man, then watched him as, following the cap
tives he entered the house to which thev had
been brought. It took but a little while for the
sentry to emerge with his captives, then she
caught her breath with a cry of delight as she
recognized a young officer whom she had known
in the Philippines. He beckoned her silently,
seating himself at his desk and writing busily
for a moment before nodding briskly that she
should speak. A dancing imp of mischief was
in her eyes as she uttered his name.
"Lieutenant Carmody, don't you remember
me?"
The young officer's eyes opened as wide as
his mouth. 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 clearly recall her. •
"Lucille Love!" he gasped, half rising from
his seat, his hands clutching the table edge so
tightly his knuckles glinted a blueish black in
the light from the incandescent bulb. "Lucille
Love or her ghost."
"A very tired and hungry ghost," she
laughed delightedly. "Just try me and' see."
As he summoned his orderly ,pud gave him
instructions to bring instantly some canned
stuff,. Lucille hurriedly sketched out her adven
wres to him, eagerly persuading him when his
face showed that he half believed she had taken
leave of her senses. His expression was very
grave when she finished.
"I suppose you know that Gibson was per-
■» 9
tJAHRISBURG TELEGRAPH
inittcd 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 close contact
with one who could realize what all these things
meant..
"The 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."
Lucille's Eyes Were Glittering With Excitement.
"And the people think that I—"
"You have long 1 since been given up for
drowned. Harley told of taking you aboard the
Empress. The wreck is common knowledge, of
course. 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 things
better than any man could do them. The grief
of 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 suc
cessful."
"But—" he protested.
"No," she shook her head firmly. "You have
no idea -how dangerous a game it is, working
against Hugo Loubeque. 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 110 papers. Can't you
see what it means to me, what it would mean to
be compelled to stop the fight 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 ruined 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 sw-ift. 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 rto 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's too much for me," -he muttered.
"Of course it is," she laughed 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 are 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. His diary shows that. I know that."
"Well?" The officer unwillingly agreed.
"What do you propose doing? Isn't there some
y way in which I can help you?"
"Yes," she answered promptly, "you can let
me have money. You can tell me how to dispose
of one of these valuable rubies, or all of them,
and you can 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,
jewels which would tempt the most honest wen
to forsake the paths of rectitudo. Then he
t 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 she felt alarm lest he had allowed her
to miss a train, his reassurance and the sight 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 rubies about her neck. Several hours later
she boarded* the train, assisted by a worried
looking young officer, her heart light and gay
for she felt within herself that the journey that
had been so long and so hazardous was finally
nearing an end; that the familiar, dear faces
would surround her 011 every side.
1
■file 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 had 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 Oion Reward.
crouched back in his compartment,
feigning slumber while the porter made up
his 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 his 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 Hps
took 011 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 Btation were al
most in his 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. XXXVII.
The Colorless Passenger With a Scar.
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
nize 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 been 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 1 drove away
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 cavernous blackness
which she could not describe even to herself.
Suddenly the reason for her being upon the
train came to her and her hands sought her
breast, then her throat. With a little cry she
sta K'K p red back into the arms of the women.
Robbed!" 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.
'^ r . v an d think, my dear," one of them plead.
TTou have been asphyxiated—the light-socket in
your section was loose and the escaping gas—"
Lucille did not answer. Summoning all her
itrength, she turned the knob of the door and
Bought 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
Francisco except a search of the car.
Lucille went with him from place to pIBO%
■canning every face. But she knew who had
done this thing. When she fought against tlm
fingers of the drpg they had been the fingers of
Thompson. When she had slipped from peaceful
■lumber into the drugged stupor it waa Thomp
son she had been bravely fighting.
But Thompson—where had he disappeared?
What had become of the man? She knew it
been him, knew it even though the face aha
looked into while she fought had been aearrad
recently, showed a white streak that gave a
sinister expression to his otherwise smug M—-
tenance.
She wondered if that streak had been
bullet-made one of the Mexican who, for km 01
her, had given up his life out there on the ranoh
of Loubeque. Whether or no, she waa
that Thompeon was the thief.
"We know who the thief waa, SQsa," re
ported the conductor a little later. "He had the
compartment facing your aection. The screen la
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 notloe
especially andr-a livid scar across the aide of his
face," she murmured.
The man looked at her in surprise.
"Thompson," she murmured, "Yea, It waa
Thompson. T 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 XXXVin.
The Keen Eyes of Loubeque.
fJUGO LOUBEQUE cursed profoundly to him
self as he paced up and down the floor of
his San Erancisco house. Erom below came the
sounds of his servants, searching into every
nook and l 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 sign had
come to light of their resting place/
He frowned heavily as he went to the win
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 were 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 up 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 fix 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 host
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 olothes. 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 smlta
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 waa
that of a man quite positive that everything was
more than well.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Best Laid Plant.
T j 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 t
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 his every feature, the hateful smile upon
his face. He extended his hand, bowing grace
fully, sardonically.
"The packet of papers, Miss Lucille, if yov
please," he murmured.
(Continued Next Week.*
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