The log cabin Democrat., 1914-12-11
CHAPTER xxx. When tho Owl Hoots,

came even before he expected A | loud changing of bells through the 1 house punctuated the silence. ~ changing that pierced through the 1 treble sound of the doorbell Hugo Loubeque sprang to his feet swiftly The mask of his face dropped and showing that face keen. eager. bit perturbed.
 The changing sound was augmented by the rushing of feet She had nev- CT dreamed there could be so many in the house. More like a warren it was than anything else. Whispers sound ed from the halls. But she gave them ! all no heed. She was swaying gently to and fro. her body fighting against l the faintness that was causing her knees to refuse support her eyes wide with delighted recognition and 1 love and disbelief, and then she open. ed her lips, trying to cry out aloud the name of the man she loved, the man she had worked s, hard for, the man who stood in the street below. staring up at tue very window at which she stood But all that came from her | lips was the faintest sound tremulous 1 pitiful: the whisper of his name Before sine could regain control of | herself even realize that she really was seeing her sweetheart here in deSh and blood. the hand of Loubeque was about her waist. drawing her gently. but firmly, away from the win dow. But even as the easement shut out her view of him she caught the | lightning flash of recognition as her appeal drew Gibson's own eyes to that window. and she knew be bad seen | her
 | LOubeque restrained her firmly The ! changing of the bells throughout the house ceased instantly just as loud l hammering on the door below rose Came 2 flying rush of men within the loom. filling 1t completely. LouDeque swiftly glanced about at the anXioGi faces. then nodded.
 The tunnel." he cried sharply | Suddenly Lucille became aware that the room was shooting downward like a giant elevator. She glanced about 1 her. sick with apprehension. upon the faces so close to her own in the mar row confines. A breath of rank cool air famed her cheek from out the darkness. LOubeQue's hand was upon her wrist. his voice softly advising her l to follow him. Far in the distance a little speck of light reached out toward them.
 1 For what seemed an endless distance she was led by the spy, with always that rush of feet behind. The light was growing broader brighter Lou l beque released his hold upon her. She could see him reach and press harshly against something. door evidently. for the light slowly heightened and broadened Daylight and a foreign street!
 A bitter sob broke from her lips as she looked at Loubeque and realized how infinitely far away she was from l the man she loved.
 Days upon the desert-blistering days with merciless sunlight pouring from the molten kettle overhead. burning savagely at the impervious sand and cacti that alone had resisted the fire so many ages.
 Nights of cold. unwinking stars stars pitiless in their steady undeviat- ing scrutiny as the glover of sun: nights where the desert breeze search ed out the marrow of the bones: nights surrounded by the minions of Lou beque, by Loubeque himself; nights of sleeplessness for herself, but nights filled with the sounds of the slumbers of her captOrs.
 Save Hugo LoubeQue. Loubeque never slept. Lucille saw he had steel. ed himself against her VOW. that never again would she be able to penetrate his pitilessness in the pursuit of his previous revenge.
 Close at hand was the hour for him to strike. ready at hand were the means. What was his object in seek ing Mexico and the COnstitutionalist leader she had no means of knowing That there was great object. one which she must defeat at any and all costs. she knew.
 It was the eighth day he ran into 8 foraging party sent out by Villa in ad vance of his main army. Much as she |