River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-09-24

deaths. The thing was so deadly that.
Jealous though she was in her object
of saving her sweetheart. Lucille knew
she could never bring herself to the
point of making public such a docu-
ment She had the rubies from the
throat of the hideous idol in the sub
terranean cave Times without num-
Der she regarded the glowing stones.
shuddered at the blood red rays that
Knocked her from each facet. imagining
the heart of each to have borrowed
some of its ulster from the rivers of
blood that had been she'd through the
lure of its mocking light.
Apparently she was free to come and
go about the place as she pleased. but
the very mockery Of such freedom
made her real situation pail the more
Absorbed In the hopeless task OF find
ing some means of escape she took to
having her meals served in her room.
eating scarcely anything, so engrossed
was she with her thoughts
On the fourth day, as she sat beside
the window, dejectedly looking out
upon the we'll nigh deserted street.
she was suddenly aware Of a shadow
falling upon the glass. She sprang to
her feet, turned to face Loubeque. The
spy was not smiling now Instead
there was tender expression on his
face, look of sympathy. In his hands
he held newspaper and instantly she
OWNED 1t held something that would
hurt her. She nodded slowly. catching
her breath with an effort. fighting back
her nameless terror.
"Lucille"- The spy's eyes fell be-
fore the fear in the steady ones that
met his own. Lucille you are too
young yet to know that in the compile
ton of any great work always there
are those who must suffer" He stop
ped, evidently finding it hard to con-
tinue.
Il would not harm you, Lucille;
would not cause you one moments
grief or misery, physical or mental, for
anything in the world. But l would
allow not even the-yes. the love bear
you because Of your likeness to your
mother to stand in the way Of destroy
ing you utterly should you attempt to
get in my path. And so l am very
happy today-very happy for myself.
while am at the same time very I'M
happy because Of your distress
know you cannot understand my feel
ing. only wish you to know that you
have stolen the fruits, the sweets of
my victory"
"victoryY' She whispered the word
aloud.
Silently he put the newspaper in her
ly, staring at. the black, loaded type
heading the column, staring at the ia
miliar. the beloved name of her sweet
heart there. When she looked up
Hugo Loubeque was gone, had disap-
peared. But that did not matter to her
now. The nature Of his disappearance
did not even impress hsr. Nothiag
mattered. The spy's victory wss ap-
preaching completion.
Lucille looked about her wildly. She
beat her tiny fists against the window.
then stopped at the utter futility Of it.
She looked down. and her eyes stared
wide into those of a pedestrian upon
the sidewalk. 1t was the captain Of
the ship who had been her friend She
waved her hand. knowing from his ex-
preston that he recognized her, that
he had been hunting her. He made
motion as of writing, and she nodded
swiftly. then darted toward the little
dressing table.
And there she sat, dumb with misery.
In the delight of seeing q friends face
at the psychological moment, when her
despair, her misery. her desperation.
was at its height, she had not thought
d simple thing like pencil. a pen. ink.
paper, might be necessary. In despair
Lucille looked about her. Paper she
had. She tore the blank strip off the
top of the newspaper page. tore it so
that the headline regarding Lieutenant
Gibson appeared beneath it. She star
ed helplessy in the mirror, her teeth
fastened viciously in her lower lip, so
viciously that when she withdrew
them a tiny drop of red blood appeared
upon the delicate skin. If only she had
pSh(4l Va PCh, SOAlCLulllk W WIItC
with
The blood drop fell upon the paper,
carminfng it. Lucille gasped delight
eddy. Her hand seized a pin from the
writing table and dabbIed at the blot.
1t had dried up. Nerving herself she
lightly jabbed the pin into the ball Of
her thumb. feverishly writing upon
the blank paper. How painful it was!
How swiftly the blood dried! But she
muSt-She must
Prisoner of Loubeque-Here-H Help
Read head
She swayed slightly. She could en-
dure the torture no longer. 1t was
sufficient. He could piece together
what be read, what she had told him
aboard the ship. But how to reach
him with the fragmentary strip Of
paper? Tearing the necklace from
about her throat she detached a jewel
swiftly and wra nned tho ctr;n of Da-