The Washington herald., 1914-07-12

6eque.
"And that is what you would say-would
tell?" His voice was not harsh, not even indig-
nant, merely curious.
That's what" Thompson Strengthened, q
touch of braggadocio about his very figure.
Slowly, ineXorably the fingers of Hugo Lou
beque reached out and grasped the mans wrists
Slowly. ineXoraby. he pressed the cold metal of
the automatic into the useless palm. Slowly, in
exorably that weaPon-bearing hand was lifted,
lifted until it pressed against the blueing lips Of
the thief. then stopped. Loubeque's voice was
soft purring soothing.
"Open the teeth, my old friend-open them
or I'll knock them out. Put the gun inside your
mouth. It's simple-only second-then longer
trip than you've ever taken before. Don't fight
it's useless-you should know that Surely you
won't resist and make it hard for your master.
Just think-if you DON'T might be called-a
murderer-while-i you follow instructions-itH
Just suicide"
With every SYLLABLE he rendered the wrists
of the struggling man more feeble, forced the steel
muzzle of the gun more and more harshly against
the tender gums. As he pronounced his final
Judgment, the Judgment he hoped would prove
that of a coroner, the muffled shot beat against
the walls of the room. Thompson writhed, then
straiehtened Loubeque held tightly to the wrists
until rigor mortis gripped them about the weapon.
He rose slowly. rubbing his hands softly to-
fensively filthy. At the door he looked back and
smiled at the silent Thing that had but a moment
Not so old Loubeque," he murmured; mot
so old, after all"
CHAPTER XXXXX
Lucille Finds Eduesdroppin0 Has More Disdd-
rdntd0es Than One.
AS Lucille stood in the doorway of Loubeoue's
"a room, her eyes always keenly suspicious to
the slightest trihe when about the man, obsery-
ing that as he talked with her, his eyes were
fastened upon the gloved hand. Instantly it had
struck her as strange he should wear a glove in
his room. Then she caught the reflection of his
eyes and saw the mirror flashing in that palm,
the eyes of the man watching the curtains lead
ing to his bed chamber. They swayed slightly
Then she made her adieus for she knew Loubeque
not alone.
In her room she paced the floor nerv-
ously. What did it mean? Someone had entered
Loubeques room, was spying upon him, and the
surreptitious presence had been discovered. The
visitor was under surveillance. But who could
that visitor be; what was his motive?
Thompson Gibson; Gibson-Thompson. Her
sweetheart and the butler thief both might have
motives for such entry. That it related to the
stolen papers she had doubt. Suppose they
taken by some other just at this last mo-
ment. But the man behind the curtains had
little if any chance against Loubeque, now he had
discovered them.
1t was not curiosity merely the fixed de-
termination to any and all risks before allow
ing any move in the game on this last day to be
outside her knowledge that made her place her
head outside the window She heard the mocking
voice of Loubeque but dmly-stiIl it his
voice and surchsrged with menace. But how could
she gain an entrance, how what was trans
piring?
She quietly stepped to the fire escape. Two
high and wide lodges separated her from the fire
escape outside the spys suite. She looked down
and shuddered. Black bugs bursts of vapor burst
ing in their wake; tiny mannikins walked about
below. She would not dare Came remem-
brance of herself walking across vine ropes with
swapping wild beasts beneath her. She dared
them-why not again?
She dared not look down, dared not think,
dared do nothing save hesve a sigh of relief when
she found herself safe once more outside the
spy's window. It had been easy after all She
looked back and shuddered then stopped and
peeked within the room, strangling little ex-
preston of rage and shame as Thompson's threat
came to her ears. Breathlessly she watched the
men struggling upon the floor, unable to under