River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-10-01

down He tossed his bag far out from
him. then slipped partially through the
window TIL lights of the station
were almost IN his eyes when he Jump
ed. 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.
Lucille felt herself struggling with a
desperate enemy, one whose fingers
were of steel as they fastened them
selves about her throat, grasped at her
breath and held it despite her utmost
efforts. Even in the effort to waken
unsuccessful though it was. she seem
ed to recognize the calm. imperturba-
BILE, buSinesslike features of Thompson.
Then she felt sensation of ease and
comfort and peace such as had not
been hers for a long time, and she al
lowed herself to drift away upon the
gentle 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 chang
ed to a saffron shade Her head ached
so fearfully that she pressed her fever
ish palms to her temples to keep it
from bursting. Her throat and mouth
felt as though she had been subsisting
upon diet of cotton soaked in OIL
She staggered to her feet and stood,
daZed and bewildered, in the aisle of
the car. The conductor turned her
over to two women, who stood with
her upon the platform, supporting her
trembling figure while the fresh air
drove away the fumes of chioroform
and gas to which she had been sub
jected.
First she felt the rush of the train
the dotting of lights in the distance, the
rush of the train past the lights, only
to come upon 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 little cry she staggered
back into the arms of the women.
"Robbed!' she gasped Il have been
robbedr'
The women looked at one another
pityingly, then incredulously and final
" believingly as they caught the pallol
and sanity on the girls face. Sum
mOning all her strength, she turned the
knob Of the door and sought the con
ductor. He looked incredulous at the
girls charge but investigation showed
that the light had been tempered with
Nothing. however. could be done be
fore reaching San Francisco except
search of the car.
Lucille went with him from place to
place, scanning every face. But she
knew who had done this thing When
she fought against the fingers of the
drugs they had been the fingers of
Thompson. When she had slipped
from peaceful sumber into the drug
ged stupOr it was Thompson she had
been bravely fighting
But ThompsOn-where had he disap
peared? What had become Of the
man?
I'VE know who the thief was, miss
reported the conductor a little later
"He had the compartment facing your
section. The screen is cut out He
must have dropped out the window
after working his game"
Lucille smiled family
"A medium sized man. rather dark,
plainly dressed, with features that no.
body would notice especially and-a
livid scar across the side of his face"
she murmured
The man looked at her in surprise.
Thompson" she murmured. Eyes;
IL was Thompson. was positive from
the first"
AS the conductor corrObOrated her
description 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 clinched her teeth firmly. Her
purpose was firm as ever, her rage a
bit higher.
Hugo Loubeque cursed profoundly to
himself as he paced up and down the
floor of his San Francisco house. From
below came the sounds of his servants
searching into every nook and Granny
of the mysterious house for the packet
of papers and documents he knew Lu-
ellie had hidden here.
He frowned heavily as he went to
the window and looked down upon the
street, deserted now save for the old
woman who trudged toward the place.
She carried basket of fruit over her
arm and LoubeQue smiled grimly as
she disappeared from his sight, then
reappeared after being turned away
from the door by the servant.
AS he idly studied the woman some
thing about her caught and held his