The Washington herald., 1914-05-24

open, he was gone and she was conscious Of BE-
ing in strange place, black figure rising from
the corner, then slumber again.
Instinct forced her finally from the letharpic
slumber, the instinct common to all higher forms
OF animals of protecting ones treasure. Her hands
groped at her neck where a slight tug had wax
ened her. Something brushed across her hand
when she forced her eyes open. the figure she re-
membered to have seen in the corner was still
squattng there, a figure that might have been in
animate save for the burning eyes fastened upon
her! Nervously she fumbled at her neck, the feel
of the ruby necklace meeting her fingers and
'puzziing her for a moment, before 1t started\a
chaotic chain of recollections that finally mar
shalled themselves in semblance of order.
Out of the derium of fever she fought re-
membrance of all that had happened since Hugo
Loubeque dragged her back in the boat. recalled
wildly from the subconscious brain that had at
tanned ascendancy during that narrowing period,
his tender nursing of her. his denial, his stern
self-mastery when the blazing sun, the thirst,
the hopelessness would otherwise have compelled
him to give up the fight. And then the fishing
boat the blessed relief of water, the breaking of
the fever and consequent repairing of burned
out nerve tissues, the arrival in this house and
the spy's leave taking.
cat and mouse game she played for two
days with the silent Chinese woman nursing her,
two days wherein she could feel the thrill OF
Quickened blood Strengthening her. The woman
had discovered the necklace and Lucille knew
she constantly after it. Short periods Of
time there were when the nurse would sleep
Justify and then Lucille walked warily up and
power of locomotion She was able to sleep with
one eye open, the saying has 1t. That neck
lace meant everything to her in this strange
country. 1t meant the ability to travel, to do
anything she pleased in her fight to regain the
precious papers that meant honor and liberty to
her falsely accused sweetheart.
And with the return of strength came ter
ribe uneasiness, a great fear. Hugo Loubeque,
tender though his care of her had been, had left
Immediately she was out of danger and she knew
his motive was to seek the papers that Captain
WethereIl had stolen.
II was dawn of the third day that the nurse
slipped from the room slipped out with
stealthiness that somehow sent a chill through
the girl and made her straighten bolt upright in
bed, then, as the door closed spring toward the
chair beside the door. For full minute she
listened her every sense concentrating and lend
ing itself to her hearing. And then the soft pat
ter of sippered feet upon the floor without made
her stiffen with resolution, she hid herself so
that the opened door would secure her from
sight. She waited, her heart humping so vo-
lently she feared it might be overheard by the
whispering pair in the hallway. Then the door
opened, an inch at a time, silently, cautiously,
while the woman slipped inside the room, looked
at the blanket upon the couch where Lucille
should have been then beckoned to q slender,
yenow-robed young Chinaman, who entered even
more noselessly than the nurse had done. The
girl in hiding shuddered at sight OF the vicious
knife the young Chinaman passed the woman,
shuddered for the fate that would have been
hers for the premonition OF impending dis
aster that had been hers so short time before.
The man muttered cultural deep in his throat
he crouched his long, yellow fingers closing
and unclosng the while he crouched, watching
the woman. Evidently the revolver he carried
bothered him for he placed it upon the chair.
Lucille's fingers darted out, closing upon the
welcome butt just the woman leaped across
the distance that separated her from the couch,
upon which the blanket bulged deceptiyely driv-
ing the ugly knife down with q force that sent
her off her balance. The man leaped forward
with shrin cry that Immediately mingled with
the enraged jargon Of the nurse as she found she
had been fooled. Lucille knew she could hide no
longer and stepped from behind the door, the
revolver leveled upon the pair, her voice shaking
despite herself
The man cringed, crouched away from her
but the sight of the girl there seemed to enrage
the woman completely. Brandishing the knife
wildly she leaped forward, then halted, stone
still, a ridiculous expression of panied surprise
on her face as she lurched from side to side
simultaneously with the discharge of the gun,
then slipped to the floor in ridiculous heap.
The man crouched still further away and Lucille
advanced upon him.
Somehow she felt no compunction now, felt
no fear. only felt the necessity for immediate
haste in getting away. She signalled to the fel-
low that he should get out OF his robes instantly.
sounda Of sctivity came tom AveFy difestion.