The Washington herald., 1914-07-05
CHAPTER XXXXV-
4 Tenacious ThieJ.

THERE are butTtwo stages to Inconsistencies
the blank state and the drowsy stage where
scenes transpiring vaguely sensed by the
sufferer only to be obliterated completely as the
murmur OF brook is wiped from memory Of
the ear.
Lucille pieced together happenings vaguely
after that, then dismissed them as OF no &C
count. Nothing appeared to matter. She was
comfortable and partially content. She recol-
lected for fractional space of time being lifted
and carried away by strong, friendly, pitying
arms; the memory passed Immediately with the
coming of impression of swift travel in q
motor car, which in turn gave way to the more
sharply etched impression Of being wheeled
aboard a train in an invalid's chair. Then came
a vision of the lean, powerful face OF Loubeque
close to her own, the gentle whisper of his voice
close to her ear, calling her name over and over
again, while matching the suffering in his tones
was the deeply carved lines Of agony upon his
face. Over and over again the man called to her,
and yet she knew it was not to her he called
but to the mother whom she resembled, the
woman he had loved and lost and whose memory
had stirred up such hatred in his heart that
he had been obliged to spend his life torturing
the daughter of the loved one.
As though something had snapped inside her
brain the voice and face of the man brought her
to s'consciousness keenly acute it was positive
suffering. As had happened many times be-
fore she felt all her sympathy going out to this
man who had proved such bitter enemy who
had brought such catastrophe upon her and
hers, and who would again prove relentless
should she attempt to take advantage of his
temporary weakness to appeal to the better side
of him.
She fought back the words of sympathy that
came to her with effort, even as she closed
her eyes and Hfeigned slumber Her brain was
working at rate that panied her, as though it
was forced to make up its tardiness Loubeque
had caught and rescued her. Undoubtedly he
again in possession OF the papers. Suddenly she
felt that he had conquered his emotions and
moved away. She slowly opened her eyes and
looked about. She was in her own private COM
partment on the train. She was alone
Tremulously fearful yet almost positive her
hands would not encounter that which she
sought, she touched her bosom. The feel Of the
necklace and papers reassured her, drove away
the last mists of unreality Where she was 60
ing she did not know nor care. With the precious
papers she could do anything. simultaneously
with the thought came one of terror. Vague at
first it spread over her spirit like veil that
obliterated all light, all hope She tiptoed to ths
door, locking it, then stood a moment in the
center of the tiny place, her fingers seeking for
the papers which her courage would not allow
her to touch.
As though forcing herself against her will,
She closed her eyes and drew forth the bundle
and necklace. Yes, there could be no doubling
the genuineness of the rubies. Their scintillant
lnster was fairly binding. But she paid them
even her eyes snapped open. Then little cry
of rage and chagrin came from her lips
The packet upon the table had evidently
been nothing but blind. Hugo Loubeque had
taken no chances with the stolen papers even
while awake. She had stolen a sheaf of worth
less waste paper The international spy still held
the whip hand.
She clenched her pretty teeth tightly to-
gether even as she kept repeating to herself over
and over again the question of why-why had he
bothered to pursue her when he knew how she
had been misled; why had he not allowed her
to go her way and leave him safe to transact
the last act in his plan of revenge? Why-why-
why had he taken to himself SO, dangerous an
enemy?