The daily sentinel., 1914-07-01

never working through anv motive save his own
impetus kind face, the woman had vet the
possible outcome of the weak. unhappy girl she
had captured so boldly seemed 10 make NOT tb,
slightest impression upon her Only al the end
of their drive, when the chauffeur opened the
door did she speak.
ANY attempt TO escape would be quite use
less, she said in Il duh, mechanical tone of
voice. If you are wise YOU viii not make the
situation any more difficult for yourself by being
foolish"
As the motor car ceased prrripo a+ the crrb
the woman pressed the door bell Came a scuf-
fling along the hail. a shadow tiuttered there 4
second, then the door swung open. Lucille
stepped across the threshold with her captor,
surprised TO see no one in sight. Apparently the
door had opened of its own yolition. Before her
was straight stairway appearing to end at the
second flight. To her left was a living room
into which she was ushered Again the woman
pressed bell.
You will want some tea and cakes" she
said quietly.
Lucille nodded, studying her surroundings
keenly What change from the place she would
have expected and yet how natural that the in
ternational spy should choose Just such an un-
pretentious place from which to pull his wires.
play upon the strings Of the worldl How typical
OF Hugo Ioubeque was every detail
She turIed at 4 suggestive clink of china.
She had heard enter the room. vet in
the shadows, she attentive butler hold
ing the tea tray while the mysterious veiled
woman poured The man moved toward her
moved silently, swiftly, surely. There was some
thing about his manner. his perfection strik-
inSly reminiscent OF some she had seen be-
fore. He stood before her and even as he bent
his head murmuring u query as to her prefer
ence regarding sugar or lemon she recognized
him.
"Thompsonl" she gasped Thompson! You
here What are you doing here?"
Yes, Miss Lovel Thank you. Miss | am
employed by Mr.. Loubeque, Miss Love! Thank
your
She stared at him incredulouslv. at the
mask of face, upon which not the flicker of
expression was stamped And then gradually she
understood knew who had stolen the papers from
her fathers safe realized how completely they
had all been fooled by this cunning servant.
She shrank away from him US though from the
plague, but still he showed no sign of anger
chagrin.
60 away~ she muttered brokenly "Go
away! | cant bear to look at you"
"Ges, Miss. Thank your'
When she looked up he had disappeared
Swiftly she gathered herself together. Such
childish tricks must not be permitted to shntter
her courage for even an instant. She must strike
while her capture to them all before
a system of surveillance had been thoroughly
established. She slipped stealthiy to the door
through which She had entered the house. In
the nan she looked cautiously about, then put
her foot upon the stairs and proceeded TO move
10 the first flight Midway she was paralyzed
into inactivity by finding the stairs to be in
motion.
Horror seized her Then once more she
braced herself. Only another trick of Loubeque's
it was. The stairs seemed to fold up within
themselves like miniature esealader. They
grey steady once more and the girl looked about
unfurnished room Of stone wall. But she did
not see this wall did not mark the lack OF dec
orations or furniture in the room, for com
pany of men formed a crescent facing her. one
tall figure standing apart from the rest, immov-
able, silent.
The solitary figure lifted his hand. Then,
frozen with terror though she was Lucille saw
that each figure was swathed in black robe
and that a plain, silk mask of black covered
every face. Masks through which threatening
eyes glared out upon her. masks light they
fiattened against the wearer's features with
hideous significance
Slowly the company passed her pausing be-
fore her to peer narrowly into her face, as
though impressing her every feature indelibly
upon their minds. When she regained her pow
ers of observation the line had passed, had
paused and disappeared. She looked about her.
She alone.