Arizona republican., 1914-08-28

gered lnto MS MASTER just entering the ROOM
Hugo Loubeque waited, watching the furious
girl and the ruffled butler curiously. smile
curved his lips as he turned toward her.
''You object to- the druught, I presume.
assure you it has no i'll effects and will make
the journey of pleasure instead of weari-
ness Then he whirled upon the butler, his face
hard as granite, his teeth clipping off each word
like steel particles.
What are you doing here?"
II to see if the draught had taken ef-
feet" silky murmured the butler.
by what authority"
asking your pardon, sir, but suggested it
and was afraid it might have bad effect
grew to take an interest in Miss Lucille in
Manila, sir, and did not wish"
Loubeque frowned heavily but cut him short
with an impatient wave of his hand. Lucille felt
q sudden impulse to tell him the truth but con-
qucred it swiftly. She could fight Thompson
much easier than this man. She must keep her
council The spy turned to her again.
"You did not take the draught?'
"No"
Il assure you on my word as gentleman
that it will cause you inconvenience. Further,
l hoped not to be obliged 10 tell you that if
you do not take it willingly, you will be COM
PEELED to get it down."
She bent her head docilely. Resistance was
out of the question and, after all, she must save
her strength to fight the big things. As he turned
to give order to the butler she interposed
Il will do as you ask" she said quietly.
But / would prefer woman's bringing it to
have the constant attendance of woman while
it is effective
Hugo Loubeque bowed slowly, and, waving
his servant before him left the Lucille,
ten minutes later accepted the fragile glass from
the mysterious woman who had abducted her at
the wharf. After moments hesitation q shud-
der at the enticing colors shed from the stuff,
she drained the glass.
r-comfort-peace-. She gave her
self up to the drug with prayer; u prayer she
felt SO certain would be Needed that in her
sluinber, a smile parted her lips, played about
her conntenance. And when she awoke she was
at Loubeque's Mexican ranch.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
At the Wishing Well
oW, rambling houses of Spanish architecture
dotted the great area which the curously fan
tastic, wholly artistic fence enclosed The
grounds laid out in orderly fashion. bloom
Ing like the Garden Of Eden with rIotous pro
fusion of flowers that rested their heavy pe:-
fumes lazily upon the ether, blending and har-
n'onizing yet never cloying and never oppressive,
Monstrons cacti, tiny hedgerows, minute sword
palms, bayonet trees everything seemed to have
sought this soil. Never suggestion of the lack
OF originality which the landscape gardner gives
estate, but showing decided character that
would Eafe told the most undiscerning something
of the owners character.
This Loubeque! Always had she
ciated him with the manner of her knowing him.
Times he had been tender, other times he had
been cruel always was he crafty, cunning cour-
ageous, ohe-ideal man. But he seemed all
poet, painter. She could hear the softened tones
of his voice as, with some of his companions, he
wandered about the grounds, tenderly explain
in, 10 them the history, the beauty OF the How
ers the rare species he had imported for the
place. Always would he show tender regard
for the beauty Uf Nature which struck Lucille
a. almost feminine. She feared this man more
than she did the one Of the diary, feared him
because she was learning that the warm climate
sapping her Of her purpose, forcing lethargy
upon her more powerful than bands of iron.
1t was after of these rambles that she
noticed signs of some impending change about
the ;nenage. 1t while she watched the spy
wandering about the gardens of morning, won
dering at the tenderness with which he would
bend to the flowers, inhaling the fragrance, ex-
aiming their buds and blossoms, that he sud-
denly walked toward her, entering the house to
shortly enter her room.
II am leaving today he began abruptly, all
the nature-lover gone from his cold, stern man.
ner. again ask you to tell me where you put
the papers
'Then they haven't been found" She
stopped abruptly realizing that her delight had
revealed quite much as his demand.
Loubeque shook his head, studying her face
keenly, evidently recognizing the steel of un-
breakable nature. He held out his hand and
clasped her own, his eyes steadily fastened upon
her face
Il am sorry, Lucille that you cannot see tho
folly Of this. It is your last chance to tell me
1t is your last chance to count me friend.
am waiting
She did not answer. Their eyes met and
held, both filled with unaltered purpose. Then
Loubeque, without a word, LETT the room
Nor did She see him again. That he had
gone she knew from the laxness about the
household among his servants. It gave her food
for hope. She must escape. She must. She must
escape before the iron grip Of dreamy languor
about the place became unbreakable
She had to fight against losing thought Of
everything in this bower Of content Human
emotions seemed far away from the spiritual
ones which reached out and grasped at her viii
greedy fingers She could close her eye. and.
lulled by the Intoxicating perfumes, wander of
into day dreams OF fancy than those
which had come 10 her maiden soul in the hours
VIXEN her sweetheart by her side and per-
feet happiness 1wels in her heart ard shadows
dared not intrude g .'.s@
But always when she wandered thus, always
when her feet moved W tn her spirit. she would
encounter Of Loubcaue's aides, always
masked, always casually surprised at coming
upon her. always urbane and polite yet insistent
upon turning her in an opposite direction. The
surveillance OF such nature as never TO be
obtrusive and never to be out of her mind It
seemed homogeneous in this plac. Just as the
appearance Of horde of wild beasts m .ht have
appeared homogeneous
1t got upon her nerver 10 such an extent
that she finally took to the house and remained
there. She felt the prison atmosphere here and
there was no such sta-tling contrast between the
~ III