Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-06-13
CHAPTER XXXIV,
ThompsOn's Plans Go Wrons.

hore cIosely and was astonfshed to find that ono
par mad been cut cleanly through. She examined
the remainder of the bars They appeared abb
solutely untouched but when she pulled harshlv
at them, every one gave way. For half an hour
she did not realize what had happened Then A
thrill of Thanksgiving went throbbing through
her heart. Ready-made was her means Of escape
Almost simultaneously with the thought
came another and more terrifying one. This was
PROBABLY not a means of escape so much az a
means OF entrance Instantly her mind flashed
picture of the silent Thompson. First she was
tempted to call for help and expose the man
Second thought advised against this No ons
must know about the rubies, no one must know
about priceless stones. But what could she do?
She was still pondering the problem that
night when still fully dressed she stood beside
the window looking out the moon-splasbed
patio. furttve figure detached itself from the
shadows and crept toward her. Strangely enough
IT did not frighten her to recognize the butler
she had tried her strength against the man once
and knew that she could call for assistance
should he enter the room.
She crouched in the opposite side of the
room, listening to the faint tinke of Swapping
their sockets. His head and shoulders appeared
In the opening. Longer and longer grew his
shadow in the room, then the faintest Dat as he
slipped to the floor.
Breath1essly she watched his anroacb Tber.
was nothing undecided about his movements BE
was swift; he waJ certain; he was sure Not a
motlon, not a step was wasted His whole BODY
was co1led like spring, ready to leap in anv di-
rectlon, yet there was fear or indecision about
1t. He was almost the bed when Lucille
sprang from her hiding place behind the door,
instantly he turned his head darting from
side to side like that of giant reptile his beadv
eyes holding her own and striking terror into
the very soul of her. She realized in a flash what
1t meant to stop desperate thief in the midst
OF his marauding, realized that the man she al
ways thought of as servant was now a hunted
beast, cornered and at bay. Icy fingers clutched
at her spine, while little ants nests of nerves
tlngled at the back of her neck. Thompson did
not speak. Slowly his hands opened and closed,
while grin crossed his face, widened his mouth:
h1deously 1nhuman grin. She tried to crv out
but her lips were frozen shut The capable
hands, the hands she recalled as always being so
competent to handle anything, were opening and
closing as he advanced upon her, with swiftness
with certainty and with sureness, as though al
ready they felt in their strong yet delicate pads
the feel of her throat.
He had almost reached her side when he
stopped suddenly, whirling toward the window
Lucille unconsciously followed the direction of
his gaze. long arm, the jacket sleeve of which
was slashed and pieced out with gold-trimmed
doe-sk1n was being extended into the room Just
an arm it was, yet the hand that tipped it ex-
tended still further within the room by reason
OF long revolver it held. From the darkness
outside came kissing sound an angry snake
like sound. Then, simultaneously: with the drop-
ping of Thompson to the floor, an orange squirt
OF hre leaped into the room, the whine Of bull
let struck against her ears. But no report.
Lucille staggered back as her defender the
lover who had promised his assistance, leaped
lightly into the room. His hand was upon her
arm his lips at her ear. Reading his thoughts
yet hearing nothing, she moved toward the win
dow and lifted her tiny foot as though to mount
horse. His hands cupped about it. She vaulted
to the easement and, in second, had scrambled
through The breath of the open, redolent with
al the perfumes of the night, assailed her nos
tr1ls and she opened her mouth, laving her throat
with them.
By her side stood the man. For moment
ne ne waited then urged her forward. She
1ree free, free! Of course there were pickets to
be passed, but she had made one providential
escape tonight, why not another
Out OF sight of the building she paused and
looked about her. How calm and peaceful and
friendly appeared the night On such night
Leander swan the Hellespont and here beside
her, stood another Leander who would brave as
much had already braved more than ever did
1aoed hero. The moon was full, rolling lazily
about atop mountain peak though shaking
his jolly sides with laughter at this triumph Of
one he loved The stars winked merrily at her.
urging her on her way. Looking back at the
building from which she had come it. anneared
made of silver and all the windows were dia
monds crusted there, the rigid leaves of the
bayonet trees stretched upward as though guard
ing It, sentlnel-like, against intrusion from the
outside. The touch of a timid finger upon her
arm brought her from her reveries.
The horses wait my lady"
came a swift flashing of lights from the
house they had left behind, a scurry of feet, the
sound of voices, loud, shrill, insstent The Next
can seized her arm fercey and half dragged her
from OH the court to clump of bushes where
two horses STOOD saddled and bridled. In a Sec
ond she was in the saddle, the man beside her.
The clatter of hoofs rang out upon the sill
ence Looking back she caught glimpses of dark
ngures silhouetted against the tropical vepeta-
ton in the patio. squirt of fire leaped out at
them like a living thing The Mexican muttered
cultural oath and urged his horse to more
speed. Lucille bent over her horses head bent
low, for the whine Of bullets was in the air
about them.
Suddenly the Mexican grrnted loudly. His
hands shot high in the air, then the horse fairly
ran from under him. Upon the ground he
swayed second then leaped against the shadow
OF giant fingered cactus plant. Lucille sprang
from her saddle and sought his side.
Red, warm blood gushed from the wound in
his chest But not more red it was than the
rose his Tightening fingers clasped unto his
heart, a rose from which the dew drop of the
day before had disappeared. His eyes were glaz-
ing when she stopped and brushed her lips across
his forehead. A shadowy smile crossed his face
as he opened his eyes once more, eyes that were
soft and tender before they glazed
"Go" he muttered. "Go" Then his voics
took ON the resonant tone of a scant day or less
before ut is the ripple of the Wishing Well,
my lady. Col Ride-to the -your-heart-
Desires
He stiffened suddenly and squirt of tears
came from her eyes. Louder grew the shouts,
the voices. The air alive with long, dartinp
flames Touhenuea hive