River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-10-08


well. well. weA'-he rubbed his
hands together in frank amazement-
Ito think that any one escaped from
the wreck of the Empressr' Once more
his lips pursed But why have you
not reached friendsT"
Il am Lucille Love-" she said quiet
~. Il cannot go back
Lucille Love. daughter of General
! Lover" He studied her keenlY. nod
ding his head from side to side Yes,
yes; your father and were quite we'll
acquainted when be was stationed at
the Preside here, and you will not go
back because of the disgrace that
caused you to leave whom the orders
from Washington were stoleR?'
There was no disgrace" Lucille
said. her tones fairly chilling THE
papers were stolen by an outsider, sir
That was why | boarded the Empress
That is why ana here. That is why
seek money; why / am still search
ing"
But my dear Miss Love-" he smil-
ed. you must realize that there is not
money enough ia the establishment to
purchase such wonderful necklace as
the one you own A few stones, pos
sibly, or" he added as an afterth0ught.
Il might purchase an option on the
necklace for, say, as much OF rea-
sonable sum as you desire at present
and will then look about for pur-
| chaser"
Lucilles face showed her relief.
81 will give you $4,000 for an OPP
ton to sell the necklace within six
months" the mah. continued, quickly.
Meanwhile IIGwill keep it here, and
give you a. receipt fer it In order that
may show it t9 possible customers 9 a
""Ten thousand, dloElats!' L1ciue's
eyes were wide in wonderne1tO 1t
was not ten minutes later, with anu
tual promise to say nothing OF the
transaction, that she left the shop with
a certified check for the SUM mention
ed in her tightly clinched fist, accom-
panied by clerk.
A strange shadow seemed to have
fallen upon her. one which took large
part of the amusement she anticipated
getting from her shopping away. She
could only ascribe 1t to meeting with
one who had known her father, who
unwittingly showed her what the
Judgment of the world had been in
regard to the missing orders, the ne
cessity for Immediately foiling Hugo
LOubeQue.
AS she left the bank with the roll Of
banknotes In her hand and a warning
from the clerk still ringing in her ears
she thought no longer Of adjoining her
self. had forgotten her shabbiness and
her fear of meeting her sweetheart.
Her thoughts were still upon clothes,
the most gorgeous clothes. And her
thoughts were also upon Hugo Lou
beque, the aforementioned spy, thPR Hnn
who stood betwSNsf h9s aASl t5AR ftu-
ition Of all her hepes, ehe raNs~-4 tnd a
warm flush suffaS9a heF eheelAss NAich
she fought down swiftly -whe was
constantly proving himself but mere
man, after all; man susceptible to
woman'S charms
Her head was high. her cheeks
sparkling as she entered the first fash
ionable shop she came to; her manner
such that the crowding. jostllRg wO-
men made way for her as for q queen
in regal attire instead Of young CIR;
with habiliments torn and disheveled.
And always alongside the doors of
all the establishments she entered,
waiting-patiently waiting, furtively
waiting-a rather servile appearing
man stood, respectful, quiet. contained.
Lucille's return to her apartment at
the hotel was greeted with an apDar-
ent respect that spoke plainly Of the
! arrival of the food of packages she
had ordered sent Immediately that she
might prepare herself for the conquest
of LOubeque.
1t was several hours later that she
looked at herself in the long cheval
I glass. frank admiration and wonder
tingling within her. mantlin@ her
cheeks with roses that no ruby neck
laces could have purchased. Fer the
first time she realized that she was
wonderfully beautiful. And even as
she stood there came clear tapping
upon the door With a smile upon
her lips she moved toward it, allow
ing it to open the slightest fraction at
| a time.
Hugo Loubeque stepped within, I'M
maculate In his evening clothes, and
| bowed grayely, his eyes taking her in
| from head to toe. frank admiration
| glowing in them.
"You viii dine with meY' His man
ncr was courteous as ever, yet there
was a change. Something already was
| lost between them. some Of the strands
which bound them together slackened.
dropped apart never to be put toget'' er
again.
Lucille merely nodded. Her heart
was growing larger and larger, and
she found herself frightened. She rest
ed her hand upon his sleeve and al
lowed him to escort her to the dining
room.
In the dining room she gave herself