Arizona republican., 1914-08-14

ular in their very irregularity. For another bell he would not return to his stateroom. She glanced up at the sky, to force her eyes away from that dark, solitary figure than for any other req 
 The stars were under cloud of moisture, and her heart lay heavy within her Then slowly one great star marched forth tarried moment. Came rush across the heavens, a rush of light so abrupt and dazzling to make it seem as though host of altar boys had rushed across the dark aisles touching their tapers to the candles there and leaving every nook and cranny of the cathedral light day. To the girl It gave 8 thrill of confidence. Again she looked at the lonesome, solitary man. He was alone and she she-the very stars themselves were with her.
 Without thought, without the slightest sen- sation of fear she turned the knob and entered, closing the door softly and pausng to look about her. trembling now she had taken the dar- ing step, but fired with determination. It would be simple place to search, the furniture being scanty and Loubeque travelling without much luggage.
 Swiftly she worked, turning everything up side down and carefully laying all signs Of her search afterwards. Her fear of being caught had completely faded before the urge of finding the papers. From place to place. careful as any French detective, thorough and keen as though she had been thief all her life. Lucille worked. As she went through the last of the spy's per sonal belongings, little sob of disappolnt1nenI and chagrin broke from the very heart Of her and halted at her lips. For hand was rattling the knob, turning it slowly. slowly. It was as though the man toyed with her, played with her a cruel cat plays with the mouse 1t has caught The door opened and Hugo Loubeque was framed in the doorway, the cigar clenched between his teeth glowing and subsiding show ing a grim smile upon his features, smile the shadows made but more saturnine.
 "Ahl" he murmured silkily, q thought 1 could not be mistaken in our little steward But why my dear child, did you wait so long to pay Q visit to such old acquaintance? Why such disregard for the ordinary amount of friend ship?"
 Lucille crouched away from him, more frightened at his playful tone than she would have been of angered rage. Musically sweet. from without came the toll of time. Three bells!
 CHAPTER XxvI.
 Lucille Finds Friend.
 SLOWLY, without removing the cigar from his
 mouth. he moved toward her. the hateful smile still upon his lips. He seated himself ana studied her carefully, speculatively.
 "Lucie" he said slowly, q saw you on the deck. saw you go into the hold. saw you when the captain came to you, have watched you all thc time Do you know why l did not give you away? It was because wanted to know exactly where you were all the time, because l wanted the feel of my finger upon you have waited for this moment. You recall what told you in the opeu boat. It is no quarter from now on- You have no chance to regain the papers put until I have used them to the limit they Will not be destroyed, nor will you have opportunity
  you the f1tiltv of combating me. I have wanted to do that for long time. Now, see it is use less. If you escape-and l cannot imagine It 1n- possible-I shall have no mercy hereafter Will know that you are only safe when you are dead He rose and motoned to the chair. an ominous- ness in word and gesture which compelled oDed- fence. Fascinated, panic-stricken, she obeyed, while from his pocket he drew long loop or fine cord which he bound about her wrists and ankles, then strapped her securely in the chair. He stood off a moment, regarding his handlwork' then moved toward the door. You see nave been prepared for the visit" he murmured. Il will just be little while, so don't be worrled- this time" -
 The door closed behind him and Lucille stared blankly at the place where she had last seen him.
 A scant quarter of an hour that to her was interninable and the spy returned. the smile still nlavinp about the corners of his mouth, smile that matched poorly the agate expression of his cold eyes. He united the cords that naa bound her, watching her curfousiy as she chaleo the blood back to her hands.
 "YeS." he answered her unspoken quesIAoh' "vou may go 1 do not care any more whether you heed my warning or not You ha'7 chosen to continue the I merely wish you to know what it means to you. have made ar engagements that will look to your belng carea fo- in San Francisco. the end of this trip means nothing to you As l said before, the pleasure of your company is rapidly overwheim- ing me. I cannot lose it any longer Good ngne'
 
 It was as though his mockery his gibing tones were giant hands against her chest push ing her through the door and upon the deck. She was scarcely conscious of how she had come there when the stingng spume from the ocean dashed against her cheeks. bringing her out or the spell and firing her numbed consciousness with the precariousness of her situation His threat of looking after her at the end Of the yoyage-his mockery-she must appeal to strong hands now, she must strength to combat strength since he had put the combat on physical grounds
 She could not imagine how. In a free coun- trv, he could do anything. Still, she knew Hugo Ioubeoue and the knowledge terrified her. She decided to rely upon her womans fragiltty to gain the masters sympathy. She had reached this con- cluson as the astonished captain looked at her wan, miserable face when he answered her knocking.
 Swiftly. the words turnbng over one an- other in the nerve-racking strain of trying to convince the man of the unbelievable things she had gone through at the spy's hands, she poured out her whole story. First, she read disgusted incredulity upon his face, then amazement at her inventiveness and slowly, under the spell of an obvious sincerity, she he was convinced to large extent
 He summoned steward and dispatched him for Ioubeque demanding an immediate answer. Evidently the spy had been waiting just some
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