The Washington herald., 1914-07-12

stand the hurried retreat Of both from the room.
She opened the window and slipped inside, her
bosom heaying tumultuously at this opportunity
The door slapped open Just as she was ex-
ploring the drawer of the table. She felt herself
seized by the wrists, uttered cry Of protest
and disnay and pleading, only to look into
strange, brutal faces, the faces of house detec-
tives and not the sardonically friendly one OF
Loubeque.
"Nipped in the actr grated one of them,
he dragged her toward the door. "The cabaret
dame, tooT
Protecting, weeping hysterical, Lucille was
dragged TO the elevator and bundled into a cab.
Unable TO think, to reason, she only realized the
full extent of her calamity when the green globe
before the grim police station loomed before her
eyes, she was roughly assisted from the cab
and taken before the uniformed sergeant behind
the desk
She might have been unconscious. so little
was she actually aware of what was transpiring.
Acute, yet merely subconsciously so, she knew
she defended herself stoutly against the charge
of being a hotel sneak-thief, showing over five
thousand dollars TO prove she did not need TO
stoop to such work. She feverishly cited the
obvious righteousness of Hugo Loubeques max
ing such a charge against her. In explanation
of her presence on the fire escape, she had moth
ing to say. The sergeant was frankly puzzled.
Obviously this girl not thief. The bril-
liant idea struck him of summoning the jeweler
from whom she claimed to have received the
money. Also the failure to produce Lou. .ae
argued heavily against the house detectives case
the floor, white-faced, miserable, her lips moving
as she muttered over and over again her princi-
pal worry, forgetful of the horrible mess she had
gotten herself in:
Five thirty this afternoon-Ensign Howell
calls for the papers. Five thirty-fve thirty-1
must be there-must -must-must-"
And the station house clock grinned wide
derision at her. its hands pointing ironically to-
ward the hour of four.
CHAPTER XXXXX1.
,deS
1T lacked but fifteen minutes to five before she
found herself upon the street with the jeweler
who had rushed to her assistance and. after 3
short conference with the officers and detectives
had arranged her release, personally agreeing to
produce her when desired. On the sidewalk he
told her that only his knowledge of her parent
age, her possession of the necklace and her
speaking TO him before of the stolen papers en-
abled him to believe her story.
IF you know Loubeque has the papers," he
demanded as a triumphant clincher TO his ex-
ordium, why don't you call on a policeman TO
protect you and to rescue them?"
Lucille smiled family at his commonplace
advice. realizing the absolute impossibiity of i'm
pressing anyone with the power of her enemy.
And she must hurry to the mysterious house
where Ensign Howell TO call at five thirty.
Even as she thanked her friend, bidding him
goodbye at the door of the motor car, coughing
impatiently for the passenger who had sum-
moned il, she noticed a policeman Importantly
swinging his club sole symbol of authority, and
thought of the slim chance he would have
against a spy who might swing rulers to work
out his ends No, the little jeweler could never
be made to understand.
Hurriedly she searched the streets for the
mysterious residence of Hugo Loubeque. Moth
ing mattered to her now. She did not care what
happened to her. She a cat-a tiger cat
more savage than any she had encountered in
the jungle, for they had failed and she would
not fail in this, her last attempt against the in
ternatonal spy
She had ten minutes leeway before the En-
sign due to call, ample opportunity if
had not forgotten any details of the message.
The house was vacant just as she had thought it
would be, for Loubeque would never trust him
self for long time to the place that had
been raidedI It would suffice for this short bit of
business-that all.
She let herself easily by the door. the
smashed lock of the raiding party having
been replaced. Swiftly she rushed through the
familiar rooms, the sliding rooms that held
many horrible menacing thoughts for her. With
lightning fingers she examined sliding panels,
moving picture frames. In the desk drawer of the
spy she found medium sized automatic, the
silencer still fastened on it. She shed tear, as
she moved to the basement, for the gallant cap
tain of the liner who had lost his life through
one of these weapons while endeavoring to assist
her.
In the basement, as she expected. she came
upon the system Of levers that controlled the
intricate machinery of the household. Plainly
marked they all were, also the speed and velocity
with which the work might be done was indi-
Gated by simple system of buttons. Lucille
tested several, finding they answered readily to
her touch. when she was interrupted by the
Changing of the bell.
The last act in the play was about to be be-
gun. Ensign Howell was at the door, unless the
spy had detected her trick in tampering with the
message of the carrier pigeon. All the weeks the
months of peril and privation were things for
gotten, things that became as nothing against
the work before her now. Steadily she assembled
the stairs.
Her right hand, which had been casped the
revolver concealed beneath her coat, unclasped.
and a sigh of obvious relief came from her lips
as she opened the door to greet young Ensign
in uniform. She did not quite know what she
would have done had it been Loubeque.
Ensign Howell?" she murmured, flushing
prettily at the admiration and astonishment
the officers face at being greeted by such a vis-
ion. "I am very sorry" she murmured hurriedly,
as he started to enter, but Mr.. Loubeque
obliged to leave hurfiedly. He left word that he
would surely be at any place convenient after
eight forty-fve."
"Any place convenient" The officers tones
were more of surprise than vexation.
THAT is" she hesitated, where it would be
convenient for cutter or boat of some sort to
take him to the Terror. That matter is of such
Importance he does not care-that is"
The young man Strengthened himself, his face
wearing expression OF wounded dignity. Lucille
heayed a sigh of relief.
That is quite Mr.. Loubeques privilege" he