The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-12-31
CHAPTER XIV.

1880 -
! Y 4 E summoned steward and dis
| patched him for Loubeque, de-
I handing an answer. Evident-
"a ly the spy had been waiting
some such thing, for he appeared quite
| promptly, his face worn and harried.
He started violently at seeing Lucille.
then took both her hands in bis own
and patted them soothingIy, his voice
! the cajoling one With which one soothes
| child. The captains stern counte-
nance had fallen. and the good man
looked rather foolish
"AIr. Loubeque," be began abruptly,
''this young lady has made complaint
to he that you have threatened her
with death. Have YOU anything to
say?"
Certainly, l shall be more than
pleased to look after her if the poor
Child has escaped the surveillance of
her relatives. No friend could do less"
the spy answered sllaveiy and he
touched his hand lightly to his head
The captain nodded. and Lucille, see
ing now tie maiIdeningly unbelievable
quality of the story she had told re-
Saisling her adventures, felt hot rage
fairly burning her up. She sprang at
the captain. taking his coat in her
hands and shaking him fiercely.
Il am not insane-it's the truth
every word'-she sobbed, then lifting
eyes in which the clear light of sanity
glowcd Enthusiastically. captain, |
swear to YOU that every word is true"
The captain turned from one to the
other in the very extremity of perplex-
ity. Finally he nodded to I.oubeoue
that he might leave. and with slow
smile. the spy turned away.
young lady" the captain said, you
Will resume your duties for tonight.
and in the morning l will see that you
are properly clothed. ! will immedi-
ately send Il wireless to the authorities
in San Francisco and see that YOU are
met by them at the pier No harm
can come to you from this man. You
understand why l am unable to do
more for you. r
lucille extended her hand, grasping
his firmly and meeting the troubled
eyes OF the man with her own-her
own eyes, in which glowed gratitude
and confidence and truth. And in that
hand clasp the pair cemented a COM
mon union against any enemy.
Hugo Loubeque stood little apart
from the eager passengers gathered at
the rail watching the giant harbor of
the Golden Gate creeping about them
| encircling them
10 others the sight meant home, but
! to Loubeque it meant bitterness. gall.
1t meant the country that had been
MS, but which had cast him forth an
unworthy son unfit to be it's citizen.
Ills eyes fastened morosey upon the
| slender. pretty slip Of girl clinging to
| the rail, her lips parted as she watched
the dock, black with eager friends and
relatives, coming closer, closer
Ihen a slow crunching as the great
Ship swung into her mornings Hugo
Loubeque slowly lifted the cigar from
his mouth and waved it in a deliberate
circle that ended with it's tip pointing
coward the slender girl. He caught
her eyes and smiled at the expression
OF terror. Of fear in them. as he saw,
she had marked his gesture.
Came crowding forward in the CEN
ter of the throng upon the deck. The
sansplank thrust its nose out, out. I'M
III it rested upon the dock Some of
the passengers looked about in sur
nrise at sound of cultural oath. They
ga" tail, somher, saturnine passenger
smoking cigar, his eyes fastened
upon a squad of bluecoated policemen
edglng their way from the rear of the
throng into the exact center. They
wondered.
Lucliie tripped down the gangplank.
once more the man who had uttered