The Washington herald., 1914-07-19

NT1| riedly up and down the harbOr
N She glanced approyingiy now at
" the broad shoulders of the sailors,
revelled in the long swing of the
oars that took her out of the spys reach Al
ways her hands pressed against the papers at
her heart They were in her possession now,
they were hers, and the honor of the ones she
held most dear was in her keeping, never to be
lost again.
She clambered over the sides of the waiting
government vessel being met at the deck by the
Captain himself. His eyebrows rose in surprise
as he regarded the slender slip of a girl facing
him, her eyes wet with tears.
Ensign Howell informed me that Mr.. Lou
beuue-" he began when she interrupted.
"The papers are here, Captain. 1 have them
They are safe now"
For moment he studied her meditatively
She felt an icy chill running up and down her
spine Would he see the frantic man upon the
shore? Would he hesitate? Would he not be-
Heve her when she told him the truth regarding
the documents? Would he turn back and force
her to return the papers? At the very sugges-
ton her face hexed in every muscle while her
eyes met his coldly and steadily, purpose In
their depths which even the ofticer turned away
from convinced that all was we'll
And now that she safe, the nervous reac-
ton came upon her. In her own tiny cabin safe
finally from the man she had last seen upon the
shore, it seemed the very air fraught with
terrors, horrible fears reaching toward her, glib
bering at her with threats of perils greater even
than those she had come through already. A
light tapping on the door brought her to her
feet, heartily ashamed of the false terrors she
had allowed to unnerve her. She opened the door
and Ensign Howell entered.
Lucille regarded him coldly, in far different
manner from the coquettish young woman who
had put him off at the house of Doubeque. His
eyes were frowning, at first, then under the ex-
quisite beauty of her, they melted and he took
an involuntary step forward.
HMss-Miss-" he stammered, why did you
send me away from the appointment? The Cap
tain wishes to speak with you and when you tell
him the truth, it will appear as though L"
"You need have no fear" she answered quiet
IL, ignoring the expression of the man which
told her that his dread of a reprimand
from his superior of far less consequence
than her opinion of him "Win you kindly
duct TO the Captain. will explain every
thing"
The Captain of the Terror regarded her
steadily as she was brought before him Seated
at his desk, in the very throne of his authority,
a power that ruled the depths Of the ocean, with
the young Ensign at his side heels together, toes
and chest out in rigid, stern attention, Lucille
felt him very much more formidable being
than when she met hiIn the deck This man
her enemy, would be her enemy until the
thoroughly threshed out.
Your name, please?" queried the commander
shortly.
Lucille felt thrill of pride running through
her, taking possession of every particle Of space
within her slender body. Her name-that was
the beginning and end of it all, the weeks of
d,
the name of Love- the name that this man and
the great government which ruled the flag under
which this boat of the seas sailed, had and
endeavoring to traduce.
MY name SIR" she said quite simply, vet
with tremolo of pride unmistallable, "is Lucille
Love-daughter of General Sumpter Love, United
States Army"
Impossible"
As though the two voices had been one the
Captain and his junior burst forth in the ex-
clamation. Lucille merely smiled she the
wondering incredulity upon their faces change
to one of understanding then of resolve for war
fare.
The commander held out his hand
Il am in receipt of orders from Washing
ton," he said quietly, ito meet Hugo Loubeque,
who would turn over to me certain papers and
orders which he received from Washington while
in command at Manila, and which he sold"
Its ie" Lucille's voice had no tremolo
now. Instead it rang against the sides of the
cabin with vibrant force that made the two
men start violently.
Eyes, lie" she repeated, quieting the fury
which racking her. my father did receive
the papers. There military ball in progress
at the time. He gave them to his aide, Lieuten-
ant Gibson, my fancee, to put in the safe. That
night they stolen by a servant in the en-
Ploy of Hugo Loubeque; stolen, I tell you, not
sold"
The Commander nodded coldly.
"Your contention is matter for the Court
of Inquiry to thresh out I am under orders to
receive the packet of papers and take them to
Loubeque that they were sold to him. If they
are in your possession, will take them; if not,
1 shall be forced to turn back and find Mr.. Lou
beque."
"The papers are in my possession, sir. They
belong to until turn them over to my
father, to whom they sent. What he will
do with them is matter for the Court of In
quiry to decide"
THAT is quite impossible" the man snapped
sharply. "In the first place, your story is quite
incredble-Lucille Love drowned when the
Empress took fire"
Lucille Love is here, sir. Lucille Love was
aboard the Empress, few there with Mr.. Harley,
the government aviator, because she knew from
a message she cut in upon the telephone that
Hugo Loubeque was aboard the Empress and
that he had the papers. Ever since, through
jungle, desert, land and water, I have followed
him. have seen the spy's diary. It is here with
the papers-always. That will show his hatred
for my father. That will explain. That will
prove my story"
Even as the Captain nodded, rising to his
feet to eagerly watch the girls frantic search
through the packet, all A-quiver himself to have
her prove her case unmistakably, little dry
sob broke from her lips AS the lily droops upon
its stem, so did the slender figure of the girl
slowly sink-sink-snk-
She recovered herself with an effort, shaking
her head as though to drive away the mists of
which this, the crowning misfortune,
had delivered her. The diary of Hugo Loubeque