Arizona republican., 1914-07-03

The international spy VA able to walk
about his room now, his eyes showing the satis,
faction he felt at thwarting her. They pA-~ved
chess together, dined together, with always tho
armed Difference between them, state of mind
so obvious as to have been ludicrous had they
not both been conscious of it. Many times
she thought the strain than she could
bear, when she doubted the wisdom of this trip.
And always would come morbid pictures of her
sweetheart to sustain her in her determination
to clear him of the charge under which he rested.
1t was on the eighth day out that the spy
suddenly sprang to his feet, dartng swiftly TO
the door OF tbe stateroom. She stared at him in
establishment amazed at the change which had
come over him. His life must have made him
more than unusually sensitive to impressions for
full quarter hour elapsed after he had resumed
his seat before a barely perceptible thudfing
sound came from beneath the deck
Perhaps it may have been the premontion
of the silent man, perhaps foreboding of disaster
on her own part that took her to the deck. The
Captain had quit the bridge and stood at the
door of the engine room, his face betraying the
anxiety he tried to conceal from his passengers.
Louder, louder grew the thuddng sound follow
ing now by retching like the ripping of rot
ten cloth.
"a boiler in the engine ROOM" Loubeaue
said quietly when she returned to his suite.
She stared at the spy ncreduousy. He was
seated in the great chair though such thing
was of the slightest possible consequence to him.
His impressive countenance was more sombre
that her impulse to appeal to him in this hour
of deadliest peril would be of no avail
Came another thought with that of help
lessness. thought of which she felt ashamed
for the second. If worst came to the worst this
man would attempt to save, to take with him
his most priceless possession. If only she could
find out where the stolen papers concealed
she would get them. 1t not wrong to take
advantage of the weakness of physical invalid
who possessed such giant mental strength.
Mngling with the horrid retchng sound
came long hiss The spy sprang to his feet
again and opened the door Passengers were
rushing wildly about the decks their faces be-
traying the abiect terror they felt. At the rail
stood the Captain and Second Mate supervising
the lowering of the life boats. white faced
steward banged against the door, thrusting his
head inside.
Fire" he whispered then as though
ashamed for the fear which had robbed him OF
his voice. Its ire-to the boats"
Lucille turned away. sickening feeling
clutching at her heart. Fire, Fire out here on
the broad and sight of land since
Manila, What could she do? She suddenly was
conscious of Hugo Loubeques swift motions.
The spy darted across the room and drew from
the top drawer of his desk package of papers
which he hurriedly replaced as she turned
There something his countenance which
told her the truth told her that he had
vealed the secret of the stolen papers. He slapped
the drawer shut, reassumng his aspect of indif-
ference he brushed her away from the door.
the papers while he stepped to the deck, appar-
emily to study the situation. When he returned
she moving carelessly about the room. wear
innocent expression that he studied her
suspicousy second Their eyes met and he
sprang TO the desk. slapping open the drawer
violently its contents fell upon the floor. As he
whirled upon her she saw in his face that the
truce at end. that he knew of his loss
and would stop at nothing to regain his secret.
Swiftly she sprang through the open door.
losing herself in the mass of passengers hudded
against the rail Looking back. she caught
glimpse of the white faced coolies and Chinese,
staring in sullen despair at the passengers whose
turn ii 10 enter the life boats while they
must wait. under threat of the revovers in the
hands of the officers. Behind them little cork
spirals of steam reached out caresslng
fingers. twining about them and then innocently
losing themselves about the tunnels. And al
ways, always sounded that horrible kissing
sound from below, the sound of unbridled fire.
Lucille felt overmastering impulse with
in her to remain with this terror. anything save
the great. threatening that looked so
monstrous now. waiting the tiny crafts that
creaked down from the davits. Then powerful
arms about her. She felt herself being
lifted and hurted forward budding down in
the crowded boat that was being lowered to the
She would have thought the ocean calm
ordinarily but as the boat splashed upon its
bosom, the sailors striking easily into rythmical
swing, she realized the power of this mighty
come a part of itself instead of striving to con-
bat it with such meagre thickness of rounded
wood.
A hand reached out and rested upon her
shoulder. For a second she was unconscious OF
it, then something steadying. indomitahle about
the clutch of finger tips made her turn. hugo
Loubeque smiled into her eyes. smiled with the
pitying expression of nvincble one who
grieves for the weaking that dashes against him.
Her eyes appraised toward the boat, mass
of whtish smoke now through which leaped
playful reddish flames. Now and then figure
would dart toward the rail and ungc overheard,
the bodies striking the water n greas circles
that lost themselves in another, And for
second the thought TO her thas ever that
inferno of ship preferable to this man be-
side her.
'Well played Miss Love-" the spy murr1uTed
silkily. But l fear you must return che
A piercing shrek made him turn SWIFTLY. .
shrek that lost itself in the heavy ouenahin0 OF
wooden oars against wood Came korr4d hump
ing that seemed more like the crunHhsn8 OF .
wild beast upon bones than anything shc hAh
ever heard. Heat. intense. steamng. bess yrso
her checks She looked up and only tAs dArR
hulk of the Empress doomed above her. only
lurid fame illumined the heavens.
She was conscious of her heavy clothing.
so5den now with water; conscious OF tAs
lack of support. Something long and wooden
tilted against her and instinctvely her tnevn
clutched the oar which had foated out to 5er
from their boat which had been tossed ard
crushed against the burning liners SIDE Again
she looked NJ.
yNhrf ay,-.A