The Washington herald., 1914-06-07

emily. There was Q CLINT OF ADMIRATION In h1e
eyes, mingled with the steady determination to
secure what he desired. His face was smeared
with blood but, despite that, he retained the
same commanding, grim dignity and assurance.
He opened his lips as though to speak, then
closed them sharply and stepped to the door,
listening moment, then ringing bell which
was almost Immediately answered by the butler
and the woman who had first captured the girl. =
Hurriedly Thompson explained what had
happened, the pebble-wrapped strip of white pap
er which the man outside had picked up, the
manner in which he had mysteriously disap-
peared, eluding the buffers pursuit, the admis-
sion of policemen to the house and the throwing
of the spring that lowered the girls room to the
basement
"And he got out Of the way. eh7" Loubequs
frowned thoughtfully, then laughed dry, bark
ing laugh as he turned to the girl. And with
ali this luck working for you. Miss Lucille you
see now how impossible 1t is to escape. Now,
shall leave you alone to reflect upon the advis-
ability Of restoring the packet to me. Until then
you will not be disturbed even by servant.
You may recall, my child, that thirst is very
unpleasant torture"
He closed the door behind him, very softly.
Not q sound came from without. Hunger-thirst
solitude All three in this prison, this prison
so much unlike prison that it was rendered
only the more hideous thereby. And even though
outsiders knew she was being detained here,
they could not find her, could not secure
adequate evidence that she was here did they
make examination. True, Loubeque did not
have the papers and could do nothing until they
were found, but neither could she do anything
with them, did not even know how to go about
finding them again. She flung herself upon the
bed, burying her face in her hands and giving
way to sobs. Everything was so hopeless, tho
way had been so long, and still stretched so in
definitely before her, the road that had turn.
ing, the road that seemed but to lead her further
and further from the ones she held dear
She Strengthened startled by faint tinklo
against the window pane. Swiftly she ap-
preached the window: Upon the street no ons !
was in sight. She looked up and espied the face
of the captain peering cautiously from over tho
brick wall above her.
Feverishly she ripped at the netting which
had been within the glass before she broke it.
Carefully she drew the glass inside and laid it
upon the floor. The netting gave slightly. She
tore her hands opening the space until she could
get her shoulders through Slowly, round and
round she worked the opening. It finally
wide enough. She looked up. The captain nodded
briefly then disappeared.
In a moment he reappeared. slowly dangling
q heavy rope which he had made a looped chair
from. Lucille edged her way slowly through the
hanging to the netting with one hand the whila
she reached for the rope with the other. Tho
second time her fingers closed about it. Swiftly
she tucked it about her skirts, then drew taut.
forth she gently swayed a second. Tending her
self from the house with her right hand. Then
she felt herself being slowly lifted, lifted in lit
tie spasmodc jerks.
closer to the brick cemented fringe that separ-
ated the house from its neighbors Her finger
tips brushed the top of these. Another pull and
she had a firm hold and was drawing herself
over. Powerful hands closed about her wrists,
when from below came shout that told she had
been discovered.
With an oath the captain yanked her to tho
roof, ierked her there so violently she toppled
and fell against him, Strengthened and caught
his arm to support herself.
From beneath them came sounds of pursuit,
hurrylng footsteps upon stairs, loud voices.
Lucille seemed to have all the initiative now.
She grasped the mans arm and hurried him to-
ward the closest chimney Just as sky-light door
flung open where they had stood.
He drew revolver and held it steadily
pointing toward the place. chip of plaster
cracked at their feet. Lucille looked down at q
fattened lead bullet. Yet there had been shot
fred. She stared incredulously at the man.
"A slencer-Maxim silencer," he whispered.
She nodded understanding Together they
crept in the shadow of the chimney toward the
thin brick dividing wall, the sanded roof scratch
ing their hands terribly. Again that futter Of
chips. The captain turned and fairly hurled q
shot from his revolver at the figures so cautious
ly approaching. cry of pain followed the
port and in the confusion, the pair made short
rush.
The pursuit grew bold now. Rose the voice
Of Loubeque, cold steady, terrible.
Don't waste shots. Get the man with lead.
Catch the girl
The captains grip frightened reassuringly on
her wrist.
IF they get me-" he said quietly. take the
gun and make them work"
She nodded, pressing his hand. Like fright
ened children they scurried from chimney to
chimney, that silent pursuit always drawing
closer, the captain now and then turning to
throw a shot back at the common enemy. In the
excitement he became separated from Lucille.
She looked about, then uttered cry of warm
ingH He took a step backward, then instinctively
lifted his elbow as though to avert bullet. The
movement overbalanced him and he disappeared
over the edge, cropping, tumbling thing
From every direction came the pursuit.
Lucille suddenly noticed there no attemps
made to close in upon her but that she was be.
ing driven in certain direction. She stopped
fearfully, vaguely afraid of that which she could
not fathom. A bullet dashed a spray of sand
into her face and she darted aside-darted into
q yawning blackness. =
When she opened her eyes she was sur.
prised to find that there had been no fall worth
mentioning that she had merely been driven to-
ward a trap door and caught as she topped
down. Loubeeue watching her, curiously
twisted smile playing about the corners of his
mouth.
"You have too many friends. Lucille. he
murmured a hint of the same admiration in his
voice that she had caught earlier in his eyes.
'Yes," he murmured. after moments sill.
ence .you are altogether too slippery. too nerve
rackine a prisoner think, while the search for
the packet Is going on, it would save wear and
tear on our constitutions to move you to my
ranch-my ranch in Mexico. beautiful spot"
.%