Arizona republican., 1914-07-24


 FOR three days Lucille kept very near that
 camp fire light, furtive any of the animals that prowled about, guarding herself against them by the same fire that protected her enemy. Times, only the watchfulness of Loubeque, his cat-like sluInber, prevented her carrying out her audacious plot to steal the little bag in which he still carried the papers.
 It was the night of the fourth day that she decided 10 take desperate chance, the night that creeping close upon the camp she saw something about the actions of the native that made her keep very still, her eyes following his every movement with the aertness of of the animals that prowled without that zone of light from the fire. She caught her breath with little gasp as she saw the man creep noiselessly toward his master and purloin from aboht his neck the precious bag which carried the papers she had far to rescue.
 As he crept away from his victim, Lucille slowly rested her feet her whole soul quiverng with delight. For there would be no difficulty with this native compared to the coping of wits and resources with the powerful brain and body of Loubeque. Evidently the savage, seeing the zealous guard his master kept of the bag, had de- cided to steal it and run.
 Lucilles trailing of the native was halted abruptly by wild cry of alarm. followed by loud screech of pain, the thud of bodies falling heavily, horrd, ripping sound. Dimly, she glimpsed the shadowy outlines of magnificent lion, head lifted as though he listened for some one, his paw reaching out and resting upon shapeess, grooming mass she knew for the thiev- ing servant. For a second she stood, staring at the spectacle, paralyzed by the horror, the swift retribution which had overtaken the native. Then, without thought of consequence. with nothing save the primal urge of saving life, she leaped across the narrow space that separated her from the sPy's campfire, kicking the embers right and left grasping the hardest famed knot of them all and darting toward the lion, waving the torch fcarlessly.
 The animal uttered low growl, stood his ground for q moment before this menace that darted at him, then tucked his tail between his legs and slunk back into the jungle from which he had appeared unexpectedly. Lucille bent the wounded man, nttering a low cry of sympathy as she turned away in terror from the horribly wounded torso. Gradually it dawned up- her that the man was dead, quite dead. She could not realize it instantly then the voice of LoubeqGes revolver spoke and she uttered her warning cry.
 The shot brought everything back to her. She was here, not to sympathze even with one wounded to death, but to save her sweethearts honor. She fumbled at the mans scant attire, drawing the sack triumphantly forth and look ing back to where she could Loubeque ad- vancng.
 For just second she paused. Then some impulse governing her she thrust the burning knot of wood between the interstices of nearby lattice work of vines and sunk stealthily to the right knowing the spy would follow the light in- stead of herself Even as she watched his move ments goryng in the success of her strategy, her hand pressed against something cold and damp. She looked swiftly down at the stone ruins beside her. along which she had been walking ruins covered with the thick tropical vegeta- ton that she might have moved two feet to the left and passed them by in complete ignorance of their existence. She passed her fingers the stone she had first encountered, rubbing away the mud and creepers that covered it completely.
 There was spot that appeared to have crumbed more than the rest of the wood and she scraped industriously at it, as her atten- tion fastened upon the gropng figure of Loubeque. Suddenly, without the slightest warn- , ing she the ground moving, moving restlessly it would move had some monster mole been burrowing beneath it's surface. It moving, moving directly under Loubeque. She started back, wide-eyed at the spectacle of great stone door suddenly springing wide and hurling the man who had stood upon it to one side, com pletely out of her sight She advanced timidly, staring about for sign of the spy but he not to be seen. She peered down the black hole that had opened, wonderingy, half inclined to believe herself in trance For flight of stone steps reached up to her. reached up from the blackness blackness which her eyes could not pierce, try though they would.
 bit terrified yet with curiosity irresistible, Lucille timidly put foot upon the first step, then halted. She waited a moment then fol- lowed her right foot with the left. As though giant hand urged her down, her reluctant feet moved slowly, step by step. down the long flight. And always would she stare in nameless terror, lest the door be suddenly closed and her means of exit barred. And, even as she looked, her premonition of evil was verified.
 Slowly very slowly, the stray light that