The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-12-24

stared about her perDleXedly, tried to
identify the gentle, undulating motion
OF the boat, the soft sweeping sound
Of the waters. Then her eyes met the
melancholy ones of Hugo I4oubeque.
The sun was beating down upon
them feiociously, Us though it would
consume those hardy intruders. Her
head ached. when she would have
spoken, she found her tongue swollen,
her voice thick, her lips parched.
water please" she stammered,
then glared in horror at the interna-
tional spy's downcast face. Loubeque
moved carefully to her side, placing
his hands upon her arm.
There is no water" he said gently.
I'm their hurry they put an empty key
in the boat. 1t is the test of fate, my
Gear. Try not to think Of it-tly"-
He did not finish for the pity within
him at her brave struggle not to show
her fear, her pain. Her lips trembIed
as she tried bravely to smile, then.
with Il determined effort, she sat up
right. Her head ached maddeningly
and the sun seemed to fairly sizZle
down upon her.
Last night when l discovered the
EeS was empty" LoubeQue said reas-
sllringly, Il started working out our
reckoning. We are well within the
fishing zone OF the coast. There is al
ways a chance Of being picked up.
Don't fear. Lucille
She smiled brayely, the effort only
making her realize that the heat was
paralyZing her facial muscles. After
that she sat quite still, enduring in 81
lence the maddening heat, the worse
thirst. At times she thought she would
be unable to stand it longer, that she
must reach into this endless expanse
of ocean and drinL-drink; that she
must plunge over the boats side and
allow the salt water to be absorbed by
her body.
Night came and the stars, but night
and stars from which all kindness
had fed. She knew it would be impos-
sible to endure the strain longer. Lou
beque's silent figure was motionless.
In one long, gliding motion she half
rose, then dropped swiftly from the
boat, the water encircling her, cooling
her, tapping at her ears in soothing re-
frain that lulled her senses to a glcri-
Gus sleep, visionless, profound. Then
in a flash Of sanity came the Mortified
face of the man who was dragging her
back into the boat. Darkness, blank,
impenetra ble-slumber, goblin haunted
sun and desert with mira ges Of water
that receded before her lips
#
In her delirium Hugo Loubeque was
constantly ministering unto her slight
est want, soothing her with tender
words, Il veritable Goliath in fighting
back the hordes of imps that would
have tormented her. Always was be
by her side-alWays until the mantle Of
backness completely reached out and
swathed her, soothing her to untrou-
bled slumber, slumber disturbed but
once and that when Loubeque stood
before her looking down at her with a
light of mingled happiness and tri-
umph in his eyes-a look that brought
dlmly back to her the memory of GER
tain things yet to be accomplished, but
which she had not the strength to COM
pletely recall, a look so transitory that
when she fought her eyes wide open lie
was gone, and she was conscious Of be-
ing in strange place, black figure
rising from the corner, then slumber
once again.
Instinct forced her finally from the
iethargic slumber, the instinct common
to all higher forms Of animals of PRO
tectlng ones treasure Her hands
CROPPED at her neck, where a slight tug
had Weakened her Something brushed
across her hand wien she forced her
eyes open. the figure she remembered
to have seen in the corner was still
sqGatting there, a figure that might
have been inanimate save for the burn
ing eyes fastened upon her Neryously
she fumbled ut her neck. the feel of
the ruby necklace meeting her fingers
and pulling her for a moment before
it started a chaotic chain of recollec
tons that finally marshaled themselves
Ill semblance of order
Out of the delirium of fever she
fought remembrance of all that had
happened since Hugo LoubeQue drag
ged her back in the boat recalled viz
IDLY from the SubcOnsciOus brain that
had attained ascendancy during that
narrowing period, his tender nursing
Of her, his denial, his stern self mas
terry when the blazing sun, the thirst.
the hopelessness would otherwise have
compelled him to give up the fight; and
then the fishing boat, the blessed relief
of water, the breaking Of the fever and
consequent repairing Of burned out
nerve tissues, the arrival in this house
and the spy's leave taking.
A cat and mouse game she played
Tor two days with the silent Chinese
woman nursing her. The woman had
discovered the necklace, and Lucille
knew she was constantly after it,
Short periods of time there We're
when the nurse would sleep Justify and
then Lucille walked warily I'D and
down the floor, gradually regaining
perfect power Of locomotion. That
necklace meant everything to her in
this strange country. It meant the
ability to travel, to do anything she
pleased i'll her fight to regain the pre-.
cious papers that meant honor and lib
erty to her falsely accused sweetheart.
And with the return of strength
came terrible uneasiness, a great
fear. Hugo Loubeque, tender though his