The daily sentinel., 1914-06-17

woman under the couch and squatted in the
womans place just the door opened and
head was poked inside. She mumbed something
inarticulete, cultural, peeyish-voiced, and the
head withdrawn after the cast one
glance at the figure under the blankets. He had
no sooner closed the door than the girl picked
the knife from the floor and ripped The blanket
into strips, securely tying her prisoner and gng-
ging him. She barely finished before a low moan
from the wounded woman made her hurriedly
drag her victim from under tho couch. great
Of compassion swept her at sight OF her
work, necessary though 1t had been, compassion
which died before the malevoent glare in the
eyes fastened upon her own. Examining the
wound she discovered IL TO be but superficial and
bound and gagged her then bundled her back.
Then, after waiting second at the door
mastering her courage, she stePped into the nall
WY and down. into the open air. Strangely
enough she felt the reaction coming upon her
outdoors, a nervous chill that shook Der
from head to foot and seemed unwilling ITO
loosen its grip.
1t was tho sight of tho that drove it
from her, the sho recalled much
moro terrible and r~1uoTseless than anything she
had even dreamed OF. II braced her against
the nervous chill that threatened TO send her back
into the place from which sho had Just escaped.
She shrugged her shoulders and marched stead
lily down the foulsmelling. dirty little street un-
til she giimpsed building taller than any
others surrounding 1t and decorated with a
gorgeousne-ss of eabornton which made her for
get everything save admr1tion for the skill and
patience expended In such work Closer inspec-
had barred windows and she shuddered at
thought of the narrow escape she had had from
being placed behind just such bars herself Be
fore the door stood closed palanquin, evidently
the vehicle for a parsonage OF great consequence
from the rich silk robes that overfiowed the
sides. Lucille laughed Mt tha involuntary surge
of longing TO hide herself within that mass OF
robes but the laugh died away in her throat,
was choked fairly at birth by the hoarse whisper
of her own name. She looked about her fearful
that her illness had not deserted her completely,
that she must be delirious-
"Lucille"
This time che knew she had made no mis-
take She even identified the direction from
which the voice came But surely nobody save
Hugo Loubeque knew her In this place. and hugo
Loubeque-
Something small and compact fell at her
feet and she stared at 1t wonderingly, incredu-
lously, recognizing 1t for the diary of Hugo Lou
beque the international spy. The sound of clos
ing door made her hurriedly snatch 1t from the
ground and conceal 1t beside the ruby necklace
Then she silrank back against the side OF the
house. cycling the porty, sello%,faeed oninaiiah %
who came slowly and maiestically toward her
Evidently the owner of the lalanquin a per-
sonage of great circumstance from his dwelling
and personal attire she Judged. Her hngers
pressed against the diary and encountered the
rubies The touch of them gave her a svift idea
and she cautiously drew the necklace rom ABOUT
her neck, detaching one from the strand ana
khotting the stout hair wire so none siouiu IS
capo because of the loosening. She looked at the
piceon-blood n moment, recalling her father
contemptuous sentence regarding the corrupti-
tlttv OF the Chinese noble, then advanced to-
ward the man, just as he reached out TO enter
his vehicle ,,
His face was mpassive as he stared bianily
a., her. She gesticulated, did everything to make
him understand what she desired but BY no sign
did he signify that he understood Finally IN
desperation she held out the ruby TO him, eager.
lv watching the change of expression that
crossed his faoe as he turned 1t over and over III
his fingers His eyes were fairly glowing when
he lifted them onoe more and met hers, noddlhg
as she moved toward the palanquin and stepped
inside. secreting herself under the SIX robes
and burrowing to one corner while the owner
entered. -. 49, .;,
Her thoughts riot during that "TRIP;
Where had the diary of the spy come rom
Surely not Loubeque. yet no one out LouDeque
WAS familiar with her 1t had been a
prisoner A prisoner -rho,, h,d
WetbereIi or someone of his crew Ihey hau
possession of the diary and the precious papers.
Rut why confined? What could 1t all mean % %9hs
racked her brain for answer, was SO losorpeu
in the puzzle that she did not notice the Palail,
oun had halted did not notice until she near
n familiar voice chatting with the owner IN
Chinese But she would have recognized ina
voice in any quarter of the globe would nave