The Washington herald., 1914-05-17

that madness had induced her to hang back be-
fore this opportunity which slipping with
every faint creaking sound that reached her
ears. She flung herself wildly ihrough the tangle
of thick vegetation that barred her way from
the sound, crying aloud At tho top Of her voice
for assistance oven though she knew no sound
could carry to the men. She found herself stand
ing upon q pebbly little beach that snatched q
ing her eyes she could dimly see q large row.
boat at the tip of the crescent, its objective
point being obviously q beautifully slender yacht
anchored well out to SEA.
Lucille waved her arms In the air wildly
running up and down the beach in desperation
as she saw her opportunity for escape from the
terrible jungle receding. Her throat was rscked
from the dry sobs which escaped her. sobs of
rage and chagrin at her own cowardice and folly.
The papers were in her possession, the papers
for which she fought 80 hard and which were so
useless here. And. at the first opportunity to get
away, get where they might do some good, her
courage had failed her.
Suddenly she stopped dead In her tracks, her
fists tightly clenched as she pressed them
against her breast, frightened for fear what shc
had seen might turn out nothing more than an
optical illusion. Then, with gasp Of delight
she made out that the boat bad stopped, that the
man standing in the bow was no chimers Of her
coming toward her. Was coming toward her.
Over and again she repeated it. She
had been seen at the last moment and was going
to be taken away. She lifted her eyes in an un
b
never again to allow hardship to so weaken and
blind her as It had done this time. And the
prayer was not even finished before the boat
grounded lightly at her feet and she found her
self speaking to a heavy-featured, youngish man
who was evidently in command of the yacht.
There was something sinister about the man,
something she could not define and which she set
down to be freakish feminine mood, that made
her distrust him even while she told her story.
She noticed that he was paying but slight atten-
ton to her words but that his eyes were fast
ened upon her face in such bold sdmiration thst
she instinctively drew away from him.
Suddenly he turned to his men, roughly or.
dering them to prepare for the row out, then
assisted Lucille to q seat alongside himself. Try
though she would she could not feel the joy
that seemed natural as the boat slipped through
the water. propelled by the sturdy oarsmen. She
studied them keenly. Rough, powerful men they
were, but she was woman enough to know them
to be the sort easily handled by q beautiful
woman, the weaker the easier. Something told
her before she was done with the captain Of the
yacht there would come the necessity for ap-
pealing to them. And she saw that this man
heartily disliked, that his arrogant manner, his
gruh commands were not pleasant to his crew.
She noticed also that two of the oarsmen had
faces that showed signs of recent battering. The
intuition that had served her so well before
told her Captain Wetherell, for such was the
name he used in introducing himself, had been a
party to this.
1t was the sixth day out that, for the first
time, she saw the upon the deck in day
time. Captain Wetherell was scanning the sky,
his brow clouded and his heavy jaw thrust for
ward like an angry bulldog. Lucille stand
ing beside the old boatswain, questioning him
and Willing away the long sultry day by listen
ing to the stories he loved to tell her. She was
suddenly aware of the keen, lowering scrutiny of
her host and, as was her custom, Immediately
started toward her cabin. She heard q swift
step across the deck and hurried the faster, only
pausing to look back when she reached her door.
little cry Of pity and rage came from her
lips when, with an ugly oath, Wetherell lifted
his great fist and foored the old seaman, grim
ming malicousy down at the man, then, with .
shrug of the shoulders starting to turn away.
Every womanly impulse up within her at
the outrageous, uncalled-for attack Forgetful Of
her own precarious position forgetful Of every
thing save the pain of the old man upon the deck,
she started to his assistance, when the door OF
the Chinamans state-room slapped open and the
occupant STROBE across the deck toward Weth-
erell.
And then Lucille halted stone-still, her eyes
widening with amazement and terror She could
not analyZe her sensation, did not attempt to do
so, but there something about the move
control of self-evident rage he spoke with
Wetheren in low tones Of suppressed passion
that struck a chill to her heart.
The captain eyed the man angrily for q mo-
ment then turned and slipped away his very
back dropping like that Of a whipped cur. Lucille
turned to enter her cabin but something caused
the door to stick open q scant inch or She
felt inclination to scream for aid but amaze
ment at recognition OF the man who stepped
into the cabin behind her, softly closing the
door, held her dumb. For, under the yellow
colorng, the made-up slanting eyes, the Mon
ogolian mask he had 50 cunningly assumed, fear
losning clarity to her vision, she recognized
Hugo Loubeque and insinctively both hands
cssped at the little bag about her neck which
held the precious papers. The spy smiled at the
impulsive gesture.
"You have guessed the reason for this IN
trusion, Miss Love-" he murmured gravely, his
rich voice holding a note of Difference and apol-
ogy which she recalled as much q part Of him,
which was continually checking her hatred for
the man. 81 am sorry but you surely must
by that there Is no escape from me; you
must understand that this pursuit is most
pleasant but that you have no chance to thwart
me. The papers, If you please"
The terror-widened eyes Of the girl mar
rowed slowly as her gaze travelled from the in
domftable face to the outstretched hand. No
chance, he said! But there was q chance, always
had been a chance; always would be, 30 long as
she retained the courage to fight him! The game
was in her hands, had been equal up to now.
Her lips parted in q smile she moved toward
the door and held it open for him to leave. He
frowned impatiently, shaking his head as though
at the stubbornness of child.
"Miss Lucille" he continued, his tones sharp
er, you must appreciate my forbearance toward
you so far It cannot continue forever. On
doubtedly you know my power. Does it not
startle you to ind me in position Of authority
upon this yacht. It is always 90. Everywhere I
find my assistants. Forty years Of my life has
been spent in ordering events 90 that such OBJ