Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.
Wherein Doomed Man Smiles.

SiiFAi LEN AAlF.
Wherein a Doomed Man Smiles.
THROUGH the torturesome DAYS in the open
boat, through the agonizing nights Hupo
Loubeque had tenderly ministered to the girl
Through the days when he watched her lowering
about the black borderland of Death in the
house to which he had been recommended by his
subordinate, the Governor of the province to
which the fishing smack that rescued them bore
them, his brain had fed upon one thought
nourishing his body to constantly renewed life
The papers in the possession of Captain Weth-
erell must be found.
The method of their finding troubled him.
He could not, powerful though he was concen~
trate sufficiently under the terrific strain upon
his body to study out the best method of proce-
dure. The day before he Lucille was out of
danger, the problem answered for him by
call from the Governor of the province, in whom
he recognized man he had been instrumental
In aiding and one who feared him greatly
Instantly it was all clear to him. Here was
one he need fear making confession to. He
had found out, aboard the boat, exactly where
the shipment of arms was to be made. He knew
Wetherell might go hundreds of miles out of his
course before the vengeful man-of-var but he
also knew that the goods must be landed at the
designated place before he received his pay.
Likewise, Hugo Loubeque was sufficiently fami-
lar with Chinese officials to know this would
welcome the chance to show his devotion to the
government interests by making such confisca~
ion, as the international spy broached to him.
Leaving u sum OF money with the nurse
loubeque decided that when Lucille recovered
she would be sufficiently we'll provided for to get
word to her people and escape from this the
last of her adventures. With feeling of intense
relief at knowing she could not incur his hatred
further, that she had reached the end of her re-
sources, he led company of picked soldiers
aboard the lighting craft provided for their
transport and sailed toward the spot where the
delivery was to be made
There in a tiny islet he arrived barely day
before the yacht put in with it's illicit cargo.
Loubeque trembled at the narrow margin by
which he had reached the spot. It made him
doubly fierce when, from their ambuscade, he fell
upon the boats crew with his Mongolian soldiers
The skirmish lasted scant hour, but already
the spy had discovered that Wetherell, the man
he wanted was not with the outfit and he began
laying plans for taking the yacht.
Captain Wetherell, impatienty waiting for
his men to return for second load, had finally
tired and was bringing it ashore himself, raging
at the delay he had been compelled to undergo
from the chase they had led the warship and
now fairly wild at the dilatoriness of his first
mate. His temper had soured completely after
his rebuff by Lucille and the mutiuy. He knew
exactly the terms he with his men, knew
that this would probably be his last trip for all
the crew had heard the name of Hugo Loubeque
whose power extended thousands of men in
every quarter of the globe. He had determined
to lose himself completely that he might escape
the vengeance of the spys friends when, from
the. shore, suddenly shot out the boat his mate
had taken in, but instead of the crew he knew
SO well, the oars were now Delng manned Dy
Chinese soldiers.
Wakened from the gloomy day dreams in
which he had been indulging he tried to put
back but his orders became confused and before
he was well aware of what had happened he
found the side of his boat battering against that
of the other with soldiers piling recklessly upon
his small crew, laying about them with sword
and revolver butt.
He caught flash of Loubeque laying about
him, saw that resistance was utterly useless.
Swiftly his hand sought the precious bag in
which were the papers he had stolen from
Lucille. He drew it open hurriedly, the~sealed
packet of papers-which formed the major bulk
of it's contents-and the diary falling at his feet.
He felt Loubeques eyes upon him, caught O. flash
of the spy as he sprang at him, with der1sive
laugh hurled the bag with the heavy packet
overheard.
Without seconds hesitation, the spy was
in the water after it, Wethere fairly choked
with rage as he saw the he hated close his
hand the bag. Then he was conscious of the
diary still in the bottom of the boat and picking
it up, thrust it in his shirt Loubeque was lifted
back into the boat by his anxious men who, hav-
ing rescued their leader, turned upon the cap
tain to wreak vengeance for the plunge.
Wetheren scowled heavily as Hugo Loubeque
brushed against him, his face smiling grimly as
he looked down into the eyes OF the yacht
master.
every foolish, WetherelI, trying to rid your
self of me. Now, think the sight of you max
ing little jaunt up hill with swordsman
behind you studying the cleanest place to take
that head from your shoulders would be aboue
as pleasant as anything I'd care to look at"
Wetherell did not answer. Only, even after
being bound, the feel Of the diary that had
dropped from the bag gave him some comfort.
And so, despite the fact that Loubeque described
exactly scene such as the captain had person
ally witnessed many times in his cruising about
these waters; despite the fact that he had failed
in his vengeance, in his enterprise-despdbe all
these things Captain Wetherells lips were curl
ing at the corners in something strangely Like o
smile.
CONTINUED Next Week.l