The Washington herald., 1914-06-21

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EHIND her, Lucille could hear the
EqCl pursuit. Not second could she
1 spare for thought of regret. The
1 wounded, dying man, even though
YSAE he had given up his life to assist
I'll her. was obliterated from her mind
as she dug tiny heels into the
TANKS of her mount and urged him
Ai onward.
NJ The moon that had seemed 20
friendly but short while before,
the stars that had seemed friendly candles
nlaced in their Celestial sockets to light her
way, had now become dread enemies, lighting up
the course she taking. Only the thick, troP-
ical vegetation helped her at all, the giant Cacti
fha huge palms with their low hung fronds, the
Ghadovs of the bushes and hedges casting mystic
shapes here, there, and everywhere and beH1id-
erinp those who followed
Times above the ringing of her horses hoofs'
she Uould hear the shouts of those behind ner'
Now and then a message of lead would whine its
dreadful tale into her ears, but all these were
growing fainter, les distinct with every leap OF
the animal she bestrode. Remained now but tns
last line of pickets she knew Douoeque mao
nosted about the ranch. If only she could get
past that line then il would be a desperate un,
dertaking for the one who met her on neutral
ground. Ia,
It had been bitter struggle to bide her
time Often she had felt the temptation to run
AWAY from this place, even though she knew ner
chances for final success were nil, but always mao
she conquered and waited for the ripening OF op-
And Just when everything appeared hopeless,
when the long road was darkest, love had planted
its seed within the heart of Loubeques 1onower
and urged him to the sacrifice OF honor and me
TO her escape. Surely she could not fail arter
the manner of her coming this far.
Came the tolling of bell from the rancn
bouse There was the unmistakabe message OF
her escape in its hrazen tongue; sne looked oacA'
frightened Rockets of vari-colored flames were
criss-crossing the blue vault of night, myriad
of man-made shooting stars retailing her night
to every of the band.
Desperate though she knew they were, from
these signs, feeling of despair instead OF con-
fdence grew steadily in her heart. Despite tne
speed of her mount, the limits OF Louoeques
great ranch had not yet been reached. And after
the ranch-if there was to be any after
then?
As though in answer to the unspoken ques-
ton simultaneously with the looming OF the
bayonet fence before her, two men leaPed from
the shadows springing at the horses Bit The
beast swerved violently, almost unseating her
and tossing the his left into a cactus,
where he rolled, bowling in painful rage, as the
needles pierced him. The second man had hrm
held upon the horses head. Lucille saw he had
caught the brute by the nostrils with his free
hand and was smothering him into docility. In
stinctively she leaned far over and snatched the
revolver he wore from its holster, jamming It
yiciousIy up under his chin. The fellows head
shot back jerkily, his eyes glaring CLASSIFY into
hers, then he staggered back, clutching futileay
for the weapon she had seized.
With hard, trickling, little laugh, she
clubbed the weapon and drew the sight roughly
across her horses neck, scratching him so fierce
" he fairly leaped over the distance that separ-
ated her from the broad gate beside which the
two sentinels had stood. As he darted madly
through the whine of bit of lead passed so
close she could feel the breath of it upon her
cheek. 49,
ssomething primitive within her was reused,
q wild fierce Joy of combat which she had never
felt before. Leaning far forward upon the
brute's neck she turned and fired squarely at
the spurt of flame that was leaping towards her
out of the night. She saw the man leap into the
fame his arms outstretched as a broad jumper
throws himself at the tape, then dug her heels
once more into the dumb brute's tanks and sped
on through the night
Hours, it seemed, she rode, with never the
saightest slackening of the mad pace to which
she originally set her mount. He was lathered
with foam but she had pity on him. Her
brain was hercely chaotic wild with the bloody
memories of the night, intoxicated with the mad
ness which had made primitive thing out OF
her femininity, obsessed by the delight OF feel
ing herself able to be self-protecting among the
most desperate of men.
Before unconsciously, she had feared the
poteutiaIities of Hugo Loubeque's strength. The
mental power of her besuty and innocence. Now,
she knew these things to be but cloak with
which she had masked woman, unrecogn1zable
even to herself. She feared him no more, feared
his threats no more. An old saying she had
heard grizzled veteran of her fathers command
once utter came back to her as she looked at
the heavy weapon she still clung to; Judge
antly at the knowledge gained first hand OF the
truth of this saying.
From on she had every advantage. She
was free and she knew where the stolen papers
and documents were secreted in the mysterious
house of inexplicable disappearing rooms and
stairs She had the diary of Hugo Loubeque in
her possession, and she had the ruby necklace
which was equivalent to vast wealth. She had
the outward seeming of guilelessness, was girl
ish and delightfully."- effeminate, but she knew
the power of the claws she had, and her eyes
rested fondly on the revolver, even as she urged
her horse to greater speed
Across the tractlessfp plain she rode with only
the moon and stars looking down upon her,
wild. eerie figure of hareheaded girl. Behind
the pursuit had died away and, before there was
nothing save slender ribbon of water that the
moon buried it's face in contentedly.
She heard voices, low pitched, yet carrying
far in the silence of the night. Instantly she
drew rein and flung herself to the ground, listen
ing intently. Creeping cautiously to slight rise,
she looked down upon an adobe shack, before
which little squad of barefooted Mexicans
loafed idly, their brown hands lazily supporting
old-fashioned Springfield rifles, such as she re-
called the soldiers of Uncle Sam to have carried
IN the old days.
From where she watched she suddenly mo-
ticed stir among the men. From the interior
of the shack stepped gaudily dressed little
Mexican, evidently an officer, from the awkward
salutes accorded him by the transformations
gathered before the house. For some reason she