Arizona republican., 1914-07-31


 every faint creakng sound that reached her ears. She flung herself wildly through the tangle of thick vegetation that barred her way from the sound, crying aloud at the top of her voice for assistance even though she knew no sound could carry to the men. She found herself stand ing upon pebbly little beach that snatched a serene crescent of water from the ocean. Strain ing her eyes she could dimly see large row boat at the tip of the crescent, it's objective point being obviously 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 racked from the dry sobs which escaped her, sobs of rage and chagrin at her cowardice ana folly. The papers were in her possession, the papers for which she fought 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 agalnst her breast, frightened for fear what she had seen might turn out nothing more than an optical illusion. Then with gasp of delpht she made out that the boat had stopped that the man standing in the bow no chimera of her oraln' ana that It was being turned and colnlng toward her. Was coming toward her
 Over and again she repeated it. She mad been seen at the last moment and was going to be taken away. She lifted her eyes in an un- spoken prayer, prayer that included promise
 
 blind her as it had done this ti1ne And the prayer was not finished before the boat grounded lightly at her feet and she found her self speaking to 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 frealtsh feminine mood that made her dlstrust him even while she told her story She noticed that he was paving but slicht atten- tion to her words but that his eyes were fast ened upon her face in such bold admiration that she instinctiyely drew away from him
 Suddenly he turned to his men, roughly or der1ng them to prepare for the out, then assisted Lucille to seat alongside himself Trv though she would she could not feel the iov that seemed natural the boat slipped through the water propelled by the sturdy oarsmen She studied them keenly. Rough powerful men they were, but she woman enough to know them to be the sort easily handled by a 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- peallng to them. And she saw that this man was heartily dsliked, that his arrogant manner. his grutf commands were not pleasant to his crew. She noticed also that two of the oarsmen had faces that showed signs of recent batterng. 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.
 It was the sixth day out that, for the first time, she the man 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 was stand ing beside the old boatswan 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 a swift step across the deck and hurried the faster only pauslng to look back when she reached her door.
 little cry of pity and rage came from her lips when, with ugly oath, Wetherell lifted his great fist and hoored the old seaman grin ming maliciously down at the man, then, with a 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 Chinaman's state-room slapped open and the occupant strode 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 ments of the man, commanding mastery a control of self-evident rage he spoke with Wetherell in low tones of suppressed passion that struck chill to her heart
 The captain eyed the angrily for mo- ment, then turned and slipped away his very back dropping like that of whipped cur. Lucille turned to enter her cabin but something caused the door to stick open scant inch or so. She felt an inclination to scream for aid but amaze ment at recognition of the man who stepped into the cabin behind her. softly closing the eoor, held her dumb For, under the yellow coloring, the made-up slanting eyes, the Mon ogolian mask he had cunnngly assumed, fear loaning clarity to her vision, she recognized Hugo Loubeque and instinctvely both hands clasped 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 n- trusion Miss Love-" he murmured gravey his rich voice holding note of deference and apol- ogy which she recalled as so much part of him. which was continually checking her hatred for the man. "l am sorry but you surely must see by now that there is escape from me; you must understand that this pursuit is most un- 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- domitable face to the outstretched hand No chance, he said But there was chance always had beensa chance; always would be, so 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 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 CT, you must appreciate my forbearance toward you so far It cannot continue forever Un-