River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-10-08

stars pitiIess in their steady undeviat-
ing scrutiny as the glover Of sun;
nights where the desert breeze search
ed out the marrow of the bones; nights
surrounded by the minions of Lou
beque, by Loubeque himself; nights Of
sleeplessness for herself, but nights
filed with the sounds Of the slumbers
Of her captOrs
Save Hugo Loubeque. LOubeque
never slept. Lucille saw he had steel
ed himself against her VOW. that never
again would she be able to penetrate
his pitiIessness in the pursuit Of his
previous revenge.
Close at hand was the hour for him
to strike. ready at hand were the
means What was his object in seek
ing Mexico and the Constitutionalist
leader she had no means Of knowing:
That there was great object. one
which she must defeat at any and all
costs, she knew.
1t was the eighth day be ran into a
foraging party sent out by Villa in ad-
vance Of his main army. Much as she
was still surprised to mark the respect
and Difference paid him by the dark
skinned rebels. Consequently several
days later, days of tireless travel, she
was not surprised on reaching the
main body Of the army to find herself
being treated with the greatest respect.
while Loubeque was in constant con
sultation with the rebel leader
Day after day she felt the growing
heIpfessness of her position. Loubeque
seemed omnipotent in the opinion of
these men upon whom he appeared 10
have stumbled
Still she would not permit hope to
die. The justice of her causes the
growing humanity of the international
spy, her.yery youth and the power OF
her love forbade this.
Through the very eagerness and des
peratiOn of this feeling she slowly be-
came aware of the attitude toward his
master Of Thompson. She was aware
Of the subtle atmosphere of hatred
which the slick scoundrel's mask of
servitude concealed SO we'll In lieu OF
anything to do on her own account she
took to watching the man. following
his every move, his every change OF
expression.
Enmity toward the master be had
served so we'll and who had ll!Streated
him mingled with hatred for the girl
he had so bitterly wronged and who
had brought his punishment about.
Consequently Lucille was surprised to
come across a briefly scrubbed note on
a bit Of rice paper such as she had
often noticed the butler using in rolling
cigarettes 1t was pressed tightly
against one Of the partially cut slices
Of bread when Thompson served his
master and Lucille with their dinner.
She detached the fragment of bread,
dropping it to the floor and securing
the fragment of paper as she picked it
up, cOncealing it In the palm of her
hand.
For what seemed countless hours she
bravely attempted to eat the food be
fore her, tried to endure the heart
breaking period during which Lou
beque smoked silently at his cigar 1t
was with sigh of relief so obvious the
spy was obliged to smile that she made
half hearted protest at his retirement.
No sooner had his figure ceased to
darken the doorway than she started
eagerly to examine the message
''At the third boot Of the owl leave"
Merely that, but the delphic words
seemed pregnant with wondrOus mean
ing.
Hours trOd upon one another's heels
so fast they moved under the tension
of her waiting. Vague fOrebodingS
which she could not analyze oppress-
ed her despite the fires of hope that
had been kindled within her dropping
spirit There had been something
deadly about Thompson's manner. IN
der the scrutiny of the man she knew
he hated so venomously, which made
her shudder and form a half resolu
ton to acquaint LOubeque with his
servants treachery. She had half risen
to her feet. still fighting against the
ludicrOus impulse when the shrill boot
Of an owl reached from out the mighty
distances of the farreaching desert
waves.
And now the very seconds Jagged
Every nerve, every muscle. f1exed. for
she knew not what. Lucille waited.
her ear against the wall. her eyes pools
Of mirrored terror.
After what seemed an interminablp
age came again the sound. Unable
this time to endure the long intermis
sion she was charged to undergo. she
softly opened the door, peering out
over the sleeping city that the rebel
chieftain had flung up at a mere COM
mand. Immediately before her own
abode she made out the less preten-
tious shack of the international spy
\ dim light from the partially opened
door cut a segment from the darkness
Far more significant of siumber than
complete darkness was that light
A tiny droning sound reached her