The log cabin Democrat., 1914-10-30

ngnt or mingled happiness and tr
 umph in his eyes-a look that brought olmiy back to her the memory of cer tain things yet to be accomplished, but which she had not the strength to com pletely recall, a look so transitory that when she fought her eyes wide open he was gone, and she was conscious of be- Ing in a strange place, a black figure rising from the corner. then slumber once again.
 Instinct forced her finally from the lethargic slumber, the instinct common to all higher forms of animals of pro tecting ones treasure. Her hands grOped at her neck, where a slight tug bad wakened her. Something brushed across her hand when she forced her eyes open, the figure she remembered to have seen in the corner was still squatting there, figure that might have been tnanimate save for the burn ing eyes fastened upon her. Nervously she fumbled at her neck, the feel of the ruby necklace meeting her fingers and puzzling her for moment before 1t started chaotic chain of recollec tons that finally marshaled themselves in semblance of order
 Out of the delirium- of fever she fought remembrance of all that had happened since Hugo Loubeque drag. ged her back in the boat. recalled viv idly from the subconscious brain that had attained ascendancy during that narrowing period, his tender nursing of her, his denial, his stern self mas tery when the blazing sun, the thirst. the hopelessness would otherwise have compelled him to give up the fight; and then the fishing boat, the blessed relief of water, the breaking of the fever and consequent repairing of burned out nerve tissues, the arrival in this house and the spy's leave taking.
 A cat and mouse game she played for two days with the silent Chinese woman nursing her. The woman had discovered the necklace. and Lucille knew she was constantly after it.
 Short periods of time there were when the nurse would sleep lustily and then Lucille walked warily up and down the floor. gradually regaining perfect power of locomotion. That necklace meant everything to her in this strange country. It meant the ability to travel, to do anything she pleased in her fight to regain the pre- erty to her falsely accused sweetheart.
 And with the return of strength came a terrible uneasiness. great fear. Hugo Loubeque, tender though his care of her had been. had left immedi- ately she was out of danger. and she knew his motive was to seek the pa pers that Captain Wetherell had stolen
 It was dawn of the third day that the nurse slipped from the room. slip ped out with a stealthiness that some how sent a chill through the girl and made her sit bolt upright in the bed. then. as the door closed. spring toward the chair beside the door The soft without made her stffen with resolu- tion as she hid herself so that the opened door would secure her from sight. Then the door opened an inch at time. silently, cautiously, while the woman slipped inside the room. looked at the blanket upon the couch where Lucille should have been. then beckoned to a slender. yellow robed young Chinaman. who entered even more noiselessly than the nurse had done. The girl In hiding shuddered at sight of the vicious knife the young Chinaman passed to the woman The man muttered guttural deep in his throat as he crouched. Evidently the revolver he carried bothered him, for he placed it upon the chair. Lucilles fingers darted out. closing upon the welcome butt just as the woman leap ed across the distance that separated her from the couch upon which the blanket bulged deceptively, driving the ugly knife down with a force that sent her off her balance. Lucille knew she could hide no longer and stepped from behind the door, the revolver leveled upon the pair, her voice shaking de spite herself
 Hands up!" she cried.
 The man cringed. crouched away from her, but the sight of the girl there seemed to enrage the woman completely. Brandishing the knife wildly, she leaped forward. then lurch. ed from side to side simultaneously with the discharge of the gun, slip. ping, wounded, to the floor in a heap The man crouched still further away. and Lucille advanced upon him.
 Somehow she felt no compunction now. felt no fear. only felt the neces.