The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-11-19


against one man, toward the destruc-
ton of General Love.
Over and over he turned the stolen
papers. Only another link it was In
the chain he was drawing about the
old army officer. The butler coughed
nervously, and his master looked up.
waving him away without a word OF
praise. The man had but done his
duty. Hugo Loubeque expected that
The telephone rang and the spy stiff
ened in his chair, no more the dream
er. Loubeque was at work finishing
this detail in his scheme Of revenge.
With the ruins of every hope smash
ing about her, without thought save
the need for confidante and friend
in time Of distress. Lucille took up the
telephone to speak with her chum, the
wife of young officer who had only
just reached the post month before.
For a second, sensitized by suffering
though her mind was, she did not
catch the significance of the orders be-
ing given by the man whose wire had
crossed her own. Then feeling OF
faintness caused her to reel at the
power and strength she caught In the
tones She listened, conquering her
fear in one triumphant throb of love
for the imprisoned officer:
Genera: Loves orders and papers
are in my possession now. For
Shanghai on the Empress tonight.
Have the launch ready"
And then the buzzing Of the instru
ment told her that she could hear no
more. She rushed to the window, her
heart sinking at sight of the smoke
curls spewing from the big liners fun
nels. The Empress was ready-ready
and her sweetheart was arrested.
Resolution so vague as to be indefin-
able urged her across the floor and out
the door. She did not stop to analyze
the impulse which urged her feet
! across the parade ground, down the
streets Of Manila toward the dock. A
| mad despair possessed her as she
caught the signs Of readiness from the
Empress and saw there was no boat to
take her out to the ship which carried
the precious orders.
She beat her tiny fists fercely to-
gether. There must be way. There
must be. Family to her ears came a
humming sound from the boat. 1t re-
minded her of another sound she had
heard recently, Il sound she identified
with the solution of her problem-Har-
ley and his aeroplane.
1t was five miles, but her horse
could do the distance in short time.
Faster even than she had reached the
dock did she get to the stables. No
time for saddling, for anything save
the wild ride before her. Through the
moonlight she dashed. the little mare
accepting this new freak Of his mis-
tress with delight.
The aviator had only just returned
from the dance when she flung her
self from the mare and grasped him
fercely by the shoulders, shaking him
in the vehemence of her command
He stared ut her unbelievingly as be
made out what she desired. but there
was something in the entreating eyes
the drawn face. that told her deadl.
earnestness.
1T means the honor of the man
love"
Harley turned away, turned toward
the giant plane. RreathIessly SHIT
watched him, waiting his decision
There was a curiously twisted smil,
upon his lips when he faced her again
Get in" he motioncd.
Hugo Loubeque leaned against tn,
liners rail. pencil poised over the opel
page of the diary which was headed
"Loubeque's Account With Love.
Items upon that page had been can
celed, more remained clear The hant
started to draw through one Of thes
last when family to his ears reache,
down drumming sound from th
e heavens.
= AS his eyes wandered up the graz
bird in mid heaven grew more an,
more distinct, the figures Of man an
woman emerging. grim smile cross
ed the spy's face as he put the diar
and pencil! back in his pocket, for Hug
L Loubeque was thorough, and the tier
might not be Cancelled yet.
Grimly Hugo Loubeque watched til
aeroplane approaching the Empress
Ruthless, above all authority. next
omnipotent with the power he had gi,
en- his life to build up that he nigh
be revenged upon the man who ha
brought about his ruin early in lift
u the international spy watched this a
l tempt at interference with his plans
y for such he instinctively knew it to b
-keenly.
Cheers rose from the deck at til
}, mastery manipulation Of the PLAN
Then the aviator's purpose of landin
on the liners deck became clear. TT
explosions Of the motor died out abrup
:, ly- Then the plane swooped down t.
s ward the deck nose-on, righted itse
and glided to a perfect landing
=, Lucille separated herself quickl
t. from the passengers. She was begil
re ming to think again. to realize what
a task lay before her The orders an
papers Of her father We're upon til
l. boat, but who carried them she di
It not know. OF all these hundreds an
. one might be the thief. Harley int
Ie rupted her mood Of black depression
+ | taking her hand and wishing har I,,c