The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-03

giittering thing of metal, was the weapon of this
man yet he had seen a giant lion drop dead when
ms master raised it and threw his barking voice
OF orange flame through il. 1t was well not to
go against such being; well not to risk the
possibility of his wrath when pitted against
all the traditions of his ancestors
Hugo Loubeque smiled grimly as he read
from the humble attitude of the native in which
direction his mind working. Through fear
and through greed had he gathered together his
vast army OF servants throughout the world and
he knew none of them would be faithful should
succession of failures appear to show that he
was not invincible. A giant wolf-man he ruled a
pack that was ever ready to fall upon him and
rend him.
The reflection caused his great jowls to red
den and the solid jaw to creep ominously for
ward. An added ominousness of tone was in his
voice when he spoke to the native, himself NOV
ing outside the door without turning back to see
whether he had been obeyed.
Swiftly he> strobe through the inky black
ness OF the jungle that hemmed them in until
he came to scarcely penetrable wall of creepers
swung like giant hammocks between the trees
twisting and writing about themselves in hope
less confusion, all deriving sustenance from
the stunted trunks to which they chung. More
like great ropes of corded hemp they were than
anything else, their thick surface covered with
fuzzy hairs. 1t was the creeper Loubeque had
noticed the native using when he wished to start
the nights fire, twisting about hard, sharp
pointed stick against the unyieding surface Of
the creeper till the friction started fame
He had wondered at the imperviousness of
the vine against anything but fire. had marvelled
at the rapidity with which the slightest spark
SEEING the hairy exterior would consume the en-
tire creeper. Now, he pointed to the wall of
creepers, indicating how much he wished.
But half an hour suficed to satisfy the SOY
and, without more than a nod, he turned and
moved swiftly back to the hut There he superin-
tended the splicing of the sections of creepers
and binding together in such fashion they should
make rope fully one hundred feet long. The
last fragment of the material was used and he
stared at the giant coil speculatively. A slow
smile of satisfaction frightened his face, as at
curt word of command, the native glided noise
lessly from the hut. one end of the rope in his
hand.
Foot by foot, coil at time the pile of
creeper before the international SPY unfolded it.
self, the while he prevented any knotting. The
heap upon the hut floor had almost disappeared
before the constant vibrations ceased and he
knew the savage had finished his part of the
work. He was still smiling, grimly now when the
native returned and he commanded him to fire
the end that was within the hut. Then Hugo
Loubeque stepped swiftly out the opening and
strobe along the line OF creeper-rope that wound
like some unbelievable monstrous serpent through
the lush grass and shrubbery until he came with
in few yards of Lucille's hut He halted, screen
ing himself from the chance observation of some
prowling native by hiding in the shadow of a
great tree that faced her abode.
From far away back in the direction from
which he had just come there in the blackness
of the jungle tip, strange winking star seemed
suddenly to twinkle upon the ground, fade for
moment, tnen dance Swiftly forward toward MIN. \
At times the fame would appear to waver to
be- extinguished, but always it would reappear
again, having made brave progress during the
time of its apparent extinction. Hugo Loubeque
suddenly stirred to animation.
Noiseless as any cat despite his bulk, he
moved toward the girls hut, securing the end of
the creeper and tossing it upon the matched roof
Then, once more, he took up his position in. the
shadow of the adjacent tree. stray dog provvled
about the street, SMILED at him. then cringed
away without sound as though his animal in
>stinct scented the diabolism of the man. The
jungle seemed breathing heavily, like some
drunken sleeper-these were the only sounds.
The only sounds the faint, cracking one
of the fame it fed upon itself. creeping closer,
closer to the matched roof of the hut where it
might have a royal meal. Hugo Loubeaue waited,
hexed in every nerve and sinew of his frame for
the result of his stratagem. And always the fame
crept closer, coming more swiftly now, famed
by the slight breeze of the open where the huts
were builded,