The Washington herald., 1914-05-24

was evident that the flibuster had
no intention of obeying the signal to haul in.
The pair who had fought one another so cor
daily stared at the until both boats melted
into the sun, below the sun, then dropped be-
yond the horizon. The ocean which seemed so
restful from the deck now became the creature
of thousand giant heads waves that lifted them
high then slapped their cockle-shell craft back
into the trough behind. And, in ever-recurring
succession the orderly army of the sea marched
upon them, toyed derisively a second with them,
then passed by, leaving them to the next rank.
The air growing colder, colder, spray slash
ing them and searching their clothes, with file
like tips.
Hugo Loubeque watching Lucille narrow
". Their predcament seemed not to worry him,
the fact that the Captain of the flibusters had
consigned himself and his enemy to such a fate
was of little account. Life, to him, had been a
succession of dangers equally appalling. And he
was still alive. But the motive of his life, the
thought of revenge with which he made weak
body so many times compel itself beyond the limit
of endurance still alldominating. Warily he
studied her downcast face, the melancholy express
sion given to it by the sweep of lashes fringing
her eyes. She started, awake from her reverie,
her thoughts-which had been speeding home
ward-brought back to the boat instantly, her
motive of Love which must compel her to
fight springing powerfully within her
The papers, Miss Lucille" Loubeque said
quietly, will you kindly give me the papers to
take off"
The papers, Then the spy did not know that
Captain Wetheren had possessed himself of the
precious bag before having her placed in the open
boat Instinctively her hands flew to her bosom,
the harsh feel of the ruby necklace which she
had taken from the underground cavern with her,
meeting her clutch. Rubies of untold, OF fabul-
Gus value she had and the thought of power,
of money-shoud she ever come safely out OF
this-gave her a sweeping sensation OF elat1on.
Surely, the rubies had been left to her for some
object. Fate, that had been manifested and
had always eventually proved so kindly would
not gibe at her now by giving her that which
would mean great power among human beings
only to allow her to drown without the oppor-
tunity of using it.
Captain Wetheren took the papers," she an
swered quietly, studying the spys face to see
what effect the announcement made. Again un-
willing admiration for the mans imperturbabihty,
his acceptance of circumstances came to her as
she met his level, unwinldng scrutiny. Slowly he
nodded.
aIndeed," he murmured, then, after long
period spent in profound thought, "well, perhaps
il is better Perhaps it is better"
For full hour he did not speak, an hour
wherein the stars sprayed themselves over the
heavens, as though the great Celestial gardener
drew a protecting blanket from off his precious
flowers and exposed them to the Nature from
which they drew their sustenance. Lucille fancied
she caught a glimpse of the long-wicked friendly
star that beckoned to her when she hid from
the leopards in the tree-top, and the thought re-
assured her. Hugo was speaking, softly, as though
to himself.
much simpler to fight against Wetheren than
against you."
There was a note Of pathos, of longing in his
tones that made her lips trembe in sympathy for
the man who had splendidly misjudged the
life that had been given him, had SO misused the
marvellous brain. Again came that feminine in
stinct to proselyte and again did glance at his
determined face make her desist. She would fight
and fight and die fighting to prevent him accomp-
fishing his aim, but, to save her, she could feel
no hatred against this one who would wreck those
she held most dear.
"You still have hope?" she murmured, anx-
fous to hear him answer in the affirmative.
@Hoper he laughed aloud. "Child. it is writ
ten in the stars that I shall not fail, cannot
fail You have read my diary No." he lifted
his hand in protest as she would have inter
rupted, @I do not blame you. I admire you the
more for doing anything to work out your mis-
sion. You know from that diary what / have
done to accomplish my ends. have overthrown
nations, have thousands at my feet And all for
what7 That when struck at the man hated
there should be no chanep for failure And now
the last chance has been serthrown. faltered,
Lucille. I faltered when ;should have put YOU
out of my path forever; when should have
made IN -end ia Jour iuterfsrence And had