The Washington herald., 1914-05-24

woman's place just the door opened and
head was poked inside She mumbled something
iEarticulate, cultural, peevish-voiced, and the
head withdrawn after the owner cast one
glance at the figure under the blankets. He had
sooner closed the door than the girl picked
the knife from the floor and ripped the blanket
into strips. securely tying her prisoner and gag
ging him. She barely finished before low moan
from the wounded woman made her hurriedly
drag her victim from under the couch. great
wave of compassion swept her at sight Of her
work, necessary though it had been, compassion
which died before the malevolent glare in the
eyes fastened upon her own. Examining the
wound she discovered it to be but superficial and
bound and gagged her then bundled her back.
Then, after waiting a second at the door
mastering her courage, she stepped into the hall
way and down. into the open air. Strangely
enough she felt the reaction coming upon her
once outdoors, a nervous chill that shook her
from head to foot and seemed unwilling to
loosen its grip.
1t was the sight of the ocean that drove it
from her, the ocean she recalled as so much
more terrible and remorseless than anything she
had ever even dreamed Of 1t braced her against
the nervous chill that threatened to send her back
into the place from which she had just escaped.
She shrugged her shoulders and marched stead
lily down the foul-smeing. dirty little street un-
til she glmpsed a building taller than any
others surrounding it and decorated with
gorgeousness of elaboration which made her for
get everything save admiration for the skill and
patience expended in such work Closer inspec-
tion showed that the bottom part Of the house
had barred windows and she shuddered at
thought Of the narrow escape she had had from
being placed behind just such bars herself. Be
fore the door stood closed paanquin, evidently
the vehicle for a parsonage of great consequence
from the rich silk robes that overfowed the
sides Lucille laughed at the Involuntary surge
of longing to hide herself within that mass OF
robes, but the laugh died away in her throat,
was choked fairly at birth by the hoarse whisper
of her own name. She looked about her, fearful
that her illness had not deserted her completely,
hat sha ha a1irinu
Lucille" :"
This time she knew she had made no mis-
take. She identified the direction from
which the voice came. But surely nobody save
Hugo Loubeque knew her in this place. and Hugo
Loubeque-
Something small and compact fell at her
feet and she stared at it wonderingly, incredu-
lously. recognizing it for the diary of Hugo Lou
beoue the international spy. The sound of a clos
ing door made her hurriedly snatch it from the
ground and conceal it beside ths ruby necklace
Then she shrank back against the side of the
house. eyeing the portly sallow-faced Chlnaman
who came slowly and majestically toward her.
Evidently the owner of the palanquin, per
sonage of great circumstance from his dwelling
and personal attire, she judged. Her fingers
pressed against the diary and encountered the
rubies. The touch of them gave her q swift idea
and she cautiously drew the necklace from about
her neck, detaching one from the strand and
knotting the stout hair wire 50 none should es-
cape because of the loosening. She looked at the
pigeon-blood moment, recalling her fathers
contemptuous sentence regarding the corrupt
bility of the Chinese noble, then advanced to-
ward the man, just as he reached out to enter
his vehicle.
His face was impassive as he stared blanly
at her. She gesticulated, did everything to make
him understand what she desired but by no sign
did he signify that he understood. Finally in
desperation she held out the ruby to him, eager.
ly watching the change of expression that
crossed his face as he turned it over and over in
his fingers. His eyes were fairly glowing when
he lifted them once more and met hers, nodding
as she moved toward the palanquin and stepped
inside secreting herself under the silk robes
and burrowing to one corner while the owner
entered.
Her thoughts ran riot during that trip
Where had the diary Of the spy come from?
Surely not Loubeque, yet no one but Loubeque
was familiar with her name. It had been
prisoner. A prisoner
Wetherell or someone Of his crew. They had
possession of the diary and the precious papers
But why confined? What could 1t all mean? She
racked her brain for answer, was SO absorbed
in the puzzle that she did not notice the palan-
ouin had halted. did not notice until she heard
a familiar voice chatting with the owner in
Chinese. But she would have recognized that
voice in any quarter Of the gao6e. would have