The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-12-17
thrust forward like an angry bulldogs

boatsWain questioning him and Will
ing AWAY the long su.try day by listen
ing TO the stories he loved to tell her
She started toward her cabin She
| heard swift step across the deck and
hurried the faster, only pausing to look
back when she reached her door.
a little cry of pity and rage came
from her lips when. with an ng!y oath
WetilereIl lifted his great fist and floor
cd the old seaman. Every womanly
impulse rose mp within her at the out
! rageous, uncalled for attack. Forget
ful of her own precarious position, for
getful Of everything save the pain OF
the old man upon the deck, she start
ed to his assistance, when the door of
the Chinaman's stateroom slapped
open. and the occupant strobe across
the deck toward Wetherell and spoke
with Wetherell in low tones of sup
pressed passion.
The captain eyed the man angrily for
a moment, then turned and slipred
away, bis very back dropping like that
of whipped cur. Lucille turned to
enter her cabin. but something caused
NOoA
SO. She felt an inclina ton to scream
TOT ald, but anaZement at recognition
OF the man who stepped into the cabin
behind her, softly closing the door. held
her dumb. For, under the yellow col
oTlng, the made up slanting eyes, the
Aongolian mask he had so cunuincly
assumed. fear loaning clarity to her
vision, she recognized Hugo I.oubeuue,
and instinctively both hands clasped at
tue little bag about her neck which
heid the precious papers. The spy
smiled at the impulsive gesture.
You have guessed the reason for this
intrusion, Miss Love-" he murmured
gravely THE papers, If you please"
The terror widened eyes Of the girl
narrowed slowly as her gaze Travelled
from the 1ndomitable face to the out
stretched hand Her lips parted in a
smile as she moved toward the door
and held it open for him to leave.
Miss Lucille" be continued, his
tones sharper. you must appreciate
my forbearance toward you SO far 1t
cannot continue forever. Undoubtedly
you Know my power. Does it not star
tie you to find me in q position Of au
thorlty upon this yacht? 1t is always
SO. Everywhere l find my assistants.
Forty years of MY life have been spent
IN ordering events SO that such obsta
cies as you have encountered would be
az my command The papers, if you
please"
She quailed before the lightning that
dafted from his somber eyes. Common
sense, the instinct for self preservation.
everything urged her to obey. Yet
When her hands sought her bosom the
feel of the precious little bag renewed
her courage, gave her strength to meet
his eyes with courage greater even
than his own assurance.
Her eyes held to his with an effect of
frightened fascination 1t was the
change i'll his tone. the difference in his
wording Of the demand that told Hugo
Loubeque's patience had been finally
frayed to the breaking point. that craft
and diplomacy would he things Of the
past did She not reinqnish the parers
to him now. Yet duty, love-tvin
fhadows. wraithlike. yet of iron
ttrength-held her back from obedi
tnce
Think. Miss Love, think of our 10.
sitions. Match my strength. brute
strength. against your own; measure
the strength of any one Of the thou
sands who implicitly obey me. Those
waters tell no tales, give up no shastly
secrets Think of that Miss Love. |
beg OF you, then give me the little bag
you wear about your neck
His voice was full Of pleading. vet
his eyes held q death message which
made her shudder.
"fou seek to save the ones dear to
you. child. You think ME wicked, cru
Ell, relentless, aud am all of these
things. Forty years ago might have
gone us you do now. but al the i'm
pulses Of that time are dead, killed by
your father; all the love ever had.
TIE only love. has been dead for fc.tv
Years. killed by your father; all the am
bltion or that time of youth. the haDpi
ness of hope, the pride of fatherland, is
dead. has been dead for forty Years
Killed by your father, General S.inuter
Love. And you-you think that would
stop at violence to prevent your tlwart-
ing me: you think | would trade those
forty years of hate for the faint sr,ash
OF girls body on the waters of this
great waste?'
The while his tones grew lower, they
carried vibrant thrill that struck 1T
her very heart. His face was tiinty as
with passionate pleading, she lifted her
eyes to bis. Instinctively she recoiled
as a shadow fell between them. Lou
beque froWned as Captain Wethere!i
joined them, his eyes flashing a CUES
tlonlng glance at the pallid face of the
girl Then the spy bowed gravely and
stepped on the deck, followed CLOSELY
by the captain Of the yacht.
Whispers of the men growing ,onde,
came to her until she could distin-uisI,
the angry voice Of Wetheren. lifted
now III surly rebellion. Lucille shrank
back against the wall visualizipr from
the mans tones and the expression on
his face. A greater horror than th.
waves came leaping to her mind. Huge
Loubeque was her protection from
this brute. She knew it WAS true