River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-10-15
trick in tampering with the message
of the carrier pigeon.

Vi Tie plSeOu.
Her right hand, which had been
clasping the revolver concealed beneath
her coat. unclasped, and a. sigh of
obvious relief came from her lips rs
she opened the door to greet young
ensign in uniform. She did not quite
know what she would have done had
it been Loubeque.
Ensign Howell?" she murmured,
flushing prettily at the admiration and
establishment on the officers face at
being greeted by such vision. Il am
very sorry" she murmured hurriedly,
as he started to enter. but Mr.. Lou
beque was obliged to leave hurriedly.
He left word that he would surely be
at any place convenient after 8:45."
ANY place conveI1ient?" The off,
GERS tones were more of surprise than
vexation.
THAT is" she hesitated, where it
would be convenient for a cutter or
boat of some sort to take him to the
Terror. That matter is OF such impor-
lance he does not care-that is
The young man Strengthened himself,
his face wearing an expression of
wounded dignity. Lucille heaved a
sigh of relief.
THAT is quite Mr.. Loubeque's privi-
lege," he snapped. 81 shall write the
address on card where the cutter will
lie so there can be no further mistake"
Lucille accepted the card negligently,
holding her eyes averted that he might
not read the ecstasy that fairly flooded
them. She watched his ruler straight
back as it disappeared down the street,
then clasped the card feverishly to her
breast. The first move had been made.
and she had more than taken the hon
ors. High hope beat in her heart be-
cause Of the little victory. She snapped
her teeth tightly shut. Yes. the papers
would be taken aboard the Terror, but
not by Hugo Loubeque. Neither would
there be any affidavit with them from
the arch spy. She was ready for any
thing now.
Laggard time for once flew while she
waited the long interval that was to
elapse before the arrival OF the spy.
Lucille found once more the tunnel
through which she had been led. found
mysterious passages and explored them,
studied out the position she would be
in when she completed her work with
the enemy who was to come.
A step sounded overhead. slow, meas
ured. methodical. She pressed close
against the switchboard to the house
Of mystery, the emanatiOn Of the
mysteries. Her fingers trembed slight
~. The feet moved up the stairs. She
waited, fingers outstretched toward
little ivory button. The cool surface
kissed the finger pad, the pad upon
which depended the honor of father
and sweetheart. which spelled home.
life, love to her.
Hugo LOubeque moved slowly to his
private Office on the second floor. He
shivered slightly as be went up the
stairs. Ghosts were in the house.
ghost memories that he was about 10
STAY finally and forever.
He seated himself at his desk to
wait, wandering off In a day dream
Of pleasanter memories. Luicille-how
her very presence here had made the
place bearable. He took the precious
packet Of stolen papers from his pocket
The sweet he had longed for was
his now and yet it was not sweet.
He slapped his fist heavily upon the
table. cursing himself for fool that
such thoughts should Cypress him.
What allied the ensign that he did
not come? 1t was past the time ap-
pointed. That was most unusual. He
strobe nervously up and down the
floor. Suddenly the floor gave way
violently beneath him. flashed down
with lightning speed. bringing up upOn
the basement floor with such violenoo
that everything in the room was oveg-
turned. while he himself lay hak
stunned against the table.
He staggered away. finding himself
so weak and dazed he was obliged to
clutch the table edge to keep from
topping over. Something cool and
soft brushed against his hand, then
the softness grew as iron and his
fingers were lOosened from their clutch
He staggered back, back against the
basement wall. He heard Lucille's
voice utterfn9 a little cry of aeligh&.
His hands encountered the light switcA.
instinctively pressing. The room was
a flood Of yellow light, in the center OF
which, slowly retreating toward the
tunnel exit from the house, revolver
pointed steadily at him, with eyes
sighting behind the revolver that were
harder even than the CLINT Of metal,
stood Lucille Love, the precious packet
Of papers in her hand.
Slowly, without word, she disap-
peared from view. departed as abrupt
ly, as Unexpectedly as she had ap-
peared. making use of the spys In
genuity to turn it against him in this.
his greatest hour. For moment he
could not think or do anything; then he
darted toward the tunnel, staggering
back as a white hot iron scared his
brow even as an orange squirt of flame
leaned out the darkness at him