Arizona republican., 1914-09-11

SoH" iii"Hhcl uHutT the scrutiny OF the man Sn0
knew ne hated so venOmousfy which made her
snudder and form half resolution to acquaint
Louoeque with his servants treachery. She had
nall risen to her feet, still fighting against the
numerous impulse when the shrill boot of an owl
reached from out the mighty distances of tina
far reaching desert waves She reseated herself
cold with feeling of omnipresent evil 1t was
not alone her impression CT the butler-thef but
there was something deadly and surcharged With
violence in the artificial owls call
And now the very seconds Jagged Every.
nerve, every muscle fexed for she knew not
what, Lucille waited, her against the wall
her eyes pools of mrrored terror
After what seemed an interminabe age cams
again the sound. Unable this time to endure the
long ntermisson she was charged to undergo
she softly opened the door, peering out over the
sleeping city that the rebel chieftain had fupn
up at mere command. Immediately before her
abode she made out the less pretentious
shack of the international spy A dim light from
the partially opened door cut a segment from
the darkness. Far moro significant of slumber
than complete darkness was that light.
tiny droning sound reached her ears. By
main force f.ercing the thick veil of night
Lucille made out the shadowy outlines of lean
motor car, dimly silhouetted against a pile Of
lava dust. Something shapeless and dark and
furtive OF movement crept across the space that
intervened between it and the ight-cleavage Of
Loubeque's quarters. Lucille could not. resist the
impulse that forced her from the door into the
open.
Times she paused, fearful that her chatter.
ing teeth spell out a warning to the marauder
to whom she knew she should feel grateful vet
for whom nothing but hatred and fear would
enter her heart. So silently the man moved it
seemed at times the earth must have opened and
swallowed him up.
Something tugged at her feet fairly draw.
ing her away from the scene. Then strange
Of pity for the unsuspecting one against
whom this furtive attack being made urged
her forward. As the dark figure slipped through
the door, Lucille thrust her head cautiously with
in. Upon the cot lay the long fgsre of the in
ternational spy, his face turned toward the sill
ent. motionless figure that stood in the center
of the room, staring at him The eyes were
tightly closed but the girl knew that the
merely fegned slumber.
Thompson turned toward the table upon
which the lamp dimly burned, Lucille allowed
her eyes to wander for second in that drec-
ton her heart thudding violently at sight of
the diary and papers there that she was fearful
she would be heard. Alongside the papers. its
facets sending out million flashes of reddest
blood lay the strand of rubies. She marked tho
involuntary fexing of the thief's hands he
tiptoed toward them
Not sound disturbed the silence. But
thing caused her to dart a swift glance at the
sleeper. His eyes narrowed but open. lights
of amused malice in them she had never
pected could show in mortal eyes. lights so
malignant she shuddered even she would have
opened her lips to cry Il warning. The butler
thief drew closer to the prize he had worked SO
hard to gain. Eis thief's fingers were out
stretched to grasp the necklace. when, with a
crash, the lamp darted toward him. smashing
upon the floor and leaving utter blackness in its
wake
iron the heels of his startled alarm came a
chrckling laugh from Ioubeque, laugh that
ched the, evil that had glowed from his eyes
scant before. Came gurgied oath, the heavy
breathing of strong men in combat.
Lucille turned as though TO run Came 3
swift vision before her. that made her step
swiftly within the wall of mantled darkness. She
COLD hear the silent struggle of her enemies
mingled with crashes of sornd. Some instinct
held her silent, motionless. The papers and the
necklace had been upon the table. directly before
her.
between her and that table threshed the
two men. She dared not take the chance Other
chances had been nothing compared to this
This was 50 deadly. so full of cool thought. Shs
could not-could not do it.
Eyes met her OWL eyes that seemed to
force their way through the dark interior and
cause her to forget everything that had inter
vened eyes that mrrored message of love and
faith and hope to her she looked down from
the window of the mysterious house in San
Francisco into the eyes of her lover. the man
whose happiness could not be insured without
those papers short space before her.
With the thought she sprang into the room.
Her toe met some:hing soft. soft and wriggling
and silent She bounded high clearing the bodies
of the two men and landing squarey against
tne I3Dle IeT DdDus RTOpeQ even as she kHcW
her presence had penetrated the consciousness Of
the combatants lost they were to outside
things by the fury of their hate. Cropping. CROP
ing. her hands encountered the cold rubies. She
thrust them swiftly into her bodice. her left hand
continuing the search. Papers rustled under her
fingers. An iron hand was upon her shoulder but
she wrenched herself loose and leaped back.
Heavy breathing sounded, heavy breathing
and the catke tread of the one who CROPPED for
he elusive figure. Along the wall she moved un-
til her body encountered the swaying door. A
faint light trickled through at her al in that
fash she made out the tall figure of Loubeque.
Even he sprang at her she slapped the
door shut. Came cry of pain and rage. the
stumble of feet backwards.
Lucille fed through the night. fled towards
where she had seen the motor car from which
Thompson had to this place 1t 8
chance, no odds what orders the had been
given.
What commands he had been given? She
stopped second. She had been warned to wait
for three boots of the owl and but two had been
given Impulse directing her. she lifted her hands
to her mouth. First sound came. second
time she made the attempt Feeble it was at
best. but. the startled silence took it up and
buried hack this offender against restfulness.
To her right the purr of the motor.
From behind sounded a shot. She lunged toward
the first sound. A dark figure leaned from the
seat and drew her beside him. Lucille chung to
the car shot through the night
The whine of bullet sounded overhead-an.
other and yet again another. She dared not