The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-12-24

Ire. she looked out TO nnC lefSelI
upon Il quay, great boat docking
there, its hold being filed by coolie
stevedores. And, stepping up the gang
plank, broad smile upon his face,
moved Hugo Loubeque.
Lucille thrilled If Hugo Loubeque
smiled, he was happy. If the spy was
happy it was because he had secured
upon this giant boat it was because
the papers were in his possession. If
they were in his possession then she
would follow
But the diary?
Her fingers told her that this was
no phantasy, no Pigment Of an over
wrought brain. She held the diary ard
Hugo Loubeque was boarding the boat
If he boarded the boat it was because
lie was not yet aware of his loss.
Whichever it was, she must follow
him. She must be aboard the boat
when it sailed.
Through the days when Loubeque
watched Lucille lowering about the
black borderland of death in the house
to which he had been recommended by
his subordinate, the governor of the
province to which the fishing smack
that rescued them bore them, his brain
had fed upon one thought The papers
in the possession Of Captain Wetherell
must be found. But how?
The day before he saw Lucille was
out Of danger, the problem was an
swered for him by call from the gov
ernor Of the province. in whom he
recognized d man he had been instru-
mental in aiding, and one who feared
him greatly.
Instantly it was all clear to him.
Here was one he need fear making no
confession to. He had found out.
aboard the boat, exactly where the
shipment of arms was to be made
He knew Wetherell might go hun.
dreds of miles out Of his course be-
fore the vengeful man of war, but he
also knew that the goods must be
landed at the designated place before
he received his pay.
Leaving a sum of money with the
nurse Loubeque decided that when Lu-
ly well provided for to get word to her
people and escape from this, the last
of her adventures. He led a company
Of picked soldiers aboard the fighting
craft provided for their transport and
sailed toward the spot where the de
livery was to be made.
There in a tiny islet he arrived barely
day before the yacht put in with it's
Illicit cargo. The skirmish with the
landing crew lasted a scant hour, but
already the spy had discovered that
Wetherell, the man he wanted, was not
with the outfit and he began laying
plans for taking the yacht.
Captain Wetherell, impatiently wait
ing for his men to return for a second
load, had finally tired and was bring
ing it ashore himself. From the shore
suddenly shot out the boat his mate
had taken in, but instead of the crew
he knew SO we'll the oars were now
being manned by Chinese soldiers. In
a minute he found the side of his
boat battering against that of the
other, with soldiers piling recklessly
upon his small crew.
,
ing about him. saw that resistance was
utterly useless. Swiftly bis hand
sought the precious bag in which were
the papers he had stolen from Lucille
He drew it open hurriedly, the sealed
packet of papers-which formed the
major bulk of its contents-and the
diary falling at his feet He felt Lou
beque's eye upon him. caught a flash
OF the spy us he sprang at him. and
With derisive laugh hurled the bag
with the heavy packet overheard.
Without seconds hesitation the sDy
was il the water after it. WethereE
fairly choked with rage as he saw the
man he hated close his hand over the
bag. Then he was conscious of the
diary still III the bottom of the boat
and. picking it up, thrust it in his shirt
Wetherell scowled heavily as Hugo
LoubeqGe, having been helped into the
boat, brushed against him, his face
smiling Srimly as he looked down into
the eyes OF the yachtmaster
Very foolish. Wetherell Now.
think the sight of you making a little
jaunt up bill with swordsman be-
AAiAAA Sou SLtuylHS the ClcdnoSC place
to take that head from your shoulders
would be about as pleasant as anything
I'd care to look att
Wetherell did not answer, Only. even
after being bound, the feel of the diary
that had dropped from the bag gave
him some comfort.
The yawning side of the great vesse,
stood open before Lucille. the coolie
stevedores trundling their great loads
OF merchandise across the wharf and
disappearing within, as though swal-
lowed up forever.
Lucille was suddenly made conscious
Of the fact that she was very weak.
Neryously she fingered the ruby neck
lace about her throat, trying to think
of some way another Of the precious
stones might be made to work it's mag
1c influence. She could buy a passage
With 1t, could bride many aboard the
boat, but she must not be seen by
Hugo Loubeque.
Fiercely she fastened her little teeth
In her lower lip. Hugo Loubeque had
the precious papers in his possession
else he would never have smiled so