The log cabin Democrat., 1914-11-28
spring -uncoiled with tremendous sud

staggered back. Before he could re cover she was upon him, driving. him toward the door. He lifted his hands to fend his face. then stopped abruptly as he staggered into his master just entering the room.
 Hugo LOuheQue waited. watching the furious girl and the ruffled butler curl ousiy A smile curved bic lips as he turned toward her.
 You object to the draft. 1 presume. I assure you 1t has no i'll effects and will make the journey one of pleasure instead of weariness." Then he whirl. ed upon the butler. his face hard as granite. his teeth clipping of each word like steel particles.
 What are you doing here!"
 "1 came to see if the draft had taken effect" suikily murmured the butler
 By what authority?"
 Asking your pardon, sir, but sug gested 1t and was afraid 1t might have a bad effect 1 grew to take an inter, est in Miss Lucille in Manila, sir, and did not wlsh"-
 Loubeque drowned heavily, but cut him short with an impatient wave of his hand. Lucille felt a sudden i'm pulse to tell him the truth. but con Quered 1t swiftly. She could fight Thompson much easier than this man She must keep her own counsel The spy turned to her again.
 "You did not take the draft?'
 "Nbv'
 "I assure you on my word as a gen tteman that 1t will cause you no incon venience. Further. 1 hoped not to be obliged to tell you that if you do not take it willingly you will be compelled to get 1t down."
 She bent her head docilely Resist ance was out of the question, and, aft CT all. she must save her strength to fight the big things. After a moments hesitation, shudder at the enticing colors shed from the stun, she drained the glass.
 Languor. comfort, peace She gave herself up to the drug with a prayer. . prayer she felt so certain would be needed. that in her slumber a smile parted her lips. played about her coun tenance. And when she awoke she was at LOubeque's Mexican ranch.
 
 Low. rambling houses of Spanish architecture dotted the great area which the curiously fantastic. wholly artistic fence inclosed. The grounds were laid out in orderly fashion. bloom ing like the garden of Eden with a riotous profusion of flowers and plants
 This was new Loubeque she met there. Always had she associated him with the manner of her knowing him Times he had been tender, other times he had been cruel. always was he craf- ty, cunning. courageous, one ideal man. But now he seemed all poet painter. She could hear the softened tones of his voice as. with some of his companions. he wandered about the grounds, tenderly explaining io them the history. the beauty of the flowers the rare species he had imported for the place.
 1t was after one of these rambles that she noticed signs of some impend- ing change about the menage. One morning ne suddenly walked toward her, entering the house to shortly en, ter her room.
 "I am leaving today" he began ab. ruptly, all the nature lover gone from his cold. stern manner Again I ask tp fQll xvh h1 pers."
 Then they haven't been found"- She stopped abruptly. realizing that her delight had revealed quite as much as his demand.
 "I am sorry. Lucille. that you cannot see the folly of this It Is your last chance to tell me It is your last chance to count me a friend. am waiting"
 She did not answer. Their eyes met and held, both filled with an unaltered purpose. Then Loubeque, without q word, left the room.
 Nor did she see him again. That he had gone she knew from the laxness about the household among his sery- ants. It gave her food for hope. She must escape-she must. She must es, cape before the iron grip of dreamy languOr about the place became uD- breakable.
 But always when she wandered about she would encounter one of Lou beque's aids, always masked, always casually surprised at coming upon her. always urbane and polite. yet insistent upon turning her in an opposite direc- tion. It got upon her nerves to such an extent that she finally took to the