The daily sentinel., 1914-06-17

open, he was gone and she conscious of be-
ing in strange place, black figure rising from
the corner, then slumber once again.
Instinct forced her finally from the lethargic
slunber, the instinct common to all higher forms
of animals of protecting ones treasure Her hands
CROPPED at her neck where Il slight tug had wax
ened her Something brushed her hand
when she forced her eyes OPEN the figure she
membered to have in the corner was still
squatting there, figure that might have been IN
animate for the burning eyes fastened upon
her Nervously she fumbled at her neck, the feel
of the ruby necklace meeting her fingers and
puzzling her for a moment, before 1t started
chaotic chain of recolections that finally mar
shalled themselves In semblance of order.
Out of the delirium of fever she fought
membrance of all that had happened since Hugo
Loubeque dragged her back In the boat recalled
vividly from the subconscious brain that had at
tanned ascendancy during that narrowing period,
his tender nursing of her. his denial, his stern
self-mastery when the blazing sun. the thirst,
the bopelessness would otherwise have compelled
him to give up the fight. And then the fishing
boat, the blessed relief of water, the breaking OF
the fever and consequent repairing of burned
tissues, the arrival In this house and
the spy's leave taking.
A cat and mouse game she played for two
dnys with the silent Chinese woman nursing her,
two days wherein she could feel the thrill OF
quickened blood strengthening her. The woman
had discovered the necklace and Lucille knew
she constantly after II. Short periods of
time there were when the would sleep
Justify and then Lucille walked warily up and
down the hoor gradually rcgain1ng perfect
I
eye open, the saying has It. That neck
lace meant everything to her In this strange
country. 1t meant the ability to travel, 10 do
anything she pleased in her fight to regain the
precious papers that meant honor and liberty to
her falsely accused sweetheart
And with the return of strength came ter
rible uneasiness, great fear Hugo Loubeque,
tender though hts care of her had been, had left
Immediately she out of danger and she knew
his motive TO seek the papers that Captain
Wetherell had stolen.
Jt A., ~, yfra dav had ths.y
slipped from the room. slipPed out with
stealtMness that somehow sent a chill through
the girl and made her straghton bolt upright In
bed. then the door closed, spring toward the
chair beside the door For full minute she
listened. her every sense concentrating and lend
ing Itself to her hearing. And then the soft pat
ter of slippered feet upon the floor without made
her stitfen with resolution, she hid herself so
that the opened door would secure her from
sight She waited, her heart humping so vio-
lently she feared it might be overheard by the
Whispering pair in the hallway. Then the door
opened, an inch at time, silently cautiously,
while the woman slipped inside the room, looked
at the blanket upon the couch where Lucille
should have been. then beckoned to slender,
yellow-roted young Chinaman who entered even
more noiselessy than the nurse had done. The
girl in hiding shudderes, at sight of the vicious
knife the young Chinaman passed the woman,
shuddered for the fate that would have been
hers for the premonition of impending dis
aster that had been here 30 short time before,
The man muttered cultural deep In his throat
he crouched, his long, yellow fingers closing
and uncloeing the while he crouched, Watching
the Evidently the revolver he carried
bothered him for he placed it upon the chair
Lucile's fingers darted out. closing upon the
welcome butt just the woman leaped across
the distance that separated her from the couch,
upon which the blanket bulged deceptiyely, driv-
ing the ugly knife down with force that sent
her off her balance. The leaped forward
with shriA cry that Immediately mingled with
the enraged jargon of the nurse she found she
had been fooled Lucille knew she could hide no
longer and stepped from behind the door, the
revolver levelled upon the pair, her voice king
despite herself.
The cringed crouched away from her
but the sight of the girl there seemed TO enrage
the woman completely. Brandishing the knife
wildly she leaped forward, then halted, stone
STILL a ridiculous expression Of panied surprise
her face she iurched from lido TO side
simultaneously With the discharge of the gun,
then slipped to the floor in Ridiculous heap
The man ,crouched still further away and Lucille
advanced upon him
Somehow, she felt no conjunction now. felt
fear, only felt the necessity for immediate
haste in getting away She sgnalled to the fell
low that he should get out of his robes instantly
Sounds of activity from every direction