Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-30

the yawning side of the boat For lust second
she hes1tated before the terrible blackness that
met her eyes there, blackness accentuated by
the frowning cargo, twisting and writhine in
more weird shapes than she had imagined pos
sble for anything to do. Then with a little
shrug, she stepped inside, darting about between
piles OF merchandise leaping further and further
away from the voices that reached but dimly to
her now hiding away at every slightest sound.
Came the Violent, chugging of the engines
the qualnng of every part of the great ocean
leviathan, lesser sounds from above the terrible
creak1ng OF the cargo as the vibrations straight
ened it into place. Then Lucille was suddenly
aware that they were under way, that she was
alone here in the bowels of the boat more alone
than she had ever been in the heart of the
jungle, alone for how many days she dared not
think.
Terrors beset her on every side. Rats
scampered about, their paws making dreadful
scraping sound like sandpaper being run over
smooth surface of boarding. Times she would
feel their tiny feet upon her own the squeals
OF terror that went up they rushed on their
way, it seemed to tell her of this strange in
truder to their fellows The impulse to rush to
the deck above was almost overwhelming. She
could feel her brain reeling, reeling with the
horrors of such a loneliness as this.
But always, when her courage had fairly
ebbed, would come another picture. 1t was as
though her horror-popping eye-balls had forced
polgnantly home to her the vision of Manila of
her father, grieving himself to death at her alb
sence at the shipwreck; her sweetheart impris-
oned with every hand turned against him, with
the girl he loved away, perhaps another who dis
believed in his innocence
Always would that thought bring her fpbt-
ing spirit back. Her sweetheart was a prisoner
and probably the angry General would not con-
descend to tell him any news of her. What more
hkely that the surety that he had lost her love
was tormenting him quite as much as the
charge of stealing and selling the papers. But
she must bring them back she must clear him
There was nothing else for her to do, no other
part of her life could possibly mean so much as
he maj sha
Day and night-night and day-there was
no difference between the two in this black hole.
Seconds were as days and hours became as frac-
tions of seconds according to the trend in which
her thoughts lay. There was no diversion save
trying to send her fancy flying back to the army
posi- oftentlmes, the scurrying rats weighted
her mind with such terror that she was unable
to do that.
1t seemed to her that they must be near the
END OF their journey, judging by the torments she
had been through, when swaying light directly
over her head made her dart hastily back and
strive to hide behind looming bale. The ex-
clamation of surprised incredulity which sounded
IN her ears told that she had been discovered
In an instructive effort to hide she struck
against bale that had partially dislodged it
SELL and sent 1t laundering against second
stack. In moment the hold was filing with a
pandemonium such might have accompanied
the most violent earthquake The hold was filled
Win tumbllng boxes and bales, toppling. reeling,
thrashing laundering in every direction. Lucille
flung up her hands to her ears to shut out the
sound, darting toward the face she now saw
plainly above her, a face that framed popping
eyes and widened lips face that had paled
through the heavy coat of tan, as she could see
from the lanterns light
Swiftly she leaped upon box that had
formed the foundation for pyramid AS though
by instinct the sailor flung the lantern from him
and reached Down his hands. Lucille felt his
fingers clutching at her wrists. Once he missed
her She shuddered louder crash than any
that had gone before came to the right of her.
A second time the mans arms swung out and his
hands closed about her own
She felt the strain upon his muscles the
mighty heaving groan that issued from his lips
Then slowly, so slowly it seemed she would never
succeed in getting through that trap she was
lifted up up to the deck where she lay painting
and breathless, the man beside her fairly whist
ling from the exertion of once more breathing
freely.
AS he squatted there, staring at her. his
eyes now whimsical with amusement, little
laugh of relief trilled from her throat She
reached out her hand and allowed it to rest,
quite simply, in his great paw. He stared at the
tiny hand, resting like the white petal of a rose
upon the brown earth, then slowly smile
spread over his weatherbeaten face as he scanned
the s1lken suit in which she was arrayed
Lucille saw that she had made friend already
ana Immediately pressed her advantage
Nobody must know you found me there"
she began hurriedly, then, as he started to pro-
test mo- Please listen"
Again the sailor shook his head, troubled
expression in his eyes. Lucille knew that she
mad lost and instead of pleading took the next
bestscourse that seemed open to her.
Then If you must, bring the captain to me
instead of parading me before everyone. / would
not ask you this but I have an enemy aboard
and-Oh," she broke off impatiently as, STILL he
remained dubious, "there is no chance for escape
now that am discovered 1t will do no harm to
let me wait here I can" she closed her lips
quickly, as theshint of gleam of avarice showed
in the mans eyes. After seconds thought he
nodded briefly and moved hurriedly away
Lucille had time for regret at her dis
covery She had felt all along that it was in
evitable but had refraned till now from figuring
on What explanation she could make in such
event. That expression, the swift change on the
sailors face as he thought her on the point of
mentioning money verified her instructive knowl-
edge that she must keep her ownership of the
magnificent ruby necklace secret. She knew that
the best of men would be tempted by such a
kings ransom as the marvellous Jewels repre-
sented Likewise she felt it would be unwise,
under any circumstances to entrust anyone with
the knowledge that she possessed the interna-
tonal spy's diary. So long as she alone knew
where 1T was, just so long was there certainty
OF Loubeque's being kept in the dark She had
fought alone till now and she must continue to
hight alone. Any help she might be able to pick
up along the way would be more than welcome
but the riches she carried with her might turn
the sympathetic friend to a weak girl into an
INSCRIPTIONS enemy. This much she had com
cuded when the Captain stomped heavily across
to her followed by the sailor, his face frowning