River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-09-24

ming through the walls of the room.
Looking up she could see solid steel
walls passing into place where the
room she was in had been Merely a
cage-an elevator had been the bou-
doir where she was a captive The
machinery stopped working abruptly.
She peered over the edge of the room.
for she was merely standing on a flat
surface so far as one side was con-
cerned. To her ears came the insist
ent ringing of a bell. huddled, black
mass showed almost beneath her.
Crouching upon the floor she leaned
over ana gingerly CROPPED at it with
her fingers. drawing them sharply back
as they encountered human flesh
For just q second she faltered before
investigating her discovery. Loubeque
must have come from her room in this
fashion. 1t might be that in some way
Loubeque had fallen and injured the
machinery. TO stoop down, take the
papers from his pocket and hide them
between the crack Of the floor of the
room and the bottom of the elevator
was the work Of an instant.
As the room glided gently into place
without so much as d tremor she leap
ed down and lifted the grooming mans
head to her lap She had come barely
in time. for the spy was struggling
feebly to get to his feet. He smiled
ruefully as be lighted match and
scanned the features of his companion.
For a second he appeared dazed, then
swift CONSERVATION crossed his face as
his hand shot toward the place where
he had placed the stolen papers.
Come" he said quietly. his tones
silky, yet dry and cold and hard,
come, young lady. Of course you I'M
derstand the papers will be found. and
this is merely delaying the inevitable"
He did not wait for her to speak.
merely touched her arm and assisted
her to the platform. He stirred slight
ly. Came the Whir Of machinery, al
most Immediately shut out. Once
more the room was in motion. going
upward this time. She closed her eyes
inStinctively before the mystery Of it
all. When she opened them once more
she was i'll the place she had left.
Everything was as it had been save
for broken window pane and the
presence of L0ubeque.
He regarded her narrowly, still
smoking silently. He opened his lips
as though to speak, then closed them
sharply and stepped to the door, listen
ing a moment then ringing bell.
which was almost Immediately am
swered by the butler and the woman
who had first captured the girl.
Hurriedly Thompson explained what
had happened-the pebble wrapped
strip of white paper which the man
outside had picked up. the manner in
which he had mysteriously disappear
ed. eluding the buffers pursuit, the ad-
mission Of policemen to the house and
the throwing of the spring that lower
ed the girls room to the basement.
And he got out of the way, eh?"
Loubeqae fDsEned thoughtfully, then
laughed q dry. barking laugh as he
turned to the girl. And with all this
luck working for you, Miss Lucille,
you see now how impossible 1t is to
escape. Now | shall leave you alone
to reflect upon the ACCESSIBILITY of re-
storing the packet to me. Until then
you will not be disturbed even by a
servant. You may recall, my child
that thirst is very unpleasant tor
ture."
He closed the door behind him very
softly. Not sound came from with
out. Hunger, thirst, solitude-all three
In this prison, this prison so much un-
like a prison that it was rendered only
the more hideous thereby. And even
though outsiders knew she was being
detained here they could not find her.
could not even secure adequate evil
dence that she was here did they make
an examination. She flung herself
upon the bed. burying her face in her
hands and giving way to sobs.
She Strengthened, startled by faint
tinkle against the window pane. Swift
ly she approached the window. Upon
the street no one was in sight. She
looked up and espied the face of the
SdpIcAn pCCIlIlS cautiously 1IOLu over
the brick wall above her.
Feverishly she ripped at the netting
which had been within the glass be-
fore she broke 1T. Carefully she drew
the glass inside and laid it upon the
floor The netting gave slightly. She
tore her hands opening the space until
she could get her shoulders through.
Slowly, round and round. she worked
the opening. 1t was finally wide
enough. She looked up. The captain
nodded briefly, then disappeared.
In a moment he reappeared, slowly
dangling heavy rope from which he
had made a looped chair. Lucille
edged her way slowly through the
opening. She stood upon the heavy
sill outside. hanging to the netting with
one hand the while she reached for the
rope with the other. The second time