Arizona republican., 1914-09-11

sign of surprise or fear.
II delayed, sir the butler began apo-
ogetically, when Loubeque lifted his hand i'm
perativeIy.
You were delayed" coldly repeated the spy,
separating every syllable and melting it out as
though it were a death Judgment. at is per-
h:ps better that you were delayed. Thompson |
have just received letter from a man with
whom you acquainted. In this letter, Thomp-
son. he informs he intends turning traitor
to my interests that he intends assisting Miss
Love to make her escape"
Quite so, sir" murmured the butler-thief.
There are reasons he mentions for inducing
him to turn traitor to me which l will not dis
cuss However," he thumped his cenched fist
harshly upon the table. there is one paragraph
which will be of absorbing interest to you. l am
informed by him that he spied upon you while
YOU cut through the bars of Miss Loves window
Thompson did not stir. His face retained its
expression of dignified calm. But Lucille sa
the go sickly white.
The man lied, sir
Men do not lie at such moments
For just moment Thompson was silent.
The hush upon the room was so profound as to
make the ticking of Loubeque's watch strike
upon the ears like maet strokes. Slowly the
buffers index finger moved to the scar upon his
cheek. There a dignity about the gesture.
about his manner which made the girl hold her
breath convincing it was.
THE you speak of evidently did the
work in the hope of releasing Miss Love. He
ceeded in that design. | do not wish to speak
of it, sir but this scar upon my face is fresh
scar. l would not have mentioned such "a trife
had it not been for the subjects being brought
up. I gained this while trying to prevent
the fight sir" ..
ITS lie" Lucille burst forth passionately
meeting the steady calm stare of the butler with
ewes that carried such fame he ayerted his own
Loubeque looked up sharply. For some reS
son he had felt that the excuse. plausible though
it was. carried no truth. He knew the man for
thief and had always mistrusted him. even
though be had found him remarkably efficient
and capable of great things. He looked curiously
at the girl
"a lie?" he murmured.
"a lie," she repeated THAT man tried to rob
me here in this very house. That was why in
sisted upon maid to serve me when took the
drug you put in the drink"
why did you not mention it at that time?"
The spv's tones dubious.
Because l did not wish you to know had
anything of such value about me-
Value? You had no money when you left
Manila"
No But I obtained possession of won
derful ruby necklace in the cavern of the jungle,
Just before was rescued by the flibuster. But
that has nothing to do with it. Thompson did
saw through the bars of my window and would
have succeeded in stealing the necklace sec
ond time had it not been for the brave man who
appeared in the nick OF time and shot him. He
helped me to escape because he knew was not
safe there
"A ruby necklace" Still Loubeque was in
credulous.
Three nights ago when boarded the train
for here. that man drugged me while slept and
stole the necklace from about my throat Then
he dropped out the window of his compartment
That is why he was detained"
Ioubeque fastened his cold eyes upon the
butler The man had nerves steady as rock
Only faint smile of pity for the girl who made
this charge played about the corners of his
mouth Lucille studied the judge and culprit
earnestly She could see that Thompson
he he'll n her
all. it did sound ludcrous. unbelievable that she
should have such treasure upon her person
Finally she that the butler had almost
ceeded by his very silence. his physical attitude
in convincing his master of his innocence. Swift
a fash. without a second thought, she darted
toward the thief. She had noticed his fingers
invountarily seek the right handt breast pocket
of his coat when she made her charge. In one
swift movement she had ripped open the coat.
With the other hand she plunged toward the
place she knew the necklace to be.
At first Thompson taken off guard Then
he sprang back with hoarse cry of rage and
alarm. forgetfu of everything The girl chung
to her hold like tigress. He grasped her wrist
roughly and thrust her reeling across the room,
his eyes glaring as with cenched fists he stared
at her while. dazed though she by the vio-
lence of him. she held triumphantly in her hand
the gorgeously dazzling ruby necklace.
Hugo Loubeque did not utter a sound. did
not change expressions for instant. Slowly,
with all the leisurely grace of some giant animal
he and stepped toward his minion. The fell
low crouched away from him, his eyes darting
furtively hither and thither about the room,
seeking some means of escape. The hands of
Loubeque opened and closed. Closer, closer he
came.
The cold expression in his eyes had turned
to one of grim ferocity, such expression as
made Lucille shudder. Her rage against the
cringing thief disappeared in the desire she felt
to him from those terribly hungry hands
Thompson seemed hypnotized. fascinated. unable
to lift his hands for defense, to open his lips for
pleading The fingers reached out and gripped
him about the throat pressing-pressing-
Not hurriedly but with cold definite, muir.
derous purpose the spy slowly forced the strug-
Cling figure into impness then cast him from
him without apparently making the slightest ef-
fort. rubbing his palms slowly together though
the touch had defled them.
Lucille was chilled with horror as she
watched the spy reseat himself his face calm
and emotionless. Apparently he had quite for.
gotten the huddied silent figure upon the floor
whose blackened face slowly regaining its
color. Apparently it OF the methods he
used to inspire confidence in the men under him
who possessed uncomfortable traits such as the
buffers zest for thieving. which came in useful
to his master at times Thompson grooming
when Loubeque impatiently pressed button and
waited for answer. s'ss3. .ss s.
It came before he expected. loud
changing Of bells through the house punctuatet
the silence. changing that pierced through the