The Washington herald., 1914-06-28

hsps It was q recollection of the way the native
servant had turned against the spy caused her
to look for some such change in the butler-thiet
after the choking he had received. At any rate
she of the subtle atmosphere of
hatred which the slick scoundrers mask of servi-
tude concealed well. In lieu of anything TO
do on her own account she took to watching the
man, following his every move, his every change
of expression.
Enmity toward the master he had served so
well and who had mistreated him mingled with
hatred for the girl he had so bitterly wronged
and who had brought his punishment about
seemed mingled equally in the buffers mind
Consequently Lucille surprised TO come
across a briefly scribbled note a bit of rice
paper such she had often noticed the butler
using in rolling cigarettes. 1t pressed tightly
against one of the partially cut slices of bread
with their dinner.
Even she took up the long, thin loaf she
felt the gimlet eyes of the butler upon her, be-
seaching her to be careful transfxing her with
his telepathic warning. Her fingers trembled as
she held unsteadily to the loaf She caught Lou
beques all-seeing eyes, fastened curiouSly upon
her and nervous little laugh triled from her
lips. The eyes were ayerted and in that brief sec
ond she detached the precious fragment of
bread, dropping it to the floor and securing the
fragment of paper as she picked it up, conceal
ing it in the palm of her hand, bravely answer
ing the spys look of suspicious inquiry with one
of embarrassed laughter at her awkward
ness.
FOR what seemed countless hours she bravely
attempted to eat the food before her tried to
endure the heart-brealing period during which
Loubeque smoked silently at his cigar It was
with sigh of relief so obvious the spy was
obliged to smile that she made half hearted pro-
test at his retirement. No sooner had his figure
ceased 10 darken the doorway than she started
to eagerly examine the message. A little hiss of
warning from Thompson made her conceal it
barely in time to escape observation from the
spy who swiftly flung open the door and
stepped inside, his eyes darting from the butler
to Lucille, eyes full of menace and suspicion.
Not word of apology did he offer for the
abrupt intrusion as he turned away. Lucille felt
shudder of terror run along her spine she
realized the tremendous sensitiveness to impress
sion of mind that could conjure up suspicion
so true from the mere letting fall Of bit of
bread. But the terror gave way to hope as she
noticed the utter indifference of expression upon
the face of Thompson, the disregard of the in
trusion, the imperturbability of his servants
manner as he continued his work of clearing the
table.
Not glance did either man give her. The
eyes Of the spy fastened like points of steely fire
upon the back of his butler Thompson did not
appear to notice Within six inches of his master
passed the man with the soiled plates yet not a
quiver of alarm passed through him as he noted
the gripping of those iron hands whose power
he knew well. With short grunt, Loubequs
turned and left the room as abruptly as he had
returned; Lucille felt great wave of hope surg
ing within her.
Enemy though he was, Thompson was a man
of iron. Since to gain his revenge against the
greater enemy he was obliged to help her she
cared not what his feeling toward her and her
cause might be. He to prove an ally and
that was all that counted. She started to speak
with him but his ishy Indifferent eyes forbade.
Read" he whispered.
She wondered at the clearness of the COM
mand, wondered because steadily though her
eyes were fastened upon him his lips had made
no move. Again she felt glow Of confidence.
As the door closed behind his servile back she
eagerly unfolded the crumpled bit of rice paper.
AT the third hoot of the owl, leave"
Merely that-but the delphic words seemed
pregnant with wondrous meaningfulness.