The daily sentinel., 1914-07-22
sign Of surprise or fear.

peratiyeiy. manu- ---'-
You were delayed coldy repeated the spy,
separating every syllable and netting it out as
though 1t were death Judgment. 1T is per
haps better that you were delayed, Thomson [
have just received letter from a man with
whom you are acquainted. In this letter, Thomp-
son, he informs me 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 he mentions for inducing
him to turn traitor to me which l will not dis
cuss. However" he thumped his clenched fist
harshly upon the table, there is one paragraph
which will be of absorbing interest TO YOU. / 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 dignifed calm. But Lucille sa
the scar go a siclly white.
THE man lied. sir"
Men do not lie at such moments:-
For just a moment Thompson was silent
The hush upon the room was profound as to
make the ticking of Loubeque's watch strike
upon the like mallet strokes Slowly the
buffers index finger moved to the scar upon his
cheek There was dignity about the gesture
about his manner which made the girl hold her
breath, so convincing II was.
The man you speak of evidently did the
work in the hope of releasing Miss Love. He sue
ceeded in that design. l do not wish to speak
OF 1t. sir, but this scar upon my face is fresh
scar. l would not have mentioned such triae
had it not been for the subjects being brought
the alght, sir" ~ ''1s p''''D'
Its lie," Lucille burst forth passionately,
meeting the steady calm stare of the butler with
eyes that carried such flame he averted his own
Loubeque looked up sharply For some rea-
son he had felt that the excuse, plausible though
it was, carried truth. He knew the man for
thief and had always mistrusted him even
though he had found him remarkably efficient
aud capable of great things. He looked curiously
at the girl
"A He?' he murmured
"A lie,' she repeated. THAT man tried to rob
me here in this very house. That why I in
sisted upon maid TO when l took the
drug you put In the drink"
why did You not mention 1t at that timer"
The spy's tones dubious.
Because l did not wish you to know had
anything of such value about me-"
Value9 You had money when you left
Manila"
mo. But I obtained possession of n won
derful ruby necklace in the cavern of the Jungle
just before was rescued by the fllibuster 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 a SEQ
ond time had II not been for the brave man who
appeared In the nick Of time and shot him He
helped me to escape because he knew not
"a ruby necklace" Still Loubeque was in
credulous.
Three nights ago when 1 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 detained"
Loubeque fastened his cold eyes upon the
butler. The man had nerves steady as a 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 cuprit
earnestly. She could that Thompson was
beating down the spy's belief in her story. After
all, it did sound ludcrous, unbelievable that she
should have such treasure upon her person
Finally she that the butler had almost sue
ceeded by his very silence his physical attitude,
in convincing his master of his Innocence Swift
as flash, without second thought she darted
toward the thief. She had noticed his fingers
involuntariy seek the right hand breast pocket
of his coat when she made her charge. In one
swift movement she had ripped open tho coat.
With the other hand she plunged toward the
place she knew the necklace to be.
At first Thompson was taken Off guard. Then
he sprang back with hoarse cry of rage and
alarm, forgetful of everything The girl cung
to her hold like tigress. He grasped her wrist
roughly and thrust her reelng across the room,
his eyes garing as, with elenched fists he stared
at her while, dazed though she by the vio-
lence of him, she held triumphantly In her hand
the gorgeousy dazzling ruby necklace.
Hugo Loubeque did not utter sound. did
not change expressions for instant Slowly,
with all the leisurey grace of some giant animal
he and stepped toward his minion. The fell
low crouched away from him, his eyes darting
furtively hther and thlther about the room,
seeking some means of escape. The hands of
Loubeque opened and closed. Closer, closer he
The cold expression In his eyes had turned
to of grim ferocity, such expression
made Lucille shudder. Her rage against the
cringing thief disappeared in the desire she felt
TO save 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, mur-
derous purpose the spy slowly forced the strug-
Cling figure into limpness then cast him from
him without apparently making the slightest ef
fort, rubbing his palms slowly together though
the touch had defled them.
Lucille chilled with horror she
watched the spy reseat himself his face calm
and emotlonless. Apparently he had quite for
gotten the huddled. silent figure upon the floor
whose blackened face slowly regaining Its
color. Apparently it one of the methods he
used TO inspire confidence in the men under him
who possessed uncomfortable traits such the
butler's zest for thieving. which came in useful
to his master at times. Thompson groaning
when Loubeque impatiently pressed button and
waited for
It came before he expected loud
changing of bells through the house punctuated
the silence changing that pierced through the