The Washington herald., 1914-06-14
CHAPTER xxIv.
rho~ssos. Prs.. Go wrong.

II
more clossly and IVES astonished to find that ona
bar had been cut eleanly through. She examined
the remainder Of the bars. They appeared sb4
solutely untouched but when she pulled harshlJ
she did not realize what had happened. Then Z
thrill Of Thanksgiving went throbbing through
her heart. Resdy-made was her means Of escape4
Almost simultaneously with the thought
probsbly not a means Of escape much as I
means of entrance. Instantly her mind flashed
q picture of the silent Thompson. First she wai
tempted to call for help and expose the man.
Second thought advised against this. No onl
must know about the rubies one must knov
about priceless stones. But what could she do?
She was still pondering the problem that
night when still fully dressed she stood beside
patio. A furtive figure detached itself from the
shadows and crept toward her. Strangely enough
it did not frighten her to recognize the butlen
She had tried her strength against the man onca
and knew that she could call for assistance
should he enter the room.
She creuehed in the opposite side of tb(
room, listening to the faint tinkle of swapping
iron bars as the man detached the ends from
their sockets. His head and shoulders appeared
in the opening Longer and longer grew his
shadow In the room, then the faintest pat as hs
slipped to the floor.
Bresthlessly she wstched his APPROACH. Theri
was nothing undecided about his movements HS
was swift; he waS certain; he was sure. Not
motion, not step was wasted. His whole body
was coisd like . spring, ready TO leap in any di.
psction, yet there was no fear indecision about
IL. He was almost over the bed, when Lucille
spfsng from her hiding place behind the door.
instantly he turned. his head darttng from
side TO side like that of giant reptile his beady
eyes holding her own and striking terror into
the very soul OF her. She realized in a fash what
IL meant to stop desperate thief in the midst
Of his marauding realized that the man she al!
ways thought of as q servant was a hunted
beast. cornered and at bay. ley fingers clutched
ksx amin ,xhi iIo -
tingied at the back of her neck. Thompson did
not speak. Slowly his hands opened and closed,
while . grin crossed his face. widened his mouth,
. hideously ishuman grin. She tried to cry out
but her lips were frozen shut. The capable
hands, the hands she recalled as always being ID
competent to handle anything, were opening and
closing as he advanced upon her, with swiftness,
With certainty and with sureness. as though al.
ready they felt in their strong yet delicate padA
the feel of her throat.
He had almost reached her side when hs
stopped suddenly. whirliBg toward the window.
Lucille unconsciously followed the direction Of
his gaze. long arm, the jacket sleeve of which
was slashed and pieced out with gold-trimmed
doe-skin was being extended into the room. just
an arm 1t was, yet the hand that tipped 1t exc
tended still further within the room by reason
of q long revolver il held. From the darkness
outside came q Kissing sound, an angry, snake
like sound. Then, simultaneously. with the drop
ping of Thompson to the foor orange squirt
of fire leaped into the room, the whine of bull
let struck against her But no repOrt.
Lucille staggered back her defender, thu
lover who had promised his assistance. leaped
lightly into the room. His hand upon her
arm. his lips at her ear. Reading his thoughts,
vet hearing nothing. she moved toward the win
dow and lifted her tiny foot though TO mount
. horse. His hands cupped about il. She vaulted
to the easement and. in a second, had scrambled
through. The breath of the open, redolent with
all the perfumes of the night, assailed her nos
nils and she opened her mouth, laving her throat
with them.
BY her side stood the man. For a moment
he waited, then urged her forward. She was
free. free, free! OF course there were pckets to
bs passed, but she had made one proyidential
escape tonight, why not another.
Out of sight Of the building she paused and
looked about her. How calm and peaceful and
friendly appeared the night. On such a night
Leander swan the Hellespont and here beside
her, stood another Leander who would brave as
much, had already brayed more than ever did
fabled hero. The moon was full, rolling lazily
about atop a mountain peak though shaking
his jolly sides with laughter at this triumph OF
one he loved. The stars winked merrily at her,
urging her on her way. Looking back at the
building from which she had come it appeared
made of silver and all the windows were dia-
monds crusted there, the rigid leaves of the
bayonet trees stretched upward as though guard.
ing 1t. sentine-like, against intrusion from the
outside. The touch of timid finger upon her
arm brought her from her reveries.
The horses wait, my lady"
Came swift flashing of lights from the
house they had left behind, scurry of feet. the
sound of voices, loud. shrill, insistent The Mexi-
can seized her arm fercely and half dragged her
from on the court to a clump of bushes where
two horses stood, saddled and bridled. In q sec
ond she was in the saddle, the man beside her.
The catter of hoofs rang out upon the sill.
ence. Looking back she caught glimpees of dark
figures silhouetted against the tropical vegeta-
ton In the patio. squirt of FIRE leaped out Al
them Ike . living thing. The Mexican muttered
cultural oath and urged his horse to more
speed. Lucille bent over her horses head. bent
low, for the whine of bullets in the si1
about them. Z
Suddenly the Mexican grunted loudly HIS
hands shot high in the air. then the horse fairly
ran from under him. Upon the ground he
swsyed . second then leaped against the shadow
OF q giant fingered cactus plant Lucille spranG
from her sadde and sought his side
Red, warm blood gushed from the wound In
his chest But not more red IL was than the
rose his tightening fingers clasped unto his
heart, . rose from which the dew drop of tha
day bsfors had disappeared. His eyes were glas-
ing when she stopped and brushed her lips scrssa
his forehead. shadowy smile crossed his facs
- he opened his eyes once more. eyes that were
soft and tender before they glazed.
sGo!" he muttered. "Go!' Then his voica
took ON the resonant tone of q scant day or less
before. at is the ripple of the Wishing Well,
my lady. Go! Ride-to the one-your-heart-
desires"
He 'sti6ened suddenly and spurt of tears
came from her eyes Louder grew the shouts,
thu yoices The air vas alive with long, dartina