River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-09-17


he was not yet aware of his loss
him. She must be aboard the boat
when It sailed.
Through the days when Loubeque
watched Lucille lowering about the
black borderland of death in the house
to which he had been recommended by
his subordinate, the governor of the
province to which the fishing smack
that rescued them bore them. his brain
had fed upon one thought. The papers
in the possession of Captain Wetherell
must be found. But how?
The day before he saw Lucille was
out of danger, the problem was an
sWered for him by call from the gov
ernor of the province, in whom he
recognized u man he had been instru-
mental in aiding, and one who feared
him greatly.
Instantly it was all clear to him.
Here was one he need fear making no
confession to. He had found out,
aboard the boat, exactly where the
shipment of arms was to be made.
He knew Wetherell might go hun
dreds of miles out of his course be-
fore the vengeful man of war, but he
also knew that the goods must be
landed at the designated place before
he received his pay.
Leaving a sum of money with the
nurse Loubeque decided that when Luz
ellie recovered she would be sufficient
ly well provided for to get word to her
people and escape from this, the last
of her adventures. He led a company
of picked soldiers aboard the fighting
craft provided for their transport and
sailed toward the spot where the de-
livery was to be made.
There in a tiny islet he arrived barely
day before the yacht put in with it's
Illicit cargo. The skirmish with the
landing crew lasted a scant hour, but
already the spy had discovered that
Wetherell, the man he wanted was not
with the outfit and he began laying
plans for taking the yacht
Captain Wetherell, impatiently wait
ing for his men to return for second
load, had finally tired and was bring
suddenly shot out the boat his mate
had taken In, but instead of the crew
he knew so we'll the oars were now
being manned by Chinese soldiers. In
minute he found the side of his
boat gathering against that of the
other, with soldiers piling recklessly
upon his small crew.
He caught q flash of LoubeQue lay
ing about him, saw that resistance was
utterly useless. Swiftly his hand
sought the precious bag in which were
the papers he had stolen from Lucille.
He drew it open hurriedly, the sealed
packet of papers-which formed the
major bulk of it's contents-and the
diary falling at his feet. He felt Lou
beque's eye upon him, caught flash
of the spy as. he sprang at him. and
with a derisive laugh hurled the bag
with the heavy packet overheard
Without a seconds hesitation the spy
was in the water after it. Wetherell
fairly choked with rage as he saw the
man he hated close his hand over the
bag Then he was conscious of the
diary still in the bottom Of the boat
and, picking 1t up, thrust it in his shirt.
Wetherell scowled heavily as Hugo
Loubeque, having been helped into the
boat, brushed against him, his face
smiling grimly as he looked down into
the eyes Of the yachtmaster.
Every foolish, Wetherell Now, /
think the sight of you making a little
jaunt up a hill with a swordsman be-
hind you studying the cleanest place
to take that head from your shoulders
would be about as pleasant as anything
I'd care to look at"
Wetherell did not answer. Only even
after being bound, the feel of the diary
that had dropped from the bag gave
him some comfort
The yawning side of the great vessel
stood open before Lucille, the coolie
stevedores trundling their great loads
Of merchandise across the wharf and
disappearing within, as though swal-
lowed up forever.
Lucille was suddenly made conscious
of the fact that she was very weak.
Nervously she fingered the ruby neck
lace about her throat. trying to think
of some way another of the precious
stones might be made to work its,mag-
ic influence She could buyta passage
with it, could bride many, aboard the
boat, but she must not be seen by
Hugo Loubeque.
Fiercely she fastened her little teeth .
in her lower lip. Hugo Loubeque had
the precious papers I'm his possession I
else he would never have smiled So
serenelU to himself as he boarded tI1eG
boat. She had his diary, but lit could
not be used against him now. There
would come a time when it would
prove of the utmost value, but not now.
What-cotlld she do? r r.
The rattle of mHslzets brought her
out Of the fit of abstraction into which ),
she had fallen. :. She sbrank away in
l.