The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-04

he had 50 bitterly wronged and who
had brought his punishment abont.
Consequently Lucille was surprised to
come across n briefly scrubbed note on
a BIT Of rice paper such as she had
often noticed the butler using in rolling
cigarettes. 1t was pressed tightly
against one of the partially cut slices
OF bread when Thompson served his
master and Lncille with their dinner.
She detached the fragment of bread.
dropping it to the floor and securing
the fragment of paper as she picked it
up, concealing it in the palm of Der
hand.
For what seemed countless hours she
brayely attempted to eat the food be-
fore her, tried to endure the heart
breaking period during which Lou
beque smoked silently at his cigar 1t
was with Il sigh Of relief so obvious the
spy was obliged to smile that she made
half hearted protest at his retirement.
No sooner had his figure ceased to
darlen the doorway than she started
eagerly to examine the message.
AT the third boot Of the owl leave"
Merely that. but the delphic words
seemed pregnant with wondrous mean.
ing.
Hours trod upon one another's heels
so fast they moved under the tension
OF her waiting. Vague foreboGings
which she could not analyze oppress-
ed her despite the fires of hone that
had been kindled within Der dr0oDing
spirit There had .:been something
deadly about Thompson's manner, .un-
der the scrutiny Of the man she knew
he hated so yenomously, which made
her shudder and form hilf-srtsoI1f.
ton to acquaint sLoubeque with shis
servants treachery. She had half risen
to her feet, still fighting against the
ludicrOus Impulse when the shril boot
of an owl reached from cut the mighty
distances of the farreaching desert
waves.
a nd now the. very seconds Jagged.
Every nerve, every muscle, fiexed. for
she knew not what. Lucille waited,
her ear against the wall, her eyes pools
of mirrored terror
After what seemed an interminabie
this time to endure the long intermis-
zion she was charged to undergo, she
softly opened the door, peering out
over the sleeping city that the rebel
chieftain had-tlung up at Il mere com
| mand. Immediately before her own
abode she made out the less preten-
tious shack Of the international spy.
y dim light from the partially opened
door cut Il segment from the darkness.
Ear more significant OF sIumber than
complete darkness was that light.
y tiny. drcning sound reached her
ears. By main force piercing the thick
Veil Of night Lucille made out the
shadOTy outlines Of 4 lean mOtCrcar
diinly si!houettcd against pile of
lava dust. Something shapeless and
dark and furtiye Of movement crept
across the space that interviewed be-
tween it and the light cleavage of
| LcubeQues quarters. Lucille could not
resist the impulse that forced her from
the door into the open.
Something tugged at her feet fairly
dra wing her away from the scene.
Then Il strange wave Of pity for the
unsuspecting one against whom this
furtiye attack was being made urged
her forward. AS the dark figure slip
ped through the door Lucille thrust
her head cautiously within. Upon the
cot lay the long figure of the internal
tional spy, his face turned toward the
silent. motionless figure that stood in
the center OF the room staring at him.
The eyes were tightly closed, but the
siri knew that the man merely feigued
s.umber.
Thompson turned toward the table
upon which the lamp dinly burned.
Lucille allowed her eyes to wander for