The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-01-28
Ger, her voice low and tender again
like the sirhing of an April breeze

ana all the JluiG you are NOEklHS 1OI
the same reason that / am-you are
| working because Of love. Can you
not see what q pcryersion OF love is
this thing you constantly seek to dol
Can you not
Lucille could feel the mans Shout
ders trembling, could mark the ire
mendous effort he made at self con-
troll She was almost ready to plead
with him for return Of the papers,
to give up his entire life work and
count it failure, confident that he was
we'll along the road to doing SO, when
a rap sounded on the door.
For some reason which she could not
define Il shudder ran through her at
the sound. She seemed to recognize a
sinister presence close by. She glanced
at LOubeque. and her heart sank as
she 50 W the wave of emotion she had
bred within him had passed. that he
was again the icy, 1ndefatigable inter
national spy.
"Come in," he called brisk1y.
Slowly, cautiously, yet with not the
slightest uncertainty, the door pushed
open. Before the visitor appeared on
the threshold Lucille knew who it
would be-
For moment she was taken aback
by Thompson's perfect aplomb. She
knew he had been the one who robbed
her of her necklace, that he had spray
ed her with ether and taken it from
about her throat while she slept. And
yet not so much as by the culver of an
eyelash did he show any sign of sur
prise or fear.
Il was delayed, SIR" the butler be-
gan alphabetically, when Loubeaue
lifted his hand imperatively.
"You were delayed" coldly repeated
the spy, separating every syllable and
melting it out as though it We're a death
judgment. 'It is perhaps better that
you were delayed, Thompson. / have
Just received a letter from a man with
whom you are acquainted. In this
letter, Thompson, 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.
Il am informed by him that he spied
upon you While you cut through the
bars of Miss Loves window"
Thompson did not STIR. but Lucille
saw the scar go q sickly white.
The man lied. SIR
Men Go not lie at such moments"
For just moment Thompson was ST.
lent. The hush upon the room was so
profound us to make the ticking of
Loubeques watch strike upon the ears
like mnllet strokes. Slowly the buffers
index finger moved to the scar upon
his cheek.
The man you speak Of evidently did
the work in the hope of releasing Miss
Love. | gained this scar while trying
to prevent the flight. SIR
Its lie!' Lucille burst forth pas
5iOnately. THAT man tried to rob ne
here in this very house. That was
why l insisted upon Il maid to serve
me when l took the drug you put in
the drink
"Why did you not mention it at that
ume:" The spy's tones were dubious
Because 1 did not wish you to know
I had anything of such value about
me-
"Nalue? You had no money when
you left Manila
NO, but l obtained possession of
wonderful ruby necklace in the cavern
OF the jungle just before was res
cued by the filibuster. Three nights
ago when boarded the train for here
that man drugged me while l slept
and stole the necklace from about my
throat. Then he dropped out of the
window of his compartment That is
why he was detained.''
Loubeque fastened his cold eyes upon
the butler. The man had nerves as
steady as a rock. Lucille studied the
judge and cuprit earnestly. She could
see that Thompson was beating down
the spy's belief in her story. Swift as
a FASH without seconds thought, she
darted toward the thief. She had no.
uccd his fingers involuntarily seek the
right hand breast pocket of his coat