The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-04
CHAPTER Xxx.
When the Owl Hcots,

e changing that pierced through the
treble sound Of the doorbeli. Hugo
I4oubeque sprang to his feet swiftly.
The mask OF his face dropped and
showing that face keen, eager, a bit
pcrturbed.
The Changing sound was augmented
by the rushing Of feet. She had new
er dreamed there could be so many in
the house. More like & warren it was
than anything else. Whispers sound
cd from the halls. Put she gave them
all no heed She was swaying gently
to and fro, her body fighting against
the faintness that was causing her
knees to refuse support. her eyes
wide with delighted recognition and
love and disbelief. and then she OMEN
ed her lips, trying to cry out aloud
the name of the man she loved, the
man she had worked so hard fer, the
man who stood in the street below.
staring up at the very window at which
she stood. But all that came from her
lips was the faintest sound, tremulous,
pltIful; the whisper Of his name.
Before she could regain control of
herself, even realize that she really
was seeing her sweetheart here in
flesh and blood. the hand Of Louheuue
was about her waist. drawing her
gently. but firmly, away from the win
dow. But even as the easement shut
out her view of him she caught the
lightning fash OF recognition as her
appeal drew Gibson's own eyes to that
window, and she knew be had seen
her.
ioubelue restrained her firmly. The
changing Of the bells throughout the
house ceased instantly just as a loud
hammering on the door below rose
Game a flying ruSEs 81 men within the
room, filing it completely. Loubegue
swiftly glanced about at the anxious
faces, then nodded.
The tunnel!' he cried sharply.
Suddenly Lucille became aware that
the room was shooting downward like
giant elevator. She glanced about
her, sick with apprehension, upon the
faces so close to her own in the mar
row confines. A breath of rank cool
air famed her cheek from out the
darkness. Loubeque's hand was upon
her wrist, his voice softly advising her
~ ASt'S' AAihii' L Oh III lIt uiStoliCt II
little speck of light reached out toward
them. -
For what seemed an endless distance
she was led by the SPY, with always
that rush Of feet behind. The light
was growing broader. brighter Lou
teque released his hold upon her. She
could see him reach and press harsh!y
against something, door evidently.
Ter the light slowly heightened and
broadened. Daylight and foreign
street!
A bitter sob broke from her lips as
she looked at Loubeque and realized
how infinitely far away she was from
the man she loved
Days upon the misunderstanding DAYS
with merciless sunlight pouring from
the molten kettle overhead, burning
savagely at the imperyious sand and
cacti that alone had resisted the fire
50 many ages.
Nights OF cold. unWinking stars
stars pitiless in their steady unjleviat-
Ing scrutiny as the glover Of sun:
nights where the desert breeze search
surrounded by the minions Of Lou
teque, By Loubeque himself; nights OF
sleeplessness for herself, but nights
filed with the sounds of the slumbers
of her captOrS.
save Hugo Loubeque. LoubeGue
never slept. Lucille saw he had steel
ed himself against her VOW. that never
again would Size be able to penetrate
his pitilessness in the pursuit of his
previous revenge.
Close at hand was the hour for him
to strike. ready at hand were the
means. What was his object in seek
Ing Mexico and the Constitutionaiist
leader she had no means Of knowing?
Ihat there was a great object, one
which she must defeat at any and al!
COSTS she knew.
1t was the eighth day he ran into a
foraGihg party sent out By Villa in al
vance of his main army. Much rs she
knew of the mysterious spy, Lucille
was still surprised to mark the respect
and Difference paid him by the dark
skinned rebels. Consequently several
days later, days Of tireless travel. she
was not surprised on reaching the
main body Of the army to find herself
being treated with the greatest respect.
while Loubeque was in constant con
sultation With the rebel leader.
Day after day she felt the growing
helplessness of her position. Loubeque
seemed onlnipotent in the opinion of
these men upon whom be appeared to
have stumbled.
Still she would not permit hope to
die. The justice Of her cause the
growing humanity Of the international
spy. her very youth and the power of
her love forbade this.
Through the very eagerness and des-
peration of this feeling she slowly be-
came aware of the attitude toward his
master Of Thompson. She was aware,
of the subtle atmosphere of hatred
which the slick Scoundrel's mask of
seryitude concealed so Well In lie,, Of
anything to do on her own account she
took to watching the man, following
his every move. his every change OF
expression.
Enmity toward the master he had
served SO well and who had miStrea ted
him mingled with hatred for the girl
Aafss...