The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER XIV.
espondence Under Difficulties

of Loubeque. Lucille had fear
ed and dreaded that first meet.
a ing.
The room assigned her WAS to all
outward seeming daintily furnished
bedchamber; but, trying the large win
dows, she found they only could be let
down from the top and We're there
covered by thin netting of Il metal
that resisted every attempt at prying
apart. Looking more carefully, she
saw this same flament Of wire was
interviewer with the glass so they
could not be completely smashed. The
only means Of escape lay by the door.
and to get out that way involved a
flight Of steps which passed many
rooms.
But she must escape. The thought
OF what Loubeque might be doing I'M
impeded drove her brain tyrannically
against a worn out body. She had the
mans diary, wherein was evidence
against him of such crimes as would
have appalled, the most hardened
courts, would have set nations at one
aEother's threats, cntaled countless
deaths. The thing was SO deadly that.
Jealous though she was in her object
Of saving her sweetheart, Lucille knew
she could never bring herself to the
point of making public such a docu-
znent She had the rubicS from the
throat OF the hideous idol in the sub
tcrranean cave. Times without num-
Der she regarded the glowing stones.
shuddered at the blood red rays that
-oI Il
The heart of each to have borrowed
some Of it's luster from the rivers Of
blood that had been shed through the
lure Of it's hooking light
Apparently she was free to come and
go about the place as she pleased, but
the very mockcry OF such freedom
made her real situation pail the more.
Absorbed in the hopeless task Of find
ing some means of escape she took to
having her meals served in her room,
eating scarcely anything, so engrossed
was she with her thoughts.
On the fourth day, as she sat beside
the window, dejectedly looking out
upon the we'll nigh deserted street.
she was suddenly aware of 4 shadow
falling upon the glass. She sprang to
her feet, turned to face Ioubeuue. The
spy was not smiling now Instead
there was Il tender expression OH his
face, look of sympathy. In his hands
he held newspaper and instantly she
OWNED it held something that would
hurt her. She nodded slowly, catching
her breath with an effort, fighting back
her nameless terror.
"Iucille"- The SDy's ewes fell he
fore the fear in the steady ones that
met his own. Lucille, you are too
Young yet TO know that in the compile
ton OF any great work always there
are those who must suffer- He stop
ped. evidently finding it hard to con-
tinue
Il would hot harm YOU, Lucille;
would not cause You one moments
grief or misery, physical or mental. for
anything in tile world. But / would
allow not even thieves, the love bear
you because Of your likeness to YOU.
mother to stand in the way Of DESTROY
Ing you utterly should You ATTEMPT to
get III my path. And so I am very
happy today-very happy for myself,
while i am at the same time very un-
happy because Of Your distress.
know you cannot understand my feel
ing. / only wish you to know that YOU
have stolen the fruits, the sweets OF
my victory"
"Victory:' She whispered the word
aloud
silently he put the newspaper in her
outstretched hand. She took it numb
II, staring at the black. loaded tynr
heading the column, staring at the fa.
miliar, the beloved name of her sweet.
heart there. When she looked I'm
hugo LouDeque was gone. had disap
peared But that did not matter to her
now. The nature Of his disappearance
did not even impress her. Nothing
1nattered. The spy's victory was ap.
preaching completion.
Lucille looked about her wildly. She
beat her tiny fists against the window
then stopped at the utter futility of if
she looked down, and her eyes stared
"lde into those of 4 pedestrian upon
the sidewalk. 1t was the captain of
the snip who had been her friend She
waved her hand, knowing from his ex
preston that he recognized her. that
ne had been hunting her He made q
motion as of writing. and she nodded
swiftly then darted toward the little
dressing table
And there she sat, dumb with misery.
In the delight Of seeing a friends face
at the psychological moment, when her
despair, her misery, her desperation.
was at its height, she had not thought
simple thing like pencil, a non. ink
paper. might be necessary. In DESPAIR
Lucille looked about her Paper She
mad. She tore the blank strip off the
top of the newspaper page. tore it so
that the headline regarding I4ieutenan;
Gibson appeared beneath it. She star
ed heipiessly i'll the mirror her teeti,
fastened viciously in her lower lin. So
ViciOusly that when she withdrew
them tiny drop of red blood appeared.
upon the delicate skin. If only She bad
Il pencil or pen. something to write
with
The blood drop fel! upon the paper.
carmining it. Lucille gaspctl delight,
edly. Her hand seized pin from thu.
writing table and dabbled at the blot
1t had dried up. Nerving herself sh,
lightly -jabbed the pin into the ball OF
her thumb. feverishly writing upol.