The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-01-21

ter than any man could do them"
But he protested.
NO." she shook her head firmly
"You have no idea how dangerous {
game it is working against Huge
Loubeque. There is every chance tha
he may yet defeat me; that l may be
killed or injured before succeed Fa
Their would demand my return, papers
or no papers. Can't you see what il
means to me? Can't you see that the
man who has ruled and ruined nations
who has compelled thousands to dc
his will. has every chance Of success
against anything man could dog
The officer smiled a superior smile
Lucille merely took the diary of the
spy from its hiding place and placed II
In his hands, watching the swift
changes of expression upon his face as
be read. Finally he returned it to the
owner.
"Please eat" he said quietly, motion.
ing toward the end of the desk where
the orderly was spreading a cold re-
past OF canned meats and vegetables
and steaming coffee, ~and forgive me
If l can't talk now. must think what
is best to be done'
Lucille smiled as she devoted her at
tention to the repast. She fixnlly fin
lshed to find young Lieutenant Car
mody staring fixedly at her, his brow
clouded.
Its too much for me-" he muttered
! ''Of course it is" she laughed hearth
| ~ pr1f I
win"
But why?"
Because" and all the mirth had
gone from her face, all the laughter
from the eyes that were reverently
lifted. because everything have do11e
has been done for the sake of love and
because love has watched over me and
helped me. That is the reason, Lieu
tenant Carmody. Hugo Loubeque can
never be beaten or brought to Justice
because of fear or hate. for his own
powers in that direction are greater
than those of nations"
"Well? The officer unwillingly
agreed. What do you propose doing?
Isn't there some way in which ! can
help you?''
YES she answered PROMPTLY
you can let me have money. You
can tell me how to dispose of one of
these valuable rubies, or all of them
and you can help me catch the first
train for San Francisco
Carmody whistled aloud his amazed
delight as he regarded the marvellous
jewels in the necklace she laid upon
the table. Then he loaned her the
money be had and insisted upon her
lying down and resting until he could
skirmish up some proper clothing and
find out about the trains.
1t was dawn before she Weakened
and. though she felt alarm lest he had
allowed her to miss a train, his reas
surance and the sight of the clothing
he had found for her made things
seem much brighter. Then. too. the
ninety odd dollars in currency seemed
Tar more than even the rubies about
her neck. Several hours later she
boarded the train. assisted by wor
RED looking young officer, her heart
light and gay, for she felt within her
Self that the journey that had been so
long and so hazardous was finally
nearing a n end; that the familiar. dear
faces would surround her on every
side
With every clamping of the wheels
upon the frogs of the track her heart
gave up song of confidence, for Hugo
Loubeque had put forward his own
strength against her and, added TO
thls, the strength of portion of his
organization. He had imprisoned her
IN two apparently 1mpregnable places
ana still she was here, all unbeknowpst
to him. speeding toward his house. in
tent upon beating him once and for
all.
And in the compartment at which
she stared with unseeing eyes Thomp
Son regarded her in the mirror. his |
own eyes glittering with malicious tri-
umph and with avarice.
thompson crCuched back in his com
partment, feigning deep 7lumber while
the colored porter made I'D his bed
Immediately the porter disappeared no
oeeaine the incarnation Of energy. His
hands nervously fumbled with the lock
or his grip, opening it finally and dis
closing a secret trap in the bottom.
from Which he took an atomizer, a pair
or nlppers and bottle of pale yiscid
fluid.
For an hour he waited, motionIess.
not even his fixed eyes blinking as he
regarded the curtains of the berth LII
ellie occupied.
He was swift; he was certain: he
was sure. Deity parting the curtains.
ne looked down upon the sleeping girl
NO atom of pity was in his heart. All
the thief now, his eyes glittered as he
allowed them to rest upon the glowing
strand of stones about her neck.
Swiftly he leaned over, applying his
plnchers to the gas jet and unscrew-
ing 1t SO that the odor Of the gas
slowly began filling the stuffy section.
Ihen he gently sprayed the ether across
lef race, never moving when she m
stirred to fight off the an
aesthetic.
Her breathing became heavier while
ler lips took on a blush tinge. The
gas was becoming stronger. and he
NEW her condition would be ascribed
o asphyxiation when she recovered
rom the effects of the ether. Stoop- .
ng' with no appearance of care now
he unfaStened the rJ1bfes from bor J