The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-01-14
How swiftly the blood dried! But she

dure the torture no longer. 1t wa
sufficient. He could piece togethe
what he read, what she lad told hin
aboard the ship. But how to reacl
him with the fragmentary strip o
paper? Tearing the necklace from
about her throat she detached a jewe
swiftly and wrapped the strip Of pa
] per about it. In one leap she hat
reached the window The captain wa
/ still there.
For moment Lucille hesitated. Sh,
must break the window pane. Swiftly
she took a slipper from her foot, drew
back and brought the tiny heel crash
ing against the glass. At the SOUND
Of smashing glass she heard a rustlin:
without her door. The captain looked
up at her. and simultaneously sh'
filliped the round missile toward him
watched him eagerly as he stopped t.
pick 1t up and then thrust it hurriedly
in his pocket, passing on. She saw
Thompson, the butler, slip hurriedly
out Of the door and take after him
Then a slight creaking, as of rusty
| hinges, and she stared about her il
mute horror. She was moving dow
and walls were advancing forward
| She was moving down and the room
was moving with her.
| Came 4 little groan, a tremor run
ming through the walls Of the room
Looking mp she could see solid stee
| walls passing into place where the
| room she was in had been. Merely q
| cage-an elevator had been the bou
| doir where she was a captive. The
| machinery stopped working abruptly
| She peered over the edge Of the room
for she was merely standing on a.:aat
surface so far as one side was con-
cerned. To her ears came the insist
ent ringing of a bell. a huddled, black
mass showed almost beneath her
Crouching upon the floor she leaned
| over and glngerly CROPPED at it with
her fingers, drawing them sharply back
as they encountered human flesh.
For just second she faltercd before
Investigating her discovery. Loubeque
must have come from her room in this
fashion. 1t might be that in some way
Loubeque had fallen and injured the
machinery. TO stoop down, take the
papers from his pocket and hide them
between the crack of the floor of the
room and the bottom of the elevator
was the work OF an instant.
AS the room gIided gently into place
without SO much as tremor she leap
ed down and lifted the grooming mans
head to her lap. She had come barely
III time. for the spy was struggling
feebly to get to his feet. He smiled
ruefully as he lighted Il match and
scanned the features Of his companion.
For second he appeared dazed, then
swift CONSERVATION crossed his face as
his hand shot toward the place where
he had placed the stolen papers.
Come" he said quietly. his tones
silky, vet dry and cold and hard,
come, young lady. OF course YOU I'M
derstand the papers will be found, and
this is merely delaying the inevitable. ;"
He did not wait for her to speak.
merely touched her arm and assisted
her to the platform. He stirred slight
~. Came the whir of machinery, al
most Immediately shut out. Once
upward this time. She closed her eyes
Instinctively before the mystery of it
all. When she opened them once more
she was i'll the place she had left.
Everything was as it had been save
for broken window pane and the
presence of Loubequc. -.
He regarded her narrowly, still
as though to speak, then closed them
sharply and stepped to the door, listen
Ing q moment. then ringing a bell.
which was almost Immediately an
sWered by the butler and the woman
who had first captured the girl.
Hurriedly Thompson explained what
had happened-the pebble wrapped
strip OF white paper which the man
outside had picked up, the manner in
which he had mysteriously disappear
ea, Guiding the buffers pursuit, the adj
mission of policemen to the house and
the throwing of the spring that lower
ed the girls room to the basement.
And he got out Of the way, eh:"
Loubeque frowned thoughtfully, then
laughed dry, barking laugh as he
turned to the girl. and with all this
luck working for you, Miss Lucille.
you see now how impossible it il TO
escape Now 1 shall leave you alone
to reflect upon the advisability Of re-.
storing the packet to me. Until then
you will not be disturbed even bv q
servant You may recall, nv child.
that thirst is very unpleasant tor
ture.'
lie closed the door behind him very
softly. Not sound came from with
OUT. Hunger, thirst, solitude-all three
IN this prison, this prison so much un-
ike prison that it was rendered onlv
the more hideous thereby. And even
though outsiders knew she was being
detained here they could not find her
coula not even secure adequate eyi-
dence that she was here did they make
an examination. She flung herself
upon the bed, burying her face in her
hands and giving way to sobs.
She Strengthened, startled by a faint
unk!e against the window pane. Swift.
~ she approached the window. IJnon
the street no one was in sight. She
looked up and espied the face of the
captain peering cautiously from over
the brick wall above her.
Feverishly she ripped at the netting
"hlch mad been within the glass be-