The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-01-21
time enough, and the booty IN hls
breast pocket was worth many risks.

Lucille felt herself struggling with 6
desperate enemy, one whose fingers
were Of steel as they fastened them
selves about her throat, grasped at bel
breath and held it despite her utmost
Efforts Even in the effort to waken
unsuccessful though 1t was. she seem
ed to recognize the calm, imperturba.
BILE, businesslike features Of Thompson
Then she felt sensation Of ease and
comfort and peace such as had moi
been hers for long time, and she al.
lowed herself to drift away upon the
gentle flowing river that hummed its
song in her ears.
She awakened to find herself being
shaken violently by the conductor an
a porter, whose ebony face had chan
ed to saffron shade. Her head ached
so fearfully that she pressed her fever
1sh palms to her temples to keep it
from bursting Her throat and mouth
felt as though she had been subsisting
upon diet of cotton soaked in oil.
She staggered to her feet and stood.
dazed and bewildered, in the aisle of
the car. The conductor turned her
over to two women, who stood with
her upon the platform, supporting her
trembling figure while the fresh air
drove away the fumes of chloroform
and gas to which she had been sub
sjected.
First she felt the rush Of the train.
the dotting Of lights In tho distance, the
rush OF the train past the lights, only
to come upon new cluster. And she
was rushing, rushing, rushing. Just like
these lights to a cavernous blackness
which she could not describe even to
herself.
Suddenly the reason for her being
upon the train came to her, and her
hands sought her breast, then her
throat With little cry she staggered
back into the arms of the women.
"Robbed!' she gasped. II have been
robbed!
The women looked at one another
p1tyingly, then 1ncreduiousIy and final
~ believ1ngly as they caught the pallor
and sanity on the girls face. Sum-
mon1ng all her strength, she turned the
KNOB of the door and sought the con.
ductor. He looked incredulous at the
gfrrs charge, but Investigation showed
that the light had been tampered with
Nothing. however, could be done be
fore reaching San Francisco except
search Of the car.
Lucille went with him from place to
place. scanning every face. But she
knew who had done this thing. When
she fought against the fingers of the
drugs they had been the fingers of
Thompson. When she had slipped
from peaceful slunber into the drug
ged stupor it was Thompson she had
been bravely fighting.
But Thompson-where had he disap-
peared? What had become of the
man?
I'VE know who the thief was, MISS"
reported the conductor a little later.
He had the compartment facing your
section. The screen is cut out. He
must have dropped cut the window
litter working his game"
Lucille smiled family.
"A medium sized man, rather dark.
plainly dressed, with features that no.
BODY would notice especially and-a
IiVld scar across the side of his face"
she murmured.
The man looked ut her in surprise.
"Thompson." she murlnured "Yes.
1t was Thompson. was positive from
the first"
AS the conductor ccrroborated her
description Of the thicf she lay back
against the dusty cushions Of her seat
ioiy watching the train charging across
the landscape. She had started badly. |
but she clinched her teeth firmly. Her
purpose was firm as ever. her rage q |
bit higher.
<~s
Hugo Loubeque cursed profoundly to |
nimself as he paced UP and down the |
floor of his San Francisco house. From |
below came the sounds of his servants
searching into every nook and GRANNY
of the mysterious house for the packet
OF papers and documents he knew LII
ellie had hidden here
He frowned heavily as he went TO
the window and looked down upon the
street, deserted now save for the old
woman who trudged toward the platA..
She carried basket Of fruit over her
arm and Loubeque smiled gri,nly as
she disappeared from his sight, then
reappeared after being turned away
from the door by the servant.
AS he idly studied the woman some.
thing about her caught and held his
attention. She moved slowly, but there
was an affectation about that slow
ness.
Loubeque's eyes were fastened. like
those OF a hawk now, upon the old
woman She had stopped beside the
alarm box on the corner lamppost
suddenly the bent form Strengthened
ana he read the impulsive resolve of
youth in every movement of the tlly
attlred Old woman. Her hand groped
upon the ground. He saw her pick
up a stone and smash the fire alarm.
Came the sound of fire engines
rolling down the street. Loubeoue
the woman. She dashed TO-
ward the captain as he darted I'M in
his light buggy, pointing eagerly
-o"ard the house of the spy, her eyes
with excitement. Then Lon.
oeque smiled as he pressed bell and
9rdered the search to stop immediatelv-
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