The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-04


from the window Of the mysterious
house in SAN Francisco into the eyes
CT her lover, the man whose happiness
could not be insured without those pa
pers so short space before her.
With tie thought she sI)gang into the
room. She bounded high. clearing the
bodies of the two men and Handing
sGuarely against the table. Cropping.
cropping. her hands encountered the
cold rubies. She thrust them swiftly
into her bodice. her left hand contin-
uing the search Papers rustled under
her fingers. An iron hand was upon
her shoulder, but she wrenched herself
loose and leaped back.
Along the wall she moved until her
body encountered the swaying door.
Even as Loubeque sprang at her she
slapped the door shut. There came a
cry Of pain and rage, the stumble Of
feet backward.
Lucille fed through the night. fed
toward where she had seen the meteor
car from which Thompson hid come
to this place. It--was a chance, no
odds what orders the man had been
given.
What commands had he been given?
She stopped second. She had been
warned to wait for three boots of the
owl, and but two had been given I'm
pulse directing her. she lifted her
hands to her mouth First no sound
came. A second time she made the at
tempt. Feeble it was at best but the
startled silence took it up and hurled
back this offender against restfuness.
To her right came the nUr of the
motor From behind sounded shot.
Bhe lunged toward the DIST sound and
entered the tonneau. a dark figure
leaned from the seat and drew her be-
side him. Lucille chung to the man,
sobbing from nervous reaction even as
the car shot through the night.
The whine of bullet sounded over
head, another and yet again another
She dared not look back. The papers
warmed through the flesh against
which they pressed, warmed through
her body and to her very heart itself
But Hugo Loubeque knew the method
of her departure, knew what she car
ried with her. And already she knew
Hugo Loubeque was working to over
take her
Low in the seat beside the driver
crouched Lucille with the precious pa
pers ana< rubies In the waiting auto
mobile the butler had arranged for
himself.
Suddenly she leaned forward, beat
ing her little fists together, urging the
Mexican chauffeur to accelerate his
speed. The man smiled down at her,
shaking his head to signify he did not
understand the words, even as he
stepped Oh the clutch and shot the car
forward like huge arrow newly re-
leased from the bow, and behind some
where upon the same road there was
another machine with determined
man in it, man who had never yet
allowed machine or man or even the
elements to thwart him.
Then came the dull crunching sound
from before her. The car sweryed
viciously, swung in such an abrupt
circle she clung to the side of her seat
to avoid being hurled out The driver
righted his machine swiftly, dexter
ously, and she started to heave a huge
sigh of relief.
But only started to, for the front
wheels suddenly slipped, seemed
smoothly to be gliding upon q surface
OF nothingness, clawinS for footholl
The chauffeur reversed heavily, fought
with his wheel. but vainly.
Then the heavy car lost balance, tilt
ed heavily and rolled down, down
down.
Lucille felt no fear. 1t was all too
deadly for that. She was only con
scious, even as her tiny hands clutchel
the edge Of her seat, Of il dronin.
sound from behind that was growing
into the rhythmic hum OF motorcar
Came long period Of delicious Ian
guor, Of sinking, much as though she
fioated upon ether; q harsh, crunch
ing jolt and blackness-mcrciful uncon
scfousness that closed black shutters
across the mental vision OF her and
brought a sweet smile to the lips that
had been frightened SO long. Sleep
=
Lucille. pieced together happenings
vaguely after that; then dismissed
them as Of no account Nothing ap-
peared to natter. She was comfort
able apa. partially content. She .resol:
lected for a fractional space Of time
being lifted and carried away by
strong. friendly. plying arms. The
mo 4o1