Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-09-20

As they passed a dark alley
Chinese stepped forth and held out
lean hand toward them.
Come he said In shril whisper.
and the two followed. knowing that
they had received the dreaded sum
mons
Down the alley, lighted at long dis
tances 10y small smoky oil lamps above
grim d0orways. through broken arch.
a turn 10 the left. through n swiftly
opened door down an III lighted pas
sage. NJ the end of which were broken
steps leading down into a black void.
Their guide produced candle. lighted
II and led the way down other steps
into the bowels of the earth. At last
he paused before black painted door
and raped softly three times. then
three times again
The door swung inward and dis.
closed n dimly lighted room.
Under Il canopy of richly cmbroii-
cred satin there sat on cushioned
lockwood chair dignihed figure clad
in a Chinese robe OF stifT bdocade on
the breast of the tunic hung heavy
chain of amber beads and from the
beads there swung II life size waxen
hand-the replica of the three that
John Murray had received. and Of the
two that had come to Swinnerton.
The face of the man In the chair
was hidden under queer mask Of
painted porcelain. but his bright dark
eyes shonc through narrow Sits
beneath the painted brows
Murray looked around to find that
the door was closed and their guide
had disappeared They were alone
with the grim figure in the chair.
Advance. mumblcd the figure in
English. and the two obeyed mcchan-
ically. Aiurray's hand rested on the
revolver IN his coat pocket
You have come In obedience TO the
reckoning of the Yellow Claw" went
on the voice monotonously: "are YOU
prepared To keep your promise made to
the most high Feng Soy" His voice
dropped TO Il whisper ms he AIDED
few words of secret import. \ dead
silence followed his speech.
What is it you wish us to do?" ask
ed Murray at last
Again the parsonage bowed his COW
cred head and whispered short abrupt
sentences that caused his heroes to
stiifcn with horror
Their faces were white like drifted
snow when they lifted them to the i'm.
passive porcelain mask. Swinnerton's
eyes We're fixed on the bright dark
eyes of the parsonage with a strange
intensity: II was as IL he was trying
TO wiring some secret from the keeper
of the yellow Claw-as IL he was rack
Ing his memory for some clew. Muir
ray broke the silence
And II we refuse:" he asked
III you refuse" answered the voice.
Henderson and Moore will no longer
be alone"
Tom was laughing and in either
clutchcd hand was revolver; his long
neck was thrust forward and his head
nodded waegiShly Mt the parsonage
For the first time the figure In the
lockwood chair moved. the hands
sought folds OF the voluminous robes
and dashed out again.
Four revolver shots deafcncd the air
and when the smoke had cleared away
Swinnerton was sitting on the floor
with bullet through his arm, while
the lockwood chair was empty.
ON the silien carpet before the dais
was a huddled form under folds OF
stiff brocadc
Murray leaned over his friend and
assisted him To rise.
Tom. are you badly hurtf''
"A scratch ON my arm | believe
Perkins is dead Better look and see"
returned the other with a dry laugh.
Perkins. What are You talking
aboutf''
why. ! guess you'll find that the
Yellow Claw is nothing less than your
confidential clerk. Perkins. thought
his face was familiar. but couldn't
place 1t. Remember Blake. the rene
gade white man who got Henderson
into that trouble up the Yangtzeg'
"Yes. OF course: but Perkins
Perkins Is Blake. and the rascal has
been working us four 10 the limit
Must have robbed and murdered Moore
and Henderson Both wore handsome
jewelry and carried large sums Of
money when they disappeared Let us
get out of this"
But the Yellow Claw" protested
Murray. unconvinced that all these
years Of uneasineSs and the last few
weeks Of terror had been inspired by
the Vaccinations OF his snaky eyed
clerk.
Perkins is the Yellow Claw. II
doesn't exist outside of China That's |
my best bet He's used his knowledge
10 blackmail us. and he may he the
tool for reasonable powers higher up
Remember the sums Of money he de.
handed: Whcw,"
Murray stepped to the PROSTATE form
and turned il over The porcelain !
mask fell away mud disclosed the dead
face OF Perkins The waxen hand al