Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-04-10

You see. Miss Dodge" began Mary.
Were getting up this movement to
help the Belgians and we ave splen-
did backing. Just let me show you
some OF the names on our commit
tee"
She handed Elaine n list.
I've just been sent 10 see If I can
not persuade you 10 join the commit
tee and attend a meeting al Mrs. Riv-
%erton's." she went on
"Why-er." considered Elaine.
thoIghtfully. "er-yes. II must be
all right with such people in it,
Can you 20 down with me now"
Just as we'll as later. agreed
Elaine.
They went out together. and as
they were leaving the house n man
who had hcon lettering out ide looked
al Elaine. then iixcdly al her cnnpan-
ion.
No sooner had they gone than ne
sped of TO a car waiting around the
corner. In the dark denths was z rin-
lister figure. the master criminal him
80 iht NIAAANi Afh tt'H ah~ 'ii
isssry ~ the ClutchinG Hand.
Chief. he whispered eagerly. you
know Adventurous Mary? Well. she's
ago: Elaine Dodge in tow"
The deuce" cried C%luiching Hand.
Then We mus. teach Mary Carson.
or whoever she Is working for. a les
son. No one shall interfere with our
affairs. Follow them"
Elaine ami Mary had zone down
town. talking animatedly walking
down the yenue toward Mrs. Riying-
tons apartment
Meanwhile. Wong Sin. still In his
Chinese costume. was explaining 10
another male servant lust what he
wished done, pointing out the dagger
~ the wall and placing tn bladder
under his jacket n box ~ opium
was on the table. and he was xiv
ing most explicit directions. u was
into such a web that Elaine was be-
Ing unnittinly led by Mary.
Entering the hallway NJ the apart
ment, Mary rang the boil.
The servant opened the door and
Elaine end Mary entered. lie closed
the door and almost before they knew
IL was gone into tho back room.
Elaine Eazed an rut I, IN trepdiation.
Rut before she could say anything.
MARY. with a goat ghoY OF surprise.
exclaimed. why. ! must have made
n mistake. This isn't Mrs. Riving-
snpHr san . s~enUt IInur gtppfI af spn -
They looked m each other a mo-
ment. Then each laughed %ncrvutsly.
rs together they started TO 20 out Of
the door. II was locked
Quickly they ran 10 another door.
II was locked also.
Just then tho rhinaman entered and
stood a moment gazing ~ them. They
turned and Elaine rt>oiled from him.
Wong bowed.
"Oh. sir" cried Mary. we've made a
mistake. Can't you tell US how to
get OUT"
NO spoke EneIis." hc said. Gid
ing out again from the room and
closing the door.
Elaine and Mary looked about in
despair.
What shall va do?" asked Elaine.
Mary said nothing. but with q haEty
glance discovered on the wall the
knife which Wong had already told
her about. She took II from its scab-
bard. As she did SO the Chinaman re-
turned with a tray on which were queer
drinks and glasses.
Al the sight ~ Mary with the knife
he scowled blackly. laid down the
tray. and took q few steps in her di-
%rection. She brandished the knife
thrcateninEly: then. as II her nerve
failed her, tainted. letting the knife
fall carefully on the floor 80 that II
struck on the handle. and not on the
blade.
Wong quickly caught her as she
tainted and carrying her. out Of the
room. banged shut the door. Elaine
followed in a moment. Loyalty 10 pro
tect her supposed friend. but found
that the door had a snap lock on the
other side.
She looked about wildly. and in a
moment Wong ~rcappcarcd. As he ad-
NafFeu Slowly anu mSllidlliGlN HHt
drew back. pleading. But her words
fell on seemingly deaf ears.
She had picked up the knife which
Mary had dropped. and when al last
Wong m%ancuvcred % get her cOrnercd
and was about 10 seize her. she ncrved
herself up and stabbed at him reso-
lutcly.
Wong staggered back-and fell.
As he did SO. he pressed the
bladder which he had already placed
under his coat. A dark red fluid.
like blood. oozed ont All over him and
ran in a pool on the floor.
Elaine. too horror-stricken n what
had happened eve 10 scream. dropped
the knife and bent over him. lie did
not move. She rose quickly and ran
through the now open door. AS she
did 20. Wong seemed suddenly u come
TO life. lie raised himself and looked
after her. then with a subtle smile
sank back into his former assumed
posture on the floor.