Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-07-20


ton that Kennedy had taken.
I stole out from my own hiding
place In the shadow Of my rock ana
darted quickly to the shelter OF q
bush, nearer the figure.
It turned to steal away.
I leaped at him and he went down,
rolling over and over In the under
brush and stubble.
He was powerful and stronger than
and after q tough tussle he broke
loose. But / had succeeded, never
theless. / had delayed him just long
enough. Kennedy heard the sound OF
the struggle and was now crashing
through the hedge at the crossroads
in our direction.
I managed to pick myself up, just
as Kennedy reached my side, and, to-
gether, we followed the retreating
figure as it made its way among the
shadows. Across the open space be-
fore US we followed him and at last
saw him dive into an old barn.
A moment later we followed hot
foot into the barn. AS we entered,
we could hear peculiar grating
noise, as though a door was swung
open. Evidently the man had gone
through and closed the back door,
We threw ourselves against the
back door. But it did not yield. There
was no time to waste and we turned
to rush out again by the way we
came, Just as the front door was
slammed shut.
The man had trapped us.
We could hear his feet crunching
the dry leaves and twigs as he went
around the side of the barn again.
Suddenly the pale silver of the
moonlight on the floor Redeemed.
The man had struck match and
thrown it into a mass of oil-soaked
straw and gunpowder which protruded
through one of the weather-beaten
boards, near the floor.
For a second l looked dismayed at
the rapidly mounting flames.
"a very pretty situation" | forced
with laugh. But / hope he doesn't
think Wen stay here and burn, with
perfectly good window in full view"
took step toward the window, but
before / could take another, Kennedy
yanked me back.
Don't think for a moment that he
overlooked that" he shouted.
Craig looked around hastily. In a
corner, just back OF US, was a long
pole. He snatched 1t up and moved
cautiously toward the window.
Keep back, Walter" he muttered,
"just as far as you can"
He had scarcely raised the window
a fraction of an inch when an old,
rusty, heavy anvil and bent, worn
plowshare crashed down to the floor
directly over the spot where I should
have been if he had not dragged me
away.
L think you may try it safely now,
all right" smiled Kennedy coolly.
We climbed out of the window, not
an instant too soon.
Having gained the clump of woods,
the gaunt figure had paused long
enough to gloat over his clever
scheme. Instead, he saw us making
good our escape. With a gesture of
intense fury he turned. There was
nothing more for him to do but to
zigzag his way to safety across coun-
try.
Kennedy did not pause an instant
longer, but in the light Of the burn
ing barn, as best he could, started to
follow the trail in a desperate en-
deavor either to overtake Long Sin,
or at least to find the final direction
in which he would go.
At the entrance Of the passageway
which led to the little underground
chamber in which we had sought the
treasure hidden by the Clutching
Hand, WI Fang was seated on rock
waiting impatiently, though now and
then indulging IN a sinister smile at
the subtle trick by which he had re-
covered the ring.
The sound OF approaching foot
steps disturbed him. He was far too
clever to leave anything to chance
and like serpent, he wriggled behind
another rock and waited. 1t was only
a glance. however, that he needed to
allay his suspicious. 1t was Long Sin,
GREATNESS.
WI stepped out beside him so quiet
ly that even the acute Long Sin did
not hear. "Well?" he said in a gut
tural tone.
Long Sin drew back in fear. II
have failed, oh, master" he replied in
an imploring tone Even now they
are following my tracks,"
WI frowned. I'VE must work quick
ly, them" he muttered.
He picked up dark lantern near by,
indicating another to Long Sin They
entered the cave, flashing the lights
ahead of them.
BE careful" ordered WI, proceed
ing gingerly from one stepping stone
to another. I'VE shall be followed no
further than this"
He paused moment and pointed his
finger at the earth. Everywhere. ex-
cept here and there where a stone
projected. was a sticky, Shiny sub
stance. 1t was an old trick OF print
tive races.
They passed on from stone to stone
until they came to the subterranean
chamber itself.
Long Sin watched his master in ST.
lent admiration as, at last, he drew
forth the mystic ring for which they
had dared ALL
Without word WI dropped 1t in
the slot, protuberance hit trigger
and pushed it hairs breadth.
On the other side of the chamber.
great rock in the ground slowly
turned, as though on a pivot. They
watched. fascinated. Even then WI
did not forget the precious ring, but
as the rock turned, reached down
quickly and recovered it from the cup