The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-09-02

From his hiding place Kennels
crept stealthily. He had scarcely 20,
within reach OF WI when the aler,
Chinaman seemed to sense his pres,
ence. He rose swiftly and swunp
around.
The two a~rch.enemies gazed M each
other n moment silently. Each know
II was the final. fatal encounter.
Slowly WI drew n long knife ana
leaped at Kennedy. who grappled will,
him. They struggled mercllessly.
In the struggle Craig managed n
tear the torpedo out Of Wu's hands
Just as they rolled w II fell on a
rock. Instantly an explosion tore \
hole In the sand. scattering the grave,
all about.
Relentlessly the combat ragged. ou,
on the wharf itself they went, right uo
TO the edge.
Then both went over into the water
locked In each others visellke grip.
Even in the water they struggled
franticallly.
My search for the escaped crook
was unsuccessful.
Somehow, however, II led me acros.
country to a road. As I approached I
heard a car and looked up. Tbere
were the secret service men. I called
them and stepped out OF the bushes.
They stepped and Jumped out OF the
car, and | ran to them.
Come back with me-" ! urged. "wo
found two OF them. One is dead.
Craig sent me 10 trace the other. I've
lost the trail. Perhaps you can nud Il
for me-"
We crashed through the brush
quickly. Suddenly I heard something
that caused me to start. II sounded
like an explosion.
There's the place-over there" I
pointed, pausIng and indicating the
direction OF the wharf whence had
COM the explosion.
what was Il? We did not stop n
moment. but hurried In that direction.
We reached the shore. where we
saw marks OF the explosion and OF n
fight. Out on the pier | ran breath.
lessly. ] rushed TO the very edge and
gazed over, then climbed down the
slippery piling and peered into the
black water beneath.
A few bubbles seemed TO ooze I'd
from below. Was that all?
No, as | gazed down | saw that some
dark object was there. Slowly WI
Fang's body noated TO the surface and
lay there, rocked By the waves. Deep
In his breast stuck his own knife with
It's handle OF the sign of the serpent!
! reached down and seized him, as |
peercd about for Kennedy.
There was nothing more there.
CRAIG" called desperately,
Craig"
There was no answer. The silence
the echo Of the tapping water under
the wharf was appalling. hooking.
managed to call the secret service
men. and they got WI Fang's body up
on the wharf.
But ! could not leave the spot.
Where was Craig? There was not q
sign OF him. / could not realize II.
even when the men brought graphing
irons and began to search the black
water.
1t was all o hideous dream. saw
and heard, In a daze.
II was not until late that night that
| returned to the Dodge house.
! had delayed my return as long as
] could, but | knew that | must see
Elaine some time.
As ! entered even jennings must
nave seen that something was wrong.
Elaine, who was sitting in the library
with Aunt Josephine. rose as she saw
me.
Did YOU get them?" Elaine asked
eagerly.
| could not speak. She seemed to
read the tragic look on my haggard
face, and stopped.
Why" she gasped. clutching at the
desk, what Is the natter"
AZ gently as | could ! told her OF
the chase, OF leaving Craig. OF the ex-
plosion, OF the marks OF the struggle
and Of the finding OF WI Fang.
As ! finished | thought she would
faint.
And you-you went over every
thing about the wharf,"
Everything, The men even dragged
for the"
! checked myself over the fateful
word.
Elaine looked at me wildly. I thought
That she would lose her reason. She
ala not cry. The shock was too great
for that.
suddenly ! remembered the note.
bciore | left hlm-the last time" l
blurt"d out, "he wrote a note-to YOU"
! pulled the crumpled paper from
my pocket aud Elaine almost tore Il
from me-the last word from him
and read:
oearest-l may not return until the
case Is settled and ! have found the
stolen torpedo. Matters involving mil
lions OF lives and billions Of dollars
nans on the plot back Of Il. No mat
TER what hanHazA F.aaN