Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-05-15
rise up into the moonlight.

stole out from my own hiulng
place In the shadow or my rock and
darted quickly to the shelter Of n
bush. nearer the figure.
IL turned TO steal away.
leaped at him and he went down.
rolling over and Over in the under
brush and stubble.
lie was powerful and stronger than
! and after a tough tussle ne broke
loose. But I had succeeded. never
theless. had delayed him Just long
enough. Kennedy heard the sound Of
the struggle end was now crashing
through the hedge at the crossroads
in our direction.
managed 10 pick myself up. Just
rs Kennedy reached my side. and. to-
gether. We followed the r~etreating
figure as II made Its way among he
shadows. Across the open space be
fore us We followed him and AZ last
saw him dive into an old barn.
A later We followed hot
foot into the barn. As We entered.
we could hear a 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 il did not yield. There
was no time 10 waste and We turned
TO rush out again by the way we
came. just as the front door vas
slammed shut.
The man had trapped Us.
We could hear his feet crunching
the dry leaves and twlgs "a he went
around the side Of the barn again.
Suddenly the pale silver OF the
moonlight on the floor redeemed.
The man had struck a match and
thrown II into a mass OF ~oil-soaked
straw and gunpowder which protruded
through one of the weather beaten
boards. near the floor.
For a second | looked %dismayed a.
the rapidly mounting flames
"A very pretty situation" | forced
with a laugh But | hope he doesn
think we'll stay here and burn. with
a perfectly good window IN full view.
| took a step toward the window. but
before | could take another. Kennedy
yanked me back.
Don't think for a moment hat he
overlooked tnat. ne shouted.
Craig looked around hastily In a
corner lust back OF us. was a long
pole lie snatched il up n moved
cautiously toward the window.
Keep back. Walter" be muttercd.
Just a. FAR a. YOU can.
He mad scarcely raised the window
A traction 0f an inch when an old.
rusty. neavy anvil and a bent. worn
p%Iowshare crashed down 90 the foor
directly over the spot where /, should
have been II he had not dragged mo
away.
think YOU NAV try II safely now.
all right, smiled Kennedy coolly.
We climbed u OF the window. not
an instant TOO soon.
Having gained The clump Of woods,
the gaunt figure had paused TONG
enough % gloat over his clever
scheme. Instead. h. saw ~ making
good our escape. With q gesture ri
intense fury no turned. There was
n1AiAAk nun MI hAAh w w 49, ~
ziszag his way 70 safety across coun-
cry
Kennedy did not pause an instant
longer. but In the light OF the burn
inE barn. "a best he could. started 10
follow the trail In "a desperate en-
deavor either 10 ovortake Long Sin.
or AT feast 10 find the final direction
la which ne would 80.
A. the entrance " tic p~assaEeWav
which led To the little underground
chamber In which We had sought the
treasure hidden by the Clutchine
Hand. WI Fang was seated on A rock
waiting impatiently though now and
then INDUCING IN a sinister smile AZ
the subtle trick by which he had re-
covered the ring.
The sound Of approaching foot
steps disturbed him lie was far too
clever TO leave anything 10 chance
and like a serpent. he wrigeled behind
another rock and waited. II was only
a glance. however. that be needed tn
allay his suspicious. II was Long sin.
breathless.
WI stepped out beside him 10 quiet
lv that even the acute Ions SIN did
not hear. "Well?" he said ia a gut
tural tone.
Long Sin drew back IN fear. III
have failed. oh. master. he replied in
an imploring tone. Even now they
are following my tracks
Wu froNned We must work quick
ly, then. ~. muttered.
lie picked up 4 dark lantern near ~.
indicating another % Lone sin They
entered the cave. flashing the lights
ahead ~ them
lie careful ordered WI. proceed
ing EinEcrly from ono stepping stone
IA another We shall he follow ~ No
further than this
tie paused a moment and pointed HE
finger ~ tho earth Everywhere. ~
cept hero and there where 4 stone
projected. vaa a sticky elm, sub
stance n Was an old trick M rrimI
tive races
They passed on from stone IN stone
..weaI aF.s a.st 49,. III