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

and silver COINS ana OARS anu oAA1
ments a chest literally filed WITH
brilliants. set and unset, rubies, en-
eralds, precious stones of every con-
ceivable variety, cave that would
have staggered even Aladdin.
For q moment they could merely
stand in avaricious exultation.
Painfully and slowly we managed to
trail Long Sins footprints, until we
came to a road where they were lost
in the hard macadam.
Kennedy chose the most likely direc-
ton, for the trail had been at an angie
to the road and Long Sin was not like
ly to double back We had not gone
many rods before Kennedy paused .
minute and looked about in the moon
light
"Its right, Walter" he cried. DO
you recognize it?'
looked about Then it flashed over
me. This was the back road that leo
past the entrance TO the treasure vault
at Aunt Tabby's.
We went on now more quickly, lis
tening carefully to catch any sounds,
but heard nothing. At last Kennedy
stopped, then plunged among the
rocks and bushes beside the road.
We were at the cave.
"You go this way, Walter" he d.
rected. "Tn go around and dow
where 1t caved in"
had gone only yard or two when
It seemed as though something had
grasped my foot.
With a great wrench l managed to
pull 1t loose But the weight on my
other foot had imbedded it deeper in
something. I struggled to free this
foot and got the other caught. My re.
volver which l had drawn, vas Jared
from my hand, and in the effort to re-
cover It, lost my balance. Unable
to move foot in time to catch myself
l fell forward. My hands were now
covered by the Shiny, sticky stun, and
the more / struggled, the worse |
seemed to get entangled.
WI and Long Sin paused only a
minute in establishment. Then they
literally fell upon the wealth that lay
before them.
Suddenly they paused. There was
the slight tinkle of Chinese bell.
Kennedy had reached Aunt Tabby's
garden, outside the roof of the subter
ranean chamber where 1t had given
way, had gone down carefully over the
earth and rock, and in doing so had
broken string stretched across the
passageway. The tinkle of bell at
tached to it aroused his attention and
he stopped short. a second, to look
about WI Fang had arranged a
primitive alarm.
Quickly, WI and Long Sin blew out
their lanterns while WI gave the rock
a push. Slowly, as it had opened, 1t
now closed and they stood there listen
ing.
was still struggling in the bird
lime. getting myself more and more
covered with it, when the reyerbera-
ton of revolver shots reached me.
WI and Long Sin had opened fire on
Kennedy, and Kennedy was replying
in kind. In the cavern it sounded like
a veritable bombardment. AS they re-
treated, they came nearer and nearer
to me and / could see the revolvers
splitting fire In the darkness.
l watched them fearfully as they
hoped deftly from one stone to an
other to avoid the lime-and were
gone.
Craig! Craig!" I managed to cry
feebly. BE careful. Keep to the
stones"
Stepping from stone to stone, he fol-
lowed the retreating Cinnamon. But
they had already reached the mouth
of the cave and were making their
way rapidly down the road to a
bend, in the opposite direction from
which we had come. There Wu's auto
mobile was waiting.
A moment later Kennedy appeared,
but they had made their getaway.
Baff1ed, he turned and retraced his
steps to the cave.
They got away, Walter" he said,
lighting lantern they had dropped.
"By George" he added, l think a lit
tie yexed that had not been able to
intercept them, you are a sight"
He was about to laugh, when faint
ed. l can remember nothing until
woke up over by the wall Of the cham
Der where he dragged me.
Kennedy had been working hard to
revive me. and. as / opened my eyes,
he Strengthened up. His eye suddenly
caught something on the rock beside
him. There was little slot carved
in 1t, and above the slot was a peculiar
inscription.
For several minutes Kennedy pug.
zled over 1t, as WI had done. Then
he discovered the little cup near the
ground.
The ring." he suddenly cried out.
/ was too muddled to appreciate at
once what he meant, but / saw him
reach into his fob pocket and draw
forth the trinket which had caused so
much disaster, as If 1t had been cursed
by the Clutching Hand himself. He
dropped 1t into the slot.
Struggling to my feet, saw across
from me the very rock itself moving
Look, CRAIG" cried, invoIuntar.
lily pointing.
He turned. No, it was not a vision.
1t actually moved. Together we
watched. Slowly the rock turned on
a pivot. There were disclosed to our
astonished eyes the hidden millions OF
the Clutching Hand.
looked from the gold and jewels to
Kennedy, in speeches. amazement.
We have beaten them anyhow I
cried.
Slowly Craig shook his head sadly.
No. he murmured, 1--WE have found
the Clutching Hands millions, but we
have lost Elaine"