The Ordway new era., 1915-07-09
FOURTEENTH EPISODE
THE RECKONING.

Nc THE RECKONING.
4 Pacing up and down his den in the
heart of Chinatown. Long Sin was
1hinling over his bargain with Ken
,Aedy to betray the infamous Clutch
ing Hand.
Il At length he seated himself on .
table still celebrating over
The promise he had been forced to
make to Kennedy.
Suddenly an idea seemed to strike
him. Lifting little hammer, he
struck Chinese gong on the table
3at his side. At the same time he
leaned over and turned the knob at the
side Of, large roll-top desk.
A few seconds later q sort Of hatch.
way. covered BY rug on the floor. IN
'one corner Of the room. was slowly
slifted and Long Sins secretary. pale.
lcadaverous Chinaman, appeared from
below. He stepped noiselessly into
ttho room and shufied across to Long
Sin and handed him . letter.
Long Sin scowled. as though some
s&hing had interfered with his own
lans, but tore open the envelope with
ut word, spreading out ON his lap
ne sheet Of paper It contained.
~ The letter was = typewritten mes
&age, all in capitals. which read:
B"BE AT HEADQUARTERS AT IL.
acsTRoY THIS yhfMEDIATELY."
~ At the bottom OF the note appeared
81 SsinistersSignature Of the Clutching
Hand. .... Il III, 4.
BowinE low again. the secretary
shumed across and down again
through the hatchway, closing the
door as he descended.
Long Sin read the note once more,
while his inscrutable face assumed an
expression Of malicious cunning.
With an air Of deliberation he
reached for Q match and struck 1t.
He had placed the paper in the flame
when suddenly he seemed to change
his mind. He hastily blew out the
match, which had destroyed only q
corner Of the paper. then folded the
note carefully and placed n in his
pocket.
A few moments later. with a malig-
nant chuckle. Long Sin rose slowly
and left the room.
Meanwhile the master criminal was
busily engaged in putting the finishing
touches to nnal scheme Of fendish
ingenuity for the absolute destruc-
ton of Craig Kennedy.
He had been at work In q smaH
room fitting up q sort Of laboratory.
in the mysterious house which now
served a. his headquarters.
Clutching Hand, at bench in one
corner, had Just completed an internal
machine Of diabolical cunning. and
was wrapping 1t carefully in paper to
make an innocent package. Is
!, He was interrupted by . knock at
/ the door. Laying down the bomb he
went to answer the summons with q
stsalthy movement. There stood Long
Sin, who had disguised himself rs
Chinese laundryman.
'On time-good!" growled Clutch
ing Hand surlily as he closed the door
with equal care.
No time was wasted in useless for
malities.
This il bomb" he went on. point
tng to the package. Garry 1t care
ssny. On no account let it slip. or
you are q dsad man. 1t must be In
Kennedy's laboratory before night.
Understand Can you arrange 1T"
Long Sin glanced at the dangerous
package, then with an expressive look,
rspaied, "Have NO fear. I can do 1t.
Il vili be in the laboratory within an
h1ae. Trust me-"
.
\ - Kennedy's laboratory I was watch
- Craig make some experiments
NTH . new X-ray apparatus.
We were oblivious to the passage OF
11ms, and only . call over our speak
4 }ng tube diverted our attention.
I opened the door and few seconds
4 1Ater Long Sin himself entered.
y Kennedy looked up inquiringly as
ne Chinaman approached, holding out
= package which he carried.
"A bomb" he said, In the most mat
ster-of.fact way. II promised to have
at placed in your laboratory before
might"
Il Kennedy took the bomb and care
sfully placed 1t under the wonderful
Trays, then with the horoscope over his
eyes studied the shadow cast by the
rays on its sensitive screen. 1t,
4 ''It's bomb, sure enough" Craig
I exclaimed, looking up, from it at last
4 y "a. @Its timed BY an ingenious