The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-08-05
TWENTIETH EPISODE
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
WI Fang sat at n table in his apart.
ment, hidden behind the squalid and
balconied exterior OF a Chinatown
tenement. Before him were n glass
dish and a bottle. which contained sew.
eral sticks OF phosphorus immersed in
water, and a small capillary glass
tube.
For a moment. however. he had laid
aside the strange paraphernalia and
was writing a note. AS he finished he
tapped a bell and silently a Chinese
servant appeared in answer.
Take this letter to hat white WON.
an. lnez." directed WI. adding. Give
II to her yourself-and II she is there
return with her"
The servant bowed and WI returned
TO work on the curious machine he
was devising.
He had completed his labors when
his trusted lieutenant, Long Sin. EN-.
tered.
For what did the master summon
me-" asked Long Sin, deferentially.
Come here" beckoned WI. Behold
this"
With a pair OF tweezers he seized q
small stick OF the phosphorus under
water and slowly brought II to the sur.
face. Almost instantly the dangerous
element burst into flame. giving of a
dense white smoke.
Here ! have n capillary tube. as the
white devils call II in their science"
went on WI. pointing out the glass
tube. by carefully bending Il and mr..
ranging the outlet OF the water | can
set a fire anywhere at any time |
choose"
Even while he was showing the
devllish invention TO Long Sin. his ser.
want had sought the deliberately fur.
nished apartment OF the white woman
to whom the note had been addressed.
She was an attractive young wom.
an. known as Innocent Iuez. Except
for a certain co]arseness. she strongly
resembled Elaine, both in features and
figure.
lnez turned languidly as her colorcd
maid ushered in the servant OF WI.
took the note and read il with inter.
est.
Wait" she said with n sudden &C.
cession Of energy. nodding ~ the same
time 10 her negro maid TO bring her
hat and coat. Il will go with you"
Thus n few minutes later lnez en-
tered the secret den OF WI Fang.
"Ah-this is the young woman" In.
troduced WI to Long SIN.
Carefully planning each detail down
20 the smallest possibility OF error, WI
Fang and Long Sin completed their
arrangements and. finally. with Inez
left the apartment. on the street an
automobile was waiting at the curb.
while not far away two toughs from
the neighborhood stood.
AS the Cinnamon and the woman
came out WI beckoned to the waiting
~roughnecks. "Come-get in-lively, "
he ordered.
They climbed into the car aud the
I've criminals whirled rapidly uptown.
Kennedy had often been amused ut
my never having a match when |
needed It, and II had occurred 10 him
20 devise a very novel cigarette light.
er for my benefit.
IL was simple enough, consisting OF
a small battery connected by small
wires to one OF a pair OF cum links.
One link had In It's face a very hne
wire. only a fraction OF an inch long.
To the link Craig had soldered the
wires from the battery and arranged
them 10 that they ran up under his
coat sleeve through the armhole OF the
vest TO the battery. which he carried
In his vest pocket.
He had Just completed his work
when he heard Inc coming and hastily
drew on his coat.
well what's new?" I greeted.
Nothing in particular" he replied.
"Have a cigarette?"
He handed his cigarette case 10 me
and ! took one. Then. unsuspecting.
began TO search my pockets for a
match, but. as usual. could not find
one.
At last. half mockingly. he lighted
his cigarette apparently on his cun
link.
What n~ew-fangled sort OF thing In
that" I asked In surprise.
Il thought II might amuse you" he
smiled. explaining IL arrangement as
he opened his vest and showed me
how he made the electric connection