The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1915-07-02

nOSL meuDeIS VI tuo SuiuoSS SCSiOS
societies, was Tong Wah, popularity
known as "the hider," engaged in
some mysterious work.
Before him were eight odd-shaped
Chinese walls, and from these he was
carefully measuring certain proper
tions, as If concocting some powerful
potion.
He stepped back and looked around
suspiciously as he suddenly heard
footsteps above. The next moment
Long Sin, who had entered through a
trap door, climbed down long lad
der and walked into the room.
Approaching Tong Wah, he asked.
when will the death drink be
ready?"
"It is now prepared" was the re-
ply.
A few minutes later the Clutching
Hand drove up to Long Sins house in
the taxicab and, after paying the
chauffeur, went to the door and
knocked sharply.
In response to his knocking, Long
| Sin appeared on the threshold and mo-
toned to Bennett to come in, evident.
ly astonished to see him.
AS he entered, Bennett made a Sc
cret sign and said: Il am the Clutch
ing Hand. Kennedy is close on my
trail, and / have come to be hidden"
In tone which betrayed alarm and
fear the Chinaman intimated that he
had no place in which Bennett could
be concealed with any degree of safety.
For a moment Bennett glared saw
agely at Long Sin.
81 possess hidden plumber worth
seven million dollars" he pleaded
quickly, land if by your aid l can make
a getaway, a seventh is yours"
The Chinaman's cupidty was clear
ly excited by BENEFITS offer, while the
bare mention of the amount at stake
was sufficient to overcome all his
scruples.
After exchanging a few words he
finally agreed to aid the Clutching
Hand. Opening a trap door in the
floor of the room in which they were
standing, he led Bennett down a STEP
ladder into the subterranean chamber
in which Tong Wah had so recently
been preparing his mysterious potion.
AS Bennett sank into chair and
passed his hands over his brow in
utter WEAKNESS, Long Sin poured into
a cup some of the liquor of death
which Tong Wah had mixed. He hand
ed it to Bennett, who drank it eagerly.
"How do you propose to help me to
escape?" asked Bennett huskily.
Without a word Long Sin went to
the wall, and, grasping one of the
stones, pressed it back, opening a
large receptacle in which there were
two glass collins apparently contain
ing two dead Cinnamon. Pulling out
the collins, he pushed them before
Bennett, who rose to his feet and
gazed upon them with wonder.
Long Sin broke the silence: These
men," he said ARE not dead; but they
have been in this condition for many
months. 1t is what is called in your
language suspended animation"
''Is that what you intend to do with
me-" asked Bennett, shrinking back in
terror.
The Chinaman nodded in affirmation
as he pushed back the collins.
Overcome by the horror of the idea
Bennett, with a groan, sank back into
the chair, shaking his head as If to in
dictate that the plan was far too ter
rible to carry out.
With sinister smile and shrug of
CHI 70 he
cup from which Bennett had drank.
''But, dear MASTER" he remarked
suavely, "you have already drank
full dose of the potion which causes
insensibility, and it is overcoming you.
Even now" he added, you are too
weak to rise"
With a malicious chuckle Long Sin
moved closer to his victim and spoke
again.
"Divulge where your seven million
| dollars are hidden" he suggested
craftily, land l will give you an anti
dote."
By this time Bennett, who was be-
coming more rigid each moment, was
unable to speak
| OlOWIy, anu dlIeT a desperate SLruS-
gle, he managed to raise one hand
and pointed to his breast pocket
The Chinaman instantly thrust in his
hand and drew out a map.
For some moments Long Sin exam
ined the map intently, and, with a grin
of satisfaction, he placed it in his own
pocket. Then he mixed what he de-
clared was sure antidote, and, pour
ing some of the liquor into a cup, he
held it to Benefits lips.
AS Bennett opened his mouth to
drink it, Long Sin with laugh slowly
pulled the cup away and poured its
contents on the floor.
BY this time / was slowly recovering
my senses in the secretary's Office,
where Bennett had left me in the dis
guise of the Clutching Hand. Elaine,
the secretary and the clerks we're
gathered around me, doing all they
| could to revive me