Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-09-24

then fall back at the number. "Ons'
Two?" went on KENNEDY.
Tbs needle scarcely oscillated.
"Three-four-lve," came slowly.
Inez's face, though we could not se<
1t, was tense and set. She seemed de
termined not to betray q thing. YET
the harder she tried to control the out
ward expression of her feelings the
more she betrayed herself by the In
ward blood pressure which the uncan
ny little instrument before us 70
corded.
AS Kennedy kept on counting the
indicator slowly, but steadily, rosa
registering her suppressed emotions
Elaine and I watched the dial, bending
| over It with intense interest.
Outside in the hall, WI had again
come to the laboratory door. This
time he drew out his key and softly
opened 1t and entered. For a moment
he stood confronting Inez, alone in the
chair. Quickly he raised his finger
to his lips. indicating silence.
Kennedy kept on counting. As he
neared the right number WI drew q
revolver and raised it high over his
head. Twice he shot into the air.
Suddenly. just before the shots, the
dial had unaccountably jumped ten
or dozen points. What did 1t mean?
held 1t up and Kennedy looked at 1t
In wonder. He was about to take q
step toward the laboratory when the
pistol shots rang out. The dial hand
fell back to zero!
We rushed into the laboratory. Inez
lay back in the chair. apparently dead.
Not a soul was in sight, but the hall
door was open.
Come on" shouted Kennedy, hurry
Ing out into the hall, as / was about
to stop before Inez.
followed and Elaine came along
after me. pausing at the door to watch
US run down the hall.
Slowly q cabinet under the labora-
tory table back of her swung open,
and the evil, murderous face of the
Chinese master criminal appeared
from the refuge to which he had
dropped after the shots which he
had fired to brighten Inez. Silently he
crept toward Elaine. standing with her
back to him.
With one powerful movement he
swept Elaine back into the laboratory
and to the floor and slammed the
door, locking it. Another instant and
he ran to Inez and unfastened her.
She had merely tainted and was now
coming to.
Down the hall we had discovered no
one when suddenly we heard the stl
fed scream of Elaine. Back we rushed
to the door. But it was locked and
damned.
WI had finished releasing Inez BY
this time and, with her, rushed into
the back room. Az he did so Elaine
managed to get to her feet and fol-
low In time to see WI smash the win
dow to the fire-escape with q chair
and half shove Inez through to safety.
He was about to follow when he
spied the sphygmograph and seized It.
That brought him face to face with
Elaine. She snatched the record from
him. With an oath he struggled with
her for II.
BY this time Kennedy and I had
forced the door and were in the out
sr laboratory.
WI had bent Elaine back over the
table and had drawn Q long knife. Az
be poised 1t over her he heard as
coming. Our shouts seemed to give
Elaine redoubled strength. She broke
away just as WI stabbed furiously,
Ind the knife point was detected by |
he sphygmograph.
There was not an instant to lose,
md WI fairly dived out of the win
low. As we rushed in Kennedy |
'aused to reassure himself Of Elaine's
safety, but I plunged after WI, my
'evolver drawn.
Wildly shot down from the WIN
low at his retreating form. He had
almost reached the ground when
aw him stagger and fall the rest of
he way. One Of my shots had taken
Meet. but l had used them all.
started after him. But a. he
lid the last two or three steps into
heap on the ground, Inez caught him
a her arms. Half supporting, half
'ulling. she managed to assist the
lazed and wounded criminal along.
It the curb was . closed car, with .
river. waiting. She showed him In
nd tumbled in after him herself, -
he car moved swiftly away.
BY this time I had reached the
round and reloaded my gun a. l
An along. fred several shots. But,
hough / struck the car, I don't think
did any damage, for It continued to
ain speed. The chase was hopeless.
nd I stopped. disguised.
Back in the laboratory, - returned
trough the window, I saw that the
train had been too much for Elaine.
low that 1t was over. she had faint
4 and Kennedy was just bringing her
round.
"Confound him." I exclaimed. II
ounded him. but the girl got him
way from us again."
Oh" murmured Elaine, family
atching my words, Il heard the
lots. I was hoping you had ended
all this time"
For the moment, In his relief ct See
q Elaine still safe. Kennedy seemed
have fOr0Otfau ali s1out Uvu NJ