The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-12

With an angry snarl the Clutching
Hand leaped at me.
AS he did so l fired twice.
He staggered back.
The shots were heard by Kennedy
end Elaine as well as the secretary,
and at the same instant they discov-
cred the iron door which barred the
entrance to the secretary's Office.
Rushing into the outer Office they
found the clerks excitedly attempting
office, which was locked. Kennedy
drew a revolver and shot through the
lock. bursting open the door.
They rushed into the room.
Clutching Hand was apparently seat
ed in chair at a desk, his face bur
led in his arms, while 1 was appar-
emily disappearing through the door.
Kennedy and the clerks pounced
upon the figure in the chair and tore
OF his mark To their establishment
they discovered 1t was myself!
My shots had missed, and Clutching
Hand had leaped on me with mad
dened fury
Dressed In my coat and hat, which
he had deftly removed after overpow-
ering me, Clutching Hand had by this
time climbed through the window of
the outer office and was making his
He reached the foot of the iron steps,
leaped off and ran quickly away.
Shouting few directions to the sec
rotary, the clerks and Elaine, Kennedy
climbed through the window and dart
ed down the fire escape in swift pur-
suit.
+ The Clutching Hand, however, man
aged to elude capture again.
While these exciting events were
occurring in Benefits Office some
queer doings were in progress in the
heart of Chinatown.
Deep underground, in one of the
most members of the Chinese secret
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
tons, 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 a long lad
der and walked into the room.
Approaching Tong Wah, he asked.
When will the death drink be
ready?"
at 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: 81 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 moment Bennett glared saw
agely at Long Sin.
Il possess hidden plumber worth
seven million dollars" he pleaded
quickly. "and if by your aid can make
a getaway, seventh is yours"
The Chinaman's cupidity 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 a 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 tC
escape?" asked Bennett huskily
Without a word Long Sin went t.
the wall. and, grasping one of the
stones, pressed it back, opening {
large receptacle, in which there were
two glass collins apparently contain
ing two dead Cinnamon. Pulling ou
the collins. he pushed them before
Bennett, who rose to his feet anC
gazed upon them with wonder
Long Sin broke the silence: "Thest
men," he said. ARE not dead; but the.
have been in this condition for man!
months. 1t is what is called in you
language suspended animation"
as that what you intend to do Will
me?" asked Bennett, shrinking back IL
terror.
The Chinaman nodded in affirmation
as he pushed back the collins.
Overcome by the horror of the ide;
Bennett. with a groan, sank back int
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 a shrug o
his shoulders Long Sin pointed to thu
cup from which Bennett had drank.
But, dear master" he remarke,
suayely. "you have already drank
full dose of the potion which cause
insensibility. and it is overcoming you
Even now" he added. you are to-
weak to rise"
With a malicious chuckle Long Sit
moved closer to his victim and spok
again.
''Divulge where your seven million
dollars are hidden" he suggests
craftily. land will give you an ant
dote."
BY this time Bennett. who was be