The Monticellonian., 1915-06-17

'sWhy-he rang of, she exclaimed angrily to herself. as she hung up the receiver and left the room.
 
 In the center of a devious and wind ing way. quite unknown to all except | those who knew the innermost secrets of the Chinese quarter. and even un- known to the police. there was dingy i tenement house, apparently inhabited | by hard-werking Chinamen, but in re- | ality the headquarters of the notori- ous devil worshipers. a sect of satan ists. banned even in the Celestial em. pire, The followers of the cult comprised some of the most dangerous Chinese criminals, thugs and assassins. be sides number of dangerous charac- ters who belonged to various Chinese secret societies. At the head of this formidable organization was Long Sin, the high priest of the devil god. and Long Sin had, as We know. already Joined forces with the notorious 6iatehing Hand.
 The room in which the uneanny rites Of the devil worshipers were conduct ed was a large apartment decorated in Chinese style. with highly eolored DOT traits of some of the devil deities and costly silken hangings. Beside large dais depended huge Chinese gong.
 On the dais itself stood, or rather sat. an ugly figure covered with some sort of metallic plating. It almost seemed to be the mummy of a China man covered with gold leaf.
 Into this room came Long Sin at tired in an elaborate silken robe He advanced and kotowed before the dais with it's strange figure, and laid down an offering before it.
 This performance was witnessed by twenty or thirty Chinamen who knelt in the rear of the room.
 At the same time an aged Chinaman carrying prayer wheel entered the place and, after prostrating himself devoutly, placed the machine on sort of low stool or tabourette and began turning it slowly. muttering.
 A few moments later Long Sin, who had been lowing before the metallic figure in deepest reverence. suddenly sprang to his feet. His glazed eye and excited manner indicated that he had received message from the lips of the strange god.
 The worshipers who had prostrated themselves, in awe at the sight of their high priest in the unholy frenzy. all rose to their feet and crowded for ward
 Long Sin struck several blows on the resounding gong and then raised his voice in solemn tones.
 Ksing Chau, the Terrible, demands a eonsort. She is to be foreign-fair of face and with golden hair
 
 At the same time, in room of the adjoining house, the Clutching Hand himself was busily engaged in mak- ing the most elaborate preparations for some nefarious scheme which his fertile mind had evolved.
 The room had been fitted up as a mediums seance parlor.
 Two of the Clutehing Hands most trusted confederates and hard-faced woman of middle age, dressed in plain black, were putting the finishing touches to this apartment. when their chief entered.
 Clutching Hand gazed about the room, now and then giving an order or two to make more effective the setting for the purpose which he had in mind.
 Finally he nodded in approval and stepped over to the fireplace where logs were burning brightly in a grate.
 Pressing spring in the mantelpiece, the master criminal effected an instant transformation. The logs in the fire place, still burning, disappeared imme diately through the bottom of the brick tiling and metal sheet covered them. An aperture opened at the back, as if by magic.
 Through this opening Clutching Hand made his way quickly and dis appeared.
 Emerging on the other side of the peculiar fireplace, Clutehing Hand pushed aside curtain which barred the way and looked into the Chinese temple, taking up a position behind the metallic figure on the dais.
 The Chinamen had by this time fin ished their deyotions, if such they might be called, and the last one was leaving, while Long Sin stood alone on the dais.
 The noise of the departing satanists had scarcely died away when Clutch ing Hand stepped out.
 Follow me-" he ordered hoarsely, seizing Long Sin by the arm and lead ing him away.
 They passed through the passage way of the fireplace and. having en- tered the seance room, Clutching Hand began briefly explaining the purpose of the preparations that had been made. Long Sin wagged his head in voluble approval.
 
 Elaine was standing in the library gazing sadly at Kennedys portrait, thinking over recent events and above all the rebuff over the telephone which she supposed she had received. been prisoner there. the details of |.