The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-08-31
TWENTIETH EPISODE
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
WI Fang sat at table In his apart
ment, hidden behind the sQualid and
balconied exterior Of a Chinatown
tenement Before him were q glass
dish and a bottle, which contained sew
eral sticks of phosphorus immersed in
water, anS a. small capillary glass
tube.
For moment, however. he had laid
aside the strange paraphernalia and
was writing note. AS he finished he
tapped bell and silently Chinese
servant appeared in answer.
Take this letter to that white wom-
an, Inez," directed WI, adding, Give
1t to her yourself-and If 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 pair of tweezers he seized a
small stick of the phosphorus under
water and slowly brought 1t to the sur
face. Almost instantly the dangerous
element burst into fame, giving off a
dense white smoke.
Here l have capillary tube, as the
white devils call 1t In their science"
went on WI. pointing out the glass
tube. "By carefully bending 1t and ar
ranging the outlet of the water can
set a fire anywhere at any time l
choose"
Even while he was showing the
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 Inez. Except
for certain coarseness, she strongly
resembled Elaine, both in features and
figure
IneZ turned languidly as her colored
maid ushered in the servant of WI,
took the note and read 1t with inter-
est.
Wait" she said with a sudden &C.
cession of energy, nodding at the same
time to her negro maid to bring her
hat and coat. 81 will go with you"
Thus few minutes later Inez 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
to 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 and the
five criminals whirled rapidly uptown.
Kennedy had often been amused at
my never having match when
needed it, and 1t had occurred to him
to devise very novel cigarette light
er for my benefit.
It was simple enough, consisting of
small battery connected by small
wires to one of pair of cuff links.
One link had in its face a very fine
wire, only fraction of an inch long.
To the link Craig had soldered the
wires from the battery and arranged
them SO 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 me coming and hastily
drew on his coat.
well, what's newf" l greeted.
Nothing in particular" he replied.
Have cigarettef
He handed his cigarette case to me
and l 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 cuff
| link
what new-fangled sort Of thing is
that?" l asked in surprise.
IL thought 1t might amuse you." he
smiled, explaining the arrangement as
he opened his vest and showed me
how he made the electric connection
by a mere pressure of his arm. "Pll
give it to you some day"
| Naturally / was delighted by the
novelty of the thing.
Elaine was reading to Aunt jose
| phine In the library when, not long
after Wu's car slid out of the maze of
streets of Chinatown. 1t stopped few
I blocks below the Dodge house. With
Long Sin, WI got out and assisted
Inez out.
Walk up the avenue-you know the
house." he directed Inez; then, turn
ing to the roughs inside the car, add
ed You will calculate to catch up
with her directly in front Of the house.
After that, meet us Just below. around
the corner"
WI and Long Sin quickly walked
downtown again. while Inez went on
up, followed shortly by the car with
the two toughs.
Elaine had just finished the book
and laid 1t down.
Suddenly, almost underneath the IL
brary window, she heard agonizins
screams of "Helpi Helpi"
An instant later Jennings came
rushing into the library from the hall
and threw open the window to look
out.
Inez had been Just about to pass the
house when Wu's car drove up and
stopped. without warning, apparent
iy, two toughs had leaped out and
seized her.
"Oh, they're trying to kidnap that
poor grill" cried Elaine, remember
ing her own terrible experience.
Jennings was out of the door in a
moment followed by Elaine and Aunt
Josephine in a great state Of excite
! ment
| But the moment the toughs saw aid