The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-04-16

Were getting up this movement 10
help the Belgians and we have SPLEEN
did backing Just let me show you
some OF the names on our commit
tee"
She handed Elaine a list.
1--WE Just been sent to see II can
not persuade you to join the commit
tee and attend meeting at Mrs. Riv-
erton's," she went on.
"Why--er," considered Elaine,
thoughtfully, "er-yes. It must be
all right with such people in it."
Can you go down with me now?"
"Just as well as later" agreed
Elaine.
They went .out together, and as
they were leaving the house a man
who had been lettering outside looked
at Elaine, then fixedly at her compan-
ion.
No sooner had they gone than he
sped OF to a car waiting around the
corner. In the dark depths was sin
lister figure, the master criminal HIM
self. The watcher had been an en-
issary Of the Clutching Hand.
"Chief," he whispered eagerly, you
know Adventurous Mary? Well, she's
got Elaine Dodge in fowl"
THE deuce!" cried Clutching Hand
"Then we must teach Mary Carson,
or whoever she is working for, des-
son. No one shall interfere with our
affairs. Follow them!"
Elaine and Mary had gone down
town, talking misunderstanding
down the avenue toward Mrs. Riving-
tons apartment.
Meanwhile, Wong Sin, still in his
| Chinese costume, was explaining to
another male servant just what he
wished done, pointing out the dagger
on the wall and placing the bladder
under his jacket. A box of opium
was on the table, and he was Civ
ing most explicit directions. 1t was
into such a web that Elaine was be-
ing unwittinly led by Mary
Entering the hallway of the apart
ment, Mary rang the bell.
The servant opened the door and
Elaine and Mary entered He closed
the door and almost before they knew
it was gone into the back room.
Elaine gazed about it in trepdiation.
But before she could say anything,
Mary, with great show of surprise,
exclaimed why, ! must have made
mistake. This isn't Mrs. Riving-
toms apartment. How stupid OF me-
They looked at each other a mo-
ment. Then each laughed nervously
as together they started to go out OF
the door. II was locked!
Quickly they ran to another door
1t was locked also.
Just then the Chinaman entered and
stood moment gazing at them. They
turned and Elaine recoiled from him
Wong bowed.
"Oh, sir cried Mary. we've made
mistake. Can't you tell us how tc
: get out?"
, mo speke Englis," he said, Gid
, ing out again from the room anc
closing the door.
| Elaine and Mary looked about ii
| despair.
r What shall we do?" asked Elaine
' Mary said nothing, but with hast,
a glance discovered on the wall thu
knife which Wong had already tolt
J. | her about. She took 1t from its scab
{ bard. AS she did so the Chinaman re
turned with a tray on which were queel
|, drinks and glasses.
{ At the sight of Mary with the knife
he scowled blackly, laid down thu
I tray, and took few steps in her di
rection. She brandished the knit
threateningly; then, as If her nerv
failed her, tainted, letting the knit
fall carefully on the floor SO that !
struck on the handle, and not Cd tn
blade.
II Wong quickly caught her as sh
tainted and carrying her out OF th
room. banged shut the door. Elain
followed in a moment, loyalty to PR
tect her supposed friend, but foun
that the door had snap lock on tn
other side.
She looked about wildly, and in
4 moment Wong reappeared. AS he az
vanced slowly and insinuatingly. sh
drew back, pleading. But her word
fell on seemingly deaf ears.
! She had picked up the knife whic
Mary had dropped, and when at Las
Wong Unanswered to get her cornere
4 and was about to seize her, she nerve
L herself up and stabbed at him res
y lutely.
Wong staggered back-and fell.
4 AS he did so, he pressed II
q bladder which he had already place
4 under his coat. A dark red fiui
like blood, oozed out all over him al
a ran in a pool on the floor.
d Elaine, too horror-stricken at VIII
had happened even to scream, dropp'
y the knife and bent over him. He d
\ not move. She rose quickly and RI
y through the now open door. AS s
!. did 50, Wong seemed suddenly to cor
" to life. He raised himself and look
as after her, then with subtle sml
sank back into his former assum
an posture on the floor.
re- When Elaine reached the other roc