The Monticellonian., 1915-08-05

"A note of some kind that he dropped" replied Craig, passing over to me the paper h. had picked up.
 read in English:
 "See what he is doing and report to me in the basement below 116 Mott street"
 Beneath the few words, evidently orders, was that mystic sign of the serpent-the mark of the arch-crim- inal. Wu Fang.
 Its a cl,Ie. Craig" I exclaimed. For moment Craig said nothing, as he turned to go back into the laboratory. For some time he con tinued to study the note, as though revolving something in his mind. Whatever it is," he remarked at length, I'm going to look into it, anyhow. While I'm gone, Walter, wish you'd just go around and see if Elaine is all right
 
 At last Kennedy sauntered in cas- ually to the hop joint on Mott street, his collar still up and his hat still over his eyes.
 He lounged across the floor among the smokers and picked out a bunk while Hop Sing, the proprietor, brought him pipe. Kennedy pretend ed to light it. but in reality did not.
 In the back room. by this time, Inez had completed her disguise by placing on her head the wig and had given the little finishing touches to her makeup. Wu was giving final instruc- tions to Long Sin and the rest, and the four Chinamen ranged themselves in groups of two on either side of the door
 Finally Wu paused and whispered something to Inez. Then both he and Long Sin seized two glass globes that stood on the table. They raised them high over their heads and smashed them on the floor, at the same time stamping their feet terrifically. Inez | screamed as if a murder were being committed
 Outside in the den Kennedy heard the scream and the crashing of glass, mufIied by the door. He strengthened up in his bunk, now all attention.
 Was it some white woman calling 1 for help in this sinkhole of iniquity?
 The door flew open. Sure enough, a woman appeared, still screaming. It was only for an instant and she did not even get across the threshold. With low guttural exclamation, Long Sin pulled her back into the room and slammed the door she had opened.
 It was all done so quickly that Ken nedy could catch only the most feet l ing glimpse of her clothes and face. But that glimpse was enough
 It parently-Elaine
 Craig sprang up instantly, drawing his revolver, and threw himself against the door. recollecting the warning message that had come through the mail. The door yielded and he rushed through. fn an instant the four Chinamen erouching on either side leaned on him.
 The struggle was terrific. He doWned two and seemed in a fair way to win against even such odds. when the disguised Inez turned. with meeking laugh, pulling off both the hat and wig.
 Kennedy's amazement gave the Chinamen a chance. Before he real ized it in his complete surprise, he
 
 there just long enough for Long Sin to wind a rope around him, binding his arms legs and body to the post.
 Then Wu Fang walked over before him and faced him
 Come over here. m dear" he called to fnez. Let me introduce Prof Craig Kennedy to you-Innocent IneZ.
 By the way he went on to Inez, 1 'how did you leave the real Elaine?"
 Inez looked at her watch She is locked in her attic" she replied with evident enjoyment The house will start to burn by spontaneous combus- tion in exactly twenty minutes" Upstairs in the attic of the Dodge house Elaine. in the queer chair, was just recovering a bit from the effects of the vapor.
 Still as the minutes heightened she began to breathe more regularly as the stupefying effects of the vapor wore off, and was just beginning to move her head in the first unconscious endeavors to grasp at consciousness.
 It must have been just at this point that. following Kennedy's instructions, I arrived at Elane's house.
 As Jennings led me into the library I was met by Aunt Josephine.
 Craig has gone off on a clue" I explained. "and has asked me to drop in to see how things are Is Elaine all right? ?e
 Why. haven't seen her for an hour or more" answered Aunt Josephine 'I think she must have gone out Won't you sit down."
 There was nothing else to do On the chance that she might come back, sat down, considerably worried now, about the note and her absence.
 Upstairs. if we had only known it, Elaine had now regained conscious ness
 Worse than that. the time was up for the water to be drained off the | phosphorus.
 As the last drop was siphoned of the vessel by the capillary tube, the deadly element seemed to burst into 1 flames and white fumes. Instantly the