The Monticellonian., 1915-08-12

as she almost ran toward him. I'm so glad you"
 She stopped short as Craig motioned to her to be silent She did not under stand. and for the moment stopped nonplused, as he picked up a pencil and began to write on 8 pad instead of meeting her advance. An instant later her mobile face looked up at him in wonder as she read:
 Every word we say is being over heard through a detectaphone in the wall. Don't be surprised at anything I say.''
 Then he walked deliberately over 10 the wall near which the instrument was concealed and leaned down to in- sure his words being heard distinctly by those listening.
 s'I am going over to the laboratory for an hour" he said in loud, dis tinct tone. Jameson, will you escort miss Dodge homer"
 Why. certainly" I replied with alacrity.
 4 moment later we all left the room, chatting in forced tones about a hun dred inconsequential things. Craig banged the door.
 But before we left he reached into his pocket and took out the flask and atomizer which I had seen him place there. He poured the contents of the flask on the rug.
 accompanied Elaine to her car and We drove away while Kennedy left the apartment on foot.
 
 Downstairs, Wu Fang bad been lis tening at the other end of the detecta- phone.
 Their attention was soon at fever heat when Elaine entered our rooms. Wu. Long Sin and the others listened breathlessly.
 The Chinamen waited until they board us go out. Wu then handed Long Sin vial and a key. You un- derstand?"
 Yes. master" nodded Long Sin with an evil leer.
 He hastily climbed the stairs from the cellar to our apartment. For a few seconds he stood on the rug as he inserted the skeleton key in the lock Then, swinging the door open cautiously he entered. He looked about a minute. The apartment was empty.
 Slowly Long Sin walked over to the l table and began examining the articles on it. Finally he picked up Kennedys pipe, and again his inscrutable face lighted with diabolical joy.
 He took the vial quickly from his pocket and, with small, soft brush painted the mouthpiece of the pipe with the liquid from the vial.
 He laid the pipe down as he found 1t and beat hasty retreat.
 
 We had scarcely lime to drive to Elaine's house when a message reached us from Kennedy directing us to return and meet him several squares below our apartment Ne did so immediately There was Kennedy with Chase and three or four policeman.
 "In ten minutes I want you to raid the apartment, he said, looking at his watch T am going in there now
 He entered the building and, as he opened our own door. drew a gun, kicking sthe door open and retreating step. No one was there and he went in
 Craig looked about moment. On the surface. nothing had been dis turbed He went through the bed rooms. Nothing was disturbed there. Slowly he went back again to the doorway all the time careful not to step on the rug. Starting near it, he began spraying the floor with the atomizer.
 It was one of his own inventions. which he called a "photo-mat.'
 As the spray fell on the carpet and hardwood it developed Long Sins foot prints exactly.
 Carefully Kennedy followed them as the chemicals brought them out. Long Sin had not walked around the room much, evidently, as Craig ad vaneed slowly along the floor, still spraying As each step came out it was apparent that Long Sin had done little else but go to the table and then leave.
 Craig looked at the table moment There seemed to be nothing on it that would attract man of Long Sins tall ents Mechanically. Craig picked up his pipe lying there and looked at it coutemplatiyely He sniffed at the mouthpiece There was a peachstone smell
 Cyanide" he muttered to himself under his breath, laying the pipe down gingerly.
 For a moment he thought, then sudden impulse seemed to seize him His mind was made up. He moved closer to the marked baseboard. Sud denly he uttered sharp cry.
 "Hello-central! Help. Help. I'm poisonedi"
 At the same time he struck the wall blow as though he were falling.
 
 Down in the cellar the six China men looked at each other in unfeigned delight as they heard the call for help. Quickly Wu pulled the detectaphone receiver off his head.
 "Here-take this" he ordered Long Sin, handing him paper which he drew from under his blouse
 Long Sin took it and looked at it with a smile of satisfaction. He un- derstood On the paper was drawn Wu's sign of the serpent, with fangs striking viciously and victoriously.
 Reckoning to another of the China