Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-06-19
Eighteenth EPISODE
THE VENGEANCE or WI FANG.

THE VENGEANCE or WI FANG.
Elaine was still in the power of w,
Fang. Kennedy had thwarted the
Chinese master criminal in his search
for the millions amassed by the
Clutching Hand But any Joy that he
might have derived from this success
was completely obscured by the feal
that WI might wreak some diabolical
vengeance on Elaine.
Nor were Kennedy's fears unfounded
WI and Long Sin had scarcely reach
ed the secret apartment when the
subtle Chinaman began to contem.
plate revenge.
Long Sin was smoking a Chinese
pipe, resting after their hurried fight,
while WI, the tireless, was seated at
table at the other end of the room.
At last WI Fang took up a long Chi
nese dirk from the table before him.
looked at 1t, turned 1t over, felt its
edge. He rose and deliberately walked
across to a door leading into back
room
On couch lay Elaine, and with her,
as guardian, was Weepy Mary,
AS WI, the Serpent, entered and
advanced slowly toward Elaine, she
crouched back from him in deadly
fear.
Slowly he drew from under his robe
the Chinese dirk. He felt the edge Of
1t again and gazed Significantly at
Elaine.
It was critical moment.
Just then Long Sin entered. "One
OF the five millions waits outside" he
reported simply, with bow.
WI understood. 1t had been a pleas
ant fiction of his that although he did
not, of course, absolutely control such
a stupendous organization, he could,
by his subtle power, force almost un-
limited allegiance from the simple
coolies in that district of China from
which he came.
Out in the front room, just mo-
ment before, knock at the door had
disturbed Long Sin, and a Chinese
servant had announced visitor. Long
Sin had waved to the servant to usher
him in, and poorly clad coolie had
entered.
He bowed as Long Sin faced him.
Where is the master?" he had asked
Long Sin had not deigned to speak.
With mere wave of his hand he in
dicated that he would be the bearer
of the message, and had followed WI |
through the door of the back room.
So, almost by chance, WI was inter
rupted In the brutal vengeance which |
had first come to his mind. He
sheathed the knife and, still without |
3 word, went back into the main room,
giving nod to Weepy Mary to guard
Elaine closely.
WI eyed the coolie until the new
,omer could almost feel the masters
gaze, although his head
was bowed In awe. Quickly the coolie
thrust his hand under his blouse and
rev forth package. With another
low he advanced.
For your enemies, o MASTER he
aid, handing the package over to
WI.
The coolie started to open the pack
ge, removed the paper wrapper, and
hen silk wrapping inside. Finally
10 came to box, from which he drew
leather pouch, each operation con-
ncted with greater care as 1t became
vident that the contents were espe-
tally precious in some way. Then he
ook from the pouch small vial.
What Is it?' demanded WI Fang,
s the coolie displayed it.
The coolie draw forth now a magni-
wing glass and glass slide. Opening
he vial with great care he shook
omething out on the slide, then
laced 1t under the lens.
Look" he said simply.
WI bent over and looked. Under
he lens what had formerly seemed to
e merely black speck of dirt be-
anne now one of the most weird and
ncanny little creatures to be found in
Il the realm of nature. 1t seemed to
Q all legs and feelers moving at once.
normal person would have looked
! the creature only with the greatest
,pugnance. WI regarded 1t with a ,
,rt of unholy fascination.
"And 1t is?" he queried.
"What the white man calls the Afri- !
In tick which carries the recurrent
ver," answered the coolie deferen- =
ally. ;
A flash of intense exultation seemed :
darken WI Fang's sinister face. ,
SWAT" he said to the coolie, az no !
= - - a. D. e .