Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-08-10

to me the paper he had picked up.
read in English:
"see what he is doing and seport TO
me in the basement below f16 Mott
street.
Beneath the few words. evidently
orders, was that mystic sign of the
serpent-the mark of the arch-crim-
inal. WI Fang.
TITS a clue. Craig," exclaimed.
For a 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 1t 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 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 WI was giving final instruc-
tions to Long Sin and the rest. and
the four Cinnamon ranged themselves
in groups of two on either side of the
door.
Finally WI 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 IL a murder were being
committed.
Outside in the den Kennedy heard
the scream and the crashing of glass,
muff1ed by the door. He Strengthened
up in his bunk, now all attention.
Was it some white woman calling
for help in this sinkhole of iniquity?
The door few open. Sure enough, a
woman appeared. still screaming.
1t was only for an instant and she
did not even get across the threshold.
With a low CULTURAL exclamation,
Long Sin pulled her back into the
room and slammed the door she had
opened.
1t was all done so quickly that Ken
nedy could catch only the most fleet
ing glimpse of her clothes and face.
But that glimpse was enough.
1t was-apparently-
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. In an instant the four
Cinnamon crouching on either side
leaped on him.
The struggle was terrific. He
downed two and seemed in fair way
to win against even such odds, when
the disguised Inez turned. with a
hooking laugh, pulling of both the
hat and wig
Kennedy's amazement gave the
Cinnamon a chance Before he real
lied it, in his complete surprise, he
was forced back on the post and held
there just long enough for Long Sin
to wind rope around him, binding
his arms, legs and body to the post.
Then WI Fang walked over before
him and faced him.
Come over here, my dear" he
called to Inez. Let me introduce
Prof. Craig Kennedy to you-Innocent
Inez.
by the way" he went on to Inez,
"how did you leave the real Elaine?"
Inez looked at her watch. She is
locked in her attic" she replied with
evident enjoyment. 1.-The house will
start to burn by spontaneous combus-
ton 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 Supplying effects of the vapor
wore off. and was just beginning to
move her head in the first unconscious
endeavors to grasp at consciousness.
1t must have been just at this point
that, following Kennedy's instructions.
| arrived at Elaine's house
AS Jennings led me into the library
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?"
why, haven't seen her for an hour
or more" answered Aunt Josephine.
Il 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, IL 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 siphcned of
the vessel by the capillary tube, the
deadly element seemed to burst into
flames and white fumes. Instantly the
dry tinderlike excelsior and other stuff
caught fire.
Helpless, tied to the post, Kennedy
had not ceased struggling to free him
self, though without avail
Suddenly an idea occurred to him.
He gazed down at his hands and
wrists Suppose they were not free?
Was there no way to use them?