Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-10-01


From his hiding place Kennedy
crept stealthily. He had scarcely got
within reach of WI when the alert
Chinaman seemed to sense his pres
ence. He rose swiftly and swung
around.
The two arch-enemies gazed at each
other moment silently. Each knew
it was the final. fatal encounter.
Slowly WI drew a long knife and
leaped at Kennedy, who grappled with
him. They struggled msrcilessly.
In the struggle Craig managed to
tear the torpedo out Of Wu's hands,
just as they rolled over. 1t fell on a
rock. Instantly an explosion tore a
hole in the sand, scattering the gravel
all about.
Relentlessly the combat ragged. Oux
on the wharf itself they went, right up
to the edge.
Then both went over into the water,
locked in each others viselike grip.
Even in the water they struggled
franticallly.
My search for the escaped crook
was unsuccessful.
Somehow, however, it led me across
country to a road. AS approached I
heard a car and looked up. There
were the secret service men. l called
them and stepped out of the bushes.
They stepped and jumped out Of the
car, and ran to them.
Come back with me-" urged. I'VE
found two of them. One is dead.
Craig sent me to trace the other. I've
lost the trail. Perhaps you can find 1t
for me-"
We crashed through the brush
quickly. Suddenly I heard something
that caused me to start. 1t sounded
like an explosion.
There's the place-over there"
pointed, pausing and indicating the
direction of the wharf whence had
come the explosion.
What was IT.? We did not stop q
moment, but hurried in that direction.
We reached the shore, where we
saw marks of the explosion and Of q
fight. Out on the pier l ran breath
lessly. l rushed to the very edge and
gazed over. then climbed down the
slippery piling and peered into the
black water beneath.
A few bubbles seemed to ooze up
from below. Was that all?
No, as gazed down l saw that some
dark object was there. Slowly WI
Fang's body hoated to the surface and
lay there, rocked by the waves. Deep
in his breast stuck his own knife with
its handle of the sign of the serpent!
reached down and seized him. as l
peered about for Kennedy.
There was nothing more there.
"Craig!" called desperately,
"Craig!"
There was no answer. The silence.
the echo of the tapping water under
the wharf was appalling. mocking.
/ managed to call the secret service
men, and they got WI Fang's body up
on the wharf.
But could not leave the spot.
Where was Craig? There was not q
sign of him. l could not realize it.
even when the men brought graphing
irons and began to search the black
| water.
1t was all q hideous dream. I saw
and heard, In q daze.
It was not until late that night thai
I returned to the Dodge house.
had delayed my return as long a
I could. but / knew that / must SCI
Elaine some time.
As / entered even Jennings mus
have seen that something was wrong
Elaine, who was sitting in the library
with Aunt Josephine, rose as she saw
me.
Did you get them?" Elaine asket
eagerly.
/ could not speak. She seemed II
read the tragic look on my haggart
face. and stopped.
"Why," she gasped. clu.ching at thu
desk, what is the matter?"
AFgently as l could / told her o
the chase, Of leaving Craig, of the ex
plosion. of the marks of the struggle
and Of the finding of WI Fang.
As finished ! thought she woult
faint.
"And you-you went over every
thing about the wharf,"
Everything. The men even dragged
for the"
l checked myself over the fatefu
word.
Elaine looked at me wildly. I though
that she would lose her reason. Sh'
did not cry. The shock was too grea
for that.
| Suddenly I remembered the note
Before l left him-the last time,"
blurtedy out. "he wrote a note-to you.
l pulled the crumpled paper from
my pocket and Elaine almost tore 1
from me-the last word from him
and read:
Dearest-I may not return until tn
case 10 settled and ! have found en-
stolen torpedo. Matters involving mil
lions Of lives and billions Of dollar
hang on the plot back Of t. No mai
ter what happens. have no fear. Trus
me. Lovingly, CRAIG.
She finished reading the note an
slowly laid It down. Then she pickle
1t up and read 1t again. Slowly sh
turned to me.
"He told me to trust him and Z
have no fear" she said simply. griI
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