The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-07-23

! resting on the aItef caDln ROOT Wheu
one of the men reached down and from
a small wooden cage took a struggling
white carrier pigeon. They fastened
the note, rolled up in a sort of quill, to
the birds leg and let the bird loose It
circled up, then, straight as an arrow
darted of landward.
They'll be glad to know we're safe
and so near" nodded Gregor. And
confound any revenue men that stand
between u.s."
In a room in a tenement WI Fang
and several Cinnamon were steated
talking and smoking,
Outside a nearby window was a
large box which had a small sliding
door on the outside, arranged so that
It fell almost at a touch, working a
little signal flag on the back of the
box toward the room in which the
| Cinnamon we're seated
Suddenly there was futter of
wings outside, A pure-white pigeon
seemed to glide into the box and,
as the homing bird did so, the door
automatically shut II was a cage
such as is used for carrier pigeons.
The ii;tle flag in the room moved. and
the Cinnamon crowded about the box
as Wa opened II, reached in and caught
the bird. Carefully he took the mes
sage from the birds foot AS one of
them placed the bird in another box
aud reset the trap, WI unrolled the
paper and read:
Twenty-six miles southeast Of Sandy
Hook. Will drop anchor off Staten
Island tonight.
"You will let me know if any later
message comes" directed WI to one
of his men as, a moment later, the
Chinese master criminal left the tene-
ment.
Cautiously he made his way to the
secret entrance to his own apartment.
He had scarcely entered when a China
man who had evidently been waiting
for him rose and bowed. 1t was Hop
Ling, the proprietor of the opium den.
is there any news yet, master?" he
asked.
Yes, Gregor is landing your opium
tonight. I'll have a girl for him to
take back to Shanghai with him,
where she can be sold"
Kennedy had begun to get closer on
the trail of WI and, having dispatched
me to Elaine with the wireless tele-
phone, 1t occurred to him that he might
spend a few hours profitably sleuthing
about Chinatown searching for clews
to the Serpent.
He donned the toughest of his old
suits and turned his coat collar up,
while an old slouch hat was pulled
over his eyes. But it was not so far
over as to dim his sight
He paused once by an electric light
pole to watch a gangster saunter past.
Twice the fellow had walked up and
down the street
As the gangster slouched by, he
lurched over to the electric light pole,
and Kennedy felt his hand touched by
that of the gangster. He was more
than surprised to feel something like
a piece of cardboard surreptitiously
showed into his hand, and he clutched
it. The gangster passed, and, as he
did so, Kennedy looked at him, then
bent over and read:
Capt. John Brainard,
U. S. Secret Service.
Written underneath the engraved
name was Follow"
Slowly Craig followed. Brainard en-
tered saloon by a side door and seat
ed himself in a back room A mo-
ment later Kennedy slouched in and |
sat down at the same table. Brainard |
nodded and Craig extended his hand |
quietly. He looked about. They were
alone
What brings you down here?" asked |
Kennedy in low tone.
"a big shipment of opium is going
to be landed tonight and I'm trying to
locate the Chinese gang back of it.
Think you can help me?"
Anything to do with that hop joint
up the street,"
Brainard nodded. Would it prove
clue possibly to WI Fang?
"Tll help you," agreed Kennedy.
For several minutes they talked, lay
ing out plan Finally they paid the
check and rose to go out. AS they
reached the side door a Chinaman
passed. Kennedy drew Brainard back.
Whats the matter?" whispered the
secret service man.
did you see that Chinaman?" re-
urned Kennedy That's Hop Ling.
lie runs the opium joint. / think he
s worth shadowing."
Keeping discreetly in the rear Of the
Jhinaman, Kennedy and Brainard fol-
owed until Hop paused before a ram
jhackle tenement. No sooner had he
inside than Craig and
3rainard advanced, careful that they
n turn we're not followed.
They entered and went upstairs. At
asst they came to door outside which
hey paused to listen.
Can you make out what they are
aying?" asked Brainard.
Something about BIRDS" returned
'raig. We've got them. There are
My two. Let's rush the door"
Together they catapulted them