The Monticellonian., 1915-08-26
then fall back at the number, One "Two?" went on Kennedv.
 Ths needle scarcely oscillated.

"Three-four-fiye came slowly.
 Inez's face, though we could not see it, was tense and set. She seemed de- termined not to betray thing. Yet l the harder she tried to control the out ward expression of her feelings the more she betrayed herself by the in- ward blood pressure which the uncan- nv little instrument before us re- corded.
 As Kennedy kept on counting the indicator slowly, but steadily. rose. registering her suppressed emotions Elaine and I watched the dial, bending over it with intense interest. Outside in the hall, Wu had again come to the laboratory door. This | time he drew out his key and softly opened it and entered. For moment he stood confronting Inez, alone in the chair. Quickly he raised his finger to his lips, indicating silence.
 Kennedy kept on counting. As he neared the right number Wu drew a revolver and raised it high over his head. Twice he shot into the air.
 Suddenly, just before the shots, the dial had unaccountably jumped ten or a dozen points. What did it mean? I held it up and Kennedy looked at 1t in wonder. He was about to take a step toward the laboratory when the pistol shots rang out. The dial hand 1 fell back to Zeroi
 | We rushed into the laboratory. lnez 1 lay back in the chair apparently dead. | Not a soul was in sight, but the hall door was open.
 Come on" shouted Kennedy, hurry ing out into the hall. as l was about to stop before Inez.
 I followed and Elaine came along after me, pausing at the door to watch us run down the hail.
 Slowly cabinet under the labora- tory table back of her swung open, and the evil, murderous face of the | Chinese master criminal appeared | from the refuge to which he had dropped after the shots which he 1 had fired to frighten Inez. Silently he crept toward Elaine, standing with her 1 back to him.
 With one powerful movement he swept Elaine back into the laboratory and to the floor and slammed the l door. locking it. Another instant and he ran to Inez and unfastened her. l She had merely tainted and was now coming to.
 Down the hall We had discovered no one when suddenly We heard the sti- fled scream of Elaine Back we rushed to the door, But it was locked and | jammed.
 Wu had finished releasing Inez by this time and, with her, rushed into the back room. As he did so Elaine managed to get to her feet and fol | low in time to see Wu smash the win dow to the fire-escape with chair and half shove Inez through to safety
 He was about to follow when he spied the sphygmograph and seized it. That brought him face to face with Elaine. She snatched the record from him. With an oath he struggled with her for it.
 By this time Kennedy and I had forced the door and were in the out CT laboratory
 Wu had bent Elaine back over the table and had drawn long knife. As he poised 1t over her he heard us coming. Our shouts seemed to give Elaine redeubled strength. She broke away just as Wu stabbed furiously, and the knife point was defeeted by the sphygmograph.
 There was not an instant to lose, and Wu fairly dived out of the win dow As We rushed in Kennedy paused to reassure himself of Elaines safety, but I plunged after Wu, my revolver drawn.
 Wildly 1 shot down from the win dow at his retreating form. He had almost reached the ground when l saw him stagger and fall the rest of the way. One of my shots had taken effect, but had used them all
 started after him. But as he slid the last two or three steps into a heap on the ground, IneZ caught him in her arms. Half supporting, half pulling, she managed to assist the dazed and wounded criminal along. At the curb was a closed car, with a driver, waiting She showed him in and tumbled in after him herself, as the car moved swiftly away.
 By this time I had reached the ground and reloaded my gun as l ran along 1 fired several shots. But. though 1 struck the car, don't think l I did any damage for it continued to gain speed The chase was hopeless. and stopped, disgusted.
 Back in the laboratory, as returned through the window, I saw that the strain had been too much for Elaine. Now that it was over, she had faint ed and Kennedy was just bringing her around.
 "Confound him." I exclaimed, T wounded him. but the girl got him away from us again.
 "Oh, murmured Elaine, faintly catching my words, T heard the shots. I was hoping you had ended it all this time.''
 For the moment. in his relief at see ing Elaine still safe, Kennedy seemed to have forgotten all about Wu. My words recalled him.
 Never mind" he reassured as he tapped the little sphygmograph. Not counting the great jump of the indica- tor when Inez discovered Wu before her, it registered the highest tension when I mentioned No. II Pell street.