The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-07-14


WI briefly. Let us rather help each
other as brothers"
He extended his right hand, palm
down, as he spoke. For a moment
the tong leader parleyed with the
others, then stepped forward and laid
his own hand. palm down, over that
of WI. One of the others did the
same, including Long Sin, the ag-
grieved.
Peace was restored.
WI had arisen to go, and the tong
men were bowling a respectful fare
we'll. He turned and saw a large vase.
For a moment he paused before it.
1t was an enormous affair and was
apparently composed of mosaic of
rare Chinese enamels, cunningly put
together by the deft and patient fin
gers of the Oriental craftsmen. Elk
tending from the widely curving bowl
below was an extremely long, narrow,
tapering neck.
WI looked at it intently; then an
idea seemed to strike him. He called
the tong leader and the others about
him.
: Quickly he outlined the details of
a plan.
-
Have you received any word yet?"
asked Aunt Josephine, anxiously, when
Jennings had ushered /us into the
Dodge library.
Kennedy shook his head sadly.
A few minutes later Jennings en-
IN sfFThQ
expressmen are outside, ma'am, with
a large package" he said.
Aunt Josephine followed him out in
to the hall.
There, already, the delivery men
had set down a huge Oriental vase
with a remarkably long and narrow
neck. 1t was, as befitted such really
beautiful object of art, most carefully
Grated. But to Aunt Josephine il
came as a complete surprise. Il can't
imagine who could have sent it," she
temporized. Are you quite sure it is
for me?"
The expressman, with a book,
looked up from the list of names
down which he was running his fin.
ger. This is Mrs. Dodge, isn't it?'
he asked, pointing with his pencil to
the entry with the address following
it. There seemed to be no name OF
a shipper.
"Yes," she replied, obviously, but
1 don't understand it. Wait just a
moment"
She went to the library door. "Mr
Kennedy" she said, may l trouble
you and Mr.. Jameson moment?"
We followed her into the hall, ant
there stood gazing at the mysteriou:
gift, while she related it's recent his
tory.
"Why not set it up in the library ?
1 suggested, seeing that the express
men were getting FESTIVE at the delay
IF there is any mistake they will senC
for it soon. No one ever gets anything
for nothing"
Aunt Josephine turned to the ex
pressmen and nodded. With the aid o
Jennings they carried the vase int
the library, and there it was uncrated
Craig walked around the vase, look
ing at it critically. had feeling o
being watched, one of those sensation
which psychologists tell us are utterl.
baseless and unfounded. was glat
had not said anything about it whel
he tapped the vase with his cane, thel
stuck the cane down the long, marrow
neck, working it around as we'll as h.
could. The neck was so long and s.
narrow, however, that his stick eoul,
not fully explore the inside of tn
vase, but it seemed to me to be quit
empty.
We'll, there's nothing in it, any
how" ventured.
1 had spoken too soon. Kennel
withdrew his cane, and on the ferrule
adhering as though by some stick
substance, was a note.
We read:
Dear Aunt Josephine
This Is token that am unframed
Have Mr.. Kennedy give the ring t
the man at the corner of Williams an
Brownlee avenues at midnight tonieh
and they will surrender me to him.
ELAINE.
p. S.-Have him come alone or m
life will be in danger.
81 thought something like this woul
happen" remarked Craig at length.
"Oh," cried Aunt Josephine, lit
too good to be true"
We'll do it," exclaimed Kennel
quickly, only this is the ring tina
we'll give them"
He drew from his pocket the replic
of the ring which he had made an
showed it to Aunt Josephine. The
he drew from another pocket the re;
ring, replacing the replica.
Here's the real one," he said in
low tone. Guard it as you would you
life"
Aunt Josephine was worn out wit
the sleepless nights of worry sine
Elaine's disappearance. After we ha
gone, she tried to eat dinner, but foun
that she had no appetite.
Although she had intended to sit u
until she received some word frol
Kennedy that night, the long strai
had told on her, and in spite of he
worry about Elaine, she decided, 4
length, to retire.
Aunt Josephine, clasping the jew
case tightly, mounted the stairs an
entered her room. She locked the doc
carefully and put the jewelry case u
der her pillow. Then she switched @
the light.
A moment later small piece of tt
vase seemed to break away from Il
rest of the mosaic, as though it wei
knocked out from the inside. The
large piece fell out, and another.
At last from the strange hiding plat
a 1.-THE figure, as shiny as thong
bathed in oil. naked except for loi
cloth, seemed to squirm forth like
serpent. 1t was WI Fang-the waite
full eye which, literally as well as fig
ratively, had been leveled at US
one form or another ever since Il
kidnapping of Elaine.