The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-07-06
drinks and glasses.

at INC oA6iil VI wary Will the kQlI0
he scowled blackly. laid down the
tray. and took few steps in her d.
rection. She brandished the knife
threateningly; then, as If her nerve
failed her, tainted, letting the knife
fall carefully on the floor so that 1t
struck on the handle, and not on the
blade.
Wong quickly caught her as she
tainted and carrying her out of the
room, banged shut the door. Elaine
followed in q moment, loyalty to pro-
tect her supposed friend. but found
that the door had a snap lock on the
other side.
She looked about wildly. and in
moment Wong reappeared. AS he ad-
vanced slowly and insinuatingly, she
drew back, pleading. But her words
fell on seemingly deaf ears.
She had picked up the knife which
Mary had dropped. and when at last
Wong Unanswered to get her cornered
and was about to seize her, she nerved
herself up and stabbed at him reso-
lutely.
! Wong staggered back-and fell.
AS he did so, he pressed the
bladder which he had already placed
under his coat. A dark red fluid.
like blood, oozed out all over him and
ran in pool on the floor.
Elaine, too horror-stricken at what
had happened even to scream. dropped
the knife and bent over him. He did
not move. She rose quickly and ran
through the now open door. AS she
did so, Wong seemed suddenly to come
to life. He raised himself and looked
after her, then with a subtle smile
sank back into his former assumed
posture on the floor.
When Elaine reached the other room
she found Mary there with the Chi
nese servant who was giving her a
glass Of water. At the sight Of her,
the servant paused, then withdrew In.
to another room farther back. Mary,
now apparently recovering from her
faintness. smiled wanly at Elaine.
IT'S all right" she murmured. HE
is a Chinese prince who thought we
were callers"
At the reassuring nod of Mary to-
ward the front room. Elaine was over
come.
II killed him!" she managed to
gasp.
'What?" cried Mary, starting up and
trembling violently. you killed
him"
YES" sobbed Elaine. HE came at
me-had the knife-I struck at
him."
The two girls ran into the other
room. There Mary looked at the mo-
tionless body on the floor and recoiled,
Mortified.
Elaine noticed some spots on her
hands, and, seeing that they were
stained by the blood OF Long Sin,
wiped the spots of on her handker-
chief, dropping it to the floor.
"Ugh!" exclaimed cultural voice
behind them.
1t was the servant who had come
in.
"You-kill him-with knife?" insin-
uated the Chinese.
Elaine was dumb The servant did
not wait for an answer but hastily
opened the hall door.
To Elaine 1t seemed that something
must be done quickly. A moment and
all the house would be In uproar.
Instead, he placed his finger on his
lips. "Quick-no word" he said, lead
ing the way to the hall door. "and-oh,
you must not leave that-it will be
clue" he added, picking up the
bloody handkerchief and pressing it
/ into sElaine's hand.
They quickly ran out into the hall.
"Go-quick!" he urged again, "and
hidethe handkerchief In the bag. Let
no one see IT."
lie shut the door. AB they hurried
away Elaine breathed a sigh of relief.
They had reached the street. Afraid
to run, they hurried as fast as they
could until they turned the first cor
ner
They pressed each others hands and
parted
Meanwhile in the front room Long
Sin was on his feet again, brushing
himself of and hopping up the blood.
1t worked very well. SAM" he said
to the servant.
They were conversing eagerly and
laughing and did not hear noise in
the back room.
A sinister figure had made its way
by means OF fire escape to rear
window that was not barred, and az
lently he had stolen in on them.
They turned at a slight noise and
saw him. Genuine fright was now on
their faces as they looked at him,
open mouthed.
What's all this?" he growled. 81
am known as the Clutching Hand. I
allow no interference with my affairs.
Tell me what you are doing here with
Elaine Dodge"
Their beady almond eyes flashed
fear. The Clutching Hand moved me-
nacingly. There was nothing for the
astute Wong Long Sin to do but to
submit
With low bow, Wong spread out
his hands in surrender and submission.
Il will tell you, honorable sir" he
said at length.
60 on!" growled the criminal
Quickly Wong rehearsed what had
happened from the moment the idea
Of blackmail entered his head.
How about Mary Carson7" asked
Clutching Hand. Il saw her here"
| Wong gave a glance of almost SUI
perstitious dread at the man.
She will be baek-is here now," he
added. opening the door at knock
and admitting her.
Adventures Mary had hurried back
to see that all was right. This time
Mary was genuinely scared at the for
bidding figure of which she had heard.
1T is all right" pacified Wong.
"Henceforth we work with the hon.
orable Clutching Hand"
At home at last, Elaine sank down
into deep library chair and stared
straight ahead. She saw visions of
arrest and trial, Of the terrible cleo
trio chair with herself In 1t, bound.
and of the giving Of the fatal signal
for turning on the current
Were such things as these going to
happen to her, without Kennedy 8
help? Why had they quarreled? She
buried her face in her hands and wept.
Then she could stand it no longer.
She had not taken of her street
clothes. She rose and almost fed
from the house.
Kennedy and / were still In the la
boratory when knock sounded at
the door I went tn the door and