Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-08-10
TWENTIETH EPISODE
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.


WI Fang sat at table in his apart
ment, hidden behind the squalid and
balconied exterior of a Chinatown
tenement Before him were a glass
dish and bottle. which contained sew
eral sticks of phosphorus immersed in
water, and small capillary glass
tube
For a moment, however. he had laid
aside the strange paraphernalia and
was writing note. AS he finished he
tapped bell and silently Chinese
servant appeared in answer.
Take this letter to that white wom
an, Inez," directed WI, adding, Give
1t to her yourself-and if she is there
return with her."
The servant bowed and WI returned
to work on the curious machine he
was devising.
He had completed his labors when
his trusted lieutenant, Long Sin, en-
tered.
For what did the master summon
me?" asked Long Sin, deferentially.
Come here" beckoned WI. Behold
this"
With pair of tweezers he seized a
small stick of the phosphorus under
water and slowly brought it to the sur
face. Almost instantly the dangerous
element burst into flame, giving off a
dense white smoke.
Here have capillary tube, as the
white devils call it in their science"
went on WI, pointing out the glass
tube. by carefully bending it and ar
ranging the outlet of the water l can
set a fire anywhere at any time
choose"
Even while he was showing the
devilish invention to Long Sin, his SER
want had sought the deliberately fur
nished apartment of the white woman
to whom the note had been addressed
She was an attractive young wom-
an, known as Innocent Inez. Except
for certain coarseness, she strongly
resembled Elaine, both in features and
figure.
Inez turned languidly as her colored
maid ushered in the servant of WI,
took the note and read it with inter
est.
Wait" she said with a sudden ac-
cession of energy. nodding at the same
time to her negro maid to bring her
hat and coat. Il will go with you"
Thus a few minutes later Inez en-
tered the secret den of WI Fang.
"Ah-this is the young woman" in
troduced WI to Long Sin.
Carefully planning each detail down
to the smallest possibility of error, WI
Fang and Long Sin completed their
arrangements and, finally, with Inez
left the apartment. On the street an
automobile was waiting at the curb,
while not far away two toughs from
the neighborhood stood.
AS the Cinnamon and the woman
came out WI beckoned to the waiting
roughnecks. "Come-get in-lively, -
he ordered.
They climbed into the car and the
five criminals whirled rapidly uptown.
Kennedy had often been amused at
rly never having a match when
needed it, and it had occurred to him
to devise a very novel cigarette light
er for my benefit.
It was simple enough, consisting of
a small battery connected by small
wires to one of pair of cuff links.
One link had in its face very fine
wire, only fraction of an inch long.
To the link Craig had soldered the
wires from the battery and arranged
them so that they ran up under his
coat sleeve through the armhole of the
vest to the battery, which he carried
in his vest pocket.
He had just completed his work
when he heard me coming and hastily
drew on his coat.
We'll, what's new?" | greeted.
Nothing in particular" he replied.
Have a cigarette?"
He handed his cigarette case to me
and l took one. Then, unsuspecting,
l began to search my pockets for a
match, but, as usual, could not find
one.
At last, half moekingly, he lighted
his cigarette apparently on his cuff
link
What newfangled sort of thing is
that?" I asked in surprise.
Il thought it might amuse you" he
smiled, explaining the arrangement as
he opened his vest and showed me
how he made the electric connection
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