The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-07-15
rise up into the moonlight.

hlNlt Out lIuUu my oNh hih'hS
place in the shadow OF my rock and
darted quickly to the shelter OF a
bush. nearer the figure.
II turned TO steal away.
! leaped at him and he went down.
rolling over and over In the under.
brush and stubble.
lie was powerful and stronger than
I and after a tough tussle he broke
loose. But ] had succeeded. never.
theless. | had delayed him Just long
enough. Kennedy heard the sound OF
tho struggle and was now crashing
through the hedge at the crossroads
In our direction.
managed to pick myself up. just
as Kennedy reached my side. and. to.
gether. we followed the ~retreating
figure as Il made It's way among the
shadows. Across the open space be-
fore us we followed him end at last
Ia him dive into an old barn.
A moment later we followed hot.
foot into the barn. As we entered.
we could hear n peculiar grating
noise. as though a door was swung
open. Evidently the man had gone
through ard closed the back door.
We threw ourselves against the
back door. But II did not yield. There
vas no time to waste and we turned
to rush u again by the way we
came. Just as the front door was
slammed shut.
The man had trapped US.
We could hear his feet %crunching
the dry leaves and twigs as he went
around the side OF the barn again.
Suddenly the pale silver OF the
moonlight on the floor Redeemed.
The man had struck a match and
thrown II into a mass OF oil.soaked
straw and gunpowder which protruded
through n OF the weather.beaten
boards. near the floor.
For a second | looked dismayed at
the rapidly mounting flames.
"A very pretty situation" I forced
with n laugh. But I hope he doesn't
think we'll stay here and burn. with
a perfectly good window in full view"
took a step toward the window. but
before | could take another, Kennedy
yanked me back.
Don't think for a M that he
overlooked that. ne shouted.
Craig looked around hastily. In q
corner. Just back OF us. was n long
pole He snatched II up and moved
cautiously toward the window.
Keep back, Walter he muttered,
lust as far as you can"
He had scarcely raised the window
a fraction of an inch when an old,
rusty, heavy anvil and a bent. worn
p~iowshare crashed down to the floor
directly over the spot where | should
have been II he had not dragged me
away.
i think you may try 1t safely now,
all right" smiled Kennedy coolly.
We climbed out OF the window, not
an instant too soon.
Having gained the clump OF woods.
the gaun. figure had paused long
enough to gloat over his clever
scheme. Instead, he saw us making
good our escape. With a gesture OF
Intense fury he turned. There was
nothing more for him 20 do but to
zigzag his way TO safety across coun.
try.
Kennedy did not pause an instant
longer, but in the light of the burn.
ing barn. rs best he could, started TO
follow the trail In a desperate en-.
deavor either to overtake Long Sin,
or at least TO find the final direction
in which he would go.
At the entrance OF the p~assageway
which led to the little underground
chamber In which We had sought the
treasure hidden by the Clutching
Hand, WI Fang was seated on a rock
waiting impatiently though now and
then indulging In a sinister smile at
the subtle trick by which he had re-
covered me ring.
TIE sound OF approaching foot.
steps disturbed him. He was far too
Clever 20 leave anything to chance
and like a serpent. he wriggled behind
another rock and waited. IL was only
a glance, however, that he needed to
allay his suspicious. II was Long Sin,
breathless.
WI c;spped out beside him 30 quiet.
ly that even the acute Long Sin did
not hear. "Well?" he said in a gut.
tural tone.
Long Sin drew back in fear. II
have failed. oh, master" he replied in
an %imploring tone. Even now they
are following my tracks
WI frowned. I'VE must work quick.
ly, then he muttered.
He picked up a dark lantern near by.
indicating another to Long Sin. They
entered the cave, flashing the lights
ahead OF them.
BE careful" ordered WI. proceed.
Ing ~singerly from one stepping stone
TO another. I'VE shall be followed no
further than this"
lie paused a moment and pointed his
finger a. 49, earth. Everywhere. ex.
cept here and there where a stone
projected, was a sticky, Shiny sub.
stance. 1t was an old trick OF print.
tive races.