The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-07-20

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the outer office, intent on escaping in
that direction.
At that moment / caught sight Of
him, and, leaping into the secretary's
Office, drew my revolver and ordered
him to throw up his hands. He obeyed.
Holding up both hands, he slowly
drew near the door to his private Of
fee.
Suddenly he dropped one hand and
pressed hidden spring in the wall,
Instantly heavy iron door shot out
and closed over the wooden door. En-
trance to the private Office was abso-
lutely cut of.
With an angry snarl the Clutching
Hand leaped at me.
AS he did so fred twice.
He staggered back.
The shots we're heard by Kennedy
and Elaine as we'll as the secretary,
and at the same instant they discov-
cred the iron door which barred the
entrance to the secretary's Office.
Rushing into the outer office they
found the clerks excitedly attempting
to open the door of the secretary's
office, which was locked. Kennedy
drew revolver and shot through the
lock, bursting open the door.
They rushed into the room.
( Clutching Hand was apparently seat
ed in a chair at desk, his face bur-
fed in his arms, while was appar-
emily disappearing through the door.
Kennedy and the clerks bounced
upon the figure in the chair and tore
off his mark. To their establishment
they discovered it was myself!
Ny shots had missed, and Clutching
Hand had leaped on me with mad
dened fury.
Dressed In my coat and hat. which
he had deity removed after overpow-
ertng me, Clutching Hand had by this
time climbed through the window Of
the outer office and was making his
way down the fire escape to the street.
He reached the foot of the iron steps,
leaped of and ran quickly away.
Shouting few directions to the sec
rotary, the clerks and Elaine, Kennedy
climbed through the window and dart
ed down the fire escape in swift pur-
suit.
The Clutching Hand, however, man
aged to elude capture again.
While these exciting events were
occurring in Benefits Office some
queer doings were in progress In the
heart of Chinatown.
Deep underground, in one of the
catacombs known only to the inner
most members Of the Chinese secret
societies, was Tong Wah, popularity
known as the hider," engaged In
some mysterious work.
Before him were eight odd-shaped
Chinese Walls, and from these he was
carefully measuring certain proper
tions. as If concocting some powerful
potion.
He stepped back and looked around
suspiciously as he suddenly heard
footsteps above. The next moment
Long Sin, who had entered through a
trap door, climbed down a long lad
der and walked into the room.
Approaching Tong Wah. he asked
When win the death drink be
ready?"
ut is now prepared" was the re-
ply.
A few minutes later the Clutching
Hand drove up to Long Sins house in
the taxfcab and, after paying the
chauffeur. went to the door and
knocked sharply.
In response to his knocking, Long
Sin appeared on the threshold and mo-
toned to Bennett to come in, evident
ly astonished to see him.
As he entered, Bennett made Sc
cret sign and said: Il am the Clutch
Ing Hand. Kennedy is close on my
trail, and ! have come to be hidden"
In tone which betrayed alarm and
fear the Chinaman intimated that he
had no place in which Bennett could
be concealed with any degree Of safety.
For moment Bennett glared say
agely at Long Sin.
Il possess hidden plumber worth
seven million dollars" he pleaded
quickly, "and If by your aid can make
a getaway, seventh is yours"
The Chinaman's cupidity was clear
ly excited by Benefits offer, while the
bare mention of the amount at stake
was sufficient to overcome all his
scruples.
After exchanging few words he
finally agreed to aid the Clutching
Hand. Opening a trap door In the
floor Of the room in which they were
standing. he led Bennett down step
ladder into the subterranean chamber
In which Tong Wah had so recently
been preparing his mysterious potion.
AS Bennett sank into chair and
passed his hands over his brow in
utter WEAKNESS. Long Sin poured into