The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-08-17
EIGHTEENTH EPISODE


that WI might wreak some diabolical
vengeance on Elaine.
Nor were Kennedy's fears unfounded
WI and Long Sin had scarcely reach.
ed the secret apartment when the
subtle Chinaman began to contem.
plate revenge
Long Sin was smoking Chinese
pipe. resting after their hurried flight
while WI, the tireless, was seated at
table at the other end of the room
At last WI. Fang took up long Chi
nese dirk from the table before him,
looked at it, turned it over, felt it's
edge He rose and deliberately walked
across to door leading into back
room.
On couch lay Elaine, and with her
as guardian, was Wsepy Mary.
AS WI, the Serpent, entered and
advanced. slowly toward Elaine, she
crouched back from him in deadly
| fear.
Slowly he drew from under his robe
the Chinese dirk He felt the edge OF
1t again and gazed Significantly al
Elaine.
It was critical moment
Just then Long Sin entered. Zone
of the FIVE millions waits outside" he
reported simply, with bow.
WI understood. It had been pleas
ant fiction of his that although he did
not, of course, absolutely control such
a stupendous organization, he could
by his subtle power, force almost un
limited allegiance from the simple
coolies in that district of China from
which he came.
Out in the front room, just a mo
ment before, a knock at the door had
disturbed Long Sin, and Chinese
servant had announced visitor. Long
Sin had waved to the servant to usher
him In, and poorly clad coolie had
entered
He bowed as Long Sin faced him
Where is the master?' he had asked
Long Sin had not deigned to speak
With. a mere wave Of his hand he in
dicated that he would be the bearer
| of the message, and had followed WI
through the door Of the back room.
So, almost by chance, WI was inter
rupted in the brutal vengeance which
had first come to his mind. He
sheathed the knife and, still without
word, went back into the main room
| giving nod to Weepy Mary to guart
Elaine closely.
WI eyed the coolie until the new
conner could almost feel the masters
penetrating gaze, although his head
was bowed in awe. Quickly the coolis
thrust his hand under his blouse ant
drew forth package. With another
bow he advanced.
For your enemies, o master" ht
said, handing the package over tt
WI.
The coolie started to open the pack
age, removed the paper wrapper, ant
then a silk wrapping inside. Finally
he came to box, from which he drew
leather pouch, each operation con
Quoted with greater care as 1t became
evident that the contents were espe
cially precious in some way. Then HI
took from the pouch small vial.
What is it7" demanded WI Fang
as the coolie displayed it.
The cooIie draw forth now magni
flying glass and a glass slide. Opening
the vial with great care he shool
something out on the slide, ther
placed it under the lens.
Look" he said simply.
WI bent over and looked. Undel
the lens what had formerly seemed t
be merely black speck of dirt be
came now one of the most weird ant
uncanny little creatures to be found IL
all the realm of nature. 1t seemed Il
be all legs and feelers moving at once
A normal person would have looke'
| at the creature only with the creates
repugnance WI regarded it with
sort of unholy fascination.
"And it is?" he queried.
"What the white man calls the Afri
can tick which carries the recurren
fever" answered the coolie deferen
tally
A flash of intense exultation scenes
to darken WI Fang's sinister face.
"Wait," he said to the coolie, as b
moved slowly again into the bacl
room.
Long Sin had remained there. Will
Weepy Mary he was guarding Elaine
when WI Fang re-entered. Elain,
was thoroughly aroused by this time
Suffering is state Of mind" WI
said in a low tone. and ! have de
cided that 1t would be poor reveng
for me to harm you. You are Free"
Nothing could have come as great
er surprise to Elaine.
do you-do you really mean it?
she asked, scarcely able to believ
what her ears heard.
| WI merely nodded, and with wav
of his hand to Long Sin indicated tina
Elaine was to be released.
She nerved herself to take severa
steps toward the door. She ha
scarcely crossed half the room.
"Wait.r ordered WI sharply.
Was he merely torturing her, as
cat might torture a mouse? Sh
stopped obediently, afraid to look a
him.
"This will be the vengeance of w
Fang" he went on impressivel,
Slowly, one by one, your friends VII
weaken and die, then your family, III
til finally only you are left. Then vii
come your turn
He stopped again and raised hi
long, lean forefnger. Co. he hissed
81 wish you much JOY"
l don't think that in all our friend
ship have ever seen Kennedy so vi
terly depressed as he was when W
returned after the discovery of tn
vast fortune which Bennett had clev
erly secreted.
There seemed to be absolutely moth
ing to do until some new clue turne
nm placed my hand on his shoulder