The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-08-04


darkness.
A moment later came after him.
AS 1 passed the door he seemed to
rise up Unexpectedly and 1 stumbled
headlong over him, almost stunned
as I hit the floor. He rose again
and criss-crossed around the corner
of the building before 1 could pick my
self up. 1t was of no use now to
chase him further, and 1 limped back
into the laboratory.
He got away in spite of me-" 1
managed to blurt out as / rejoined
Kennedy in the hall. What's that?"
"a note of some kind that he
dropped" replied Craig, passing over
to me the paper he had picked up.
1 read in English:
"See what he is doing and report to
me in the basement below 116 Mott
street"
Beneath the few words, evidently
orders. was that mystic sign of the
serpent-the mark of the arch-crim-
inal, WI Fang.
IT'S a clue, Craigl" exclaimed
For a moment Craig said nothing,
as he turned to go back into the
laboratory. For some time he con-
tinued to study the note, as though
revolving something in his mind.
Whatever it is" he remarked at
length, I'm going to look into it,
anyhow. While I'm gone, Walter,
wish you'd just go around and see if
Elaine is all right
At last Kennedy sauntered in cas-
ually to the hop joint on Mott street.
his collar still up and his hat still
over his eyes.
He lounged across the floor among
the smokers and picked out a bunk,
while Hop Sing, the proprietor,
brought him pipe. Kennedy pretend
ed to light it, but in reality did not.
In the back room, by this time, Inez
had completed her disguise by placing
on her head the wig and had given
the little finishing touches to her
makeup. WI was giving final instruc-
tons to Long Sin and the rest, and
the four Cinnamon ranged themselves
in groups of two on either side of the
door.
Finally WI paused and whispered
something to Inez. Then both he and
Long Sin seized two glass globes that
stood on the table. They raised them
high over their heads and smashed
them on the floor, at the same time
stamping their feet terrifically Inez
screamed as If a murder were being
committed.
Outside in the den Kennedy heard
the scream and the crashing of glass,
muffled by the door. He Strengthened
up in his bunk, now all attention.
Was it some white woman calling
for help in this sinkhole of iniquity?
The door flew open Sure enough, a
woman appeared. still screaming.
1t was only for an instant and she
did not even get across the threshold.
With a low cultural exclamation,
Long Sin pulled her back. into the
room and slammed the door she had
opened.
1t was all done so quickly that Ken
nedy could catch only the most fleet
ing glimpse of her clothes and face.
But that glimpse was enough.
1t pparently-Elainel
Craig sprang up instantly, drawing
his revolver. and threw himself
against the door, recollecting the
warning message that had come
through the mail.
The door yielded and he rushed
through. In an instant the four
Cinnamon crouching on either side
leaped on him.
The struggle was terrific He
downed two and seemed in fair way
to win against even such odds, when
the disguised Inez turned, with a
hooking laugh, pulling OF both the
hat and wig.
Kennedy's amazement gave the
Cinnamon a chance. Before he real
lied it, in his complete surprise, he
was forced back on the post and held
there just long enough for Long Sin
to wind rope around him. binding
his arms. legs and body to the post.
Then WI Fang walked over before
him and faced him.
Come over here, my dear" he
called to Inez. LET me introduce
Prof. Craig Kennedy to you-Innocent
Ihez.
by the way he went on to Inez
how did you leave the real Elaine?'
Inez looked at her watch "She is
locked in her attic" she replied with
evident enjoyment. "rhe house viii
start to burn by spontaneous combus
ton in exactly twenty minutes"
Upstairs in the attic of the Dodge
house Elaine, in the queer chair, wal
just recovering a bit from the effects
of the vapor.
Still as the minutes heightened she
began to breathe more regularly al
the Supplying effects of the vapoi
wore on, and was Just beginning t,
move her head in the first unconsciou
endeayors to grasp at consciousness.
It must have been just at this poin
that, following Kennedy's instructions
arrived at EIaine's house.
AS Jennings led me into the librar.
was met by Aunt Josephine.
"Craig has gone off on clue"
explained. ''and has asked me to droI
in to see how things are. Is Elaine al
right7r
Why. ] haven't seen her for an hou
OF MORE" answered Aunt Josephine
Il think she must have gone oui
Z Won't you sit DOWN.
There was nothing else to do. o.
the chance that she might come bacl
| sat down. considerably worried nog
ataut the note and her absence