Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-18

Trying to
buy the decorations. No objections
como along"
She took Kennedy's arm playfully.
Among the many places which Elaine
had down on her shopping list was a
small Chinese curio shop on lower Fifth
avenue
They entered and were greeted with a
profound bow by the proprietor. He was
the new Tong leader, and this uptown
shop was his cover. In actual fact he
was what might have been called a Chi
nese fence for stolen goods.
Elaine explained what IL was shO wanted
and. with kennedy's aid, selected a
number Of Chinese hanglngs and dec
orations. They were about 20 leave the
shop when Elaine's eye was attracted by
little showcase. in which were many
quaint and valuable Chinese ornaments
In gold and silver and carved ivory.
What an odd looking thlng?" she said,
pointing to q knobbed ring which re-
posed ON the black velvet of the case.
Quite odd" agreed Kennedy.
The subtle Chinaman stood by the pile
Of hangings on the counter which Elaine
had bought. overjoyed at such a large
sale. Praislng tho ring to Elaine, he
turned insinuatingly 20 Kennedy There
was nothing else for Craig to do-he
bought the ring, and the chinaman
proved again his ability as a merchant.
From the curio shop where Elaine had
completed her purchases, they drove to
Kennedy's laboratory.
We were in the midst Of planning the
entertainment when slight cough be-
hind me made me start and turn quickly.
There stood Long sin. the astute China
man who had delivered the bomb to Ken
nedy and betrayed Bennett. We had seen
very little OF him since then.
Il am In great trouble. Prof. Kennedy"
began Long Sin In a low tone. You
don't know the Chinese OF the city, but
II you did you would know what black
mailers there are among them. / have
refused to pay blackmail to the Chong
Wah tong, and since then It has been
trouble. trouble. trouble
Kennedy looked up quickly at the name
Chcng Wah Tong. thinking OF tho in
Vestigation which the coroner had asked
him to make into the murder He ana
Long Sin moved a few steps away. dis
cCssing the affair.
Elaine and / were still talking over the
She happened TO place her hand OF the
desk near Long Sin. My back wac to-
ward him, and did not see him start
suddenly and look at her hand. On Il
was the ring-the ring which. unknown
to us. Long Sin had found In the passage
way under Aunt Tabbys garden, of
which he had been robbed. and which
now by strange chance. had come into
Eiaine's possession.
The lady speaks OF an oriental re-
oertion." he remarked. would she care
&c engage a magician3''
Elaine turned to him surprised. do
you mean that you are nagioian?" she
Ssked puzzled.
Long Sin smiled, quietly He reached
over and took a small bottle from Ken.
nedy's laboratory table. Holding Il In
his hand almost directly before us, ne
made few sleight-of-hand passes. ana
prestol the bottle had disappeared. A
few more passes. and u test tube appeared
Ia it's place. Before we knew Il he had
caused the test tube TO disappear and
the bottle TO reappear We all applauded
enthusiastically.
Il don't think that is such a bad idea
after ALL nodded Kennedy 10 Elaine.
Perhaps not" she agreed. a little
doubtfuliy. II hadn't intended 70 have
such a thing, bUt-why. Of course. that
would interest everybody"
II was the night OF the reception. The
Dodge library was transformed. The
oriental hangings which Elaine and Ken
nedy had purchased seemed TO breathe
mysticism. AZ the far end OF the room a
plstform had been arranged 70 form a
stage on which Long sin was 10 perform
his sleight-of-hand. The drawing room
also was decorated like the library.
Almost everybody had arrived when
Elaine turned 10 the guests and intro
dueed Long Sin with a little speech Long
sin bowed. and everyone applauded. Ho
made his way TO the platform IN the H.
brary ana mounted H.
I shall not attempt 10 describe the
amazing series OF tricks which he per-
formed. His hands and fingers seemed
to move like lightning. Among other
things. remember. he took up a cover
from table near by. He held Il up be-
fore Ne. Instantly Il seemed that a
flock OF pigeons flew out OF Il around
the room. How he did Il I don't know.
They were real pigeons. however. and
the trick brought down the house
This Is wonderful wonderful" I re-
peated as | happened TO meet Elaine
alone. We walked into the conservatory
while the guests were crowding around