The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-05

received a message from the lips OF
the strange god.
The worshipers who had Frustrated
themselves, in awe at the sight of their
high priest in the unholy frenzy, all
rose to their feet and crowded for
ward.
Long Sin struck several blows on
the resounding gong and then raised
his voice in solemn tones.
"Ksing Chau, the Terrible, demands
a consort. She is to be foreign-fair
of face and with golden hair"
At the same time, in a room of the
adjoining house, the Clutching Hand
himself was busily engaged in max
ing the most elaborate preparations
for some nefarious scheme which his
fertile mind had evolved.
The room had been fitted up as a
mediums seance parlor.
Two of the Clutching Hands most
trusted confederates and hard-faced
woman of middle age, dressed in plain
black, were putting the finishing
touches to this apartment, when their
chief entered.
Clutching Hand gazed about the
room, now and then giving an order
or two to make more effective the
setting for the purpose which he had
in mind.
Finally he nodded in approval and
stepped over to the fireplace where
logs were burning brightly in crate.
Pressing a spring in the mantelpiece,
the master criminal effected an instant
transformation. The logs in the fire.
place, still burning, disappeared imme-
diately through the bottom of the brick
thing and a metal sheet covered them.
An aperture opened at the back, as If
by magic.
Through this opening Clutching
Hand made his way quickly and dis
appeared.
Emerging on the other side of the
peculiar fireplace, Clutching Hand
pushed aside a curtain which barred
the way and looked into the Chinese
temple, taking up a position behind
the metallic figure on the dais.
The Cinnamon had by this time fin
ished their devotions, if such they
might be called, and the last one was
leaving, while Long Sin stood alone
on the dais.
The noise of the departing satanists
had scarcely died away when Clutch
ing Hand stepped out.
Follow me-" he ordered hoarsely,
Selling Long Sin by the arm and lead
ing him away.
They passed through the passage
way of the fireplace and, having en-
tered the seance room, Clutching Hand
began briefly explaining the purpose
of the preparations that had been
made. Long Sin wagged his head in
voluble approval.
Elaine was standing in the library
thinking over recent events and above
all the rebuff over the telephone which
she supposed she had received.
Jennings entered with card on a
salver. Elaine took it and saw with
surprise the name of her caller:
MADAME sAVETSkY,
Medium.
Beneath the engraved name were
the words written in ink: 81 have a
Their"
Yes, 1 will see her." cried Elaine
eagerly, in response to the buffers in
quiry.
She followed Jennings into the ad-
joining room and there found herself
face to face with the hard-featured
woman who had only a few moments
before left the Clutching Hand
Elaine looked rather than spoke her
inquiry.
Your father, my dear" purred the
medium, with great pretence of sup
pressed excitement, appeared to me
the other night from the spirit world.
was in trance and he asked me to
deliver message to you"
What was the messenger" asked
Elaine breathlessly, now aroused to
intense interest.
81 must go into a trance again to get
it, replied the insinuating Savetsky,
'and if you like can try it at once,
provided we can be left alone long
enough"
Seated in her chair, the medium
muttered wildly for few moments,
rolled her eyes and with some con-
vulsive movements pretended to go in
to trance.
Suddenly the curtains were pulled
aside and Aunt Josephine and Ben
nett, who had just come in, entered.
Il can do nothing here" exclaimed
Savetsky, starting up and looking
about severely. You must come to
my seance chamber where we shall
rot be interrupted"
81 WILL" said Elaine, vexed at the
intrusion at that moment. 81 must
have that message must"
Whats all this, Elaine?" demanded
Aunt Josephine.
Hurriedly. Elaine poured forth to
her aunt and Bennett the story of the
mediums visit and the promised mes
sage from her father in the other
world.
Aunt Josephine, who was not one
easily to be imposed on, strongly OBJ
jected to Elaine's proposal to accom-
pany Savetsky to the seance chamber,
but Elaine would not be denied.
'It might be safe for Elaine to co."
Bennett finally suggested to Aunt Jo-
sephine. eff you and ! accompanied
her."
A few moments later, in the Dodge
car, Elaine, the medium and her two
escorts started for the Chinese quar-
tiers.
AT the house the medium opened the
door with her kev and rahared in her