The Monticellonian., 1915-08-05
TWENTIETH EPISODE
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.

Wu Fang sat at table in his apart ment, hidden behind the squalid and balconied exterior of a Chinatown tenement Before him were a glass dish and a bottle, which contained sev- eral sticks of phosphorus immersed in water, and a small capillary glass tube
 For a moment, however, he had laid aside the strange paraphernalia and was writing a note. As he finished he tapped a bell and silently a Chinese servant appeared in answer.
 Take this letter to that white wom- an, Inez," directed Wu, adding. Give it to her yourself-and if she is there return with fer.
 The servant bowed and Wu returned to work on the curious machine he was devising.
 He had completed his labors when his trusted lieutenant, Long Sin, en- tered
 For what did the master summon me?" asked Long Sin deferentially.
 Come here," beckoned Wu. Behold this"
 With a pair of tweezers he seized small stick of the phosphorus under water and slowly brought it to the sur face. Almost instantly the dangerous element burst into flame, giving off dense white smoke.
 Here l have capillary tube, as the white devils call it in their science" |" went on Wu, pointing out the glass tube. By carefully bending it and ar ranging the outlet of the water 1 can set fire anywhere at any time choose"
 Even while he was showing the devilish invention to Long Sin, his ser want had sought the elaborately fur nished apartment of the white woman to whom the note had been addressed.
 She was an attractive young wom- an, known as Innocent Inez. Except for a certain coarseness, she strongly resembled Elaine, both in features and figure.
 lnez turned languidly as her colored maid ushered in the servant of Wu, took the note and read it with inter est.
 Wait" she said with a sudden ac- cession of energy, nodding at the same time to her negro maid to bring her hat and coat. q will go with you"
 Thus few minutes later Inez en- tered the secret den of Wu Fang
 "Ah-this is the young woman," in trodueed Wu to Long Sin.
 Carefully planning each detail down to the smallest possibility of error, Wu Fang and Long Sin completed their arrangements and. finally, with Ine2 left the apartment. On the street an automobile was waiting at the curb while not far away two toughs from the neigbborhood stood.
 As the Chinamen and the woman came out Wu beekoned to the waiting roughneeks. "Come-get in-lively, he ordered
 They climbed into the car and the five criminals whirled rapidly uptown.
 
 Kennedy had often been amused at my never having q match when needed 1t, and it had occurred to him to devise a very novel cigarette light CT for my benefit
 It was simple enough. consisting of a small battery connected by small wires to one of a pair of cuff links. One link had in it's face a very fine wire, only a fraction of an inch long To the link Craig had soldered the wires from the battery and arranged them so that they ran up under his coat sleeve through the armhole of the vest to the battery, which he carried in his vest pocket.
 He had just completed his work when he heard me coming and hastily drew on his coat.
 Well, what's new?' I greeted.
 Nothing in particular he replied Have a eigarette?"
 He handed his cigarette case to me and l took one. Then, unsuspecting, began to search my pockets for a match, but. as usual, could not find one.
 At last, half mockingly. he lighted his cigarette apparently on his cuff link
 What new-fangled sort of thing is that?" I asked in surprise.
 T thought it might amuse you" he smiled. explaining the arrangement as he opened his vest and showed me how be made the electric connection STERlLIZED THE SACRED FEZ