The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-04-29
FOURTEENTH EPISODE
THE RECKONING,

THE RECKONING.
Pacing up and down his den in the
heart of Chinatown, Long Sin was
thinking over his bargain with Ken
:nedy to betray the infamous Clutch
ling Hand.
At length he seated himself on a
:teakwood table still celebrating over
1.-The promise he had been forced to
:make to Kennedy.
Suddenly an idea seemed to strike
:him. Lifting a little hammer, he
!struck Chinese gong on the table
sat his side. At the same. time he
cleaned over and turned the knob at the
:side of large rpll-top desk.
A few seconds later a sort of hatch.
WAY, covered by rug on the floor, in
lone corner of the room, was slowly
lifted and Long Sins secretary, pale,
cadaverous Chinaman, appeared from
;below. He stepped noiselessly into
the room and shuff1ed across to Long
Sin and handed him a letter.
Long Sin scowled, as though some
thing had interfered with bis own
plans, but tore open the envelope with
tout word, spreading out on his lap
:the sheet of paper it contained.
I: The letter was typewriter mes
;sage, all in capitals, which read:
"BE AT HEADQUARTERS AT -.
;DESTROY THIS IMMEDIATELY"
At the bottom of the note appeared
1.-THE sinister signature of the Clutching
Hand.
Bowling low again, the secretary
:shuffled across and down again
Through the hatchway, closing the
door as he descended.
Long Sin read the note once more.
while his inscrutable face assumed an
depression of malicious cunning.
With an air of deliberation he
reached for match and struck it.
He had placed the paper in the flame
when suddenly he seemed to change
This mind. He hastily blew out the
match, which bad destroyed only
:corner of the paper, then folded the
mote carefully and placed it in his
:pocket. .
/: A few moments later, with q malig-
:nant chuckle, Long Sin rose slowly
and left the room.
; Meanwhile the master criminal was
busily engaged in putting the finishing
:touches to a final scheme of fiendish
ingenuity for the absolute destruc-
ton of Craig Kennedy.
!; He had been at work in small
room fitting up sort of laboratory,
in the mysterious house which now
;served as his headquarters.
/; Clutching Hand, at bench in one
corner, had just completed an internal
machine of diabolical cunning, and
twas wrapping it carefully in paper to
make an innocent package.
He was interrupted by knock at
the door. Laying down the bomb he
went to answer the summons with a
stealthy movement. There stood Long
ism, who had disguised himself as
Chinese laundryman.
/; "On time-good!" growled Clutch
ling Hand surlily as he closed the door
with equal care.
+: No time was wasted in useless for
malities.
!: This is bomb" he went on, point
ling to the package. Garry it care
fully. On no account let it slip. or
:you are a dead man. It must be in
Kennedy's laboratory before night.
Understand? Can you arrange it,"
! Long Sin glanced at the dangerous
package, then with an expressive look,
replied, "Have no fear. I can do it.
lit will be in the laboratory within an
;hour Trust me-"
In Kennedy's laboratory was watch
ling Craig make some experiments
with new X-ray apparatus.
We were oblivious to the passage of
1time, and only call over our speak
ting tube diverted our attention.
Il Iopened the door and few seconds
Ilater Long Sin himself entered.
Kennedy looked up inquiringly as
The Chinaman approached, holding out
package which he carried.
"a bomb" he said, in the most mat
teer-of-fact way. Il promised to have
IL placed in your laboratory before
Night
Kennedy took the bomb and care
lilly placed it under the wonderful
iloys, then with the Horoscope over his
tG1es studied the shadow cast by the
ilays on it's sensitive screen.
It's bomb, sure enough" Craig
fe1claimed, looking up from it at last
10 me. tits timed by an ingenious