The Monticellonian., 1915-08-19

stood there gazing off at where the land ought to be. He had just finished | scrawling a note on piece of paper resting on the after cabin roof when one of the men reached down and from a small wooden cage took a struggling white carrier pigeon. They fastened the note rolled up in sort of quill, to the birds leg and let the bird loose. It circled up, then, straight as an arrow darted off landWard.
 They'll be glad to know we're safe and so near" nodded Gregor. And confound any revenue men that stand between us!"
 
 In a room in a tenement Wu Fang and several Chinamen were steated talking and smoking.
 Outside nearby window was a large box which had a small sliding door on the outside, arranged so that it fell almost at a touch. working a little signal flag on the back of the box toward the room in which the Nn11diuGu we're SGdl0u.
 Suddenly there was a fiutter of wings outside. A pure-white pigeon seemed to glide into the box and, as the homing bird did so, the door automatically shut It was cage such as is used for carrier pigeons. The little flag in the room moved, and the Chinamen crowded about the box as Wu opened it, reached in and caught the bird. Carefully he took the mes sage from the birds foot. As one of them placed the bird in another box and reset the trap, Wu unrolled the paper and read:
 TWenty-six miles southeast of Sandy Hook. Will drop anchor off Staten Island tonight.
 You will let me know if any later message comes" directed Wu to one of his men as, a moment later, the Chinese master criminal left the tene- ment
 Cautiously he made his way to the secret entrance to his own apartment. He had scarcely entered when a China man who had evidently been waiting for him rose and bowed. It was Hop Ling. the proprietor of the opium den. 'Is there any news yet, master?" he asked.
 Yes, Gregor is landing your opium tonight I'll have girl for him to take back to Shanghai with him, where she can be sold"
 
 Kennedy had begun to get closer on the trail of Wu and, having dispatched phone, it occurred to him that he might spend a few hours profitably sleuthine about Chinatown searching for cIeWs to the Serpent
 He donned the toughest of his old suits and turned his coat collar up while an old slouch hat was pulled over his eyes. But it was not so faI over as to dim his sight
 He paused once by an electric light pole to watch a gangster saunter past Twice the fellow had walked up and down the street
 As the gangster sIouched by, he lurehed over to the electric light pole and Kennedy felt his hand touched by that of the gangster He was more than surprised to feel something like a piece of cardboard surreptitiously showed into his hand, and he elutched it. The gangster passed. and, as he did so, Kennedy looked at him, then bent over and read
 Capt. John Brainard,
 U. S. Secret Service.
 Written underneath the engraved name was Follow"
 Slowly Craig followed. Brainard en. tered saloon by side door and seat ed himself in back room. A mo- ment later Kennedy slouched in and sat down at the same table. Brainard nodded and Craig extended his hand quietly. He looked about. They were alone
 What brings you down here2" asked Kennedy in low tone
 "A big shipment of opium is going to be landed tonight and I'm trying to locate the Chinese gang back of it. Think you can help me-"
 Anything to dc with that hop joint up the street,"
 Brainard nodded Would it prove a clue possibly to Wu Fang?
 I'll help you," agreed Kennedy. For several minutes they talked, lay ing out plan. Finally they paid the check and rose to go out As they reached the side door a Chinaman passed. Kennedy drew Brainard back. Whats the matter?" whispered the secret service man.
 Did you see that Chinaman?" re- turned Kennedy. That's Hop Ling He runs the opium joint. l think he is worth shadowing"
 Keeping discreetly in the rear of the Chinaman, Kennedy and Brainard fol lowed until Hop paused before a ram shackle tenement. No sooner had he disappeared inside than Craig and Brainard advanced. careful that they in turn were not followed
 They entered and went upstairs At last they came to a door outside which they paused to listen
 Can you make out what they are saying?" asked Brainard
 Something about birds" returned Craig. We've got them. There are only two. Let's rush the door,"
 Together they catapulted them