Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-07

around.
The two arch-enemies gazed at each
other a moment silently. Each knew
it was the final, fatal encounter.
Slowly WI drew a long knife and
leaped at Kennedy, who grappled with
him. They struggled mercilessly-
In the struggle Craig managed to
tear the torpedo out of Wu's hands,
just as they rolled over. 1t fell on
rock. Instantly an explosion tore
hole in the sand, scattering the gravel
all about.
Relentlessly the combat ragged. Out
on the wharf itself they went, right up
to the edge.
Then both went over into the water,
locked in each others yiselike grip.
Even in the water they struggled
franticallly.
My search for the escaped crook
was unsuccessful
Somehow, however, it led me across
country to a road. AS | approached
heard a car and looked up. There
were the secret service men, / called
them and stepped out of the bushes
They stepped and jumped out OF the
car, and ! ran to them.
Come back with me- urged. we
found two of them. One is dead.
Craig sent me to trace the other. I've
lost the trail. Perhaps you can find 1t
for me-"
We crashed through the brush
quickly. Suddenly / heard something
that caused me to start. 1t sounded
like an explosion.
There's the place-over there" l
pointed, pausing and indicating the
direction of the wharf whence had
come the explosion.
What was it? We did not stop
moment, but hurried in that direction.
We reached the shore, where we
saw marks of the explosion and OF
fight. Out on the pier l ran breath
lessly. | rushed to the very edge and
gazed over, then climbed down the
slippery piling and peered into the
black water beneath.
A few bubbles seemed to ooze up
from below. Was that all?
No, as gazed down | saw that some
dark object was there. Slowly WI
Fang's body fioated to the surface and
lay there, rocked by the waves. Deep
in his breast stuck his own knife with
its handle of the sign of the serpent!
l reached down and seized him, as J
peered about for Kennedy.
There was nothing more there.
"Craig!" called desperately,
"Craigl"
There was no answer. The silence,
the echo of the tapping water under
the wharf was appalling, mocking.
[ managed to call the secret service
men, and they got WI Fang's body up
on the wharf.
But could not leave the spot.
Where was Craig? There was not
sign Of him. / could not realize it,
even when the men brought graphing
irons and began to search the black
water
1t was all hideous dream. | saw
and heard, in daZe.
1t was not until late that night that
/ returned to the Dodge house.
| had delayed my return as long as
could, but / knew that l must see
Elaine some time.
AS | entered even Jennings must
have seen that something was wrong
Elaine. who was sitting in the library
with Aunt Josephine, rose as she saw
me-
Did you get them?" Elaine asked
eagerly.
| could not speak She seemed to
read the tragic look on my haggard
face, and stopped.
why" she gasped. clutching at the
desk, what is the matter?"
AS gently as l could l told her OF
the chase, of leaving Craig, of the ex
plosion, of the marks of the struggle
and of the finding of WI Fang.
AS l finished | thought she woulo
faint.
And you-you went over every
thing about the wharf?"
Everything The men even dragged
for the"
| checked myself over the fateful
word
Elaine looked at me wildly. l thought
that she would lose her reason. She
did not cry. The shock was too great
for that.
Suddenly | remembered the note.
Before / left him-the last time" |
blurted out, "he wrote note-to YOU"
| pulled the crumpled paper from
my pocket and Elaine almost tore ii
from me-the last word from him
and read:
Dearest may not return until the
case is settled and have found the
stolen torpedo. Matters involving mil.
lions of lives and billions of dollars
hang on the plot back Of it. No mat.
ter what happens, have no fear. Trust
me. Lovingly, CRAIG.
She finished reading the note and
slowly laid it down. Then she picked
it up and read it again. Slowly she
turned to me.
He told me to trust him and to
have no fear" she said simply, grip
ping herself mentally and physically
by main force, then with an air OF
defiance she looked at me. 81 do not
believe that he is deadl"
| tried to comfort her. / wanted to
do so. But / could do nothing but
shake my head sadly. My own heart
was full to overlooking An intimacy
such as had been ours could not be
broken except with shock that tore
my soul. l knew that the poor girl
had not seen what / had seen. Yet
could not find it in my heart to con.
tradict her.
She saw my look, read my mind.
NO" she cried. still defiant, no
thousand times, no. l tell you-he
is not dead"
(T0 Rr rnHrrrN-v-r