Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-05-15

SJd'CihG- ne led Bennett down q stem
RAIDER into The sub.crrauean chamber
IN which IcuS Wah had SO recently
been preparing his mysterious potion.
As Bennett sank into a chair and
PASSED his hands over his brow IN
utter wcarucss, Ions Sin poured Into
a cup some of the liquor OF death
which Tong Nah had mixed. lie hand
co Il TO Bennett, who drank it eagerly.
How do you propose 20 help me to
cs'"r'?' asked Bennett huskily.
Without word Long Sin went to
the wall, and graspjug one of the
stones. pressed it back. opening a
large receptacle. in which there were
i"" glass collins apparently contain
l"g two dead Cinnamon. Pulling out
the collins. he pushed them before
I'ennctt, Who rose to his feet and
sdZed upon them with wonder.
Long Sin broke the silence: these
men, he said. are not dead; but they
have been in this condition for many
months Il is what is called in YOUR
language suspended animation"
is That what you intend TO do with
me- asked Bennett, shrinking back in
terror
The Chinaman nodded in affirmation
rs h. pushed back the collins.
Overcome by the horror of the idea
Bennett with a gr0an, sank back into
the chair, shaking his head as if to in.
dictate that the Plan was far too ter
rible to carry out
With a sinister smile and a shrug of
his shoulders Long Sin pointed to the
cup from which Bennett had drank.
'Buc, dear master he remarked
suavciy, you have already drank a
full dose OF the potion which causes
insorsibility, and il is overcoming you.
Even now" he added, you are too
weak to rise"
With 4 malicious chuckle Long afn
moved closer TO his victim and spoke
again.
"NivulGc where your seven million
dollars are hidden" he suggested
craftily, and l will give you an anti
dote"
BY this time Bennett, who was be-
coming more rigid each moment, was
unable TO speak.
Slowly, and after a desperate strug-
gle, he managed to raise one hand
and pointed to his breast pocket.
The Chinaman instantly thrust in kis
hand and drew out map.
For some moments Long Sin evan
med the map intently, and, with a grin
OF satisfaction, he placed it in his own
pocket. Then he mixed what he de-
clared was a sure antidote, and, pour
ing some Of the liquor into a Guy. he
held it to Benefits lips
As Bennett opened his mouth to
drink it. Long Sin with a laugh slowly
pulled the cup away and poured its
contents on the floor.
By this time | was slowly recovering
my senses in the secretarys office,
where Bennett had left me in the dis
guiso OF the Clutching Hand. Elaine,
the secretary and the clerks were
gathered around me, doing all they
could TO revive me.
Meanwhile Kennedy had enlisted
the aid of two detectives and was
securing the city for 4 trace of Ben
nett CT the taxicab in which he had
fed.
Somehow, Kennedy suspected, in
stinctivcly, that Long Sin might give
= clue to BENEFITS whereabouts, and
q few moments later we were all on
-, I -,
Though we did not know it, Long
Sin, at the moment when Kennedy
knocked at his door, was feeling in his
inside pocket to see that the map he
had taken from Bennett was perfectly
safe. Finding that ne had it, he smiled
with his peculiar oriental guile Then
he opened the door and stood for a
silent.
where is Bennett?" demanded Ken
nedy.
Long Sin eyed us all, then, with a
placid smile, said. Follow me. / will
show you"
There was Bennett, seated rigidly in
the chair beside the table. from which
the walls and cups, about which we
knew nothing. had been removed.
How did it happen?" asked Ken
ledy.
"He came here" replied Long Sin,
with a wave of his hand, "and before I
could stop him he did away with him.
self"
well, we've got him." unused Ken
ledy, shaking his head sadly, adding
after pause, but he is dead"
Elaine. who had followed us down,
covered her eyes with her hands and
vas sobbing cOnvulsiyely. l thought
she would faint, but Kennedy led her
gently away into an upper room.
As he placed her in an easy chair,
ne bent over her, sOothingly.
Did you-did you-really-love
lim?' he asked in a low tone.
Still shuddering, and with an eager
Ook at Kennedy, Elaine shook her
beautiful head.
Then, slowly rising to her feet, she
oOked at Craig appealingly.