The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-04-30
FOURTEENTH EPISODE
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
ing Hand.
At length he seated himself on a
teakwood table still celebrating over
the promise he had been forced to
make to Kennedy.
Suddenly an idea seemed to strike
him. Lifting little hammer, he
struck a Chinese gong on the table
at his side. At the same time he
leaned over and turned the knob at the
side of large roll-top desk.
"A few seconds later sort Of hatch
way, covered by rug on the floor, in
one corner of the room, was slowly
lifted and Long Sins secretary, a pale,
cadaverous Chinaman, appeared from
below. He stepped noiselessly into
the room and shuffied across to Long
Sin and handed him letter.
Long Sin scowled, as though some
thing had interfered with his own
plans, but tore open the envelope with
out a word, spreading out on his lap
the sheet Of paper 1t contained.
The letter was typewriter mes
sage, all in capitals. which read:
BE AT HEADQUARTERS AT IL.
DESTROY THIS IMMEDIATELY"
At the bottom of the note appeared
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
expression 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
his mind. He hastily blew out the
match, which had destroyed only a
corner of the paper, then folded the
note carefully and placed 1t in his
pocket.
A few moments later, with 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 a sort of laboratory
in the mysterious house which nov
served as his headquarters.
Clutching Hand, at a bench In one
corner, had just completed an inferna
machine of diabolical cunning, ant
was wrapping it carefully in paper t
make an innocent package.
He was interrupted by a knock a
the door. Laying down the bomb az
went to answer the summons with
stealthy movement. There stood Loni
Sin, who had disguised himself as
Chinese laundryman.
"On time-good!" growled Gluten
ing Hand surlily as he closed the doc
with equal care.
No time was wasted in useless for
malities.
This is bomb" he went on, point
ing to the package. Garry 1t care
fully. On no account let 1t slip. Q
you are dead man. 1t must be il
Kennedy's laboratory before night
Understand? Can you arrange it?'
Long Sin glanced at the dangerou
package, then with an expressive look
replied, "Have no fear. ! can do II
1t will be in the laboratory within a.
hour. Trust me-"
In Kennedy's laboratory was watch
ing Craig make some experiment
with new X-ray apparatus.
We were oblivious to the passage Q
time, and only call over our speal
ing tube diverted our attention.
opened the door and a few second
later Long Sin himself entered.
Kennedy looked up inquiringly a
the Chinaman approached, holding gu
a package which he carried.
"A bomb he said, in the most ma
ter-offact way. Il promised to hav
it placed in your laboratory befor
night"
Kennedy took the bomb and carr
fully placed 1t under the wonderft
rays, then with the fiuorpscope over hi
eyes studied the shadow cast by tn
rays on its sensitive screen.
TITS a bomb, sure enough Graf
exclaimed, looking UP from II at Las
to me. TITS timed by 40 ingenior