The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-07-20
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 q
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 q large roll-top desk.
way. covered by rug on the floor. In
one corner Of the room, was slowly
lifted and Long Sins secretary, q pale,
cadaverous Chinaman, appeared from
below. He stepped noiselessly into
the room and shuf1ed 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 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
shufied 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 elaboration he
reached for a match and struck 1t.
He had placed the paper in the fame
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 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 f1endish
ingenuity for the absolute destruc-
ton Of Craig Kennedy.
He had been at work in a 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
was wrapping 1t carefully In paper to
make an innocent package.
He was interrupted by a knock at
the door. Laying down the bomb he
went to answer the summons with
stealthy movement. There stood Long
Sin, who had disguised himself as a
Chinese laundryman.
"On time-goodl" growled Clutch
ing Hand surlily as he closed the door
with equal care.
No time was wasted in useless for
malities.
This Is a bomb he went on, point
ing to the package Garry it care
fully. On no account let 1t slip, or
you are dead man. 1t 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 can do II.
1t will be in the laboratory within an
hour. Trust me-"
In Kennedy's laboratory was watch
ing Craig make some experiments
with new X-ray apparatus.
We were oblivious to the passage Of
time, and only call over our speak
ing tube diverted our attention.
Iopened the door and few secondH
later Long Sin himself entered.
Kennedy looked up inquiringly IS
the Chinaman approached, holding out
q package which be carried
"a bomb he said. in the most mat
ter-offact way. Il promised to have
It placed in your laboratory before
night"
Kennedy took the bomb and care
fully placed 1t under the wonderful
rays, then with the horoscope over his
eyes studied the shadow cast by the
rays on its sensitive screen.
It's a bomb, sure enough" Craig
exclaimed, looking up from 1t at last
to me. Its timed by an ingenious
and noiseless little piece Of csockwork,
In there, too. And it's powerful
enough to blow US all. the laboratory
Included, to kingdom come"
AS he spoke, and before l could re-
monstrate with him, he took the In,
fernal machine and placed 1t on a
table where he set to work on the
most delicate and dangerous piece of
dissection Of which / have ever heard.
Carefully unwrapping the bomb and
unscrewing one part while he held an
other firm, he finally took out Of it a
bottle Of liquid and some powder.
Then he placed a few grains of the
powder on dish and dropped on It a
drop or two Of the liquid. There was
bright flash as the powder ignited
Instantly.
Just what expected" commented
Kennedy with a nod, as he examined
the clever workmanship of the bomb.
One thing that interested him was
that part of the contents had been
wrapped In paper to keep them in
place. This paper he was now care
fully examining with microscope.
AS nearly as could make 1t out. the
paper contained part of typewrit-
ten cremical formula, which read:
TINCTuRE OF IODINE
THREE PARTS OF
He looked up from his study Of the
microscope to Long Sin.
TELL me Just how 1t happened that
you got this bomb" he asked.
Without hesitation the Chinaman re-
cited the circumstances, beginning
with the note by which he had been
summoned.
"a note?" repeated Kennedy, ca
gerly. "Was 1t typewriter"
Long Sin reached into his pocket
and produced the note itself, which he
had not burned.