The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1915-06-24
FOURTEENTH EPISODE
THE RECKONING.

Pacing up and down his den in the
heart Of Chinatown. Long Sin was
thinking over bis bargain with Ken.
nedy 20 betray the infamous Clutch.
ing Hand.
At length he seated himself on a
teakwood table still celebrating over
the promise ne had been forced TO
make 20 Kennedy
Suddenly an idea seemed 20 strike
him. Lifting a little hammer. be
struck a Chinese gong on the table
az his side. Az the same time he
leaned over and turned the knob al the
side OF large roll.top desk
A few seconds later a sort OF hatch.
way. covered By a rug on the floor. IN
one corner Of the room. vas slowly
lifted and Long Sins secretary. a pale.
cadaverous Chinaman, appeared from
below. He stepped noiselessly into
the room and shufied across 20 Long
Sin and handed him letter.
Long Sin scowled. a. though some
thing had intertered with his own
plans, but tore open the envelope with.
out a word. spreading out or his lap
the shee; Of paper Il contained.
The letter was a typewriter mes
sage, all in capitals. which read.
BE AT HEADQUARTERs AT -.
DESTROY THIS IMMEDIATELY"
At the bottom OF the note appeared
the sinister signature OF the Clutching
Hand
Bowing low again. the secretary
shutiied 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 al
expression Of malicious cunning.
With an air OF deliberation he
reached for q match and struck IL.
He had placed the paper in the fame
when suddenly he seemed 70 change
bis mind. He hastily blew out the
match, which had destroyed only
corner OF the paper. then folded the
note carefully and placed Il IN bis
pocket
A few moments later. with a mallg.
nant chuckle. Long Sin rose slowly
and left The room.
Meanwhile the master criminal vas
busily engaged in putting the finishing
touches 70 a Anal scheme % fendish
ingenuity for the absolute destruc-
ton OF Craig Kennedy.
He had been az work In a small
room fitting up a sort o, laboratory.
In the mysterious house which now
served as his headquarters.
Clutching Hand. al a bench Ia one
corner. had just completed an Internal
machine OF diabollcal cunning, and
was wrapping II carefully in paper 10
make an innocent package.
He was interrupted b. a knock at
the door. Laying down the bomb he
went 20 answer the summons with a
stealthy movement There stood Long
Sin. who had disguised himself as q
Chinese laundryman.
On time-good,' growled Clutch
ng Hand surlily as be closed the door
with equal care
No time was wasted IN useless for.
nalities.
This ia a bomb" be went on. point.
ing 70 the package. Carry Il care
fully. On no account let IL slip, or
you are a dead man. It 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 g.
Il will be In the laboratory within an
hour. Trust me-"
In Ksnnedy's laboratory was watch
Ing Craig make some experiments
with a new X.ray apparatus.
We were oblivious TO the passage oi
time, and only a call over our speak
ing tube diverted our attention.
opened the door and few seconds
,ater Long Sin himself entered.
Kennedy looked up inquiringly al
he Chinamen approached. holding ouI
package which he carried,
"A bomb" he said. In the most mat
.er-of-fact way. Il promised to hav'
II placed in your laboratory befor'
pight"
Kennedy took the bomb and care
fully placed II under the wonderful
rays. then with the microscope over hi
eyes studied the shadow cast by tn,
rays on its sensitive screen.
It's q bomb. sure enough" craiI
exclaimed. looking up from II at las
20 me. TITS timed by an ingeniou