The Ordway new era., 1915-08-20
by mere pressure of his arm. "Ill
| give 1t to you some day"
Naturally was delighted by the
novelty of the thing.

|
after Wu's car slid out Of the maze of
streets of Chinatown, it stopped few
blocks below the Dodge house. With
Long Sin, WI got out and assisted
Inez out. "a
walk up the avenue-you. know the
house." he directed Inez; then. turn
ing to the roughs inside the car. add
ed: you will calculate to catch up
with her directly In front OF the house.
After that, meet us just below. around
the corner"
WI and Long Sin quickly walked
downtown again. while Inez went on
up. followed shortly by the car with
the two toughs.
Elaine had just finished the book
and laid 1t down.
Suddenly. almost underneath the H.
brary window. she heard agonizins
screams OF Help! Help!"
An instant later Jennings came
rushing into the library from the hall
and threw open the window to look
out.
Inez had been Just about to pass the
house when Wu's car drove up and
stopped. Without warning. apparent
ly, two toughs had leaped out and
seized her.
"Oh, they're trying to kidnap that
poor grill" cried Elaine. remember
ing her own terrible experience.
Jennings was out of the door in a
moment followed by Elaine and Aunt
Josephine in a great state of excite
ment.
But the moment the toughs saw aid
coming from the Dodge house they
ran to the car as II thoroughly fright
| ened and drove away as swiftly as
they had come, while Inez sank down
on the sidewalk, seemingly overcome.
Take her into the house. Jennings
directed Elaine. soothing Inez, who
by this time had faxed . perfectly
convincing case of Mysteries.
In the library, where she was placed
in an easy chair, Elaine. her aunt,
Marie and Jennings gathered about.
while between smelling salts and cold
water Inez, weeping and trembling
like the good actress that she was.
managed to tell a pitiful story Of how
she was Just poor lady's maid who
had lost her position and now was
pursued on the streets by, white
slavers.
"Oh, please. miss. may stay here
while till feel better?" she pleaded.
"Oh-if could only work for you and
the kind lady who is like a mother"
she sobbed, turning from Elaine to
her aunt.
1t was a touching story. and It
reached the hearts it was intended
for.
Don't worry; I'll see you through
this affair."" nodded Elaine, wiping
away the girls tears and smiling
bravely at her Take her upstairs,
Marie. She can find plenty to do in
this big house, I'm sure"
Even while Inez was looking her
thanks from her swollen teary eyes,
already the car containing the toughs
had drawn up around the lower cor
ner, and WI and Long Sin had taken
the places OF the thugs.
Everything worked fine, master,
reported the gunmen.
e.
| had gone over to the apartment
| after Kennedy had perpetrated his
little joke with the new cigarette
lighter, and there found several let
ters waiting for him.
Having nothing better to do, decid-
| ed to 60 back to the laboratory, where
I left him at work, and take along the
mail in case there might be something
important in it for him.
He opened one or two letters, then
T.. 4 Ill hi
desk in a plain envelope, addressed
evidently in disguised hand. He
| tore 1t open and read 1t with a scowl.
"Well, Walter, what do you think
| of that?" he remarked, tossing 1t over
| to me.
/ read it in astonishment:
Another attempt 10 about to be
made to kidnap Elaine Dodge.
I-... A FRIEND.
1 looked at him and shook my head
blankly, while Craig took up the tele-
phone and called the Dodge house.
mo one answers" he muttered.
working the telephone hook up and
down. but I'm sure someone took
of that receiver over there and lis
tened in. Operator-will you ring
that number again."
Unable to get any reply over the
Dodge telephone. Kennedy thought
moment, then scrawled in his familiar
hand on the bottom Of the anonymous
note, sealed 1t in another envelope di-
rected to Elaine, and called messen-
| ger.
Inez, meanwhile, had transformed
herself into . full.hedged maid. look
ing very pretty in her neat cap and
apron, and making herself useful in a
hundred ways about the Dodge house
Without being obtrusive she was
seldom out of hearing of the tele-
phone, however, and 1t happened that
| at Just the moment when Craig called
| up she was there to intercept the call,