Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-04

excited by BENEFITS offer, while the
bare mention OF the amount at stake was
sufficient to overcome all his scruples.
After exchanging a few words he finally
agreed to aid the Clutching Hand. Open
ing a trap door in the floor of the room
in which they were standing. he led Ben
nett down a step-ladder into the sub
terranean chamber in which Tong wah
had so recently been preparing his
mysterious potion.
AS Bennett sank into a chair and passed
his hands over his brow in utter weari-
ness Long Sin poured into cup some
Of the liquor OF death which Tong wah
had mixed He handed it to Bennett.
who drank II eagerly.
How do you propose to help me to
escape?" asked Bennett huskily.
Without word Long Sin went to the
wall and. grasping one of the stones
pressed it back, opening a large recep-
tacle in which there were two glass cof-
fins apparently containing two dead
Cinnamon. Pulling out the coffins. he
pushed them before Bennett. who rose to
his feet and gazed 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. 1t is what is called in your
language suspended animation"
us that what you intend to do with
me?' asked Bennett, shrinking back in
terror
The Chinaman nodded in affirmation
as he pushed back the coftins.
Overcome by the horror of the idea
Bennett. with a groan, sank back into
the chair, shaking his head as If to in
dictate that the plan was far too terrible
TO carry out.
With sinister smile and a shrug Of
his shoulders Long Sin pointed to the
cup from which Bennett had drunk.
But, dear master" he remarked
suavely. you have already drunk a full
dose Of the potion which causes insensi-
bility, and it is overcoming you. Even
now" he added. you are too weak to
RISE
Bennett made frantic efforts to move
from his seat, but the potion was al
ready taking effect, and through sheer
weakness he found he was unable to get
ON his feet in spite of all his struggles.
With a malicious chuckle Long Sin
moved closer to his victim and spoke
again.
'Divulge where your 100000 are hid
den," he suggested craftily, land I will
give you an antidote."
BY this time Bennett, who was becom-
ing more rigid each moment, was I'M
able to speak, but by a movement of his
head and an expression in his eyes he
indicated that he was ready to agree
to the Chinaman's proposal.
where have you hidden the s., 900, 0Oo?'
repeated Long Sin.
Slowly, and after a desperate struggle,
Bennett managed to raise one hand and
pointed to his breast pocket. The China
man instantly thrust in his hand and
drew out a map.
For some moments Long Sin examined
the map intently. ana, with a grin of
satisfaction, he placed it in his own
pocket. Then he mixed what he declared
was a sure antidote, and, pouring some
of the liquor into a cup, he held 1t 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.
Benefits body had now become still
more rigid. Every sign Of intelligence
had left his face, and although his eyes
did not close. a blank stare came over
his countenance, indicating plainly that
the drug had destroyed all conscious
ness.
BY this time I was slowly recovering
my senses in the secretarys office, where
Bennett had left me. Elaine, the secre-