Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-07-19


help the Beigians and We have splen-
did backing Just let me show you
some OF the names on our commit
tee.
She handed Elaine a list
I've just been sent to see u 7 can
not persuade YOU 10 join the commit.
tee and sttend a meeting at Mrs Riv-
ertons she went on
"Why-er considered Elaine.
thoughuully "er yes. It must be
an right with such people in it,
Can you go down with me now 2"
Just as we'll as later" agreed
Elaine.
They went out together, and as
they We're leaving the house a man
who had been lettering outside looked
at Elaine, then fXedly at her compan-
ion
No sooner had they gone than he
sped of TO a car waiting around the
corner. In the dark depths was sin
lister figure. the master criminal him
self The watcher had been an EN-
issary of the Cmtching Hand.
Chief he whispered eagerly, you
know Adventurous Mary? Well she s
got Elaine Dodge in tow,
The deuce cried Clutching Hand
Then We must teach Mary Carson,
or whoever she is working for, a les.
son No one shall interfere with our
affairs Follow them"
Elaine and Mary had gone down
town. talking animatedly walking
down the avenue toward Mrs. Riving-
tons apartment
Meanwhile Wong Sin, still in his
Chinese costume, was explaining to
another male servant Just what he
wished done, pointing out the dagger
on the wall and placing the bladder
under his Jacket A box of opium
was on the table. and he was Civ
ing most explicit directions. IL was
into such a web that Elaine was be-
ing unwittinly led by Mary
Entering the hallway of the apart
ment Mary rang the bell.
The servant opened the door and
Elaine and Mary entered He closed
the door and almost before they knew
it was gone into the back room
Elaine gazed about it in trepdiation.
But before she could say anything,
Mary, with a great show OF surprise,
exclaimed why, | must have made
a mistake This isn't Mrs Riying-
tons apartment How stupid Of me.
They looked at each other a mo-
ment Then each laughed nervously
as together they started to go out OF
the door II was locked
Quickly they ran to another door
1t was locked also
Just then the Chinaman entered and
stood moment gazing at them. They
turned and Elaine recoled from him.
Wong bowed
"Oh. sir. cried Mary, we've made a
mistake. Cant you tell us how to
get out?"
NO spoke Englis,' he said, Gid
ing out again from the room and
closing the door.
Elaine and Mary looked about in
despair
What shall we do?" asked Elaine
Mary said nothing, but with hastJ
glance discovered on the wall the
knife which Wong had already tolC
her about. She took it from its scab
bard. AS she did SO the Chinaman re
turned with tray on which were queer
drinks and glasses.
At the sight of Mary with the knife
he scowled blackly, laid down the
tray, and took a few steps in her di
rection. She brandished the knife
threateningly; then, as if her nerve
failed her, tainted, letting the knife
fall carefully on the floor so that II
struck on the handle, and not on the
blade,
Wong quickly caught her as she
tainted and carrying her out Of the
room, banged shut the door. Elaine
followed in a moment loyalty to pro
tect her supposed friend, but found
that the door had a snap lock on the
other side.
She looked about wildly, and in a
moment Wong reappeared. AS he ad
vanced slowly and inslnuatingly she
drew back pleading But her words
fell on seemingly deaf ears.
She had picked up the knife which
Mary had dropped, and when at last
Wong Unanswered to get her cornered
and was about to seize her, she nerved
herself up and stabbed at him reso'
lutely.
Wong staggered back-and fell.
AS he did so, he pressed the
bladder which he had already placed
under his coat. A dark red fluid
like blood, oozed out all over him and
ran in a pool on the floor
Elaine, too horror-stricken at what
had happened even to scream, dropped
the knife and bent over him. He did
not move. She rose quickly and ran
through the now open door AS she
did so. Wong seemed suddenly to come
to life. He raised himself and looked
after her, then with a subtle smile
sank back into his former assumed
posture on the floor
When Elaine reached the other room
she found Mary there with the Chi
nese servant who was giving her a
glass Of water At the sight OF her