The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1915-05-17
1T is now prepared" was the re.


A few minutes later the Clutching
Hand drove up to Long Sins house In
the taxicab and, after paying the
chauffeur. went to the door and
knocked sharply.
In response to his knocking, Long
Sin appeared on the threshold and mo-
toned to Bennett to come In, evident.
~ astonished to see him.
As he entered. Bennett made a sc.
cret sign and said: Il am the Clutch.
Ing Hand. Kennedy Is close on my
trail, and have come to be hidden"
In tone which betrayed alarm and
fear the Chinaman intimated that he
had no place In which Bennett could
be concealed with any degree of safety.
For a moment Bennett glared saw.
agely at Long Sin.
Il possess hidden plumber worth
seven million dollars" he pleaded
quickly, land II by your aid I can make
getaway. seventh is yours"
. The Chinaman's cupidity was clear
ly 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. Opening trap door In the
( floor of the room In which they were
standing, he led Bennett down step
ladder into the subterranean 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 weariness, Long Sin poured into
cup some of the liquor of death
which Tong Wah had mixed. He hand
ed it TO Bennett, who drank il 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 II back. opening
large receptacle, In which there were
two glass cOffins apparently contain
ing 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 i'm this condition for many
months. 1t is what is called In your
language suspended animation"
is that what you intend to do with
me?" asked Bennett. shrinking back in
terror.
The Chinaman nodded in affirmation
as he pushed back the cofiins.
Overcome by the horror of the idea
Bennett, with groan. sank back into
the chair shaking his head as if to In,
dicate that the plan was far too ter
rible to carry out.
With a sinister smile and a shrug of
his shoulders Long Sin pointed to the
cup from which Bennett had drank.
But, dear master" he remarked
suavely. you have already drank
full dose OF the potion which causes
insensibility. and it is overcoming you
Even now,' he added. you are toe
weak to rise"
With a malicious chuckle Long Sin
moved closer to his victim and spoke
again.
"Divulge where your seven millior
dollars are hidden" he suggested
craftily, land l will give you an anti
dote."
BY this time Bennett. who was be
coming more rigid each moment, wa:
unable to speak
Slowly. and after desperate strug
rIa ha n
and pointed to his breast pocket
The Chinaman instantly thrust in hi
hand and drew out map
For some moments Long Sin exam
ined the map intently. and, with gril
of satisfaction. he placed it in his owl
pocket. Then he mixed what he de
clared was Il sure antidote. and. pour
ing some of the liquor into cup. h
held it to Benefits lips.
AS Bennett opened his mouth t
drink it, Long Sin with a laugh slowl
pulled the cup away and poured 1t
contents on the floor.
BY this time ! was slowly recovering
my senses in the secretary's office
where Bennett had left me in the dis
guise of the Clutching Hand. Elaine
the secretary and the clerks wer
. gathered around me, doing all the
could to revive me,
Meanwhile Kennedy had enliste
the aid OF two detectives and wa
securing the city for trace OF Ber
nett or the taXicab in which he ha
fed.
Somehow, Kennedy suspected, II
stinctively, that Long Sin might civ
!, clue to BENEFITS whereabouts. an
a few moments later we were all o
our way in car II Long Sins house
: Though we did not know 1t. Lon
> Sin. at the moment when Kenned