The Monticellonian., 1915-06-10
TWELFTH EPISODE
THE BLOOD CRYSTALS.

OH your TlSuI IS tHe ItSlu6HCe Ol Miss Elaine Dodge, who is pursuing the famous master criminal known as the Clutching Hand9
 The barker had been grandiloquent- ly pointing out the residences of noted New Workers as the big sightseeing car numbered along through the streets
 No one had paid any attention to the unobtrusive Chinaman who sat in- conspicuously in the middle of the car. He was MT. Wong Long Sin, but no one saw anything particularly mys- terious about an Oriental visitor more or less, viewing New York city.
 Wong was of the mandarin type. with long, dropping mustache. well dressed in American clothes, and con forming to the new customs of an Oc- cidentalized China.
 Anyone. however. who had been watching Long Sin would have seen that he showed much interest when ever any of the wealthy residents of the city were mentioned The name of Elaine Dodge seemed particularly to strike him. He listened with subtle interest to what the barker said and looked keenly at the Dodge house.
 The sightseeing car had passed the house. when he rose slowly and mo tioned that he wanted to be let off The car stopped. he alighted and slow ly rambled away, evidently marveling greatly at the strange customs of these uncouth Westerners
 Elaine was going out when she met Perry Bennett almost on the steps of the house.
 I've brought you the watch re- marked Bennett Thought I'd like to give it to you myself
 He displayed the watch which he himself had bought couple of days before for her birthday. He had called for it himself at the jewellers. where it had now been regulated. H
 "Oh, thank you" exclaimed Elaine. Wont you come in?"
 They had scarcely greeted each other when Long Sin strolled along Neither of them, however, had time to notice the quiet Chinaman who passed the house, looking at Elaine sharply out of the corner of his eye. They entered and Wong disappeared down the street
 Isn't it beauty?" cried Elaine, holding ii out from her as they entered the library. and examining it with great appreciation. And, oh, do you know, the strangest thing happened yesterday! Sometimes MT Kennedy acts too queerly for anything"
 She related how Craig had burst in on her and Aunt Josephine and had almost torn the other watch off her wrist.
 Another watch2" repeated Bennett, amazed. 1t must have been mis- take. Kennedy is crazy"
 T don't understand it. myself, mur- mured Elaine
 
 Long Sin was revolving some dark and devious plan beneath his impas- sive Oriental countenanee He was no ordinary parsonage. Ill fact, he was astute enough to have no record. He left that to his tools.
 This remarkable criminal had estab- lished himself in hired apartment down town.
 Long Sin. now in rich Oriental cos tune, was reclining on a divan smok. ing strange-looking pipe and playing with two pet white rats Each white rat had gold band around his leg. to which was connected a gold chain about a foot in length. and the chains ended in rings which were slipped over Wongs little fingers. Ordinarily he carried the pets up the capaeious sleeve Of each arm.
 A little Chinese girl. also in native costume, entered and bowed deferen- tially.
 A Miss Mary Carson" she lisped in soft English
 Let the lady enter" waved Long Sin, with a smile of subtle satisfaction.
 The girl bowed again and silently ieft the room, returning with hand some, very well-dressed white woman.
 It would be difficult to analyze just what the fascination was that Long Sin exercised over Mary Carson. But as the servant left the room, Mary bowed almost as deferentially as the little Chinese girl. Wong merely nod ded in reply.
 After moment he slowly rose and took from drawer newspaper clip ping. Without word he handed it 10 ~~~~s~~~~e~~~~se~~~~-~-ee -~-ee~~-o~~-~~~~o-~-~-~- dNcpIPEn BY FATHER puINE