The Ordway new era., 1915-08-20

"a note OF some kind that he
dropped replied Craig. passing over
| to me the paper he had picked up.
read in English: a.
"see what he 10 doing and report to
mo In tho basement below 116 Mott
street."
Beneath the few words, evidently
orders. was that mystic sign OF the
serpent-the mark OF the arch-crim-
inal. WI Fang.
TITS a clue, Craig!" I exclaimed.
For a moment Craig said nothing.
as he turned to go back into the
laboratory. For some time he con-
tinued to study the note, as though
revolving something in his mind.
Whatever 1t is," he remarked at
length. I'm going to look into 1t.
anyhow. While I'm gone. Walter.
wish you'd just go around and see II
Elaine is all right"
|
| At last Kennedy sauntered in cas-
ually to the hop joint on Mott street,
his collar still up and his hat still
over his eyes.
He lounged across the floor among
the smokers and picked out bunk.
while Hop Sing, the proprietor.
brought him a pipe. Kennedy pretend
ed to light 1t. but in reality did not.
In the back room, by this time. Inez
had completed her disguise by placing
on her head the wig and had given
the little finishing touches to her
makeup. WI was giving final instruc-
tions to Long Sin and the rest. and
the four Cinnamon ranged themselves
in groups OF two on either side OF the
door.
Finally WI paused and whispered
something to Inez. Then both he and
Long Sin seized two glass globes that
stood on the table. They raised them
high over their heads and smashed
them on the floor. at the same time
stamping their feet terrifically. Inez
| screamed as IL a murder were being
committed.
Outside In the den Kennedy heard
the scream and the crashing Of glass.
mufI!ed by the door. He Strengthened
up in his bunk, now all attention.
| Was it some white woman calling
|
The door few open. Sure enough, n
woman appeared. still screaming.
1t was only for an instant and she
did not even get across the threshold
With low cultural exclamation,
Long Sin pulled her back into the
room and slammed the door she had
opened.
It was all done SO quickly that Ken
nedy could catch only the most fleet
ing glimpse of her clothes aud face.
But that glimpse was enough.
It was-apparently--El
Craig sprang up instantly. drawing
his revolver and threw himself
against the door, recollecting the
warning message that had come
through the mail.
The door yielded and he rushed
through. In an instant the four
Cinnamon crouching on either side
leaped on him.
The struggle was terrific. He
downed two and seemed in a fair way
to win against even such odds, when
the disguised Inez turned. with Il
mocking laugh, pulling of both the
hat and wig.
| Kennedy's amazement gave the
Cinnamon a chance. Before he real
lied 1t, in his complete surprise. he
was forced back on the post and held
there Just long enough for Long Sin
to wind a rope around him. binding
his arms, legs and body to the post.
Then WI Fang walked over before
him and faced him.
| Come over here, my dear" he
| called to Inez. Let me introduce
Prof. Craig Kennedy to you-Innocent
Inez.
"By the way" he went on to Inez
chow did you leave the real Elaine?"
Inez looked at her watch. "She is
locked in her attic" she replied with
evident enjoyment. 1.-THE house will
start to burn by spontaneous combus
tion in exactly twenty minutes"
|
Upstairs in the attic of the Dodge
house Elaine, in the queer chair. was
just recovering bit from the effects
of the vapor.
Still as the minutes heightened she
began to breathe more regularly as
the stupefying effects Of the vapor
wore of, and was just beginning to
move her head in the first unconscious
endeavors to grasp at consciousness.
1t must have been just at this point
that, following Kennedy's instructions.
arrived at Elaines house.
As Jennings led me into the library
I was met by Aunt Josephine.
Craig has gone OFF on a clue" l
explained. "and has asked me to drop
in to see how things are. Is Elaine all
right"
"Why. I haven't seen her for an hour
or more" answered Aunt Josephine.
"I think she must have gone out
Won't you sit DOWN."
There was nothing else to do. On