The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-05-21
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nation or apology.
"Why-he rang off," she exclaimed
angrlly to herself, as she hung up the
receiver and left the room.
In the center Of a devious and wind.
ing way, quite unknown to all except
those who knew the innermost secrets
of the Chinese quarter and even un-
known TO the police, there was a dingy
tenement house, apparently inhabited
by Woodworking Cinnamon, but in re-
allty the headquarters of the notori-
GUS devil worshipers, sect of satan
lists, banned even in the Celestial EN-.
pire.
The followers OF the cult comprised
some Of the most dangerous Chinese
criminals, thugs and assassins, be-
sides a number Of dangerous charac-
ters who belonged to various Chinese
secret societies. At the head of this
formidable organization was Long Sin,
the high priest Of the devil god, and
Long Sin had, as we know, already
Joined forces with the notorious
Clutching Hand
The room in which the uncanny rites
of the devil worshipers were conduct
ed was a large apartment decorated in
Chinese style, with highly colored por-
traits Of some Of the devil deities and
costly silken hangings. Beside large
dais depended huge Chinese gong.
On the dais itself stood, or rather
sat, an ugly figure covered with some
sort of metallic plating. 1t almost
seemed to be the mummy OF China
man covered with gold leaf.
Into this room came Long Sin at
tired in an elaborate silken robe. He
advanced and kotowed before the
dais with its strange figure, and laid
down an offering before it.
This performance was witnessed by
twenty or thirty Cinnamon who knelt
in the rear of the room.
At the same time an aged Chinaman
carrying a prayer wheel entered the
place and, after prostrating himself
devoutly, placed the machine on
sort Of low stool or tabourette and
began turning it slowly, muttering.
A few moments later Long Sin, who
had been bowling before the metallic
figure in deepest reverence, suddenly
sprang to his feet. His glazed eye and
excited manner indicated that he had
received a message from the lips of
the strange god.
The worshipers who had prostrated
themselves, in awe at the sight of their
high priest in the unholy frenzy, all
rose to their feet and crowded for
ward.
Long Sin struck several blows on
the resounding gong and then raised
his voice in solemn tones.
'Ksing Chau, the Terrible, demands
a consort. She is to be foreign-fair
of face and with golden hair"
At the same time, in a room of the |
adjoining house, the Clutching Hand |
himself was busily engaged in max
ing the most elaborate preparations
for some nefarious scheme which his
fertile mind had evolved.
The room had been fitted up as a
mediums seance parlor.
Two of the Clutching Hands most
trusted confederates and hard-faced
woman of middle age, dressed in plain
black, were putting the finishing
touches to this apartment, when their
chief entered
Clutching Hand gazed about the
room, now and then giving an order
or two to make more effective the
setting for the purpose which he had
in mind.
Finally he nodded in approval and
stepped over to the fireplace where
logs were burning brightly in a crate.
Pressing a spring in the mantelpiece,
the master criminal effected an instant
The logs in the fire
place, still burning, disappeared imme-
liately through the bottom of the brick
.iling and a metal sheet covered them.
An aperture opened at the back, as if
BY magic.
Through this opening Clutching
Hand made his way quickly and dis
Emerging on the other side of the
peculiar fireplace, Clutching Hand
pushed aside curtain which barred
he way and looked into the Chinese
emple, taking up position behind
he metallic figure on the dais.
The Cinnamon had by this time fin (
shed their devotions, If such they {
night be called, and the last one was !
eaving, while Long Sin stood alone
n the dais. 6
The noise of the departing satanists
ad scarcely died away when Clutch
lg Hand stepped out.
Follow me-" he ordered hoarsely, '
eizing Long Sin by the arm and lead c
lg him away. /
They passed through the passage
-ay of the fireplace and, having en- h
cred the seance room, Clutching Hand t
egan briefly explaining the purpose f
the preparations that had been t
Iade Long Sin wagged his head in 4
oluble approval f
IA
Elaine was standing in the library
lzing sadly at Kennedy's portrait,
linking over recent events and above r
i the rebuff over the telephone which e
le supposed she had received. Il
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