The Ordway new era., 1915-09-17

From his hiding place Kennedy
crept stealthily. He had scarcely got
within reach of Wn when the alert
Chinaman seemed to sense. his pres
ence. He rose swiftly and swung
| around. E42
The two arch-enemies saxed at each
other q moment silently. Each knew
1t was the final. fatal encounter.
Slowly WI drew long knife and
leaped at Kennedy. who grappled with
him. They struggled mercilessly.
In the struggle Craig managed to
tear the torpedo out of Wu's hands.
just as they rolled over. 1t fell on .
rock. Instantly an explosion tore q
hole in the sand. scattering the gravel
all about.
Relentlessly the combat ragged. Out
on the wharf itself they went. right up
to the edge.
Then both went over into the water,
locked in each others viselike grip.
Even In the water they struggled
franticallly.
My search for the escaped crook
was unsuccessful. ~.
Somehow. however. It led me across
country to q road. As approached
heard a car and looked up. There
were the secret service men. called
them and stepped out of the bushes.
They stepped and jumped out Of the
car. and ran to them.
Come back with me-" urged. I'VE
found two of them. One IL dead.
Craig sent me to trace the other. I've
lost the trail. Perhaps you can find 1t
for me-"
quickly. Suddenly heard something
that caused me to start. 1t sounded
like an explosion.
| There's the place-over there"
pointed. pausIng and indicating the
direction OF the wharf whence had
come the explosion.
What was 1t? We did not stop q
moment, but hurried in that direction.
We reached the shore, where we
saw marks of the explosion and of .
fight. Out on the pier ran breath.
lessIy. rushed to the very edge and
| gazed over, then climbed down the
slippery piling and peered into the
black water beneath.
A few bubbles seemed to ot'ze up
from below. Was that all?
No, as gazed down saw that some
dark object was there. Slowly WI
Fang's body noated to the surfa .e and
lay there. rocked by the waves. Deep
In his breast stuck his own knife with
its handle of the sign of the serpent!
reached down and seized hir', as
peered about for Kennedy.
There was nothing more there.
"Craig!" called desperately.
"Craig!"
There was no answer. The silence.
the echo of the tapping water >der
the wharf was appalling, mocking.
I managed to call the secret service
men. and they got WI Fang's body up
on the wharf.
But could not leave the spot.
Where was Craig There was not
sign of him. I could not realize It.
even when the men brought graphing
irons and began to search the black
water.
1t was all a hideous dream. I saw
and heard. in q daze.
1t was not until late that night that
I returned to the Dodge house.
had delayed my return as long A.
could. but l knew that must see
Elaine some time.
As I entered even Jennings must
have seen that something was wrong.
Elaine, who was sitting in the library
with Aunt Josephine, rose as she saw
me.
did you get them?" Elaine asked
eagerly.
could not speak. She seemed to
read the tragic look on my haggard
face. and stopped.
why" she gasped. clutching at the
desk. what is the matter?"
As gently as l could told her OF
the chase. Of leaving Craig. of the ex.
plosion, OF the marks of the struggle
and OF the finding OF WI Fang.
As / finished l thought she would
faint.
And you-you went over every.
thing about the wharf,"
Everything. The men even dragged
for the" ..-.r.- .s...
checked myself over the fateful
word.
Elaine looked at me wildly. l thought
that she would lose her reason. She
did not cry. The shock was too great
for that.
Suddenly remembered the note.
Before l left him--the last time" !
blurted out, "he wrote a note-to you."
pulled the crumpled paper from
my pocket aud Elaine almost tore It
from me-the last word from him
and read:
Dearest-I may not return until the
case 10 settled and have found the
stolen torpedo. Matters involving mil.
lions Of lives and billions Of dollars
hang on the plot back Of Il. No mat
ter what happens, have no fear. Trust
4