Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-08-13

Inch by inch the pivoued rock moved
on its axis. They flashed their IAN
terms full on 1t and. as it moved, they
could see disclosed huge piles of gold
and silver coins and bars and orna-
ments, a chest literally filled with
brilliants. set and unset. rubies. en-
eralds, precious stones Of every con-
ceivable variety, q cave that would
have staggered even Aladdin.
For q moment they could merely
stand in avaricious exultation.
Painfully and slowly we managed to
trail Long Sins footprints. until We
came to a road where they were lost
in the hard macadam.
Kennedy chose the most likely direc-
ton, for the trail had been at an angle
to the road and Long Sin was not like
ly to double back. We had not gone
many rods before Kennedy paused a
minute and looked about In the moon
light.
'1t's right. Walter" he cried. do
you recognize it,"
looked about. Then 1t flashed over
me. This was the back road that led
past the entrance to the treasure vault
at Aunt Tabby's.
We went on now more quickly, lis
tening carefully to catch any sounds.
but heard nothing. At last Kennedy
stopped. then plunged among the
rocks and bushes beside the road.
We were at the cave.
You 60 this way, Walter" ne d.
rected. I'll 60 around and down
where it caved in"
I had gone only q yard or two when
It seemed as though something had
grasped my foot
With a great wrench managed to
pull 1t loose. But the weight on my
other foot had imbedded it deeper in
something. I struggled to free this
foot and got the other caught. My re-
volver which had drawn. was Jared
from my hand, and in the effort to re-
cover 1t, I lost my balance. Unable
to move a foot in time to catch myself
I fell forward. My hands we're now
covered by the Shiny, sticky stun. and
the more 1 struggled, the worse {;
seemed to get entangled
,
WI and Long Sin paused only
minute IN establishment. Then they
literally fell upon the wealth that lay
before them.
Suddenly they paused. There was
the slight tinkle OF a Chinese bell.
Kennedy had reached Aunt Tabby's
garden, outside the roof Of the subter-
| ranean chamber where It had given
| way. had gone down carefully over the
earth and rock, and in doing so had
broken a string stretched across the
passageway. The tinkle OF bell at
tached to 1t aroused his attention and
he stopped short, a second, to look
about. WI Fang had arranged q
| primitive alarm.
Quickly, WI and Long Sin blew out
their lanterns while WI gave the rock
a push. Slowly, as 1t had opened, It
now closed and they stood there listen
ing.
l was still struggling in the bird
lime, getting myself more and more
covered with it, when the reverbera-
ton of revolver shots reached me.
WI and Long Sin had opened fire on
Kennedy, and Kennedy was replying
in kind. In the cavern 1t sounded like
a veritable bombardment. As they re-
treated, they came nearer and nearer
to me and I could see the revolvers
splitting fire in the darkness.
watched them fearfully as they
hoped deftly from one stone to an
other to avoid the lime-and were
gone.
Craig! Craig!" managed to cry
feebly. BE careful. Keep to the
stones
Stepping from stone to stone, he fol
lowed the retreating Cinnamon. But
| they had already reached the mouth
of the cave and we're making their
way rapidly down the road to q
bend. in the opposite direction from
which we had come. There Wu's auto
mobile was waiting.
A moment later Kennedy appeared
but they had made their getaway
Baffied, he turned and retraced hi
steps to the cave.
"They got away, Walter" he said
lighting a lantern they had dropped
by George" he added. think a lit
tie vexed that had not been able t.
intercept them, you are a sight"
He was about to laugh. when FAINT
ed. l can remember nothing until
woke up over by the wall Of the cham
Der where he dragged me.
Kennedy had been working hard t,
revive me, and, as opened my eyes
he Strengthened up. His eye suddenl!
caught something on the rock besid'
: him. There was a little slot carve,
in It, and above the slot was q peculia
inscription.
For several minutes Kennedy puz
zled over it. as WI had done. TheI
he discovered the little cup near tn
: ground.
THE ring!" he suddenly cried out.
I was too muddled to appreciate a
once what he meant, but saw hin
reach into his fob pocket and dra,
: forth the trinket which had caused o
much disaster, as II It had been curse
: by the Clutching Hand himself. H
dropped 1t into the slot.
Struggling to my feet, saw acros
from me the very rock itself moving
Look, Craig!" I cried, involuntal