The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-08-31

Long SIN pulled her back into the
room and slammed the door she had
opened
1t was all done SO quickly that Ken
needy could catch only the most feet
ing glimpse Of her clothes and face.
But that glimpse was enough.
1t was-apparently-E lainei
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
hooking 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
wac AOACC0 OdCA Okl Lie PQbt dnQ uOA0
there just long enough for Long Sin
to wind 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,
.'how did you leave the real ElaSne?"
Inez looked at her watch. "She is
locked in her attic" she replied with
evident enjoyment "The house will
start to burn by spontaneous combus-
ton 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 Supplying 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 Kennedys instructions.
I arrived at Elaine's house.
AS Jennings led me into the library
was met by Aunt Josephine.
Craig has gone of on clue,n /
explained, "and has asked me to drop
in to see how things are. Is Elaine all
right?"
Why, haven't seen her for an hour
or more" answered Aunt Josephine.
Il think she must have gone out
Won't you sit DOWN."
There was nothing else to do. On
the chance that she might come back,
l sat down. considerably worried now,
about the note and her absence.
Upstairs, If we had only known it,
Elaine had now regained conscious
ness.
Worse than that, the time was up
for the water to be drained of the
phosphorus.
AS the last drop was siphoned of
the vessel by the capillary tube, the
deadly element seemed to burst into
flames and white fumes. Instantly the
dry tinderlike excelsior and other stuff
caught fire.
Helpless. tied to the post, Kennedy
had not ceased struggling to free him
self, though without avail.
Suddenly an idea occurred to him.
He gazed down at his hands and
wrists Suppose they we're not free?
Was there no way to use them?
Slowly he turned his arm around
until the outside Of his wrist pressed
on rome. Then he drew his upper
arm tight to his side, still with his
wrist pressing on the rope.
His heart fairly leaped. It worked!
The cuff link which he had devised
as cigarette lighter as a joke on me
was burning the rope.
Then he pulled at the weakened
ropes as he had before in his futile
struggles.
They broke.
Just on the other side of the door he
could hear the low buzz of the argu-
ment as Long Sin urged WI to allow
him to kill Kennedy.
Very we'll. then" WI at last
agreed. looking at his watch and nod
ding to Long Sin and the others who
sprang forward
Free from his bonds. Kennedy had
been standing a second wondering
how to escape from the room Just
then he heard footsteps outside.
Quickly he replaced the ropes about
him SO that they looked as IL he were
still bound by them.