The Monticellonian., 1915-07-15
rise up into the moonlight.

IIOu that henHeQy ldQ tdheu.
 stole out from my own hiding place in the shadow of my rock and darted quickly to the shelter of a bush, nearer the figure.
 It turned to steal away.
 I leaped at him and he went down, rolling over and over in the under brush and stubble.
 He was powerful and stronger than I and after a tough tussle he broke loose. But 1 had succeeded, never theless. 1 had delayed him just long enough Kennedy heard the sound of the struggle and was now crashing through the hedge at the crossroads in our direction.
 l managed to pick myself up, just as Kennedy reached my side, and, to- gether, We followed the retreating figure as it made it's way among the shadows. Across the open space be- fore us we followed him and at last saw him dive into an old barn.
 A moment later we followed hot foot into the barn. As we entered, we could hear a peculiar grating noise, as though a door was swung open. Evidently the man had gone through and closed the back door.
 We threw ourselves against the back door, But it did not yield. There was no time to waste and We turned to rush out again by the way we came, just as the front door was slammed shut.
 The man had trapped us.
 We could hear his feet crunching the dry leaves and twigs as he went around the side of the barn again.
 Suddenly the pale silver of the moonlight on the floor reddened.
 The man had struck a match and thrown i' into mass of oil-soaked straw and gunpowder which protruded through one of the weather-beaten boards, near the floor.
 For a second I looked dismayed at the rapidly mounting flames.
 "A very pretty situation" I forced with a laugh. But I hope he doesn't think we'll stay here and burn, with a perfectly good window ln full view
 tOOh d Sitp lO w d1O luC "lnuON, puI before I could take another. Kennedy yanked me back.
 Don't think for a moment that he overlooked that ne shouted
 Craig looked around hastily, In a corner, just back of us, was a long pole He snatched it up and moved cautiously toward the window
 Keep back. Walter" he muttered, Just as far as you can.
 He mad scarcely raised the window fraction of an inch when an old, | rusty, neayy anvil and bent. worn plowshare crashed down to the floor directly over the spot where 1 should | have been If he had uot dragged me away.
 think you may try 1t safely now, ail right, smiled Kennedy eoolly.
 We climbed out of the window, not an instant too soon.
 Having gained the ciump of woods, the gaunt figure had paused iong enough GO gloat over his clever scheme. Instead, he saw us making good our escape With a gesture of intense fury he turned. There was nothing more for him to do but to zigzag hls way to safety across coun- try.
 Kennedy did not pause an instant longer, but in the light of the burn Ing barn. as best he could, started to follow the trail in a desperate en- deavor either to overtake Long Sin, or at least to find the final direction in which he would go.
 At the entrance of the passageway which led tc the little underground chamber in which we had sought the treasure hidden by the Clutching Hand, Wu Fang was seated on rock waiting lmpatiently. though now and then indulging In sinister smile at the subtle trick by which he had re- covered the ring.
 The sound of approaching foot steps disturbed him. He was far too clever to leave anything to chance and like serpent, he wriggled behind another rock and waited. It was only q glance, however, that he needed to allay his suspicious. It was Long Sin, breathless.
 Wu stepped out beside him so quiet ly that even the acute Long Sin did not hear "Well?" he said in gut tural tone.
 Long Sin drew back in fear 'I have failed, oh, master" he replied in an imploring tone. Even now they are following my tracks
 Wu drowned. We must work quick ly, then, he muttered
 He picked up a dark lantern near by, indicating another to Long Sin. They entered the cave, flashing the lights ahead of them.
 Be careful" ordered Wu, proceed ing gingerly from one stepping stone to another We shall be followed no further than this"
 He paused a moment and pointed his finger at the earth. Everywhere, ex- cept here and there where a stone projected. was a sticky, slimy sub stance. It was an old trick of primi- tive races.
 They passed on from stone to stone until they came to the subterranean chamber itself
 Long Sin watched his master in si- lent admiration as, at last, he drew forth the mystic ring for which they had dared all
 Without a word Wu dropped it in the slot, protuberance hit a trigger and pushed it hairs breadth.
 On the other side of the chamber. a great rock in the ground slowly