Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-23

'NAN'a' AAN AbOhtu 0bphl q minute Inc
apartment was empty.
Slowly Long Sin walked over to the
table and began examining the articles
on it. Finally he picked up Kennedy 3
pipe and again his insorutable face
lighted with diabollcal joy.
He took the vial quickly from his
pocket and with small soft brush
painted the nouthpiece of the pine with
the liquid from the vial.
He laid the pipe down as ne found II
and beat hasty retreat
We had scarcely time to drive TO
Elaines house when a message reached
us from Kennedy directing us TO return
and meet him several squarts below our
apartment.
We did so Immediately. There was
Kennedy with Chase and three or four
policemen
In ten minutes 1 want you to raid the
apartment he said, looking at his
watch. I'm going in there now"
In spite of the pleadlngs Of Elaine he
walked off around the corner in the di-
rection % our quarters.
lie entered the building and. as he
opened our own door, drew a gun. kick
ing the door open and retreatinE a step.
No one was there and he went in.
Craig looked about a moment. On the
surface nothing had been disturbed. He
went through the bedrooms. Nothing
was disturbed there.
Slowly he went back again to the door.
way, all the time careful not to step on
the rug. Starting near II no began
spraying the floor with the atomizer.
It was one OF his own inventions which
he called "photo-nat."
AS the spray fell on the carpet and
hardwood it developed Long Sins foot
prints exactly.
Carefully. Kennedy followed them as
the chemicals brought them out. Long
Sin had not walked around the room
much. evidently, as Craig advanced
slowly along the floor, still spraying. As
each step came out it was apparent that
Long Sin had done little else but go to
the table and then leave.
Craig looked at the table a moment.
There seemed to be nothing on It that
would attract a man of Long Sins
talnts. Mechanically, Craig picked up
his pipe lying there and looked at it
contemplatively. He shifted at the mouth
piece. There was a peach stone smell.
Then he took up a magnifying glass and
examined IL.
Cyanide" he muttered to himself I'M
der his breath. laying the pipe down gin
gerly
For a moment he thought, then a sud
den impulse seemed to seize him. His
mind was made up. He moved over
closer to the marked Dashboard. Suddenly
he uttered a sharp cry.
'Hello-central Help! Help! I'm poi
sonedT'
At the same time he struck the wall a
blow as though he were falling.
Down in the cellar the six Cinnamon
looked at each in unfeigned delight as
they heard the call for help and the thud
followed by suppressed groans and cries.
Quickly WI pulled the detectaphone re-
ceiver off his head.
"Here-take this" he ordered Long Sin,
handing him a paper which he drew from
under his blouse.
Long Sin took It and looked at it with
a smile of satisfaction. He understood.
On the paper was drawn Wu's sign OF
the serpent with fangs striking viciously
and VIGOROUSLY.
Reckoning TO another OF the Cinnamon,
Long Sin went out and upstairs
Meanwhile Craig who has been listen
ing at the door expecting some such in
cursion, heard Long Sin approaching. He
seated himself in a chair, sprawling out
rigidly, eyes closed.
Without waiting, Long Sin and his
servant entered stealthily. The China
men stood in the doorway and Long Sin
slowly crept over to Kennedy's chair.
AS he reached down to pin the sign of
the serpent on Kennedy's apparently life
less body. Craig seemed to come TO life.
He seized Long Sin and they struggled
fiercely, while, Craig, freeing one hand,
whipped out his automatic and fired side
ways at the Chinaman in the doorway.
The Chinaman fell, lay there a moment,
then raised himself UP and with fast
ebbing strength managed to crawl out
OF the doorway and down the hall.
1t was a death grapple between Craig
and the willy Long Sin. At last they had