Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-05-15

nation or apology.
"Why-he rang of, she exclaimed
! angrily to herself, as she hung up thl
receiver and left the room.
In the center of devious and wind
ing way, quite unknown to all except
those who knew the innermost secrets
OF the Chinese quarter and even un
known to the police, there was ding
tenement house, apparently inhabited
by Woodworking Cinnamon, but in re-
atty the headquarters of the notori-
GUS devil Worshipers a sect of satan
lists, banned even in the Celestial EN-.
pire,
The followers of the cult comprised
some of the most dangerous Chinese
criminals, thugs and assassins, be-
sides number of dangerous charac-
tiers who belonged to various Chinese
secret societies. At the head of this
formidable organization was Long Sin,
the high priest of the devil god, and
Long Sin had, as we know, already
joined forces with the notorious
Clutching Hand.
The room in which the uncanny rites
of the devil worshipers were conduct
ed was large apartment decorated in
Chinese style, with highly colored por-
traits of some of the devil deities and
/ costly silken hangings Beside large.
dais depended huge Chinese gong.
On the dais itself Stood or rather
sat, an ugly figure covered with some
sort of metallic plating. 1t almost
seemed to be the mummy of China
man covered with gold leaf,
Into this room came Long Sin at
tired in an elaborate silken robe. He
advanced and kotowed before the
dais with its strange figure, and laid
! down an offering before 1t. /
This performance was witnessed by
twenty or thirty Cinnamon who knelt
In the rear of the room.
At the same time an aged Chinaman
carrying prayer wheel entered the
place and, after prostrating himself
devoutly, placed the machine on o
sort of low stool or tabourette and
began turning 1t slowly, muttering,
A few moments later Long Sin, who
had been bowling before the metallic
figure in deepest reverence, suddenly
sprang to his feet. His glazed eye and
excited manner indicated that he had
received a message from the lips OF
the strange god.
The worshipers who had Frustrated
themselves, in awe at the sight of their
high priest in the unholy frenzy, all
rose to their feet and crowded for
ward.
Long Sin struck several blows on
the resounding gong and then raised
his voice in solemn tones.
"Ksing Chau, the Terrible, demands
a consort. She is to be foreign-fair
OF face ard with golden hair"
At the same time, in room of the
adjoining house The Clutching Hang
himself was busily engaged in max.
ing the most elaborate preparations
OR some nefarious scheme which his
critic mind had evolved.
The room had been fitted up as a
MEDIUMS seance parlor.
Two Of the Clutching Hands most
rustoi ccnfederates and hard-faced
oman ct middle age, dressed in plain
lack, were putting the finishing
pitches to this apartment, when their
nief entered
Clutchng Hand ga2ed about the
com, now and hen giving an order
or two to make more effective the
citing for the purpose which he had
mind,
Finally he nodded in approval and
topped ever to the fireplace where
log3 were burning brightly in crate.
Pressing spring in the nantelpiece,
Jhe master criminal effected an instant
.Tansfolma ion. The logs in the fire.
5lace, still burning, disappeared imme-
lately through the bottom of the brick
tllIuS anu u ulcLdl ouCCt NSNSlOu NhSih'
IN aperture opened at the back, as If
by magic.
Through this opening Clutching
Hand made his way quickly and dis
appeared.
Emerging on the other side of the
peculiar fireplace, Clutching Hand
pushed aside a curtain which barred
the way and looked into the Chinese
emple, taking up position behind
tae metallic figure on the dais.
The Cinnamon had by this time fins
ished their devotions, if such they
night be called, and the last one was
leaving, while Long Sin stood alone
IN the dais.
The noise of the departing satanists
had scarcely died away when Clutch
ing Hand stepped out.
Follow me" he ordered hoarsely,
selling Long Sin by the arm and lead
ing him away,
They passed through the passage
way OF the fireplace and, having en-.
cred the seance room, Clutching Hand
began briefly explaining the purpose
cf the preparations that had been
made. Long Sin wagged his head in