The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1915-05-21
EIGHTEENTH EPISODE
THE VENGEANCE OF WI FANG.

THE VENGEANCE OF WI FANG.
Elaine was still in the power of WI
Fang. Kennedy had thwarted the
Chinese master criminal in his search
for the millions amassed by the
Clutching Hand. But any Joy that he
might have derived from this success
was completely obscured by the fear
that WI might wreak some diabolical
vengeance on Elaine.
Nor were Kennedy's fears unfounded.
WI and Long Sin had scarcely reach
ed the secret apartment when the
subtle Chinaman began to contem-
plate revenge.
Long Sin was smoking Chinese
pipe, resting after their hurried flight,
while WI, the tireless, was seated at
a table at the other end of the room
At last WI Fang took up long Chi
nese dirk from the table before him,
looked at it, turned it over, felt its
edge He rose and deliberately walked
across to a door leading into back
room.
On couch lay Elaine, and with her
as a guardian, was Weepy Mary.
AS WI, the Serpent, entered and
advanced slowly toward Elaine, she
crouched back from him in deadly
fear.
Slowly he drew from under his robe
the Chinese dirk. He felt the edge OF
. it again and gazed Significantly at
Elaine.
It was a critical moment.
Just then Long Sin entered. Zone
OF the five millions waits outside" he
reported simply, with bow.
WI understood. 1t had been pleas
ant fiction of his that although he did
! not, of course, absolutely control such
q stupendous organization, he could
by his subtle power, force almost un
! limited allegiance from the simple
coolies In that district of China from
which he came.
Out in the front room, just mo
ment before, a knock at the door had
disturbed Long Sin. and Chinese
servant had announced visitor. Long
Sin had waved to the servant to usher
him in, and a poorly clad coolie had
entered.
He bowed as Long Sin faced him
Where is the master?" he had asked
Long Sin had not deigned to speak
xIyith u, ynora mava of hie hand hn in
dicated that he would be the bearer
of the message, and had followed WI
through the door of the back room.
So, almost by chance, WI was inter
rupted in the brutal vengeance which
had first come to his mind. HI
sheathed the knife and, still withou
word, went back into the main room
giving a nod to Weepy Mary to guart
Elaine closely.
WI eyed the coolie until the new
conner could almost feel the masters
penetrating gaze, although his heat
was bowed in awe, Quickly the coolit
thrust his hand under his blouse ant
drew forth a package. With another
bow he advanced.
For your enemies, o MASTER" hi
said, handing the package over tt
WI.
The coolie started to open the pack
age, removed the paper wrapper, ant
then a silk wrapping inside. Finally
he came to box, from which he drew
a leather pouch, each operation con
Quoted with greater care as 1t became
evident that the contents were espe
cially precious in some way. Then III
took from the pouch a small vial.
What is it?" demanded WI Fang
as the coolie displayed it.
The coolie draw forth now magni
flying glass and glass slide. Opening
the vial with great care he shool
something out on the slide, theI
placed it under the lens.
Look" he said simply.
WI bent over and looked. Unde
the lens what had formerly seemed t
be merely a black speck Of dirt be
came now one of the most weird ant
uncanny little creatures to be found IL
all the realm of nature. 1t seemed Il
be all legs and feelers moving at once
A normal person would have looked
Mt the creature only with the creates
repugnance. WI regarded it with
sort of unholy fascination.
"And it is?" he queried.
"What the white man calls the Afr
ran tick which carries the recurren
fever" answered the coolie deferen
TALLY.
A flash of intense exultation scenes
to darken WI Fang's sinister face.
await" he said to the coolie, as h