The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-07-14

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like, up the stairs, until he came to the
door of Aunt Josephine's room.
He bent down and listened. There
was no sound except Aunt Josephine's
breathing. Silently he drew from a
fold in the loin-cloth screwdriver and
removed the screws from the hinges of
the door. Quietly he pushed the bed
room door open, pivoting it on the
lock, just far enough open so that he
could slip through.
Creeping along the floor, like the
reptile whose sign he had assumed,
he came nearer and nearer Aunt Jo-
sephine's bed. AS he paused for a
moment his quick eye seemed to catch
sight of the bullying lump under her
pillow. His long, thin hand reached
out and quietly removed the jewel case
from under her pillow.
In a country -roadhouse Long Sin
was waiting patiently. The telephone
rang, and the proprietor answered.
Long Sin was at his side almost before
he could hand over the receiver. 1t
was Long Sins master, WI.
Beware" came the whispered mes
sage over the wire. Kennedy has
made false ring I'll get the real
one. BY the great Devil of Cobb, you
must cut him Off"
cit is DONE" returned Long Sin
hanging up the receiver in great ex
! citement.
He hurried out of the room and left
the roadhouse. Down the road in an
automobile, bound between two China
men, one at her head and the other al
her feet, was Elaine, wrapped around
in blankets, not even her face Wis
ible. The guards looked up startled
as Long Sin streaked out of the
shadow to the car.
''Quick!" he ordered. "The master
will get the ring himself. 1 will take
care of Kennedy"
An instant and they were gone, while
Long Sin skunk back into the shadow
from which he had come.
Through the underbrush the will,
Chinaman made his way to an DID
barn.
In the dim light of lantern hang
ing from a rafter could be seen sew
eral barrels in a corner. Without a
moments hesitation Long Sin seized
bucket and placed it under the spig
OF of one of the barrels. The liquid
poured forth into the bucket, and he
emptied the contents on the floor, fill
ing the bucket again and again and
swinging it right and left in every
direction, until the barrel had finally
run dry.
Then he moved over to the window
which he examined carefully. Satisfied
with what he had done, he drew sill
of paper from his pocket and hastily
wrote note, resting the paper on al
old box. When he had finished writ
ing he folded up the note and thrus
it into a little hollow-carved Chinese
figure, which he took also from his
pocket.
With a final hasty glance about ht
extinguished the lantern, letting the
moonlight stream fitfully through the
single window Then he left the barn
with both front and rear doors open
Taking advantage of every bit O
shelter, he made his way across the
field in the direction of the crossroads
finally dropping down behind a hug
rock some yards from the finger pos
that pointed each way to Williams ant
Brownlee avenues.
Late that night Kennedy left hi
apartment prepared to follow the in
structions in the note which had beel
so strangely delivered in the vase.
AS he climbed into a roadster h
tucked the robe most carefully into
corner under the leather seat
For heavens sake, Craig" 1 gaspe
from under the robe, 'let me have
little air.
had taken my place under the rob
before the car was driven up in from
, of the apartment lest some emissar
of WI Fang might be watching to Sc
that there was such a trick.
you'll get air enough when we ge
started, Walter" he laughed back III
der his breath, apparently addressin
1 the engine.
We had reached a point in the sui
urbs which was deserted, and I di
! not recognize thing when he pulle
up by the side of the road with a jerl
A moment later he pulled the rob
! partly off me, and bent down a
! though examining the batteries o.
the side of the car.
Get out on the other side IN tn
shadow of the car, Walter" ne whis
i pered hoarsely. go down the roa
! a bit-only cut in and keep under COZ
!. er. This is Williams avenue. You
r see a big rock. Hide behind i
Ahead you'll see Brownlee avenue B
q prepared for anything / shall hav
q to trust the rest TO you. 1 don't kno'
q myself what's going to happen"
n slid out and went along the edg
of the road, as Craig had directet
@ and finally crouched behind a hug
], rock.
After a moment to give me
q chance, Craig himself left the ca
! pulled up close by the side of th
!. road and went ahead on foot At las
n he came to the crossroads, just aroun
o the bend, where, in the moonlight, b
could read the signs: Williams av
y nue. and '.Brownlee avenue" He stoo
! there moment.
! Suddenly, at his feet in the dust
] the road something heavy seemed |
: drop. He looked about quickly. n
! one was in sight.
He reached down and picked up
' little Chinese figure. Tapping it wit
his knuckles he examined it curiousl
Z It was hollow.
From the inside he drew ont nins