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

NO More" Says Wa
OF paper. He strained his eyes in the
moonlight and managed to make out:
"The Serpent is al-wise and his
fang is fatal. You have signed the
white girls death warrant"
Meanwhile 1 had made my. way
stealthily, peering into the bushes and
careful not even to step on anything
that would make noise and was now,
as l have said, crouched behind the
big rock to which Craig had directed
me.
had begun to wonder whether Ken
nedy might not have made mistake
when, suddenly, from behind the
shadow of another rock ahead of me,
but toward Brownlee avenue. l saw
tall, gaunt figure of man stealthily
rise up into the moonlight.
My heart gave a leap as he quickly
raised his right arm and hurled some
thing as far as he could in the direc-
ton that Kennedy had taken.
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.
1t turned to steal away.
1 leaped at him and he went down,
rolling over and over in the under
brush and stubble.
He was powerful and stronger than
1 and after 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.
! 1 managed to pick myself up, just
as Kennedy reached my side, and, to-
| gether, we followed the retreating
figure as it made its 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,
noise, as though 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 Redeemed.
The man had struck match and
thrown it into a mass of oil-soaked
straw and gunpowder which protruded
through one of the weather-beaten
boards, near the floor.
For a second 1 looked dismayed at
the rapidly mounting flames.
"a very pretty situation" 1 forced
with a laugh. But 1 hope he doesn't
think Wen stay here and burn. with
perfectly good window in full view
took a step toward the window, but
before 1 could take another, Kennedy
| yanked me back.
y 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, heavy anvil and a bent, worn
piowshare crashed down to the floor
directly over the spot where / should
have been if he had not dragged me
away.
think you may try it safely now
all right" smiled Kennedy coolly.
We climbed out of the window, not
an instant too soon.
Having gained the cIump of woods
the gaunt figure had paused Dong
enough TO 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 tt
zigzag his 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 t.
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 passagewa,
which led to the little underground
chamber in which we had sought tn,
treasure hidden by the Clutchinl
Hand, WI Fang was seated on a rocl
waiting impatiently though now an,
then indulging in a sinister smile a
the subtle trick by which he had re
covered the ring.
The sound of approaching foo
steps disturbed him. He was far. to,
clever to leave anything to chanc
and like a serpent, he wriggled benin,
another rock and waited It was onl,
a glance, however, that he needed t
allay his suspicious. 1t was Long Sir
breathless.
, WI stepped out beside him so quie
~ that even the acute Long Sin di
not hear. ''Well?" he said in a gu
tural tone
Long Sin drew back in fear. "
have failed, oh, MASTER" he replied
an imploring tone. Even now the
I are following my tracks"
, WI frowned. I'VE must work quicl
, ", then,7 he muttered.
He picked up a dark lantern near b.
indicating another to Long Sin. The
entered the cave, flashing the light
ahead of them.