The Ordway new era., 1915-09-10


took it. l did not notice. however.
that she was careful to place it in
particular spot with the back to the
| wall.
laid my hat and gloveA on the
table. As ! did so, one glove must
have dropped on the floor In an incon-
spicuous place by the leg OF the table.
sat down while the maid left me
for a moment to call her mistress. In
| my best detective manner l. gaZed
about the room. endeavoring to- ex-
tract some clue. I was about to ex-
anime the room more closely when /
heard someone coming and restrained
my-interest in the surroundings. Inez
entered. and rose. a
Wont you sit down." she asked.
with exaggerated politeness. For
what am l indebted to you for this
visit?"
Well" replied. perhaps you re-
call the last time we met"
Inez stood by the table, listening
to me. thought a bit mockingly. AS
spoke her hand moved to the edge
of the table. Suddenly. before knew
1t. the room swan before my eyes and
all was blackness.
Inez had moved her hand over and
had pressed a secret knob. A bar in
the wall just beside my head had
sprung out striking me terrific blow
and knocking me out.
The maid, who had run in, and Inez
lifted me up. unconscious. and car
ried me into the back room.
It was scarcely Ave minutes after
that Kennedy came to the entrance to
the apartment There he noted the
mark which had made. He had Just
decided to go in. when he heard
noise. It was Cissy. arrayed in all her
glory. going out. with parting word
of instruction from Inez. He drew
back into the angle OF the hall.
was still unconscious. and Inez
was standing over me when she heard
the tinkle OF the bell. 1r-
Craig unconsciously took the very
chair in which 1 had been sitting and
sat down nonchalantly. A she saw
him, she had given a little gasp.
AS Craig watched her keenly. how.
ever. he was. able to discover that.
underneath her calm exterior. she was
very nervous and excited.
"Well?" demanded Kennedy with an
enigmatical smile you didn't expect
to see me again-so soon, did you?
Inez seemed to be overcome for the
moment. She rose and moved over
to the table.
wait a minute" interrupted Ken
| nedy. Come back and sit down.
have something to say to you"
Nervously her hand gripped the
table and moved along toward the
secret knob.
Kennedy notice it, but he had not
moved his chair from the position in
which it had been placed for me. At
that moment. though. his eye fell on
my glove. which I had inadvertently
dropped on the floor. He reached down
and picked 1t up. AS he did so the
bar in the wall flew out. just missing
his head as he bent over.
Seeing that her scheme had failed,
Inez made a dash for the door. Ken
nedy sprang to his feet and seized her.
Elaine. on her return from the lab
oratory. had gone to the conservatory
of the Dodge house, and there was
busying herself pruning the rose
bushes.
Once she happened to glance up at
| the end nearest the street. She could
see strolling gypsy going by. and
the gypsy. apparently. had spied her
through the open window.
Good afternoon, Mistress" greeted
the gypsy coming up to the fence.
Wouldn't you like to have me read
your fortune?"
Elaine was lonesome. She looked
the gypsy over. and the picturesque
ness of the woman appealed to her.
Laughingly. she consented, and the
gypsy entered
The gypsy took Elaine's hand and
looked at it carefully. You are in
danger from powerful Oriental GRIM
inal." announced the gypsy at last.
Elaine was, to say the least, In
pressed.
He is a very dangerous man." went
on the gypsy.
"And that is not ALL" the gypsy hint
ed. "In darkness l could make you
see the vision OF your prosecutor and
his den.'
She nodded knowingly at Elaine, and
at the same time from a fold of her
dress drew out the lead case, managed
to open 1t and took out the handker-
chief. Above the table she twisted 1t
into fiat band.
Let me show you." she said, hand
ing the handkerchief to Elaine. Tie
that over your eyes"
Elaine was sitting with her own
handkerchief in her hand, but she
turned quickly. When she faced the
gypsy again she had bandage fiat
over her eyes.
Nov. mistress. try-let yourself
CO.. urged the gypsy. Let me guide