The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-30


80
rtse up into the moonllgtt
Mythear gave aleap as he quickly
raised his right arm and hurled some
thing as TAR ashe could IN the drec-
lion that Kennedy had taken
4 stole, out from my own hiding
place IN the shadow OF my rock and
darted quickly to the shelter Of a
bcsh, nearer the figure
leaped at him aud hewent down.
rolling over and over IN the under
brush and stubbIe.
He was powerful and stronger than
ana after tough tussle he broke
loose But had succeeded, never
tteless. I had delayed him-5usts long
enough Kennedy heard the sound OF
the struggle and was now crashing
through the hedge at the crossroads
In our direction
managed to pick myself UP. just
as kennedy reached my side and. to-
gether, we followed the retrearfnS
figure as It made It's 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.
We could hear peculiar grating
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 tine 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 crunchdng
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 a match and
thrown it into mass OF oil-soaked
straw and gunpowder which protruded
through one Of the weather-beatens
boards, near the hoor-
For a second looked disnayed at
the rapidly mounting flames.
"a very pretty situation" forced
with laugh. But hope he doesn't
think wei stay here and burn, with
q perfectly good window IN full view
took step toward the window, but
before could take another, Kennedy
yanked me back
Don't think for moment that he
overlooked that, ne shouted.
Craig looked around hastily. In
corner, Just back Of US, was a long
pole. He snatchef 1t up and moved
cautiously toward the window.
Keep back, Walter, he muttered.
s4just as far as you can"
He had scarcely raised the window
a. traction OF an inch when an old,
rusty. neavy anvil and bent, worn
pIowshare crashed down to the floor
directly over the spot where should
have been if he had not dragged me
away
.I think you may try It safely now,
ali right" smiled Kennedy coolly-
we climbed out OF the window, not
an instant too soon
Having gained the clump ofwoods,
the gaunt figure had paused long
enough TO gloat over his clever
scheme. Instead, he saw US making
good our escape With gesture OF
intense fury he turned There was
nothing more for him to do but to
z1gzag 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 to
follow the trail in desperate en-
deayor either to overtake Long Sin,
or at least to find the final direction
In which he would go
at the entrance Of the passageway
which led to the little underground
chamber IN which We had sought the
treasure hidden by the C1utching
Hand. WI Fang was seated on rock
waiting impattently, though now and
then INDUCING in q sinister smile at
the subtle trick by which he had re-
covered the ring
The sound of approaching foot
steps disturbed him He was far too
clever to leave anything to chance
and like a serpent he wrtggled behind
another rock and waited 1t was only
a glance, however, that he needed to
allay his suspicious It was Long Sin,
breath1ess.
WI stepped out beside him SO quiet
" that even the acute Long Sin d4o
not hear. -weu?', he said In a gut
turel tone.
Long Sin drew back IN fear 7
have failed. oh. master he replied in
an implor1ng tone. Even now they
are following my tracks
WI rowned- we must work quick
", then he muttered
He picked up dark lantern near by,
indicating another to Long Sin They
entered the cave, flashing the lights
ahead of them
BE careful" ordered WI, proceed
ing gingerly from one stepping stone