The Monticellonian., 1915-08-05

NaluTdlty was ueIBuleu by tue novelty of the thing.
 
 Elaine was reading to Aunt Jose phine in the library when, not long sfter Wu's car slid out of the maze of streets of Chinatown, it stopped a few blocks below the Dodge house. With Long Sin, Wu got out and assisted Inez out.
 Walk up the avenue-you know the house." he directed Inez; then, turn ing to the roughs inside the car, add ed: You will calculate to catch up with her directly in front of the house. After that. meet IS just below, around the corner"
 Wu and Long Sin quickly walked downtown again, while lnez went on l up, followed shortly by the car with the two toughs.
 Elaine had just finished the book and laid it down.
 Suddenly, almost underneath the li- 1 brary window she heard agoniZing screams of Help Helpi" An instant later Jennings came rushing into the library from the hall and threw open the window to look out.
 Inez had been just about to pass the house when Wu's car drove up and stopped. Without warning, apparent | ly, two toughs had leaped out and seized her
 "Oh, they're trying to kidnap that 
 | poor grill" cried Elaine, remember | ing her own terrible experience. Jennings was out of the door in a moment followed by Elaine and Aunt Josephine in great state of excite ment.
 But the moment the toughs saw aid | coming from the Dodge house they ran to the car as if thoroughly fright ened and drove away as swiftly as they had come, while Inez sank down on the sidewalk. seemingly overcome.
 'Take her into the house, Jennings directed Elaine, soothing Inez. who by this time had faked perfectly l convincing case of mysteries.
 In the library, where she was placed in an easy chair, Elaine, her aunt, Marie and Jennings gathered about. while between smelling salts and cold water Inez weeping and trembling | like the good actress that she was. managed to tell a pitiful story of how she was just poor lady's maid who had lost her position and now was pursued on the streets by white slavers.
 "Oh, please. miss. may I stay here while till feel better?" she pleaded. "Oh-if I could only work for you and the kind lady who is like a mother" :" she sobbed, turning from Elaine to her aunt.
 It was a touching story, and it reached the hearts it was intended for.
 Don't worry; I'll see you through this affair nodded Elaine, wiping away the girls tears and smiling bravely at her "Take her upstairs. Marie. She can find plenty to do in this big house, I'm sure.
 Even while Inez was looking her thanks from her swollen teary eyes, already the car containing the toughs had drawn up around the lower cor her, and Wu and Long Sin had taken the places of the thugs
 Everything worked fine, master, reported the gunmen.
 
 I had gone over to the apartment after Kennedy had perpetrated his little joke with the new cigarette lighter, and there l found several let ters waiting for him.
 Having nothing better to do. decid ed to go back to the laboratory. where I left him at work, and take along the mail in case there might be something important in it for him
 He opened one or two letters. then came to one which l had laid on his des. in a plain envelope, addressed evidently in disguised hand He tore it open and read it with seowl.
 Well, Walter, what do you think of that?" he remarked, tossing it over to me
 l read it in astonishment:
 Another attempt is about to be made to kidnap Elaine Dodge.
 A FRIEND.
 I looked at him and shook my head blankly, while Craig took up the tele- l phone and called the Dodge house.
 No one answers he muttered. working the telephone hook up and | down. but I'm sure someone took ! off that receiver over there and lis tened in Operator-will you ring that number again?" | Unable to get any reply over the Dodge telephone, Kennedy thought a moment, then scrawled in his familiar hand on the bottom of the anonymous | note, sealed it in another envelope di- rected to Elaine, and called messen- ger.
 Inez, meanwhile. had transformed herself into full-fedged maid, look ! ing very pretty in her neat cap and apron, and making herself useful in a hundred ways about the Dodge house
 Without being obtrusive she was seldom out of hearing of the tele- phone, however, and it happened that l at just the moment when Craig called up she was there to intercept the call. 
 1 described proves that even in the