Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-06-29

fear the Chinaman tntimateo tnal u
had no place in which Bennett couiu
be concealed with any degree OF salsss'
For a moment Bennett glared say
agely at Long Sin.
81 possess hidden plumber worm
seven million dollars" he PLEADED
quickly, "and if by your aid ! can make
a getaway, a seventh is yours.
The Chinaman's cupidity was clear
Iy excited by BENEFITS offer. while the
bare mention of the amount at stake
was sufficient TO overcome all MS
scruples.
After exchanging a few words ne
finally agreed to aid the Clutching
Hand. Opening trap door IN the
floor of the room in which they were
standing, he led Bennett down STEP
ladder into the subterranean chamber
in which Tong Wah had so recently
been preparing his mysterious potion.
AS Bennett sank into a chair and
passed his hands over his brow IN
utter WEAKNESS, Long Sin poured INTO
a cup some of the liquor Of death
which Tong Wah had mixed. He hand
ed it to Bennett, who drank IT eagerly.
How do you propose to help me TO
escape?" asked Bennett huskily.
Without a word Long Sin went TO
the wall, and, grasping one OF the
stones, pressed it back. opening
large receptacle. in which there were
two glass collins apparently contain
ing two dead Cinnamon. Pulling out
the coffins. he pushed them before
Bennett. who rose to his feet and
gazed upon them with wonder
Long Sin broke the silence: These
men," he said. "are not dead; but they
have been in this condition for many
months. 1t is what is called in your
language suspended animation"
"Is that what you intend to do with
me?" asked Bennett, shrinking back in
terror.
The Chinaman nodded in affirmation
as he pushed back the collins.
Overcome by the horror of the idea
Bennett, with groan, sank back into
the chair, shaking his head as If to In
dictate that the plan was far too ter
rible to carry out.
With a sinister smile and shrug OF
his shoulders Long Sin pointed to the
cup from which Bennett had drank.
But. dear master" he remarked
suavely, you have already drank
full dose of the potion which causes
insensibility, and it is overcoming you.
Even now" he added, you are too
weak to rise"
With a malicious chuckle Long Sin
moved closer to his victim and spoke
again.
"Divulge where your seven million
dollars are hidden" he suggested
craftily, "and will give you an anti
dote."
BY this time Bennett, who was be-
coming more rigid each moment, was
unable to speak.
Slowly, and after desperate strug-
gle, he managed to raise one hand
and pointed to his breast pocket.
The Chinaman instantly thrust in his
hand and drew out a map.
For some moments Long Sin exam
ined the map intently, and. with grin
of satisfaction, he placed it in his own
pocket Then he mixed what he de-
clared was a sure antidote, and, pour
ing some of the liquor into a cup, he
held it to Benefits lips.
AS Bennett opened his mouth to
drink it, Long Sin with a laugh slowly
pulled the cup away and poured its
contents on the floor.
BY this time was slowly recovering
my senses in the secretary's office,
where Bennett had left me in the dis
guise of the Clutching Hand Elaine,
the secretary and the clerks were
gathered around me, doing all they
could to revive me.
Meanwhile Kennedy had enlisted
the aid of two detectives and was
securing the city for a trace of Ben
nett or the taxicab in which he had
fed.
Somehow, Kennedy suspected, in
stinctively, that Long Sin might give
a clue to Benefits whereabouts, and
few moments later we we're all on
our way in car to Long Sins house.
Though we did not know it, Long
Sin, at the moment when Kennedy
knocked at his door, was feeling in his
inside pocket to see that the map he
had taken from Bennett was perfectly
safe. Finding that he had it, he smiled
with his peculiar oriental guile Then
he opened the door and stood for a
moment, silent
Where is Bennett?" demanded Ken
nedy.
Long Sin eyed us all, then, with a
placid smile, said Follow me. / will
show you"
There was Bennett, seated rigidly in
the chair beside the table, from which
the walls and cups. about which we
knew nothing. had been removed.
How did it happen?" asked Ken
nedy.
He came here" replied Long Sin.
with wave of his hand, "and before /
could stop him he did away with him.
self"
We'll, we've got him." unused Ken
nedy, shaking his head sadly, adding
after a pause, "but he is dead"
Elaine, who had followed US down.
covered her eyes with her hands and
was sobbing convulsively. | thought
she would faint, but Kennedy led her
gently away into an upper room.
AS he placed her in an easy chair,
he bent over her, soothingly.
Did you-did you-really-love
him." he asked in low tone.
Still shuddering, and with an eager
look at Kennedy, Elaine shook her
beautiful head.
Then, slowly rising to her feet, she
looked at Craig appealingly.
Forgive me-" murmured Elaine.
holding out her hand. Then she added