The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-04-29
finally agreed to aid the clutch,nx

finally agreed to aid the Clutchanx
Hand. Opening . trap door IN the
door OF the room in which they were
standing, he led Bennett down a 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 10
escape?" asked Bennett huskily.
Without word Long Sin went to
the wall. and, grasping one of the
stones. pressed it back, opening a
large receptacle, in which there were
two glass collins apparently contain
ing two dead Cinnamon. Pulling out
the collins, 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
lis 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 a groan, sank back into
the chair, shaking his head as if to in,
dictate that the plan was far too teri
rible to carry out.
| With sinister smile and a 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 q
full dose of the potion which causes
insensibility, and 1t 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 l will give you an az
dote."
By this time Bennett, who was Us
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 map.
For some moments Long Sin exan-
med the map intently, and. with a grin
of satisfaction, he placed it in his own
pocket. Then he mixed what he de-
clared was sure antidote, and, peur-
ing some of the liquor into cup, he
held it to Benefits lips.
AS Bennett opened his mouth to
drink 1t, Long Sin with laugh slowly
pulled the cup away and poured it's
contents on the floor.
BY this time was slowly recovering
my senses in the secretarys 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 trace of Ben
nett or the taXicab in which he had
fled.
Somehow, Kennedy suspected, in.
stinctively, that Long Sin might give
clue to Benefits whereabouts, and
few moments later we were 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 q
moment, silent.
where is Bennett?" demanded Ken.
nedy.
Long Sin eyed us all, then, with q
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"
well, 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 cIOwIv ricipu 70 bor eoo% -.