The Springdale news., 1915-05-14

For moment Bennett glared sav-s agely at Long Sin.
 T possess hidden plunder worth seven million dollars" he pleaded quickly. and if by your aid I can make a getaway. a seventh is yours"
 The Chinamans cupidity was clear ly excited by Bennetts s offer, while the bare mention Of the amount at stake was sufficient to overcome all his scruples.
 After exchanging a few words he finally agreed to aid the Clutehing Hand. Opening a 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 weariness, Long Sin poured into a cup some of the liquor of deafh which Tong Wah had mixed He hand ed 1t to Bennett, who drank it eagerly. How do you propose to help me to r escape?" asked Bennett huskily. Without word Long Sin went to the wall, and. grasping one Of the 1 stones, pressed it back. opening l large receptacle. in which there were two glass collins apparently contain ing two dead Ghinamen. 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. It 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 a groan, sank back into the chair, shaking his head as if to in- dicate that the plan was far too ter rib1e to carry out.
 With a sinister smile and a shrug of his shoulders Long Sin pointed to the cup from which Bennett had drank.
 "But dear master,n 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 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 Ghinaman instantly thrust in his hand and drew out 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 cup, he held it to Bennett's lips
 As Bennett opened his mouth to drink it, 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 seeretary's office, where Bennett had left me in the dis guse 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- stinetiyely, that Long Sin might give a clue to Bennett's whereabouts, and a 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 ue optHtu the uOOT uHu SloOu TOT a moment, silent. Where is Bennett?" demanded Ken | nedy.
 Long Sin eyed us all. then, with a placid smile said. Follow me. I will show you"
 There was Bennett seated rigidly in the chair beside the table from which the yials 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< l nedy, shaking his head sadly adding | after a pauSe "but he is dead ]"