The Springdale news., 1915-04-30
TWELFTH EPISODE
THE BLOOD CRYSTALS.

"On your right is the residence Of Miss Elaine Dodge, Who IS pursuing the famous master criminal known as the Clutching Hand n
 The barker had been graad.t0queut= 1y pointing out the residences Of noted New Workers as the big sightseeing car numbered along through the streets
 No one had paid any attention to the unobtrusiye Chinamau who sat in- spicuously in the middle O. the car. He was MT Wong Long Sin but 10 one saw anything particularly mys terious about an Oriental visitor, more ST less, viewing New York city
 Wong was Of the mandarin type. with long dropping mastaehe. we'll dressed in American clothes, and con forming to the new customs of all Oc. eidentalized China
 Anyone, however. who had been watching Long Sin would have seen that he showed much interest when ever any of the wealthy residents of the city were mentioned The name of Elaine Dodge seemed particularly 10 strike him He listened with subtle Interest to what the barker sal and looked keenly at the Dodge haase.
 The sightseeing car=had passed the house, when he rose slowly and nc. toned that he wanted 10 be iet of. The car stopped he aiighted and slow. ly rambIed away, evidently maFyeling greatly al the strange customs of these uncouth Westerners
 Elaine was going out when she met Perry Bennett almost on the steps of the house
 I've brought you the watch re- marked Bennett Thought I'd like to give it to you myself
 He displayed the watch which he himself had bought a couple Of days before for her birthday.He had called for 1t himself at the jewellers, where it had now been regulated.
 "Oh, thank you" exclaimed Elaine. Wont you come in"
 They had scarcely greeted each other when Long Sin strolled along. Neither of them however had time to notice the quiet Chinaman who passed the house, looking al Elaine sharply out of the corner Of his eye. They entered and Wong disappeared down the street
 Isn't 1t beauty" cried Elaine. holding 1t out from her as they entered the library, and examining it with great appreciation. And, oh, do you know, the strangest thing happened yesterday Sometimes NIT Kennedy acts too queerly for anything
 She related how Craig had burst in on her and Aunt Josephine and had almost torn the other watch off her wrist.
 Another wateh?" repeated Bennett, amazed Tt must have been a mis- take. Kennedy Is crazy"
 T don't understand it. myself mur mured Elaine
 Long Sin was revolving some dark and devious plan beneath his impas, siye Oriental countenance. He was no ordinary parsonage. In fact, he was astute enough to have no record. He left that to his tools
 This remarkable criminal had estab- lished himself in a hired apartment down town.
 Long Sin, now in rich Oriental cos. tune. vas reclining on a divan smok- ing a strange-looking pipe and playing with two pet white rats EacIi white rat had a gold band around his leg, to which was connected a gold chain about foot in length, and the chains ended in rings which were slipped over Wong's little fingers. Ordinarily he carried the pets up the eapaeious sleeve of each arm.
 little Chinese girl. also in native costume, entered and bowed deferen- tially.
 "A Miss Mary Carson" she lisped in soft English.
 Let the lady enter" waved Long Sin, with a smile of subtle satisfaction.
 The girl bowed again and silently left the room. returning with a hand some, very well-dressed white woman.
 It would be difficult to analyze just what the fascination was that Long Sin exercised over Mary Carson. But as the servant left the room, Mary bowed almost as deferentially as the little Chinese girl. Wong merely nod ded in reply
 After moment he slowly rose and took from a drawer a newspaper clip