The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-10

Ing uuuDer WItA Iudrkeu lHpd- tience.
 At that instant Cock noticed door opening furtively. and Sato's head appeared. For once the smile had quilted the mans face; it was re- placed now by look of angry sus- picion. Cook did not know whether or not to warn his friend, but decided that interference just then would sin- ply serve to betray the fact that an understanding existed between them, so remained silent.
 Hong Kong Harry obtained the num- ber he wanted and was so eager to give a message that he neglected to take precautions against being over heard. Cook heard distinctly what he was saying.
 Watch out for yourself, MT Man. hing. Ali is in New York and Cap tain Cook is a prisoner in this house, which Is situated"
 Sato leaped like panther springing on his prey. but Hong Kong Harry. warned by some sixth sense that he was in danger, dropped the telephone and was able to close with his assail- ant. Sato yelped something in for eign language. The astounded pris- oner could not follow the words. of course, but it was easy to gather their drift. It was as though the in- furiated Japanese had said plainly:
 So you are the traitor! I have sus- pected you for a long time. Now I make an end of you!"
 The would-be assassin, however. nao woefully underestimatedt the half- casteS strength. Over and over agaln during his ill-fated association with Ali Singh Hong Kong Harry mad showed how strangely nature had erred in fitting an cratic and ills gov erned soul to an almost perfect body. The two men fought like catanlounts. Each knew 1t was struggle to .rs death, and each used hands. feet and teeth as though they were the animals they resembled But the Japanese must have realized early in the game that his hour had come. He had met an adversary. skilled IS he himself in every trick of jiu-jitsu, and en1inently better fitted for a con,- bat of this sort. Slowly but surely Hong Kong Harry's wiry fingers closed round the little mans pull neck, with the thumbs meeting across his jugular vein.
 Their legs were twisted In folds ike so many writhing snakes, but the muscles of the Japanese gradually relaxed, his feet dragged Imply on the floor. his eyes protruded and his tongue lolled out. He would have died had not Ali Singh appeared and a y1dad let go his grip. Then, assured that Sato would not die, Ali Singh went off abruptly. He meant 10 punish Hong Kong Harry in some other way.
 The soldier of course hardly grasped the significance of this scene. but tho half-caste had given him the best of assurances that Ali Singh num- bered at least one deadly enemy in his household.
 Good for you!" he said "You fixed that Jan fine. only hope that I shall be able to bear hand when his master Is done for!''
 Naturally. poor Naila could not come under her wretched uncle's dread mesmeric control without yield ing. Hence. to her friends great sur prise. Ali Singh sent her back to them. and she was actually being greeted with joy at the moment Man. ming received that mysterious tele- phonic message from Hong Kong Harry The way in which it was broken off showed that the half-caste had either been disturbed or at tackled. It was annoying that the in- terruption had come at the very in stant Manning was about to reveal All Singh's new abode, But that could not be helped The warning itself must be acted on. and Police Captain Kemp. wfN was standing at Manning's elbow. at once issued the most stringent orders to score of detectives and roIicn already very much on the dui vive
 But Bronson. seeing something pe culiar in Naila's manner, and noting her reluctance to part with l,ar hat, 2 large. handsome piece of millinery. was assured that she was still in s trance. He examined the hat, and his suspicious were aroused, so he carsed the girl to be taken to her bedroom. She at once fought furi- ously
 Tn the excitement 1t was not noticed that Japanese in the street was watching the doorway closely. with evident intent as was discovered afterward. to sirr1a1 his confederates at the right moment.
 Meanwhile Manning and Bronson Si1 not scrunte to tear the hat to pieces. and came on curious con- trivancA sAcreted in the crown. Thev nlaced this on chnir. pa,essire hv intuition that the destruction of the hat world s+nn ifs action in some p~esc~+',- v-defired way.
 When Netia was so ririnred that she could not rcnve. frs+ant ard r'nse sAsrch wee r-ade of tre rei sthor- hood Nots-irs hennAn~d so fa~ ae tf,e ~o'ica knew hut in actual fact All S'roh saw that a q. .d,v schA,re had hAen f-,,s+rsted. and was rjre- self cor,~aifad to escape from his hcusA and r,a',A of ir car
 wbAr rnattara had s,rrevwhst ralr,Ad down the o',iect ~onceaf.ad in the hat was exar,irAd. rt orovaf to he an internal machine onerat~d hv elertrici+v. IL contaire1 sAiArinn cell which world have conpeitad it's circuit and exn'odad a charrs Of ful- minate of mercury when exnosed to a strongly concentrated ,ieht.
 Then Margaret Bronson rArrrn1- bered that on the previous evening just si,cf a light. coming. she traw not whence had darted through the open window for few seconds It was a strangely disturbing incident. but thanks 10 their own watchful- j nes and Hong Kong Harry's warn- ing they had escared asain
 (To be continued next week.)