The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume], August 26, 1915, Image 2

About The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921

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The Exploits of Elaine
A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama
By ARTHUR B. REEVE
The Well Known Novelist ami IheGeatorof lhe"OaigKeanedy"Storiei
Presented in Collaboration With Use Patlio Players and
the Eclectic Film Coeeusany
CsfTttf WC 1414. tf lk III' Cmimhv All Fertif n fllf Ml Rtttrml
8YNOP3I8.
Th Now York pollen are mystified bjr a
jerlen of murders und other crimen, The
Cifluclpnl clue to tlio criminal l the warn
InK li tter which I sunt the victims, signed
with u "clutching- hand " Tin- Intent vie
tlrn ot tin; mysterious nssnssln Is Taylor
1oi1ro, the Insurance president. Ills
daughter, Elnlne, emplnys Crnlx Ken
nedy, the famous scientific detective, to
try to unravel the mystery. What ken
Midy accomplishes Is told by his friend,
Jameson, u newspaper man. After many
frultlrmt nttempts to put Klnlne and
Craljr Kennedy out of tho wny tho Clutch
Ins Hand Is nt lust found to be mine other
than Terry Henriett. Klalnn's lawyer and
the man she Is enKsed to marry, Hen
riett llees to the den of one of his Chi
nese criminals The Chinaman forces from
IJMinett the secret of the whereabouts ot
I7.0u0,t). Then he Klves the lawyer n po
tion which will suspend animation for
months. Kennedy reaches Ilennett's side
Just utter he hns lost consciousness,
TWENTY-THIRD EPISODE
THE TELLTALE HEART.
Elnlno had dropped In ono afternoon
to aco Kennedy at tho laboratory.
Craig was working over a ntrnlght
backed chair which stood close to the
wall. On tho anna wcro Bliort straps,
Apparently to fasten down tho arms
of tho sitter.
An they chatted, Elaine watched
Craig curiously, examining tho chair
and especially tho left arm, on which
was placed a metal disk In such n
way that the wrist of anyone sitting
In tho chair could bo strapped In con
tact with It. Finally Kennedy at
tached a pnlr of electric wires from
beneath tho chair arm, connecting
with tho disk, and running down one
of tho legs, thence through a crack
In tho floor to the back room of the
laboratory.
"What ta It?" asked Elaine. "It
looks liko n death chair."
"Scarcely ns bad ob the.. " laughed
Kennedy, taking up a largo clock-
faced dial which had a slnglo hand
evidently Intonded to bo bwuhr nround
by somo force through tho grndunted
scale an Its face. "TIiIh Ib tho sphyg-
mogrnph a scientific 'third degree,"
he explained, Indicating hot'.: tho clinlr
nnd tho dial. "It reuds a person
thoughts and feelings through the
pressure of tho blood."
I wwh on my way from the Star of
flco when I happened to apy a faco
In tho crowd thnt seemed famlllnr. It
wns of a Chinaman, nnd, although I
could not Just placo him. I knew that
I had Buen him somewhere before. I
decided to piny detective.
Not many minutes before, down In
thnt secret den In which the serpent
Wit concocted hln villainies, thnt wor
thy had been nt work again, tireless.
With subtle) satisfaction, he had held
In his hand, which was carufully
gloved In rubber, a small glnss tube.
pcrhnpB three-quarters of an Inch iv
diameter.
In the tube was a minute but al
most priceless particle of that strange
clement, radium. For a moment Wu
regnrded It. then took up a hand
kerchief thnt Iny before M'n. AlrcaJtr
ho had ripped a stltrli or two from
tho seam In the hem Ho slipped he
little radium tube into the hem of
the handkerchief.
"I lore." he said gruffly to a servnnt.
"Tnko this letter and the other thing
to Inez. You know the address. "
On uptown he went until ho came
to a rather ordinary looking apart
ment house. He wont In without dis
covering that I was following.
I glanced about No ono was watch
ing me. Then, to bo suro thnt I
would recognize the house, I noted it
by marking a Bmall cross with a pen
cil on the stonework of tho steps.
I did not know at the time, but I
found out later that upstairs tho mes
senger tapped at a door which was
answered by a maid, a mulatto with a
marked gypsy cast of features.
Tho maid opened tho door Into the
hallway and admitted the messenger.
Inez took the note nnd tho lead case,
waving to tho maid to leave her
Then she tore open the note and read
"Have her bind the Inclosed over
her eyes. If In place three minutes,
bllndneta will result In a few days."
"Tell the master I shall have It
dono as ho directs," she said to the
Chinaman ns she followed him to the
door.
Inez turned and went Into tho back
room, her boudoir, where the mnld
was waiting. She brought out from
a closet a rather gaudy yellow drcsB,
a tambourine, a headdress and somo
other materials.
"Now, I want you to put this on,"
she Instructed the maid. "Hero In
this box I hnvo a handkerchief which
I want you to use. Tlo It over her
eyes and keep It. there throo min
utes at least; forger tf you can."
As I looked at tho house outsldo It
Immediately occurred to mo to lit
Craig know what had happened, and
I fought tho ncaroBt telephone booth
nnd called tho laboratory. Elaine
had Just gono when I called up, nnd
I told my story of having seen and
trailed the messenger and marked tho
house,
As I turned awtr at my end of the
11m Kennedy hastened is roi'i ma. I
returned to the apartment, uont on
tarrying oat Craig's orders, To my
surprise, when I rang tho bell, tho door
wns opened by a colored maid. I had
not expected to got In nt all, but this
seemed easy,
Tho maid brought me a chair, nnd I
took It. I did not notice, however,
that flho was careful to placo It In a
particular spot with tho back to the
wall.
I laid my hat nnd gloves on thu
table. As I did so, ono glove must
hnvo dropped on the floor In nn Incon
spicuous placo by tho leg of tho tablo.
I sat down while the maid left me
for a moment to call her mistress. In
my best detcctlvo manner I gazed
about tho room, endeavoring to ex
tract somo clue. I waB about to ox
nmlno the room more closely when I
heard someone coming nnd restrained
my Interest in tho surroundings. Inez
entered, and I rose.
"Won't you Bit down?" she asked,
with exaggerated politeness. "For
what am I Indebted to you for this
visit?"
"Woll," I replied, "perhaps you re
call tho last time wo met."
Inez stood by the table, listening
to me, I thought a bit mockingly. An
I Kpoko her hand moved to the edge
of tho tablo. Suddenly, before I knew
It, tho -oom Bwam beforo my eyes and
nil wan blackness,
Inez had moved her hand over and
had pressed n secret knob. A bar In
tho wnll Just beside my hend hod
sprung nut, striking mo n terrific blow
nnd knocking me out.
Tho mnld, who hnd run In, nnd Inez
lifted me up, unconscious, nnd car
ried mo into tho bnck room,
It was scarcely five minutes nfter
that Kennedy came to the entrance to
tho npnrtment. Thero he noted the
mnrk which I hnd made. He had Just
decided to go In, when ho heard a
nolBo. It wns Cissy, nrrnyed In all her
glory, going out. with a parting word
of Instruction from Inez. II drew
back Into the angle of tho hall.
I was n'JII unconscious, and Inez
wns standing over me when she henrd
the tinkle or the bell.
C'rnlg unconsciously took tho very
chnlr In which I hnd been sitting nnd
at down nonchalantly. A bIio snw
him, she had given n little gasp.
Ah Craig watched her keenly, how
ever, he was nblo to dlscoror that,
undernenth her cnlm exterior, bIio wa
very nervous nnd excited.
"Well?" demanded Kennedy with an
enigmatical smile. "You didn't expect
to pee mo ngaln so soon, did you?"
Inez seemed to b overcome for the
moment. Sho roso nnd moved over
to the tnblc.
"Walt a minute." Interrupted Ken
nedy. "Come bnck nnd sit down. I
have something to say to you."
Nervously her hnnd gripped the
table nnd moved along toward thu
secret knob.
Kennedy notice It, but ho nnd not
moved his chair from tho position in
which It hnd been placed for mo. At
that moment, though, his eye fell on
my glove, which I hnd Inadvertently
dropped on the floor. He reached down
and picked it up. As he did ho tho
bar In tho wnll flow out, Just mlsBlnr.
his head as he bent over.
Seeing thnt her scheme hnd failed.
Inez mnde n dash for thn door. Ken
nedy sprang to his feet nnd seizor! her.
El.ilno, on her return from the lab
prntory, had gone to the conservatory
of tli Dodge house, and thero was
busying herself pruning tho rose
bushea.
Once sho happened to glance up nt
the end nenrest the street. Shu could
sett a strolling gypsy going by, and
the gypsy, apparently, had Bpled her
through the open window.
"flood nfternonn, mistress," greeted
the gypsy coming up to tho fence.
"Wouldn't you llko to hnvo me read
your fortune?"
Elaine was lonesome. She looked
the gypsy over, nnd tho picturesque
ness of the woman appealed to her
Laughingly, sho consented, nnd the
gypsy entered.
Tho gypsy took Elaine's band nnd
looked at It carefully. "You aro In
danger from a powerful Oriental crim
inal," announced the gypsy nt laat.
Elalno was, to say tho least, Im
pressed. "Ho Is n very dangerous rann," wont
on tho gypsy,
"And that Is not nil," tho gypsy hint
ed. "In darkness I could mako you
see tho vision of your persecutor and
his den."
Sho nodded knowingly at Elalno, nnd
at tho samo tlmo from n fold of her
dress drew out tho lend case, managed
to open It nnd took out tho handker
chief, Above tho tablo sho twisted it
into a flat band.
"Ijct mo show you," sho Bald, hand
ing the handkerchief to Elalno. "Tie
that ovor your eyoa."
Elalno was sitting with her own
hnndkerchlef in her hand, but sho
turned quickly. When alio fneed tho
gypsy again sho had a baudaga Hat
over her oyea.
"Now, mlstresB, try let yoursolf
H" urged tho gypsy. "Lot mo guido
your mind, I will show you."
Elaine did try to put herself In thn
framo of mind tho gypsy wanted.
"Do you so anything?" sho asked.
"Not yet," returned Elalno.
"Try lot yoursolf go forget this
room, forgot tlmo," urged tho gypsy.
Craig looked from my glovo to tho
faco of Inez.
"Whcro Is Mr. Jameson ?" ho do
inn.idod sternly.
"I don't know," bIio ropllcd, facing
him dcflnntly.
"You do know," contradicted Craig,
forcing her to accompany him and
lending her Into her bnck room.
As thoy entered her boudoir, Ken
nedy Baw my foot protruding from tho
blanket sho hnd thrown over me. Ho
pulled it off.
"Well!" ho exclaimed, starting back,
"I'll bo"
His exclamation was cuf, short by
tho ringing of tho telephone bell.
Inez took a step toward It.
"Nor.o of that," Interrupted Ken
nedy, stopping her. "You keep quiet.
I'll nnswer It. Hollo!"
It seemed thnt, perhaps half nn hour
after ho hnd dispatched tho messenger
to Inez, Wu decided to call her up to
boo whether everything was going as
ho had planned. Ho hnd asked for her
number. As tho operator gavo him
tho call, ho heard a mun's voice an
Bwerlng. Instantly ho was all suspicion. Ho
waited to hear no moro, but quickly
hung up tho rccelvor. 80 it happened
that Kennedy got no answer.
"You have a rcmnrkablo faco," Ken
nedy remarked at length. "Your com
posuro 1b wonderful. Hut, young lady,
I bellcvo that wbb your Chlneso friend,
Wu Fung. At any rato 1 am going to
try to find out. Do you think you can
locato that call?" ho asked when ho
flnnlly got tho operator.
"No, I can't locato It exactly," camo
back the reply a minute later from the
girl nt tho telephone exchange "Hut
It cutno from Chinatown somowhoro
on Pell Btrcet, I think."
Kennedy thanked her, hung up tho
receiver nnd faced Inez. Ho wbb Just
In tlmo to prevent her destroying Wu'b
message. There waB tho crumpled
note. Ho took it nnd rend It.
Kennedy looked up quickly from the
omlnouB mcBsngo to tho Inscrutable
faco of Inez. Ab ho considered tho
note, his mind worked rapidly. Quito
apparently It was Elalno against whom
tho jew peril wbb directed. Hut what
was It that could blind hor? Ho
thought a moment. Could It be ra
dium? Craig seized tho tslcphono nnd
called the Dodge houBo.
Some minutes passed nfter Elaine
hnd bound tho hnndkerchlef over her
eyes. She sat opposite the gypsy, but,
try ns alio would, sho could boo no
vision that sho did not herself conjure
up.
"Mr. Kennedy on tho telephone," an
nounced Jennings.
"Will you nnswer It. nuntle?" nsked
Elaine. "Tell him I'll call him up In
a few minutes."
Aunt Josephine followed Jennings
out nnd went down tho hull to the II
brnry, who- she picked up tho re
ceiver which Jennings had left.
"All ira t-W,.l,... I ,1.,., ....-)"
aaketl anxiously. "Where Is Elnlne?" 1
"She's In tho conservatory. Thorn's 1
a gypsy hero. They'ro sitting thero 1
like a couplq or ninnies waiting for a
vision or"
"Good heavens," Interrupted Crnle.
"not with 11 hnndkerchlef ovor her
eyes, Is Bhe? Yes? Quick tell her to
rip It off yourself quick quick!"
Aunt Josephine know Craig too well
to Btop to nBk why. In great excite
ment Bhc dropped the telephonu nnd
almost ran rrom tho library. Ab ho
entered tho conBervntory bIio could
hear tho low droning voice of the gyp
sy. She had pulled tho bandage from
her own eyes nnd was watching Elalno
keenly.
Tho gypsy wns on her feet In nn in
stnnt with an air of sneering triumph,
"You- you criminal!" cried Aunt
Joshephlne. "Help! JennlngB, help!"
In tho npnrtment or Inoz, Kennedy
was now endeavoring to get Aunt Jo
Bcphino on the telephono again. Hut
neither he nor the central could seem
to get any answer from tho Dodge
house.
Mennwhllo I was slowly recovering
consciousness and hnd mannged to got
on my feoL Dnzed though I still was,
I could see that Kennedy had discov
ered something torrlble, In order to
hnvo had to neglect me bo long.
Ho was working tho receiver up and
down frnntlcally now. Finally ho hung
It up. ny tho expression on his raco
I gathered that, whatever it was, ho
feared tho worst. Ills faco wrinkled
In thought, ho gazed, perplexed, first
at Inez, cold and defiant, then townrd
me. He seemed greatly surprised to
aco that I was myself again so soon,
niter being laid out flat.
"Wnttcr," ho aBkcd earnestly, "do
you think you could watch this girl
now?"
"Why yen I enn do It," I replied
rensBurlngly.
"Then tako this gun," ho directed.
"Don't let her touch u thing - and keop
your eyo peeled al? tho time. Sho'a a
tough customer. I wunt you. as soon
ns you reel able, to lalto her ovor to
tho laboratory and wait."
I nodded and ho dashed out.
"Why, nuntlo, what's tho matter?"
asked Elaine, wondering nt the Bud
denncHB with which tho bnndnge hnd
been torn rrom her eyea. 'What does
It nil moan?"
"You you criminal I" repented Aunt
Josephine accusingly at tho gypsy,
then turning to Elaine, "Why, C'rnlg
called up and warned mo not to let hor
put anything over your eyes, I didn't
wait to hear any mure, I Just ran In
and toro tho thing off,"
Tho fake gypsy was looking eagerly
about tho room, apparently for a
means of escape JuBt then Jonnlngo
hurried in.
"Jennings," cried Aunt Josephine,
"scizo thnt woman I"
Ab JonnlngB approached her, tho
gypsy suddenly dovolopcd a rcmnrk
nblo strength. Sho gavo him a shove
that sent him reeling. His foot caught
on the edgo of tho fountain and ho
stnggorcd n minute, unnblo to recover
his balanco, then, with a great splash,
fell In. Tho gypsy turned nnd lied
through tho palms, Elalno and Aunt
Josephine following her.
Sho ran an far as sho could, coming
up to the glass wall that formed
the Inner end of tho conservatory.
Further retreat was Impossible. She
scl7cd a llttlo rustic chair and
dashed It through tho glass. Cautious
ly, nhe- managed to mako her way
through tho opening she hnd broken.
Jennings hnd, by this time, picked
himself out of the fountain nnd, drip
ping, Joined Elnlno and Aunt Jose
phine in tho chase. Out in tho garden
at last, the gypsy dropped down be
hind a thick bush.
At that moment a cab pulled up
furiously boforo tho house, and Ken
nedy lenped nut and rushed in. The
gypsy had gained Just tlmo enough,
ir she hnd gone on Kennedy might
havo seen her.
The otherB were, apparently, look
ing for her In every direction excopt
the right one. Sho Baw her chance.
Stealthily sho managed to slip out or
the garden by tho back way.
Ab Kennedy dashed down the hall
and into tho library he met Elaine's
mnld, Marie, ns pale an a ghost
"For heaven's sake, Marie," he
panted, "where are they all?"
"In tho conservatory, sir," sho point
ed. "Didn't you hear tho glaBB break?''
"Glass?" ho repeated, running ahead
of her new.
Kennedy enmo upon Elaine, Aunt
Josephine nnd Jennings still vainly
searching about, Just as they lost
track or tho gypsy.
"Where did Bho no that way?"
asked Jennings,
"Hang tho gypsy," interrupted
Craig. "Lot hor go you missed her
anyway. Hut, Elalno tell mi what
happened?"
Aunt JoBcphlno reached down and
picked up tho hnndkerchlef she bad
torn from Eklne's eyea. "Sho bound
It over her cyea," sho explained to
Craig.
Kennedy exnmlncd the hnndkerchlef
closely. Evidently he wan looking for
&BBBBW M"Jit 'VVbBBBBBsMbHHLI
BBBBSBsw''' v1" 1 SiSSBBBBBBnBBBBBBSBBBBBBrB S k
ssssbssbvbVHbV viWSBSSBsJbVSSSSB
Our Shouts Seemed to Give
something concenled In It and did not
find It, Perplexed, ho looked first
from Elaine then to Aunt Josephine.
Are you looking for tho gypsy's
hnndkerchlef?" Elaine asked tlnnlly,
seeing his astonishment. Then sho
Btooped end picked up another hand
kerchief rrom tho floor. "Hero It la.
It didn't look very clean, bo when she
wasn't looking I dropped It and used
my own."
Kennedy was speechless with re
lief. Ho took the other handkerchief
and rapidly ran his hnnd over it. At
last ho camo to n llttlo hard lump in
tho hem. Ho ripped it open. Thero
wna tho llttlo tube of radium!
"You'ro lucky," ho exclaimed. "If
you had had that tube over your eyes
It would havo dono Its work In a row
minutes. You might not feel It for
some time, but you would have neon
blinded at least in a few days, If not
hours."
lloth Elalno and Aunt Josephlno
wcro overcomo iib they thought or
tho peril from which Elalno had been
bo narrowly rescued. Even Kennedy
could not restrain a shudder. For
tho moment ho rorgot oven about
Inez, Then, suddenly, ho recollected.
"Oh, by tho wny," ho exclaimed,
"I've- had Walter tako a woman over
to tho laboratory. Ho must bo thero
by this tlmo, I wish that you would
got your things on nnd go over with
me, I think that you can help mo get
something out or her. SIio'b as cool,
calm and calculating nn a sphinx. Hut
I havo n flehomo thnt may lead us ut
last up to this devilish Chinamnn."
Elalno motioned to Mario and, when
tho mnld returned, hurried Into her
coat and hat. It was only n few min
utei nft-r Kennedy hnd rtl'corercd
that Elalno was safe that they Btarted
from the Dodgo .house.
Left alone with Inez. I hewn
follow out Kennedy Instructions.
"Come." I menaced with the gn
"Get your hat on. 1 want you to go
with mo. One word on the way and
I'll havo you arrested at once. Other
wise, you may get a chance."
I did not know It nt tho time, but
Just as wo wt-ro about to start and
wcro moving townrd the door, the
gypsy, breathless and fagged, reached
tho hallway of tho apartment She
was about to go In when she henrd
Inez nnd myself going out. She
dropped bach Into tho convenient shel
ter which Kennedy had used before,
nnd when wo came out we did not
pco anyone In the hall. As we dis
appeared, sho emerged nnd cautiously
followed us.
In splto of my fears Inez went with
out n nceno to the Inborntory We
entered, I. nt lenst, not knowing that
n pair of black eycB watched every
movement. The fake gypsy saw us
go In, then hastily came out of a door
way Into which sho had slipped und
hurried downtown.
It wan not long nfter I arrived, how
over, that Kennedy nnd Elaine Joined
mo at tho laboratory Kennedy hnd
evidently carefully prepared Just whnt
he Intended to do. Quickly he forced
Inez Into tho chnlr which ho had al
ready shown Elaine, and fastened tho
Btraps about her arms.
"Walter, will you nnd Elaine go Into
the next room?" he asked as ho fin
ished securing tho woman.
A moment later he followed carry
ing the dial of the Bphygmngraph. He
faatcned It to tho concealed wires that
connected with the arms of the chnlr,
describing to us In a whisper tho ac
tion of the strange llttlo Instrument
which by blood pressure read not only
the disease of the heart, but even the
secret emotions.
He had purposely left the door be
tween the front nnd bnck roomn njar.
but ho did not Intend that Inez should
hear this explanation.
"We know thnt Wu Fang'B head
mini-lorn nrn nn Pell street." he con
cluded to us In IiIh muffled tone. "The
Bphygmogrnph will tell us the number.
If we nsk her the right questions. She
mny keep silent, out no cannot con
cent her reelings from this Instru
ment." Already, nlthough we did not know
It, the gypsy had gone straight to Wu
Fang's apartment Wu had been get-
Elaine Redoubled Strength.
ting anxious about his scheme when
hlH Hervnnt announced that Inez's
mnld was outsldo.
"Hrlng her In Immediately," Wu
thundered
' The mnld came In, frightened, blurt
' Ing out what hud lmnnennd Ifi her
and what bIio had seen at the
apartment of her mistress. Wu
listened, his raco repressing tho rag
ing fury ho felt.
"Qulek my Mreet clothes," he or
dered of his servant, then, as he
threw them cm. added to tho gypsy.
"Wait hero until I return."
It was only a rew minutes nrter he
had been warned by tho gypsy that
Wu himself glided Into the hall lead
ing to tho main room of the labora
tory. He listened a moment, then,
hearing nothing, wns about to open
tho door with his skeleton kev. As
ho started to do so, his eyes fell on
tho lire escape outside.
Ho reconsldejed. Perhaps It would
bo best to reronnolter. p.n.tkellke ho
wormed his wny ut, tin. rtm ,.,.,...
! which led to tho back room. There
1 iib wo grouped ourself about the
1 STlh ViMiini-m r.l. ...i.ii .
-" n-nniiu neuncuy ex
plained hl3 plans, Wu'a sinister faco
gazed In nt for R ,,,
withdrew. Silently ho made ,u way
down ngaln to tho ground.
In the back room Kennedy took his
Placo near tho doorway, whilo Elalno
"nil I bent over the dial.
"Now. Walter," ho K.Ktl n g.
umed rhetorical tone, 'you VL.
J'r wo traced that fellow. W FanB, to
I ell Btreet. Let inn see. What was
that number? Ono-
.ii,b,?h,)BU" m" 1 Bnw thu ,,0" Jump
BllKbtly ut tho mention of I'ell ,tr"et(
then fall back at tho number, "Ona
"Two? wont on Konuedy.
Ths nccdlo scarcely oscillated.
"Three four five," camo slowly,
Inez's face, though wo could not sen
It, wan tenso and Bet. Sho Bcetned d
termlned not to betray n thing. Yot
tho hnrdcr oho tried to control tho out-
word expression or hor feelings th
moro sho betrayed horsolf by tho In
ward blood prcsauro which tho uncsn
ny llttlo instrument boforo us re
corded. As Kennedy kept on counting th
Indicator slowly, but steadily, rose,
rcglstorlng her suppressed emotions.
Ktalne and 1 watched tho dial, bending
over It with Intenso Interest.
Outside In tho hall, Wu had again
como to tho laboratory door. ThU
tlmo ho drew out hlu key and softly
opened It nnd entered. For a moment
ho stood confronting Inoz, alono In the
chnlr. Quickly ho raised his linger
to his Hps, Indicating alienee.
Kennedy kept on counting. As he
nenred tho right number Wu drew a
revolver nnd ralBcd It high over hit
head. Twice ho shot Into the air.
Suddenly, Just beforo tho shots, tho
dial had unaccountably Jumped ten
or a dozen points. What did It mean?
I held It up and Kennedy looked at It
In wonder. Ho was about to tako a
step toward tho laboratory when tho
pistol shots rang out. Tho dial hand
fell back to zero!
Wo rushed Into the Inborntory. Ines
lay back In tho chnlr, apparently dor J.
Not a soul was in sight, but the hall
door wnn open.
"Como on," shouted Kennedy, hurry
ing out Into the hall, as I wbb about
to stop beforo Inez.
I followed and Elnlno camo along
after me, pausing at tho door to watch
us run down the hnl).
Slowly a cabinet under tho lauda
tory table tack or her swung open,
nnd the evil, murderous faco ot tho
Chlncso master criminal appeared
from tho refuge to which ho had
dropped alter tho shots which he
had 11 red to frighten Inez. Silently ho
crept townrd Elaine, standing with her
back to him. t
With ono powerrul movement be
swept Elnlno back Into tho laboratory
and to the floor and slammed tho
door, locking It. Another Instant and
ho rnn to Inez and unfastened her.
She had merely fainted nnd was now
coming to.
Down the hall wo had discovered no
one when suddenly wo tienrd tho sti
lled scream of Elaine. Hack wo rushed
to thu door. Hut It was locked and
Jammed.
Wu had finished releasing Inoz by
this tlmo and, with her, rushed Into
the back room. Ab ho did so Elalno
mannged to get to her feet nnd fol
low In time to see Wu smash tho win
dow to tho llre-eacnpo with n hair
nnd half whovo Inez through toba.cty.
Ho was nbout to follow when ho
Biled tho Hphygmogrnph und seized It.
That brought him face to faco with
Elaine. Sho snatched tho record rrom
him. With nn oath ho struggled with
her for it.
Hy this tlmo Kennedy and I hnd
forced the door and wero In tho out
er luborutory.
Wu had bent Elalno back ovor tlio
table and had drawn n long knife. As
ho poised it over her ho heard us
coming. Our shouts seemed to givo
Elnlne redoubled strength. Sho broko
away Just as Wu stabbed rurlously,
und tho knife point wus dollccted by
thu sphygmugraph.
There was not an Instant to lose,
nnd Wu fairly dived out of tho win
dow. Ah wo rushed In Kennedy
paused to reassure hlniBolf of Elalnu'a
safety, but I plunged uftor Wu, my
revolver ilrasvn.
Wildly I shot down from tho win
dow ut his retreating form. Ho had
almost reached tho ground when I
saw him stagger and rail tho rest or
the way. One of my shots hnd taken
effect, but 1 had used thorn nil.
1 started after Him. Hut as he
alld the last two or throo slepB Into
a heap on the ground, Inez caught him
In her arms. Half supporting, half
pulling, sho managed to assist the
dazed and wounded criminal along.
At tho curb was a closed car, with
driver, waiting Sho shoved him In
and tumbled in tfter him hersolf, a
tho car moved swiftly away.
Hy thla time I had reached the
grouud und reloaded my gun as I
run along. I tired several shots. Hut.
though I struck tho car, I don't think
I did any damage, ror It continued to
gain speed. Tho chase was hopelces
and 1 stopped, disgusted.
Hnck In the laboratory, as I returned
through the window, I aaw that the
strain had been too much for Elaine.
Now that it was over, sho had faint
ed and Kennedy wua Juat bringing her
around.
"Confound him," I exclnlmed, "t
wounded him, but tho girl got hint
awuy from us again."
"Oh," murmured Elaine, faintly
catching my words, "I heard th
shotB. I wna hoping you had ended
It all this time."
For the moment, In his roller nt flee
ing Elaine still sure. Kennedy seemed
to have forgotten all about Wi. Mr
words recullcd him.
' Never mind," he rcasBit.'ed, as he
inpprd the llttlo sphygmogrnph. "Not
fsnintliig tho groat Jump of tho Indica
tor when Inez discovered Wu before
her. It reglstorod tho highest tensloa
when I mentioned No. 14 I'ell street
Wo shnll llnd his den not far froa
that. '
Wo gathered about Craig while
I'hUno looked nt him elated.
"Then you havo forged tho loit
link. ' sho cried, bulging both his hand
In her own.
Kennedy merely smiled und ahonlt
his head gravely.
00 hi; eo.NTiNcmi