. . . . . . .

In Wu’s apartment Long Sin was giving his secretary and another Chinaman the most explicit instructions.  As he finished each nodded and showed him a Chinese dirk concealed under his blouse.

Just then a knock sounded at the door.  The secretary opened it, and Aunt Josephine and Elaine almost ran in.  Before they knew it, the secretary had locked the door.

Long Sin rose and bowed with a smile.

“Where is Mr. Kennedy?” demanded Elaine.  Long Sin bowed again, spreading out his hands, palm outward.

“Mr. Kennedy?  He is not here.”

Then, straightening up, he faced the two women squarely.

“You have a ring that means much to me,” he said quickly.  “The only way to get it from you was to bring you here.”

He was pointing now at the ring on Elaine’s finger.  She looked at it a moment in surprise, then at the menacing Chinaman, and turned quickly.  She ran to the door.  It was locked.

Long Sin, motionless, smiled.  “There is no way to get out,” he murmured.

Aunt Josephine was standing now with her back to the door leading into another room.  She happened to look up and saw the secretary, who was near her and half turned away.  From where she was standing she could see the murderous dirk up his sleeve.

She acted instantly.  Without a word she summoned all her strength and struck him.  The secretary stumbled.

“Elaine,” she cried, “look out! they have knives.”

Before Elaine knew it Aunt Josephine had taken her by the arm, had pulled her into the back room, and, although Long Sin and the others had rushed forward, managed to slam the door and lock it.

The Chinamen set to work immediately to pry it open.

While they were at work on the doer, which was already swaying, Aunt Josephine and Elaine were running about, trying to find an outlet from the room.

There seemed to be no way out.  Even the windows were locked.

“I don’t know why they want the ring,” whispered Aunt Josephine, “but they won’t get it.  Give it to me, Elaine.”

She almost seized the ring, hiding it in her waist.  As she did so the door burst open and Wu, Long Sin and the other Chinamen rushed in.

A second later they seized Elaine and Aunt Josephine.

. . . . . . .

Kennedy and I dashed up before the apartment house in which we knew that Long Sin lived, leaped out of the car and hurried in.

It was on the second floor, and we did not wait for the elevator but took the steps two at a time.  Kennedy found the door locked.  Instantly he whipped out his revolver and shot the lock in pieces.  We threw ourselves against the door, the broken lock gave way and we rushed in through the front room.

No one was there, but in a back room we could hear sounds.  It was Elaine and Aunt Josephine struggling with the Chinamen.  Long Sin and the others had seized Elaine and Aunt Josephine was trying to help her just as we rushed in.  With a blow Kennedy knocked out the secretary, while I struggled with the other Chinamen who blocked the way.