There they lay when Long Sin, now in his priestly robes, entered.  He looked at them a moment.  Then he left the room with a sinister laugh.

. . . . . . . .

It was at that moment that I, little dreaming of what had been taking place, arrived with Aunt Josephine at the house of the medium.

She answered my ring and admitted us.  To our surprise, the seance room was empty.

“Where is the young lady who was here?” I asked.

“Miss Dodge and the gentleman just left a few minutes ago,” the medium explained, as we looked about.

She seemed eager to satisfy us that Elaine was not there.  Apparently there was no excuse for disputing her word, but, as we turned to leave, I happened to notice a torn handkerchief lying on the floor near the fireplace.  It flashed over me that perhaps it might afford a clue.

As I passed it, I purposely dropped my soft hat over it and picked up the hat, securing the handkerchief without attracting Savetsky’s attention.

Aunt Josephine was keen now for returning home to find out whether Elaine was there or not.  No sooner had she entered the car and driven off, than I examined the handkerchief.  It was torn, as if it had been crushed in the hand during a struggle and wrenched away.  I looked closer.  In the corner was the initial, “E.”

That was enough.  Without losing another precious moment I hurried around to the nearest police station, where I happened to be known, having had several assignments for the Star in that part of the city, and gave an alarm.

The sergeant detailed several roundsmen, and a man in plainclothes, and together we returned to the house, laying a careful plan to surround it secretly, while the plainclothesman and I obtained admittance.

. . . . . . . .

Meanwhile, the Chinese devil worshippers had again gathered in their cursed temple and Long Sin, in his priestly robe, appeared on the dais.

The worshippers kowtowed reverently to him, while at the back again stood the aged Chinaman patiently turning his prayer wheel.

Two braziers, or smoke pots, had been placed on the dais, one of which Long Sin touched with a stick causing it to burst out into dense fumes.

Standing before them, he chanted in nasal tones, “The white consort of the great Ksing Chau has been found.  It is his will that she now be made his.”

As he finished intoning the message, Long Sin signaled to two young Chinamen to go into the anteroom.  A moment later they returned with Elaine.

Frightened though she was, Elaine made no attempt to struggle, even when they had cut her bonds.  She was busily engaged in seeking some method of escape.  Her eyes travelled ever the place quickly.  Apparently, there was no means of exit that was not guarded.  Long Sin saw her look, and smiled quietly.