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Show TM ic Exploits of Elaine tective oio, By ARTHUR B. REEVE The Novelist end the Creator of the " Craig Kennedy Glories ce. laf i ii Novel and a Motion Picture Drama Well-Know- i igfit With the Pathe Players and the Eclectic Film Company Ldifl Collaboration fpyrlgbt, 1814. by n the Star Company. All Foreign Rlghu Keserred SYNOPSIS. ?h2 murderer Is the warn Lhissent the Vicilms signed fefrious assassin fsaylor HIS Insurance president .line, employs Craig Kennedy, Helen tide detective, to try to What Kennedy ac-- L Imritery. 0d py his friend. Jameson, frustrates a man. I to Kennedy rob a Jewelry store and bt &e from a boiler where she soned by the thugs. the thf ated by clock ork Across the blank white paper ran an Ink ine traced by USed BS 1 had ;Penty!8rPh,H pencils used In offices, hotels banks and such places, Kennedy examined the thing with Interest tOX KLOER NEWS, THURtOAV, JANUARY it He must have heard someone coming, for with a gesture of hate at the safe itself, as though he personified It, he slipped back of the curtains again. Elaine had returned, and as she sat down at the desk to go over some papers which Bennett had left relative to settling up the estate the masked intruder stealthily and silently withdrew. A package for you. Miss Dodge." announced Michael later in the evening, as Elaine, in her dainty evening gown, was still engaged in going over the papers. He carried it in his hands rather gingerly. "Mr. Kennedy sent it, maam. He says it contains clues, and will you please put it in the new safe for him. Elaine took the package eagerly and examined it Then she pulled open the little round door of the globular safe. It must be getting cold out, Michael, she remarked. This package is as cold as ice." "It is, maam, answered Michael. She closed the safe, and, with a glance at her watch, set the time lock and went upstairs to her room. No sooner had Elaine disappeared than Michael appeared again, catlike, through the curtains from the drawingroom, and, after a glance about the dimly lighted library, discovering that the coast was clear, motioned to a figure hiding behind the portieres. A moment and Clutching Hand himself came out. He moved over to the safe and looked it over. Then he put out his hand and touched it. "Listen!" cautioned Michael. Someone was coming, and they hastily slunk behind the protecting portieres. It was Marie, Elaines maid. She turned up the lights and went over to the desk for a book for which Elaine, had evidently sent her. She paused and appeared to be listening, then she went to the door. Jennings! she beckoned. What Is it, Marie? he replied. She said nothing, but as. he came up the hall led him to the center of the room. "Listen! I beard sigbs and groans! Jei'lnlnga looked at her a moment, puzzled, then laughed. "You girls!" he exclaimed. I suppose you'll always think the library haunted now. But, Jennings, listen, she persisted. Jennings did listen. Sure enough, there were sounds, weird, uncanny. He gazed about the room. It was eerie. Then he took a few steps toward the sate. Marie put out her band to it and started back Why, that safe is ail covered with she cried with bated cold sweat! breath. Sure enough, the face of the safe was beaded with dampness. Jennings put his hand on It and qoickly drew it away, leaving a mark on the dampness. do you think of that?" be gasped I'm going to teii Miss Douge. cried Marie, genuinely frightened. later sbe burst into A moment pered hoarsely. Confound It!" muttered Clutchln Hand, as both moved again behind the. heavy velour qprtains. and lafes that is proof against even that oxyacetyiene by which you rescued me old boiler. It has a time that will prevent Its being night, even if any one should combination." tood before the safe a mo- Kennedy examined it close-- $ t 9 design one of those that look and are so H ilning ::d i interest he admired. ' youd approve of it. cried uch Now I have pleased such t irful! else to show you set at the desk, and from a ;k out a portfolio of large Sbs fhey were very of herself, more wonderful than the larked Craig earnestly Then, ; and a trifle embarrassed, May I may i have one?" 4Ae for it," she said, drop-eyethen glancing up at bifh ! hand-liograp- i, "It will greatest treasures jipped the picture quickly into "Come." she interrupted, for if it? he repeated. the iosephine will be wondering are She shes a demon e Aunt Josephine and my-talking earnestly as Elaine i returned. the safe? morning I had noticed Ken"Why, yes, and the safe is ail covning some time at the door over went ered with moisture and so cold." partment before we he Moisture cold? As nearly as I laboratory. repeated ake out he had placed some-ade- r hastily. Yes. I have been wondering if it is the rug at the doer out all right In fact, I waa going to call hallway. said Bennett, glancing at you up, only I was afraid you'd think ch and rising as be turned I was foolish. I shall be right over, he answered . "I'm afraid I must go now. naed over to where she stood hastily, clapping the receiver back on ck hands. There wsb po doubt its hook. Walter, he added, seizing !Jnett was very much smitten bis hat and coat, "come on hurry! air client A few minutes later we drove up in by. Mr she mur-an-d a taxi before the Dodge house and Bennett, I thank you so much for rang the bell. have done for me today Jennings admitted us sleepily. tore was something lifeless It could not have been long after we words She turned quickly twho had remained standing. left Miss Dodge, late in the afternoon, ! fou go too, Mr Kennedy? that Susie Martin, who had been quite worried over our long absence after noticing his position. Mr. Jameson and I must the attempt to rob her father, dropped she had listhe job before this Clutch-inlet- s in on Elaine. Wide-eyeof what had Elaines to tened 6tory he replied busy again, happened. And you think this Clutching Hand Ope you we get them soon!" has never recovered the Incriminating y'med. and there was nothing r'bout the way she gave Craig papers that caused hi in to murder i' 88 Bennett he and I left a your father? asked Susie. later Elaine shook her head "No Let me show e you the new safe I've bought. approached our door, now, thinks it wonderful." Mr. Kennedy J08e' By pressing a little think I should youd be roud of it button he caused a panel 1 must tell father to all outside to loosen., disclos-'"ai- l. admired Susie. too." one. boxlike plate in the wall get fat. At that very moment, it they had it. the Clutching Hand witn known a foot long and perhaps was peering ,e wide Through it rsn a his sinister, masked race, the other side from two girls the ,Mper which unrolled from one. at wound up on the of portieres actuanother, v for You. will come down stairs, Miss Dodge. I will change. Still grumpy, but mollified by the silver, Jens let them go up and opened tbe door to our rooms again. There stood the cabinet, as outwardly Innocent as when it came in. Lugging and tugging they managed to get the heavy piece of furniture out and downstairs again, loading It on the wagon. Then they drove off with it. accompanied by a parting volley from Jensen In an unfrequented street, perhaps half a mile away, the wagon stopped. With a keen glance around, the driver and hls helper made sure that no one was about Such a shaking up as youve given me!" growled a voice as tbe cabinet But Ive got him this door orened. Kennedy had started to unlock the v hen he stopped short. "See." he said, "tills Is a precaution I xlniost have Just installed forgot n the excitement He pressed a panel and disclosed he boxlike apparatus. This is my kinograph. which tells me whether 1 have had any visitors In If the pen. traces a my absence. tralght line. It Is all right; but If hello Walter, tne line is wavy." We exchanged a significant glance Would you mind er standing time!" down the hail just a bit while I enIt waa the Clutching Hand. ter? asked Craig. Be careful," cautioned Elaine. Craig gazed Into our living room cauHe unlocked the door, standing off tiously to one side. Then be extended his I cant see anything wrong he said Still noth to m . as I hand across the doorway just beside aim. Miss Dodge, he added, will you and the rest excuse me If 1 ask you to wait just a moment longer? Elaine watched him, fascinated. He crossed the room, then went Into each of our other rooms. Apparently nothing was wrong and a minute later he oor. st-'o- reappeared at the doorway.-"gueBs Its all right," he said. Perhaps It was only Jensen, the Janitor. Elaine. Aunt Josephine and Susie Martin entered. Craig placed chain for them, but still I could Bee that he was uneasy. From time to time, while I they were admiring one of our treasures after another, he glanced about suspiciously. What Is the trouble, do you think?" asked Elaine wonderingly, noticing hls manner. 1 I cant Just say, answered Craig, try!n to appear easy. She had risen and with keen Interest was looking at the books, the pictures. the queer collection of weapon and odds and ends from the underworld that Craig had amasseJ 1c hls A blast of cold air and flakes like snow flew out. Papers were scattered on every side. We stood gazing, aghast. seconu. 'her ran forward. Kennedy quickly examined the safe. He tent down and from the wreck took up a package, now covered with white. As quickly he dropped It. That Is the package that was sent. cried Elaine. Taking it in a table cover, he laid it on the table and opened it. Inside was a peculiar shape flask, open at the top. but like a vacuum bottle. A Dewar flask! ejaculated Craig. "What is it? asked Elaine, appeal ing to him. As it Liquid air! be answered. evaporated, the terrific pressure of expanding air In the safe Increased until It blew out the door. That Is what caused the cold sweating and the groans. We watched him, startled. On the other side of .he portieres Michael and Clutching Hand waited Then, in the general confusion. Clutch ing Hand slowly disappeared, foiled. Where did this package conn from? asked Kennedy of Jennings suspiciously. Jennings looked blank. Why," put In Elaine, "Michael brought It to me. "Get Michael," ordered Kennedy. 1 A moment later he returned. found him, going upstairs. reported Jennings, leading Michael In Where did you get this package? shot out Kennedy. It was left at the door, sir. bv a boy, adventures. At last her eye wandered across the room. She caught sight of her own plctu.e, occupying a place of honor It Was tht Clutching Hand. Ing hapgened. There was not a sound. He looked cautiously Into the roonju Apparently there was nothing. It had been about the middle of tbe morning that an express wagon bad pulled up sharply before our apart- ment si"" aftei question could not shake that sin pie, stolid sentence Question Kennedy frowned. You may go," he said filially, as if reserving something for ?lichael later A sudden exclamation followed from Blaine as Michael passed down the hall again. She had moved over to the desk, during the questioning, and was leaning against 1L Inadvertently she had touched 'an It was addressed, envelope. Craig Kennedy." Craig tore it open, Elaine bending anxiously over his shoulder, frlghtenc I. We read: YOU HAVE INTERFERED FOP THE LAST TIME. IT IS THE END " Beneath it stood the fearsome sign of the Clutching Hand! ' The warning of the Clutching Hand had no other effect on Kennedy than the redoubling of his precautions for safety. Nothing further happened that night, however, and the next morning found ub early at the laboratory. It was the late forenoon, when, after a hurried trip down to the office, rejoined Kennedy at bis scientific workshop. We walked down the street when o big limousine shot past Kennedy stopped in the middle of a remark. He had recognized the car. with a sort of Instinct At the same moment I saw a smiling face at the window of the car. It was Elaine Dodge. The car Etopped In something less twice its length and then backed oward us Kennedy, hat off. was at the window n a moment. There were Aunt Jose-ihinand Susie Martin, also Where are you boys going? asker laine. with interest, then added witn gayety that ill concealed Ler real nxiety, Im so glad to see you tn -e that er nothing has happened rom the dreadful Clutching Hand. Why, we were Just going "up to ou: ooms, replied Kennedy. Can t we drive you around? We climbed in and a moment later vere off. The ride was only too shor or Kennedy. We stepped out In fron )f our apartment and stood chattin tor a moment. Some day I want to show you th aboratory," Craig was saying. It must be so Interesting!" p lalmed Elaine very enthusiasticall; rlilnk or ail the bad men you mu r caught!" "Would .lme (icsitated.. you Ilk 1 A Package he rattled some loose change la hls Here there goea a whole pocket daya tips." He handed Jens a dollar ta small off. - J 1 in 1 a." it. hat last warning?" asked Elaine as approached our door More than ever now, replied have made up my mind o 'raig. " (,e "I ni so glad to see you, Mr. Ken- nedy, greeted Elaine unaffectedly as 'ennings admitted us. She had heard the bel! and was com ing jownstairs as we entered We three moved toward the libr-.rami someone switched on the lights Craig strode over to the safe. The cold sweat on It had now turned to icicles Craigs face clouded with thought as he examined it more close iy. There was actually a groanin sound from within It cant be opened," he said to himself. The time lock is set for tomorrow morning. Outside, If we had not been so absorbed in the present mystery, we might have seen Michael and the to us Clutching Hand listening Clutching Hand looked hastily at his watch. The deuce! he muttered undei his breath, stifling his suppressed fury. We stood looking at the safe. Kennedy was deeply Interested, Elaine standing close beside him. Suddentv he seemed to make up his mind. Quick Elaine! he cried, taking her arm. Stand back!" We all retreated. The safe door, powerful as It was, had actually begun to warp amj bend. The plates were bulging. A moment later, with a loud report and concussion, the door blew . ion THRU Susie rose to go and Elaine followed her to the door. No sooner had she face moved tn nd took a position U o see It? she wheedled of Aunt Joss the center of the room, as If on 'bine. guard gone than the Clutching Hand came w bile Clutching Hand sat before the Aunt Josephine nodded acquiescence, out from behind the curtains. He gazed safe watching It Intently. nd a moment later we all entered the about a moment, then, over to moving Someone at the door Jennings is auildlug. the safe about which the two girls had answering the bell." Michael whls "You you arc very careful since been talking, stealthily examined What Is it? I asked. new kinograph. he replied, still gazing carefully at the rolled-u- p 1 have inpart of the paper. stalled It because It registers every footstep on the floor of our apartment We cant be too careful with this Clutching Hand. I want to know whether we have had any visitors or not in our absence. This straight line indicates tha we have not Wait a moment. Craig hastily unlocked the door and entered Inside I could see him pacing up and down our modest quarters. Do you see anything. Walter? he called. I looked at the kinograph. The pen had started to trace its line, no longer even and straight, but zigzag, at different heights across the paper. He came to the coor. What do you think of it? ! e inquired. Some idea, I answered enthusiastically. We entered and I fell to work on a special Sunday story that I had been .forced to neglect. I was not so busy, however, that I did not notice out of the corner of my eye that Kennedy bad taken from its cover Elaine Dodges picture and was gazing at it .ravenously. I had finished as much of the article as I could do then and was smoking and reading it over. Kennedy was still gazing at the picture Miss Dodge had given him, then moving from place to place about the room, evidently wondering where it would look best. I doubt whether he had done another blessed thing since we returned. He tried it on the mantel. That wouldnt do. At last he held it np beside a picture of Galton, 1 think, ot finger print and eugenics fame, who hung on the wall directly opposite the Hastily he compared the fireplace. two. Elaines picture was precisely the same size. Next be tore out the picture of the scientist and threw It carelessly Into the fireplace. Then he placed Elaines picture in its place and hung it up again, standing off to admire it. 1 watched him gleefully. Was this Craig? Purposely I moved my elbow suddenly and pushed a book with a bang on the floor Kennedy actually jumped. I picked up the book with a muttered apoiogy. No, this was not the same old Craig. Perhaps half an hour later I was still reading. Kennedy was now pacing up room. and down the room, apparently unable Elaines is the matter, Marie?" asked What to concentrate his mind on any but You Elaine, laying down her book. one subject. if you had seen a ghost." look a3 He stopped a moment before the it ees just Ah, but mademoiselle photograph, looked at ft fixedly Then if mademoiselle safe The like that he started his methodical walk again, hesitated, and went over to the telephone, calling a number which I recognized. "She must have been pretty well done up by be. experience, he said I apologetically, catching my eye was wondering If hello! oh. Miss Dodge I er I er just called up to see if you were all right. Craig was very much embarrassed, but also very much in earnest A musical laugh rippled over the Yes, Im all right, thank .telephone. you, Mr. Kennedy and put the package you sent me into the safe, but " "Package? frowned Craig. Why, I sent you no package, Miss Dodge. In A H, 111. show It you.1 Puzzled, but Interested, Elaine followed her. In the library Jennings pointed mutely at the new safe. Elaine approached it As they stood about, new beads of perspiration, as It were, formed on it. Eiaine touched it and also quickly withdrew her hand I can't imagine whats the matter," But well Jennings, you she said. may go and Marie, also." When the servants had gone she still regarded the cafe with the same wondering look, then turning out the light, she followed . She had scarcely disappeared when, from the porfiered doorway near by, the Clutching Hand appeared, ard. after gazing out at them, took a qul . look at the safe. Good!" he muttered. Noiselessly Michael of the i ,- but hanging askew. Isnt that just like a man! she ex- Such housekeepers as you claimed. are such carelessness!" She had taken a stop or two across the room to straighten the picture. Miss Dodge! almost shouted Kennedy. hls face fairly blanched. StrgJ" She turned, her stunning eyes tf& with amazement at hls suddenness. Nevertheless she moved quickly to one side, as he waved his arms, unable to speak quickly enough. Kennedy stood quite still, gazing ni he picture, askew, with suspicion. "That wasnt that way when ye left, vas It. Walter? he asked. It certainly was not," I answered losltively. "There was more time ipont in getting that picture Just glit than I ever saw you spend on the Mr. Kennedy live here? asked one of the expresjmen, descending with his helper and approaching our Janitor, Jens Jensen, a typical Swede, who was coming up out of the basement. Jen3 growled a surly, Yes but Mr. Kannady. he bane out. Too bad weve got this large caboorti.1 inet l:e ordered from Grand Rapids, Craig frowned. We can't cart It around all day. Cant As for rnyself 1 did not know what you et us In so we can leave It?" to make of it. Jensen muttered: "Well I guess It Tm afraid I shall have to ask you bane ali right." o step into this back room "said Cralx They took the cabinet off the wagon it length to the ladies Tm sorry and arried It upstairs. Jense:i opened iut we cant be too careful with this our door, still grumbling, and they ntruder. whoever he was." placed the heavy cabinet In the living Elaine, however, stopped at the door. room. For a moment Kennedy appeared to "Sign here. Then his eye fell on be considering "You fallers bane a nuisance," profishing rod that stood in a corner, tested Jens, signing nevertheless. lie took it and moved toward the picScarcely had tbe sound of their ture. footfalls died away In the outside hall On bis bands and knees, to one way when the door of the cabinet ide, down as close as he could get to slowly opened and a masked face pro- the floor, with the rod extended at truded. gazing about the room. arms length, he motioned to me to do It was the Clutching Hand! the same, behind him. From tbe cabinet he took a large Carefully Kennedy reached out with package wrapped In newspapers. As the pole and straightened the picture. be held it, looking keenly about, his As be did so there was a flash, a A moeye rested on Elaines picture deafening report, and a great loud, then looked at it. ment he quickly at smoke from the fireplace. of puff the fireplace opposite. screen was riddled and overfire Tbe An idea seemed to occur to him. A charge of buckshot shatHe took the package to the fireplace, turned the tered precious photograph of and laid screen pack-agtht removed the Elaine. over the andirons with one end We had dropped flat on the floor at pointing out into the room. the report. I looked about Kennedy Next he took from the cabinet was unharmed and so were the rest couple of storage batteries and a coll a bound he was at the fireWith of wire. Deftly and quickly he fixed followed by Elaine and the rest the on place, them package. tn what remained of a us of There, before an alleyway Meanwhile, done roughly in newspaup package and street further down across the a was shotgun with Us barrel the long block the express wagon had per. off about six inches from the sawed stopped. to a block of wood, and Having completed fixing the bat- lock, fastened teries and wires. Clutching Hand ran connected to a series of springs oa the wires along the molding on the the trigger, released by a little electrowall overhead, from the fireplace un magnetic arrangement actuated by til he was directly over Elair.es pic- two batteries and leading by wires up ture. Skillfully he managed to fix the along the molding to the picture where wires, using them In place of the pic- the slightest touch would complete the ' ture wires to support the framed pho- circuit us caused Elaine It from until A startled very cry hung noticeably tograph to turn. askew bn the wall. . She was standing directly before her The last wire joined, he looked about the room, then noiselessly moved shattered picture where It hung awry to the window and raised the shade. on the wall. The heavy charge of Quickly he raised his hand and buckshot had knocked away large brought the fingers slowly together. pieces of paper and plaster under it It was tbe sign Craig!" she gasped. Off tn the alley, th? express driver He was at her side in a second. and his helper jumped Into tbe wagon She laid one band on his arm. as she and rway ft rattled. faced him With the other she trac ed Jensen was smoking placidly as the an imaginary line in the air from the level of the buckshot to his head and wagon pulled up the second time. Sorry," said the driver sheepishly, then straight to the Infernal thing that but we delivered tbe cabinet to the had lain in the fireplace. "And to think, she shuddered, that wrong Mr. Kennedy." He pulled out the Inevitable book to it was through me that be tried to kill ' prove It. you! Never mind, laughed Craig easily, Wall, you bane fine failera, growled Jensen, puffing like a furnace, as they gazed Into each other's eyes, Tod cannot go up drawn together by their mutual peril, in his fury. ' , V ; Hand will have, to i b agane." "Clutching Well get fired for tbe mistake. cleverer than this to get either of us Elaine! pleaded the helper. , "Just this once." urged tbe driver, as I TO BB roNTINUEll.i . . |