Show O O IT The he Exploits of ElaineE Elaine ElaineA i A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama By ARTHUR B. B REEVE E The Tile Well-Known Well No and the tile Creator of o othe the tile Craig Kennedy Stories Presented in Collaboration With the Pathe Players and the Eclectic Film Rim Company I Copyright 1911 by the Star Company All Foreign nights Reserved AA w- w SYNOPSIS The New York police are mystified by a series of ot murders and other crimes The principal clue to the criminal Is the warning letter which Is la sent the victims with a clutching hand The latest latest lat lat- lat lat- est victim of ot the mysterious assassin Is Taylor Dodge the Insurance president Ills His daughter Elaine ln employs fJ Y Craig Kennedy Kennedy Ken Ken- nedy y the famous scientific l detective v to try to unravel el the mystery What Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Ken Ken- nedy accomplishes Is told by his friend Jameson a newspaper man Enraged at the determined effort which Elaine and Craig Kennedy are making to put an end to his crimes the Clutching Hand as cr this strange criminal is known resorts to all sorts of the most diabolical schemes to put them out of ot the way Each chapter of ot the story tells of a new plot against w their lives and of ot the way the great dew de de- uses all his skill to save this pretty girl and himself from death w- w TENTH EPISODE THE LIFE CURRENT Assignments were being given out outon outon outon on the Star one afternoon and I was standing talking with several other othere e reporters In the busy hum of typewriters typewriters typewriters type type- writers and clicking telegraphs What do you think of that asked a one of the fellows Youre something ti of a scientific detective arent aren't you Without laving claim to such a distinction I took the paper and read THE POISONED KISS AGAIN Three More New York Women Report Being Kissed by Mysterious Stranger Later Later Fell Into Deep Unconsciousness Unconscious Unconscious- ness What ness What Is I. It I had scarcely finished when one of the copy boys dashing past me called out Youre wanted on the wire Mr Jameson I hurried over to the telephone and V answered A musical voice responded to my hurried hello and I hastened to adopt my most polite tone V V V Is this Mr Jameson asked the voice Yes I replied not recognizing It Well Mr Jameson Ive I've heard of V you Sou on the Star and Ive I've just had a aV avery avery V V very strange experience Ive I've had f the poisoned kiss The woman did not pause to catch my exclamation of astonishment but went on It was like this A man t ran up to me on the street and kissed V me and me-and-I and I dont don't know how It was was was- tf r but I became unconscious unconscious and and I didn't come to for an in hour hour In a hospital hos hos- pital pital fortunately I dont don't know what would have happened if It hadn't been that someone came to my assistance and the man fled I thought the Star would be Interested We are I hastened to reply Will you give me your name Why I am m Mrs Florence Leigh of No 20 Prospect avenue returned the voice Say I exclaimed hurrying over overto to the editors editor's desk heres another r woman on the wire who says she has 1 received the poisoned kiss Suppose you take that assignment k the editor answered sensing a possible possible ble story I took It with alacrity figuring out the quickest way by elevated and surface surface surface sur sur- face to reach the address I must say that I could scarcely critt criticize criticize crit crit- t- t th the poisoned kissers kisser's taste for forthe forthe CV the woman who opened the door cerV certainly certainly V was extraordinarily attractive And you really were were put put out by bya a kiss I queried as she she l led d me into a neat sitting room Absolutely as as much as If It had been by one of these poisoned needles you read about she replied confidently confident confident- IY ly hastening on to describe the affair 4 volubly r It was was' beyond me May I ul use e your telephone I asked Surely she answered I called the laboratory Is that you Craig I inquired Yes Walter he answered recognizing recognizing my voice i V V Say Craig I asked breathlessly 7 what sort rt of kiss would woul suffocate a person My only answer was an uproarious laugh from him at the idea V. V V I know I persisted hut but Ive I've got the assignment from the Star Star and and Im I'm out here Interviewing a woman V. V V about It Its It's all right to laugh laugh but but here I am Ive I've found a case names case names V V dates and places I wish you'd explain the thing then Oh all right Walter he replied Indulgently i r Ill me meet t you as soon as asI asI asI I can and help you out We waited patiently The b bell ball ll rang and the woman hastened to the door admitting Ken Ken- nedy Hello Walter he greeted VV This Is certainly r r most remarkable remarkable remark remark- able case Craig I said Introducing him and telling bri briefly py what I had learned And you actually mean to say that thata a 11 kiss had the effect effect- effect t Just then the telephone Interrupted Yes Ye she reasserted quickly Excuse Ex cuse use me a second She answered the call Oh why Oh why yes yes hes he's here Do you want to speak V to him Mr Jameson its it's the Star C Confound It It I exclaimed that that like the old man man dragging dragging me off orr this story before its it's half halt finished in inV J V VV V order to get get another Ill I'll have to go Ill I'll get this story from you Craig t 4 The day before In the suburban house the Clutching Hand had been talking to two of his emissaries an attractive attractive attractive at at- young woman and a manThey man They were Flirty Florrie and Dan the Dude Now I want you to get Kennedy he said The way to do It is to separate separate separate sep sep- arate Kennedy and Elaine see Elaine see All right Chief well we'll do it they replied Clutching Hand had scarcely left when Flirty Florrie began by getting published in the papers the story which I had seen The next day she called me up from the suburban house Having got me meto meto meto to promise to see her she had scarcely scarce scarce- ly turned from the telephone when Dan the Dude walked in from the next room Hes coming she said Dan was carrying a huge stag head with a beautifully branched pair of antlers Under his arm was a a. coil of wire which he had connected to the inside of the head Fine he exclaimed Then pointing pointing pointing point point- ing to the head he added Its all ready See how I fixed it That ought to please the Chief Dan moved quickly to the mantel and mounted a stepladder there by which he had taken down the head and started to replace the head above the mantel He hooked the head on a nail There he said unscrewing one of the beautiful brown glass eyes of the stag Back of it could be seen a camera shutter One of those new quick shutter cameras he explained Then he ran a couple of wires along the molding around the room and into a closet where he made the connection connection connection tion with a sort bf switchboard on which a button was marked SHUTTER SHUTTER SHUTTER SHUT TER and the switch WIND FILM Now Flirty he said coming out of the closet and pulling up the shade which let a flood of sunlight into the room you see I want you to stand here then here then do your little trick Just then the bell rang That must be Jameson she cried Now Now get get to your corner With a last look Dan went into the closet and shut the door Perhaps half an an hour later Clutching Hand himself called me up on the telephone It was he not he-not not the Star Star Star- as I learned only too late i t K t t tI I had scarcely got out of the house as Craig told me afterwards when Flirty Florrie told all all' allover over again the embroidered tale that had caught my mye e ear Kennedy said nothing but listened intently perhaps betraying in his face the skepticism he felt You see she said still voluble and eager to convince him I was only walking on the street Here let Here let me show you It was just like this She took his arm and before he knew it led him to the spot on the floor near the window which Dan had indicated Meanwhile Dan was lis lis- listening listening I attentively in his closet i Now stand Now stand there You are are just justas as I was was only only I didn't expect anything anything any any- thing She was pantomiming some one approaching approaching approaching ap ap- ap- ap stealthily while Kennedy watched her with interest tinged with doubt Behind Craig in his closet Dan was Dan was reaching for the s switchboard button You see she said advancing quickly and acting her words he placed his hands on my shoulders shoulders- so then so then threw his arms about about my neck neck sot so She said no more but imprinted a adeep adeep deep passionate kiss on Kennedys Kennedy's mouth clinging closely to him Before Before Before Be Be- fore Kennedy could draw away Dan DanIn Danin Danin In the closet had pressed the button button button but but- ton and the switch several times in rapid succession Th that's Th that's very realistic gasped Craig a good deal taken aback by the sudden assault He frowned I Ill I'll Ill I'll look into the case he said backing away a There There there may be some scientific explanation but explanation but buter buter but but- er er er He was plainly embarrassed and hastened to make his adieux dl mx 4 i t k t How little impression the thing made on Kennedy can be easily seen from the fact that on the way downtown downtown downtown down down- town that afternoon he be stopped at Martins Martin's on Fifth avenue and bought a ring ring ring-a a very hands handsome me solitaire lre the finest Martin had in the shop It must have been about the time that he decided to stop at Martins Martin's that the Dodge butler Jennings admitted admitted admitted ad ad- a young lady who presented a acard acard acard card on which was engraved the name Miss Florence Leigh 20 Prospect Avenue As he handed Elaine the card she looked up from the book she was readIng reading read read- Ing and took it All right show h w her in Jennings Ill I'll see seo her hen 2 i ii i t 3 Elaine moved into the drawing room Jennings springing forward to part the portieres for her and passing through the room quickly where Flirty Florrie sat waiting wafting Flirty Florrie rose and stood gazing at Elaine apparently very much embarrassed even after Jennings had gone It is embarrassing she said finally finally finally final final- ly but Miss Dodge I have come to you to beg for my love Elaine looked at her nonplused Yes she continued you do not know it but Craig Kennedy Is infatuated infatuated with you She paused again then added But he is engaged to me Elaine stared at the woman She was dazed She could not believe It There is the ring Flirty Florrie added indicating a very impressive paste diamond Quickly she reached into her bag and drew out two photographs without without with with- out a word handing them to Elaine Theres the proof Florrie said simply choking a sob Elaine looked with a start Sure Suree e enough ough there was the neat living room oom in the house on Prospect avenue In one picture Florrie had her arms over Kennedys Kennedy's shoulders In the other apparently they were passionately kissing Elaine slowly laid the photographs photographs' on the table Please Please please Miss Dodge give Dodge give me back my lost love Jove You are rich richand richand richand and beautiful I I am poor I 1 have only my good looks But But I I I love him him him- and he loves he-loves loves me and me and has promised to marry me me Florrie had broken down completely ly and was weeping softly into a a. lace handkerchief She moved toward the door Elaine followed her Jennings please Jennings please see the lady to the door Back in the drawing room drawing room Elaine seized the photographs and hurried into the library where she could be alone Just then she heard the bell and Kennedys Kennedy's voice oice in the hall How are you this afternoon Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Ken Ken- nedy greeted Elaine gayly H Elaine Elaine had been too overcome overcome by what had just happened to throw It off so easily and received him with studied coolness Still Craig manlike did not notice it at once In fact he was too busy gazing about to se see that neither Jennings Jennings Jennings Jen Jen- Marie nor the duenna Aunt Josephine Josephine Josephine Jo Jo- were visible They were not and he quickly took the ring from his pocket Without waiting he showed it to to Elaine Elaine Elaine very coolly admired the ring as Craig might have eyed a specimen on a microscope slide Still he be e did not notice He took the ring about to put It Iton iton on her finger Elaine drew away Concealment was not In her frank na na- na- na ture She picked up the two photographs What have you to say about those she asked cuttingly Kennedy quite surprised took them and looked at them Then he let them fall carelessly on the table and dropped Into a chair his head back in ina ina ina a burst of laughter Why Why that that was what they put over on Walter he said He called me up early this afternoon told afternoon told me he had discovered one of these poisoned kiss cases you have read about in the papers Think of it all It-all all that to pull pulla a concealed camera Such an elaborate elaborate rate business just business just to get me where they could fake this thing i 1 suppose suppose suppose sup sup- pose they've put someone up to saying saying say say- ing she's engaged Elaine was not so lightly affected But But she said severely repressing her emotion I dont don't understand Mr Kennedy how scientific inquiry Into the poisoned kiss' kiss could necessitate this sort of thing She pointed at the photographs ac ac- ac- ac c But he began trying to explain No buts huts she interrupted Then you believe that I I- I How carl can you as a scientist ask asle me meto to doubt the camera 1 she insinuated very coldly turning away Kennedy rapidly began to see that it was far more serious than titan he had at first thought Very well he said with a touch of impatience if my word word word-Is is not to b bo be taken Ill taken I Ill I'll He had seized his hat and stick Elaine did not deign to answer Then without a a. word he stalked out of the door 4 J t t r Kennedy was moping in the laboratory laboratory labora labora- tory the next day when I came In Say Craig I began trying to overcome overcome overcome over over- come his fit of blues Kennedy filled with his own thoughts paid no attention to me Then he jumped up By Dy George I I will wUl he muttered I I poked my head nead out of the door In time to see him grab up his hat and coat and dash from the room putting putting put put- ting his coat on as he went I Hes a nut today I exclaimed to myself Though I did not know yet of the quarrel Kennedy Kenned had really struggled with himself until he was willing to put his pride In his pocket and had made up his mind to call on Elaine again As he entered he saw that it was really pf no use for tor only Aunt Josephine Jo Josephine was in the library Oh Mr Kennedy she said Innocently innocently innocently Inno inno- enough Im so sorry she isn't here Theres There's been something troubling trou trou- troubling bling bUng her and she wont won't tell me what it is But Dut she's gone to call on a ayoung ayoung ayoung young woI woman a Florence Leigh I think Flor Florence nce Leigh exclaimed Craig with a start and md a frown Let me meuse meuse meuse use your telephone I had turned my attention in the tho laboratory to a story I was writing s 1 0 5 V n N Nf f T i j 4 I As Craig I Kennedy y Turns on on the Current Elaine's Chest Slowly Begins to toRise toRise I Rise and Fall when I heard the telephone ring It w was as Craig Without a word of apology for his rudeness which I knew had been purely absent minded absent minded I heard him say Walter meet me |