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Show mi .. .......,.., . , , " ' 3 IM. J '1 I I 4 !! The Exploits of Elaine I! ? I; A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama j; " H III' I I .1 - J; .. By ARTHUR B. REEVE -Ilk I The Well-Known Novell, I and tht ! -Mf CnaUtofih"Crelg Kennedy" Stories "II Presented in Coltafeor ttloa With the Pathe Players aad the Eclectic FHm Coapaay ' ! , . U Copyright. 1814. bjr the Star Oompnr AH Foreign RlghU Reaerred it . 4rz ... z ' 8YNOP6I8. i Tho New York pollco ore mystlfl! by a t , merles of murders and other crimes. The 1 principal duo to the criminal In tlio warn. I lng letter which Is sent the victims, signed jTR with a "clutching hand." The latent vie tlm of the mysterious assassin Is Taylor cft Dodgo, the Insurance prusldent. Ills W daughter, Klalne, employs Craig Kennedy, h the famous nclontlllc detective, to try to c -unravel tlm mystery. What Kennedy nc- 1 compllslios Is told by his friend Jameson, 1 . newspaper mnn. enraged at the deter' mined effort which Klnlno and CrnlK Ken- ncdy are making to put an end to his . crimes, the Clutching Hand, as this otrango criminal Is known, resortB to al sorts of tlm most diabolical gchemes to put them out of the way, tench chapter i-of the story tells of ft new plot against their Uvea and of the way the great do tectlvo uses nil his skill to save this pretty pret-ty girl and himself from death. ELEVENTH EPISODE THE HOUR OF THREE. , With tho ominous toreflngor of his Clutching Hand extended, tho Master Criminal emphasized his Instructions to nit minions. "Perry Bennett, hor lawyer, Is In favor ngaln with Elaine Dodgo," ho was saying. "She and Kennedy are on tho outs oven yot But they may become reconciled. Then sho'll Savo that fellow on our trail again, Before that happen" wo must 'get' h" see?" It was In tho latest headquarters I to which Craig hnd chased the crlm- f .lnal, In ono of tho -toughest parts of j Now York'B great river front section. l "Now," wont on tho Clutching Hand, A "1 want you. Slim, to follow them. 9 Sao what they do where they go. It's V fcer birthday. Something's bound to , -occur that will givo you a lead. All you've got to do Is to uso your head. j Clot mo?" ' It was, as Clutching Hand had said, 4 Elalno'B birthday. She had rccolvcd imany callors and congratulations, in-, in-, mumorable costly and beautiful to , kons of remembrance from her count- ! less friends and admirers. In the i -conservatory of tho Dodgo house- Elaine, Aunt Josephine and Susio Mar- itin wero sitting discussing not only tho happy occasion, but more, the many strange events of the past few weeks. "Well, said a familiar volco behind them, "what would a cortaln blonde young lady accept as a birthday present pres-ent from hor family lawyer?" All threo turned in surprise. "Oh, Mr. Bennett," cried Elalno. "How you startled ub!" Elalno hesitated. She was thinking sot so much of his words as of Ken-uaedy. Ken-uaedy. To them nil, however, It seemed that she was unnblo to mako up her mind what, in the wealth of her luxury, what aho would like. Susie Martin had been wondering whether, now that Bennett waB hero, sho was not do trop, as sho looked, at hor wrist watch mechanically. As aho did so, an Idea occurred to her.' "Why not ono of thoso?" Bho cried impulsively, indicating tho watch. "Fa- ! thor has Bomo beauties at tho shop." "Oh, good," exclaimed Elaine, "how aweot!" "Then let's all go to tho shop," Bald Bennett. "Miss Martin will personally jy, conduct tho tour, and wo shall have v-' our pick of tho finest stock." I It wua too gay a party to notice a elnlstor figure following them in a cab. Chatting with animation, tho three s moved over to tho watch counter, while the crook, with a determination not to risk inlsslng anything, entered tho shop door, too. "Mr. Thomas," asked Susio as her father's clerk bowed to thorn, "pfenso show MIsb Dodge tho wrist watches father was telling about." ' Unobserved, tho crook walked over near enough to hear what was going on. At last, with much banter and yot caro, Elalno selected ono that was in-doed in-doed a beauty and was about to snap it on hor dainty wrist when the clork interrupted. "I bog your purdon," ho suggested, "but I'd advlBo you to leavo It to bo rogulated, If you please." Reluctantly Elalno handed it over to the clork. A momont later they wont out and entered tho car again. As they did so, Slim, who had been looking over various things In tho inext case as If undecided, came up to uie watch counter. " " "I'm making a present," ho remarked 8 confldontally to tho clerk. "How about thoso bracelet watches?" The clerk-pulled 'out some of the cheapor ones. "No," ho said thoughtfully, pointing out a tray in tho showcase, "something : like thoso." Ho ended by picking out ono Idon f tlcally like that which Elalno had so loctod, and started to pay for it. "Better havo it regulated." repeated tho cleric "No," ho objected hastily, shaking, his head and paying tho mono quick ly. "It's a prosent -and I want it tonight." to-night." J to took tho watch and left tho storo Ham-led ly. bx the laboratory, Kennedy was working over an oblpng oak box, per baas tigliUeu laches la length and v If half as high. In tho box I could see, besides other apparatus, two good sized spools of flno wire. "What'B all that?" I asked Inquisitively. Inquisi-tively. "Auothor of tho now instruments that scientific detectives ubo," ho responded, re-sponded, scarcely looking up, "a llttlo magnetic wizard, tho telegraphone." "Which Is?" ; prompted "Something wo detectives might uso to take down and 'can' tolophono con- voraatlons and other such conversations. conversa-tions. When it is attached properly to a telephone, It records everything that Is said over the wiro. Tho record Is not mado mechanically on a cylinder, cylin-der, but electro-nutgnctlcnlly on this wire." Crnlg continued to tlnkor tantallz-Ingly tantallz-Ingly with tho machine which had been Invented by a Dane, Valdomar Poul8cn. He had scarcely finished testing the telegraphono when tho laboratory door opened and a clean-cut young man entered. Kennedy, I knew, had found that tho routino work of tho Clutching Hand caso was beyond his limited time and had retained this young man, Raymond Chase, to attend to that , Just now what worried Craig was tho situation 'with Elaine, and ! fan clcd that ho hud given Chnso somo commission in connection with that. "I'vo got it, Mr. Kennedy," grooted Chaso with quiet modesty. "Good," roBponded Craig heartily. "I know you would." "Got what?" I asked a momont later. Kennedy nodded for Chaso to answer. an-swer. "I've located tho now realdonco of Flirty Florrlo," ho replied. I saw what Kennedy wbb after at once. Flirty Florrlo and Dan tho Dudo had caused tho quarrel between himself him-self and Elalno. Dan tho Dudo was dead. But Flirty Florrlo might bo forced to explain it. "That's flno," ho added, oxultlngly. "Now I'll clear that thing up." Ho took a hasty step to tho tele-phono, tele-phono, put his hand on tho receiver and was about to take It off tho hook. Then he paused, and I saw his face working. Finally his prido, for Kennedy's was a highly sensitive nature, got tho better bet-ter of him. "No," ho said, half.to himself, "not vot" Elalno had returned homo. Alone, her thoughts naturally went back to what had happened recently to interrupt a friendship which had been the sweetest In her Ufo. "There must bo somo mistako," sho murmured penBlvoly to herself, think lng of the photograph Flirty had given her. "Oh, why did I send him away? Why didn't I bollovo him?" Mechanically, sho put out her hand to tho telephone Sho, was about to tako off the receiver, re-ceiver, when something seemed tot stay her hand. Sho wanted him to' come to her. Craig's oyo fell on tho tolographono, and an idea seemed to occur to him. "Walter, you and Chaso bring that thing along," he said a moment later. At last wo camo to tho npartmont houso at which Chaso had located the womnn. "Now, Chase," he directed, "you needn't go In with ub. Walter and I can mnnago this now. But don't got out of touch with mo. I shall need you any momont certainly, tomorrow." tomor-row." Kennedy slipped on a badgo inscribed: in-scribed: "Telephone inspector." "Walter," ho smiled, "you'ro elected elect-ed my helper." Wo entered tho apartment houso hall and found a negro boy In cbargo df the switchboard. "You look over tho switchboard, Kelly," ho winked nt mo, "while I tost out tho connections back here. There must be something wrong with tho wlros or thoro wouldn't bo so many complaints." Ho had gono back to the switchboard switch-board whilo the negro, still unsuspicious, unsuspi-cious, watched without understanding what It was all about. "I don't Know," Craig muttered finally final-ly for tho benefit of tho boy, "but I think I'll have to leavo that tester, nfter all. Say, If I put It here, you'll havo to be curcful not to let anyone meddlo with it. If yot) do, there'll be tho deuco to pay. See?" Kennedy had already started to fasten fas-ten the tolographono o tho wires he had selected from the tanglo. At last ho finished and stood up. "Don't disturb It and don't let anyone any-one else touch It," ho ordered. "Better "Bet-ter not toll anyone that's the best Way. I'll bo back for It tomorrow, probably. "Yas, sab," nodded tho boy, with a bow, as he went out. Back In tho new hang-outp tho Clutching Hand was laying down the law to bis lieutenants and heelers, when Slim at last entered. "Huhl" growled the master criminal, crim-inal, conveying the fact that he was considerably relieved to see aim at last "Whero havo you been? I've been off on a little Job mysolf, and got back." Slim apologized profusely "Yes, sir," ho ropllod hastily, "woll, I went over to tho Dodgo house, and I Baw them finally. I followed them into a Jewelry shop. That lawyer bought a wrist watch. So 1 bought one Just llko It I thought porhaps wo could " "Olvo it to me," growled Clutching Hand, solzlng It tho momont Slim displayed dis-played It. "And don't butt In bco?" From tho capacloim desk tho mas-tor mas-tor criminal pullod a sot of Bmall drills, vises, and other Jeweler's tools and placed them on tho tabic "All right," ho relented. "Now, do you seo what I havo Just thought of no? This is Just tho chance. Look at me." Carefully ho piled his hands to tho Job, regardless of tlmo. "Thero," ho oxclalmed nt last, holding hold-ing tho watch whero they could all seo it. "Seo!" He pulled out tho stem to set the hands and slowly twisted It between' Ills thumb and finger. Ho turned tho ImndB until they wore almost at tho point of threo o'clock. Thon he held tho watch out whoro all could seo. As tho mlnuto hnnd touched threo, from tho back of the caso, as If from tho chasing ttsolf, a llttlo needle, perhaps per-haps a quartor of an Inch, Jumped out. It seemed to como from what looked llko merely a small Insect In tho doco-.ratlon. doco-.ratlon. "You see what will happen at tho hour of three?" ho asked. No ono said n word, afl ho held up a vial which ho had drawn from his pocket On It thoy could road tho label, la-bel, "Rlclnus." "Ono of tho most powerful poisons In tho world," ho exclaimed. "Enough to kill a reglraont!" They fairly gasped and looked at It with horror, exchanging glances. Opening tho vial carofully, ho dipped In a thin pleco of glass and placed a tiny drop In n receptnelo back of tho needle and on tho needlo itself. "I'vo sat my Invention to go off nt threo o'clock," ho concluded. "Tomorrow "To-morrow forenoon, It will havo to bo delivered early and I don't bollovo wo shnll bo troubled any longer by Miss Elalno Dodge," ho added, venomously. ven-omously. Calmly ho wrapped up tho apparently appar-ently Innocent engine of destruction and handed It to Slim. "Seo that sho gets It in timo," ho said merely. "I will, sir," answered Slim, taking It gingerly. Flirty Florrlo had returned that afternoon, aft-ernoon, lato, from some expedition on which sho had been sent. Rankling In her heart yot was tho death of her lover, Dan tho Dude. Thus, when sho arrived homo, sho went to tho telephone to report and called a number, 4494 Greenwich. "Hello, chief," sho repeated. "This Is Flirty. Have you done anything Craig Kennedy Seized Elaine's Arm, Broke the Beautiful Bracelet and Ripped the Watch Off Her Wrist. yet In tho little matter wo talked about?" "Say be careful of names over tho wire," camo a growl. "You know what I mean." "Yes. Tho trick will bo pulled off at threo o'clock." "Good!" sho exclaimed. "Good-by and thank you." With his well-known caution Clutching Hand did not oven betray names over the telephone If he could help It Flirty hung up tho receiver with satisfaction. Tho manes of tho db-partod db-partod Dan might soon rest in peacol Tho next day, early in the forenoon, a young man with a small package carofully done up came to the Dodgo house. "From Martin's, tho Jeweler's, for MIsb Dodgo," ho said to JennlngB at the door. Elaine and Aunt JoBophlno wero Bitting In tho library when Jennings announced him. "Oh, It's my watch," cried Elaine. "Show him In." Elalno put the watch en her wrist and ndmlrod it. "Is it all right?'1 asked Slim. "YeB, yes," anBwerod Elaine. "You may go," Early the Bame morning Kennedy went around again to the apartment house and, cautious not to be seen by Flirty, recovered tho telegraphono Together wo carried it to tho laboratory. labora-tory. Thoro ho set up a llttlo Instrument that looked like a wedge Bitting up on end, In tho face of which was a dial. Through It he began to run tho wlro from the spools, and, taking an earpiece, ear-piece, put another on my head over my ears. Ho turned a switch and wo listened eagerly. First camo sovoral calls from people peo-ple with bills, and she put them off most adroitly. Then wo heard a call that caused Kennedy to look at mo quickly, stop tho mnchlno and start at that point over again. "That'B what I wanted," ho said, as wo listened In: "Glvo mo 4494 Greenwich." "Hollo." "Hello, chief. ThlB Is Flirty. Havo you dono anything yot In tho llttlo matter wo talked about?" "Say bo careful of names over tho wire." "You know what I mean." "Yes. tho trick will bo pulled off nt throe o'clock." "Good! Good-by, and thank you!" "Good-by." Craig paused and considered n mlnuto, mln-uto, thon moved to tho" telephone "There's' only ono thing to do, and that's to follow out my original scheme," ho said energetically, "Information, "In-formation, plenso," "Whero is Greenwich 4491?" ho asked a moment Inter. Tho mlnutos pnsHod. "Thank you, sir." ho cried,' vrlting down on a pnd nn nddross on tho West side, nenr tho river front. Thon turning to me, ho exclaimed, "Walter, wo'vo got him nt last!" Crnlg roBo and put on IjIb hat nnd coat thrusting a pair of opora glassos Into his pocket, In enso wo should want to observe tho place nt a distance dis-tance I followed him excitedly. Tho trail was hot. Konnedy nnd I camo at last to tho placo on tho West side where tha crookod streets curved off. Instead of keeping on until ho enmo to the plnco wo sought, ho turned oft and quickly slipped behind the shelter of a fence There wbb n broken board in tho fenco nnd ho bent down, gazing gaz-ing through with tho osora glasses. Across tho lot was tho now hangout, hang-out, a somewhat dilapidated, old-faBh-ioncd brick Iioubo of Boveral generations genera-tions back. Through tho glass wo could seo an evil-countenanced crook slinking nlong. Ho mounted tho stops and rang tho boll, turning as ho waited. From n smnll nperturo in the doorway door-way looked out another face, equally evil. Under cover, tho crook mndo tho sign of tho Clutching Hand twlco and was admitted. "That's tho plnco, all right." whispered whis-pered Kennedy with satisfaction. Ho hurried to a telephone booth, whoro ho called several numbers. Then wo returned to the laboratory. From the table ho picked up a Bmall coll over which 1 had seen him working and attached it to tho boll and somo batteries. Ho replaced it on tho table, whilo I watched curiously. curi-ously. "A selenium coll," he explained. "Only when light falls on it does it becomo a good conductor of electricity. electrici-ty. Thon tho bell will ring.'1 Just boforo making the connection he placed his hat over tho cell. Then he lifted the hat Tho light foil on It and tho boll rang. Ho replaced tho hat and tho hell stopped. Just then thoro camo a knock at tho door. I oponed It, "Hello, Chase," greeted Kennedy. "Well, I'vo found the new headquarters headquar-ters all rightover on the West side" Konnedy picked up tho selenium coll and a long coll of flno wlro, which he placed in a bag. .Thon. ho took another bag already packed, and, shifting them between us, wo hurried downtown. Near the vacant lot, back of the new headquarters, was an old brokon-dowr brokon-dowr house. Through tho rear of It we ontored. ,Ti started back in astonishment as we entered and found eight or ton policemen already there. Konnedy had ordered them to bo ready for a raid, and thoy had dropped in one at a time without attracting attention. "Well, men," ho greoted them, "I seo you found the placo all right. Now, In a little while Jameson will return with two wlros. Attach thqnl to tho boll which I will leave here When It rings, raid tho house. Jameson Jame-son will load you to It Como, Walter," Wal-ter," ho added, picking up tho bags. - Ton mlnutos Inter, outside tho now hcadqunrtors, a crouched-up figure, carrying a small package, his faco hidden undor his soft hat and upturned up-turned collnr, could havo boon seen slinking nlong until ho came to tho stops. Ho went up nnd peered through the nperturo of tho doorway. Thon ho rang, tho bell. Twice he rnlBed his hand and clenched It In the now fa miliar clutch. A crook lnsldo saw It through the aperture and oponed tho door, Tho figure entered nnd almost before tho door was shut tied the masking handkerchief hand-kerchief ovor his face, which hid his Identity from ovon tlio most trusted lieutenants. Tho crook bowed to tho Uhtof, who, with a growl bh though of recognition, moved down tho hnll. As ho camo to tho room from which &llm hnd boon sent on his mlsBlon, the Bnmo group was seated In tho thlrjc tobacco smoko. "You follows clear out," ho growled. "I want to bo nlono." "Tho old mnn Is poovod," muttered ono, outsldo, as they loft. Tho weird figure gazed about tho room to bo euro that ho was alono. When Craig nnd I left tho pollco ho had given mo most minute instructions instruc-tions which I wbb now following out to tho letter. "I want you to hldo thoro," ho said, Indicating a barrel back of tho houso next to tho hangout "When you seo a wiro como down from tho headquarters, headquar-ters, tako It and carry It across tho lot to tho old house Attach It to tho bell; then wait When it rings, raid tho Clutching Hand Joint" I waited what seemed to bo an Interminable In-terminable timo back of tho barrol, Finally, however, I saw a coll of flno wlro drop rnpldly to tho ground from a window somewhere above I mado a dash for It, as though I wero trylug to rush tho trenches, seized my prizo and, without looking back to boo whore it camo from, beat a hasty retreat Around tho lot I skirted, until at last I reached tho placo whoro tho pollco woro waiting. Quickly wo fastened tho wlro to tho bell. Wo waited. Not a sound from the bell. Up in the room In tho Joint tho hunchod-up flguro stood by tho table Ho had taken his hat off and placed it carefully on tho table and was now waiting. Suddenly a nolso nt tho door startled him. Ho listened. Thon ho backed away from tho door and drew a revolver. revol-ver. As tlio door slowly opened thero entered en-tered another flguro, hat ovor his oyes, collar up, a handkerchief over his faco, tho exact counterpart of tho first! .For a moment encb glared at tho ,othor. "Hands up!" shouted tho first figure' fig-ure' hoarsely, moving tho gun and closing the door with his foot. Tho newcomer slowly raised his crooked hand over his head, as tho bluo stool rovolvpr gapod menacingly. With a quick movement of the other hand tho first sinister flguro removed tho handkerchief from his faco and straightened up. It was Kennedy! '"Como ovor to tho center of tho room," ordorcd Kennody. Clutching Hand oboyed, eyeing his captor cloBoly, "Now lay your weapons on tho table." ta-ble." Ho tOBBcd dawn a rovolvcr. f Tho two still faced oach other. "Tako off that handkerchief!" It was n tenso momont Slowly Clutching Hand started to obey. Thon bo stopped. Kennedy was Just about to thunder, "Go on," whon tho criminal culmly remarked, "You've got ME all right, Kennody, but In twonty minutes Elaine, Dodgo will bo dead!" Ho said it with a nonchalance that might havo deceived anyono loss aer-tuto aer-tuto than Kennedy, Suddonly thero Unshed over Craig tho words: "THE TRICK WILL BE PULLED OFF AT THREE O'CLOCK!" Thoro was no fal:o about that. Kennedy Ken-nedy frowned menacingly. If he killed Clutching Hand, Elalno would die If ho fought ho must clthor kill or be killed. It ho handed Clutching Hand over Elalno -was lost Ho looked at his watch. It waB twonty-flvo minutes min-utes of three. "What do you mean tell mo?" demanded de-manded Kennody with forced calm. "Yesterday Mr. Bennett bought a wrist watch for Elalno," tho Clutching Hand said quietly. "They left It to bo regulated. Ono of my men bought ono Just like it. Mlno was delivered to her today." "A likely etoryl" doubtod Kennody, For answer tho Clutching Hand merely pointed to tho telephone. Kennedy reached for it "Ono thing," interrupted tho Clutching Clutch-ing Hand. "You aro a man of honor." "Yes yes. Go on." "It I tell you what to do, you must promise to give mo a lighting chance." "Yes, yes." "Call up Aunt Josephine, then. Do Just as I say." Covering Clutching Hand, Keunody called a number. "This is Mr. Kennedy, Ken-nedy, Mrs. Dodgo. Did Elalno rocJolve a present of a wrist watch from Mr. Bennett?" "Ycb," she replied, "for her birth-day. birth-day. It came this forenoon." Kennedy hung up the receiver and faced tho Clutching Hand, puizled as the latter said: "Call up Martin, the Jeweler." Again Kennedy obeyed. "Has tho watch purchased for MIm H Elalno Dodge been delivered " h' , H asked the clerk. H "No," camo back the reply, "the H watch Mr. Bonnett bought in still hor H being regulated." H Kennedy hung up tho receiver. He' -H was stunned. H "Tho watch will causo her death att H throo o'clock," said tho Clutching. H Hand "Swear to leave hero without; jH discovering nty Identity and 1 will tell' jH you how. You enn savo her! In that H Watch," ho hissed, "I have set a pol- H Boned needle In n spring Mint wilt be H relensod and will plungo it into hor H arm at oxnetly three o'clock On tho , H needlo Is rlclnus!" H Craig advanced, furious, As ho did H so Clutching Hand pointed calmly to H tho clock. It was twonty minutes ot s H throe! H With a montal struggle Kennedy H controlled his loathing of the creature H boforo him. 'H "All right-but you'll hear from H me sooner than you suspect," ho H shouted, starting for the door. H Then ho camo back and lifted his oH hat, hiding as much as posstblo the i H solenlum cell, lotting the light rail on V'LI "Only Elalno'B llfo has saved you. il With a last threat ho dashed out , Ho hailed a cab, returning from some H steamship wharves not far away. H "Quick I" ho ordorcd, giving tho H Dodgo nddress on Fifth avenue , H Mlnuto after mlnuto tho pollco and ) H I wnltod. Was anything wrong? i H Whero was Craig? H Just thon a tremor grow Into H tjnklo, then camo tho strong burr of H tho bell. Konnedy needed us. , H With n shout of encouragement to ! H tho mon I dashed out and over to the t H old houso. ' ) H Mcnn whilo Clutching Hand himself had approached tho tablo to recover ' H his weapon nnd hnd noticed tho queer - H llttlo solenlum cell, H "Tho douce 1" he cried. "Ho'a M planned to got mo anyhow!" j H Clutching Hnnd rushed to tho door H then stopped short. OutBlde he could' - H hear tho pollco and mysolf. H Clutching Hand slammed shut his H door and pulled down over It a heavy 'wH woodon bar. "'H At tho desk ho pausod and took out j H a pleco ot cardboard. Thon, with a H heavy black-marking pencil, Ko calmly .'TH printed on it, whilo wo battered at the 1 H barricaded door, a fow short foot away . H Ho laid tho sign on tho doak, thon! H on nnothor ploco of cardboard, drew H crudoly a hand with the Index finger H pointing. This he placed on a chair,. H indicating tho desk. H Just as tho swaying and bulging , H door gave way, Clutching Hand' gave H tho desk n pull. It opened up his get- iH away. A 'H Ho closed It with a sardonic smile IlLI In bur direction, Just as tho door "iPal crashed In. ?H We looked about. There was not a 'X H bouI In tho room, nothing but the 'sole- 1 'H nlum cell, tho chairs, tho desk. ' H "Look!" I crlod, catching sight of ; H tho Index linger, and going ovor to tha ' ' H desk. ' H Wo rolled back the top. Thero oa , H tho flat top was a sign: H Dear Blockheads: I H Kennedy and I couldn't wait. J H Thon camo that mysterious sign o .1 H the Clutching Hand. M Wo hunted ovor tho rooms, but ' H could And nothing that showed a cluew H Whoro waB Clutching Hand? Where H waB Kennody? . H In tho next houBO Clutching Hand. ' H had literally como out of an upright H piano Into tho room corresponding to ' H that ho had loft. Hastily ho threw off ? H his handkerchief, slouch hat, old coat H and trousers. A neat sttipod pair ot H trousers replaced tho old, frayed and ; H baggy pair. A now shirt, then a sporty ' H vest and a frock- coat followed. f jH Aa ho put1 tho finishing touches oa H ho looked for all tho world llko a be ' H whlskored foreigner. ' H At tho door of tho new hendquartors. , H a few seconds lator, I stood with tha .HH pollco, i M "Not a sign of him anywhere," H growled ono of tho olllcers. H H Elalno was sitting in tho library I ' H reading whon Aunt Josephlno turned 1 1 H to hor. I H "What tlmo Is it dear?" sho asked. j H Elaine glanced at her protty new , H trinket H "Nearly threo, Auntio Just a couple f H of minutes," sho said. j H Just then thoro came the sound or , H feet running madly down the hallway, , j H Thoy Jumped up, startled. I H Konnedy, his coat flying and hat H Jammed ovor his oyes, had almost IH bowled over poor Jennings In blB mad' v H raco down tho ball. 139 "Well," demanded Elalno haughtily. - WM "what's" j mm Before she knew what waa going oa yMm Craig hurried up to hor and llterallyi 'M ripped tho watch oft hor wrist break- $$&, lng tho beautiful bracelet. Wtfl He held It up, gingerly. Elaine was j Wh speechless. Was this Kennedy? Wa 'iM he possessed by such aa inordinate- 'WZw. Jealousy of Bennett? ''Jssitf As ho held the watch up, the second' it'm? bald tlckod around and the minute- KiSl. hand passed the meridian ot the hoar. i&' A viciously sharp needle gleamed' rft? out thon sprang back Into the flllgre m- work again. W? "Well," she gasped again, "what's- 1mk the meaning of this?'' fUSI Craig gazed at Elaine n silence. ffS Should he defend his rudeness, Ifl jrll she did not understand? She stamped.) j H her foot, and repeated the question &. fll third tlmo. H "What do you meaa, sir, by sunk. i conduct?" H Slowly he bowfd. vH "I Just don't Mke the ktna ot fclrth-j ' .H day presents you receive," ke aid.; lH turning oa hla heel. "Gee aHeraaoaJ J H (TO BB CQNTINUSaj i j M " ' B 1 H ; .LB "fffffff iiiioisr - - 17 p Jhuu.LtaBLaB |