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Show I The Exploits of Elaine I H Jk Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama I By ARTHUR B. REEVE H l TScWeB-KnowaNovcIkt and the Creator of theXraigKeanedy'Storie bVb if B z f S ffVcaented in Collaboration With the Patho Player and bBBbBJ aj , BJ B 4ha Eclectic Film Company 3 H 'CeyrrliM. lVl4.br ibelurCeuiiur All Portirn Klttti Rrnrrm 5 J i 1 i i i in i I ;jg BBfl s-aMHiRBaaVaW'iiiMHfc H -HYNOP3I3. H Tta "lf-r "Tra1 r'lci nro mystified by ur.-of:rwn1-m and other crimen, Tho rni-K:'-!lt- lo tlws rrlmlnnl l the warn- BBS l-nx: 'fcm-rr trtiildi 1 sent tho victim-, BBB plienrrlFr lcrtcllnB lintul.- The lat- BBH en-tlbc x tlin myntcrlotin aitxnsnln la BBB Tii-r-aw DmIj-c, .tfx- Innurnncn prcrilriont. BBB m tUrwKUi- JUslne, employs Craltf BBB t-EV-nmt, fl Tunkinus scientific detective, at tt-sv c mticuvl the mystery. What BBH IKrntrrVr imiiiHh1icm In told by bill BBB irWmtt Jt.nirfiT. n. newspaper tnnn. En BBB -m-rc 'Or? tcrmlncri effort which BBB ?yinVrn- awfl Orlf Kennedy nro innklnir to BBB law . .-ntl to tils crimen, the Clutching BBB Flamt, mhtsrita ntmnRc criminal Is known, BBB -r-riw-r r. ail iflttn erf til most diabolical BBB t-irtiena-ri C flllt tl(t' OUt Of thu Wliy, BBB IKntc vtnvtsr of th nto . tells ot a new BBB iplnt awftwt (heir live nnd of the way BBB Thi .-trim tlrtfrc tlgefc all 111 skill to BBB kiw this pwaty girl nnd himself from BBB tV-aiJr. H SEVENTH EPISODE B 'The Double Trap. B ItflnftMl ot (ho sago ndvlco that n B time eC peace Ih boBt employed In pro-' B pai-tajr for war, I was busily engaged B In. cleaning my nutomatlc gun ono B nombkica Kennedy and I wero Bent BBJ il fa, oar living room. OwrAar buzzer sounded, and Ken M xciir. aJv,-yn alert, jumped up, pUBh B ln?r aaldfe . gront pile of papers which B SiadL aecarniilatcd In tho Dodgo enso, H Tw teps took him to thohaVi, M where the day before he had installed m n pcoUUr box about four by six Inches, B 5Hwcfcl in fiomo way with a lens- H tlk kox of similar bIzq nbovo our bell M aai syeaTclRK tubo In tho hallway bo- B Xott (c tfo opened It, disclosing an ob B loz paf of ground glass. 1 "C houRht tho seismograph nr- B rasxracnt wan not qtllto enough after m tUit aprinKKnn affair," ho remarked. B C lutTc put In a sort of tctovlow M or tb- invention so that I can no B down nlo the vcBtlbulo downotalrs. H XVfcKJt look who's bore!" B "SRe new-fangled periscope ar- B tr.TixwHOBt, I suppose?" I queried, uov- M tnK elowly over toward It. fl E-Sa-wiiver. ono look wan cnougl to M tntvmw. me. I can nxpress It only H 'la bUbr. There, framed In tho little thUr, vras a vision of its swell a B "vhtcZLzrf ns I havo ovor seen. B X TWt)cd Under my breath. r- - ""Cm!" I exclaimed shamelessly, "A B Vtnch!1 "VMio'a your friend?" M C tuulBcier raid a truer word than M In Tttrdcscriptioaof her, though Ild H tint know 'ititLllie time. Sho was In B Ie)l. known as "Ocrtle tho Peach'' In B itbA aeVct Circlo altera she belonged. B KiuKily had opened tho lower H Iucr ul.oiir Jalr-vlsltor was coming H "C fH there Walter." ho -Bald, solr. B far (Be quickly and pushing ma Into B nr atom. "I want you to wait thoro H suwl watck her carefully." B Kctmtiy opened tho door, dlsclos- B ffBK avrvvry excited young woman. B "O. PreTcBsor- Konnedy," she cried, m al in. &ei breath, with much emotion, j "I"bl ssld.l found-you Jn. I can't' B ttyatr. Ok-my; jewels! They havo K Sapcn: Bro!cn-and my ' husbarfd must M Bat kaancr or it. Help mo torrerover B Clu-ca pfare!" M "SmwC a. moment, my dear foung H CaW faftiimipted Craig, finding at M farCxctuuace'-to.-got'a word in dgok M xrs- "1 you sea that tablo -ad all" B CheeB9pacm? Hcally.'l can't tnkryour B c&se. i ssb too busy, as it Is, ven B So totaa tbe enkca of. many, of mf own H "ihui ltwsc.' Professor Kcnody H -ptefcaer mkc )beggcd. "Help my (It M namxM.-ett, loa't'tttll-you how njuch B t mams, tu tab!" B 8fe.i!Atf come close to him and had B tabf k-ec-n-irm. llttlosoft hand ot.hla, M 1r guffttAfc vatn-aty, H Biw-at -aay bluing' place in my room, m L cauM net help seelr? Umt she was H uMbk every charm of her sex nnd per- H Bosatfcsr w Curo' him on, n she clung B agtogly to him. Hj Gertie iial tlirown her arms about Hj Keu(2jr. as ifJn wildest devotiAn. A H eafer-tai what Elaine would have H. tkoejrfct; ( she bad n picture of that! H "CHt." ike begged him, 'pHse H lieatf befp me!" H StilC Kennedy seemed utterly tinaf- B fcctr? Jty har pauslonato embrace. B Caretilf be loosened her lingers from Hj akMt tics neck nnd removed the H IuaH. enticing arms. BBj -Cerrtic. sank Into a chulr, weeping, H vhh2e Kfsn-edy stood before her a mo Hj -neKt ks. dt-ep abstraction. H (fSar bo seemed to make up his H Hnte2 to uoincOilng. Ills munnor KVfl towfiarrf her changed. He took a step B to kr ai&e. BM "T Tv'SfhtAp 5u," be Bald, laying his BH wA k. rtiar .-fl'oulder, "If it is pos- B tstWct'wiU.reeovcr your jewels. Where PM "At Ksxlhurst," sho replied, grate Wmt uH-r- Oh, Mr. Kennedy, how can 1 SjH 9er tiiank you?" jpBj -Elie teemed -overcome with gratl- Bl ta4e. took- ills hand, pressed It, BBJ th kHfttui it. BfiV Xwt Jt misutn." ho added, carofully BB itrtvAtiH'iii8 Viaud. "I'll be ready in KVB jt tmtc." BBJ 'BSeaHnttty entered tho- room where I BBJ 4s Ig-eftMlr&tg. BH m,fcC-,ufct,JiLout, Oralg?"- I whls- BBJ JHHNM.'lHiy-iitttf. BBj (arV-ra,ti-(itr.ent hetd!thlnkbg, ap. BBj Atarir" fK-ousidpiUK' wUatuke had BM. M " - , ,, Jp just done. Then his second thought seemed to approve It. "This Is a trap of tho Clutching Hand, Walter," ho whispered, adding tonsoly, "and wo'ro going to walk right Into it." "Hut, Craig," I demurred, "that's foolhardy. JIavo her trailed anything any-thing but " He shook his head, and with a mero motion of his hand brushed asldo my objections as ho went to a cabinet across tho room.. From ono shelf ho took out a small inctnl L and from another a test tube, placing tho tost tubo In hla waistcoat pocket and tho small box In his coat pocket with oxccsslvo care. Then ho turned and motioned to mo to follow him out Into tho other room. I did so, stufllng my "gatt" into my pockot. "Lot mo Introduce my friend, Mr. Jameson," said Craig, presenting me to tho pretty crook. Tho Introduction quickly over, wo threo went out to got Craig's tear, which ho kopt at a nearby .garago. That forenoon Perry Dennett wns reading up n caso. In tho outer of flco Milton Schoflold, his oulco boy, was Industriously chewing gum and admiring his feet, cocked up on tho desk boforo him. Tho door to tho waiting room opened and an nttractlvo woman of j perhaps thirty, dressed In extreme I mourning, ontored with a boy. Milton cast a glance of scorn at tho "little dudo." Ho was In reality about fourteen years old, but was dressed to look much younger. "Did you wish to seo Mr. Uonnott?" asked tho rrecoot'Uis Milton, politoly, on ono hand, "Mia on tho other ho made a wry ; jiaco. "Yes hero U my card," replied tho womai . It wns deeply bordered In black. Evon Milton wns startled at reading It: "Mrs. Taylor Dodge." Ho looked at tho woman In open-mouthed open-mouthed nstonlaliment. Even he know that Elaine's mother had been dead for years. Tho woman, however, truo to her namo In tho artistic cotcrio in which she wns leader, had sunk into a chair and wns sobbing convulsively, as only "Weepy Mary" could. It was so effective that oven Milton was visibly moved. Ho took the card In, excitedly, to Bennett. "There's a woman outside says she Ib Mrs. Taylor Dodge!" ho cried. If Milton had had an X-ray eye ho could havo seen her tako a clgaretto from her handbag nnd light It nonchalantly non-chalantly tho momentaho was gone. As for Donnott, Milton, who was watching him closely, thought ho was about to discharge him on tho spot for bothering him. Ho took tho card, nnd his faco expressed tho most ex tremo surprise then nngor. Ho 'thought a momont. "Tell that woman to statu her business busi-ness Jn writing," ho thundered curtly .at Milton. As the boy turned to go back to 'tho waiting room, Weopy Mary, hearing hear-ing him coming, hastily shoved tho (Cigarette into her "Bon's" hand. "Mr. Dennett says for you to write "out what it la you want to soo him about,' roportod .Milton, indicating the table beforo which sho wns sitting. Mory had automatically taken up sobbing with tho releaso of tho clga- rotto. Sho looked at tho tablo on which wore letter paper, pcnB and ink. "I may wrlto hero?" sho asked. "Surely, ma'am," ropllod Milton, still vory much overwhelmed by hor sorrow. "Weepy Mary" sat thoro, writing nnd sobbing. In the midst of his sympathy, however, how-ever, Milton sniffed. Thoro wnB an unmistakable odor of tobacco smoko nbout tho room. Ho looked sharply at the "son," and discovered tho still smoking cigarette. It was too much for Milton's outraged out-raged dignity. Dennett did not nllow him that coveted privilege. This upstart up-start could not usurp it. Ho reached over and seized tho boy by tho arm. and Bwung him nround till ho faced a sign in tho corner on tho wall. "Seo?" ho demanded. Tho sign rend, courteously; "No Smoking In This Office Please. "PERRY DENNETT." "Leggo my arm," snarled tho "son," putting tho offensive clgarotto defiantly defi-antly into his mouth. Thoro wns every elemont of a gaudy mlxup, when tho outer door of tho of-flco of-flco suddenly swung cpen and Elaine Dodgo entered. Gallantry was Milton's middle namo, and lio sprang forward vo hold tho door, and then opened Dennett's door, as ho ushered in Elaine. As bIiq passed "Wcgpy Mary," who was still writing at tho tnolo and crying cry-ing bitterly, Elalno hesitated and looked ut her curiously. Evon after Milton had oponed Dennett's door, sho could not reslBt another glance. Instinctively, In-stinctively, Elaine seemed to scent rouble. Dennett was still Btudying the black-bordered black-bordered card when she greeted him. "Who is that woman?" she asked, still wondering about' the identity of the nlobo outside. At first ho said nothing. Dut finally, seeing that sho had noticed it, ho handed Elalno the card, reluctantly. ' Elaino read it with a gasp. Tho look of surprise thaircrossed Jicr faco was, terrible. Before sho could say anything, how-over, how-over, Milton had returned with tho sheet of paper on which "Weepy Mary" had written and handed it to Jlennatt. Dennett road it with uncontrolled astonishment. "What is it?" domanded Elaine. Ho handed It to her, and sho read: As the lawful wife and widow of Taylor Dodge I demand my ton's rights and my own. MRS. TAYLOR DODQE. Elalno gaspod at it. "She my father's wife!" sho exclaimed. ex-claimed. "What effrontery! What docs sho mean?" Bennett hesitated, "Tell me," Elaino cried. "Is there-can there-can thoro bo anything In it? No no-there no-there Isn't." Dennett spoko In a low tone. "I have heard a whisper of some scandal scan-dal or other connected with your fatherbut fath-erbut " Ho pausod. Elalno wns first Shocked, then indignant. indig-nant. "Why such a thing is absurd. Show tho woman in!" "No please Miss Dodgo. Let rao deal with her." By this tima Elalno was furious. "Yes I will seo her." Sho pressed thq button on Bennett's desk, nnd Milton responded. "Milton, show the tho woman in," Bhe ordered, "nnd that boy, too." As Milton turned to crook his finger at "Weopy Mary," Bho nodded surreptitiously surrep-titiously nnd dug her fingers sharply Into "son's" ribs. "Yell you llttlo fool yoll. sho whispered. Obedient to his "mothor's" commands, com-mands, and much to Milton's disgust, tho boy started to cry in closo imitation imita-tion of his elder. Elalno was "still holding tho paper In her hands when they entered. "What does all this mean?" she demanded. de-manded. "Weopy Mary." between sobs, mnn-nged mnn-nged to blurt out, "You are Miss Elalno Dodgo, aren't you? Well, it moans thnt your father married mo when I was only seventeen and this boy- Is our Bon your half-brother." "No novor," cried Elalno vehemently, vehem-ently, unnblo to restrain her disgust. "Weepy Mary" Bmtlcd cynically. "Como with mo and I will show you tho church records nnd tho minister who married us." "You will?" repeated EInIno defiantly. defiant-ly. "Well. I'll Just do as you ask. Mr. Bennett shall go with mo." "No, no, Miss Dodgo don't go. Leavo tho mutter to me," urged Bennett. Ben-nett. "I will tako care of her. Bo-sides, Bo-sides, I must bo in court In twenty minutes." Elalno paused, but sho was thoroughly thor-oughly aroused. "Then I will go with hor myself," Bhe cried defiantly. In Bfrlto of every objection that Dennett Den-nett mndo, "Weepy Mary," hor son and Elalno went out to cnll a taxlcab to take them to tho railroad station whero they could catch a train to tho little town whero the woman asserted Bho had been married. Mcanwhilo, beforo a llttlo country church in the town, a closed autcmo-blle autcmo-blle had drawn up. As the door opened a flguro, humped up and masked, alighted. It was tho Clutching Hand. Tho car hnd scarcely pulled nway whon ho gavo a long rap, followed by two short tapB, ut tho door of tho vostry, a secret code, evidently. Insldo tho vestry room a man well dressed, but with a very sinister face, heard tho knock and a second later opened tho door. "What not ready yet?" growlod tho Clutching Hand. "Quick now get on those clothes. I heard tho train whistle whis-tle as I camo in tho car. In which closot does tho mlntstor keep them?" Tho crook, without a word, wont to n closet nnd took out a suit of clothes or ministerial cut. Then bo hastily put them on, adding some side-whiskers, whj'b bo had brought with, him. At abuAt the samo tlmo Elaine, accompanied ac-companied by "Weepy Mary" and ber H , i i i ii i - i ii - - - inn -- - -- "son," had arrived at tho little tumbledown tumble-down station and had "taken the' only vehicle in sight, a very ancient carriage. car-riage. It ambled along until, at last, it pulled up beforo tho vostry room door of tho church, just as the bogus minister min-ister was finishing bis .transformation from a frank crook. Clutching Hand was giving him his final instructions. Elalno and tho others alighted and approached tho church, while tho an clcnt vohlclo rattled away. "Thoy'ro coming!" whispered tho crook, peering cautiously out of tho window. Clutching Hand moved silently and snakollko into the closet and shut tho door. "How do you do, Doctor" Carton?" greoted "Weepy Mary." I gUoss you don't romember mo." Tho clerical gentleman looked at her fixedly a moment. "Remembor you?" ho ropcatod. "Of course, my dear. "I romember overy-ono overy-ono I marry." , "And you remember to whom you married mo?" "Perfectly. To an oldor man a Taylor Tay-lor Dodgo." Elalno was overcome. "Won't you stop In?" ho said suavely. "Your friend hero doesn't seem well." They all entered. "And you you say you married this this woman to Taylor Dodgo?" queried Elaine, tcnBcly. Tho boguB minister seemed to bo very fatherly. "Yes," he assorted, "I certainly did so." "Havo you tho record?" asked Elalno, fighting to tho last. "Why, yes. I can show you tho record." Ho moved over to tho closet, "Como over hero," ho asked. Ho opened tho door. Elalno screamed and drew bacK Thero stood her arch enemy, -tho-Clutching. Hand himself. Ab ho stepped forth, she turned wildly, wild-ly, to run anywhere. But strong arniB solzod her and forced her Into a chair. She looked at the woman and tho minister. It was a plot? "A moment Clutching Hand looked Elalno over. "Put thb othors out," ho ordered tho other crook. "Now, my pretty dear," began the Clutching Hand as tho lock turned In tho vestry door, "wo shall bo Joined IUL&! BBWi''' wtt ( BBBBBBBBl i BHbBBbBf tvwK ' WiwBBbBbBv n. BBBBksS'''u'1SbBBBEW' JKm. BBflBKBr i w. .TBrfffllBalfflfiSBi $ I BKf -bbbbbbbbBil' ib1Hhp9bVbVbVbVj9bVBvbVbVb1 aBb.i . T4-BBiBBBflBBYBiBfl .BiBBBBBBBBBBBBhBBBBB BBAu BBBBBBmsHeBBBx flBBBBBBBBBBBBfl ItflBBal BBBBBBflBBBBBBBBJBJHijx,,rB There Stood Her Arch Enemy, tho Clutching Hand. shortly by your friend, Craig Kennedy, and," ho added with a leer, "I think your rather insistent search for a certain person will cease." Elaine drew back In the chair, horrified horri-fied at tho Implied threat. Clutching Hand laughed diabolically. Whllo theso astounding events were transpiring In the llttlo churcb, Kennedy Ken-nedy and I had been tearing across the country in his big car, following tho directions of our fair friend. Wo stopped at last boforo a prosperous, pros-perous, attractive-looking house and entered a very prettily furnished, but Bmall parlor. Heavy portieres hung ovor tho doorway Into the hall, over another into a back room and over tho bay windows. "Won't you sit down a moment?" coaxed Qortlo. "I'nu.qu!to blown to pieces after that rldo. My, how you drlvol" As sho pulled OBldo tho hall por tlores. threo mon with guns thrust (heir hamls out I turned. Two others oth-ers had stepped from tho back room nnd two moro from tho bay window. Wo wero surrounded. Seven guns woro ulmed as us with deadly precision. preci-sion. "Gentlomon," ho said quietly. "I suspected somo such thing. "I have hero a small box of fulminate of mercury. mer-cury. If I drop It, this building and tho entlro vicinity will bo blown to atoms. Go ahead shoot!" ho added, nonchalantly, Tho eeveii of them drow back rather rath-er hurriedly. Kennedy wtu a dangerous prisoner, Ho calmly sat down in an arm chair, leaning back as ho carefully balanced tho deadly little box of fulminate ful-minate of mercury on his knee, Gertlo ran from tho room. For a momont thoy looked at each other, undecided. Then, ono by ono, they stopped away from Kennedy toward to-ward the- door. Tho leader was tho loat-to go.. Ho-had Ho-had scarcely taken a step. "Stop!" ordered Konnoly. Tho crook did so. Aa Craig moved toward him, ho waited, cold sweat breaking out on his face. "Say," he whined, "you let mo b! It was Ineffectual. Kennedy, BmuV ing confidently, camo cloaer, still hold-lng hold-lng tho deadly llttlo box, balanced bo-tweon bo-tweon two flngtrs. Ho took the crook's gun and dropped it into his pocket. "Sit down!" ordered Craig. Outside, the other six parleyed In hoarse whlspors. One raised a gun, but tho woman and tbe others restrained re-strained him and tied. "Tako me to your master!" demanded de-manded Kennedy. Tho crook remained slle'nt. "Whero is ho?" repeated Craig. "Tell me!" Still tho man remained silent. Craig looked tho fellow over again. Then, still with that confident smile, ho reached into his Insldo pocket and drow forth tho tubo 1 had seen him place there. "No matter how much you accuso mo," added Craig casunlly, "no ono will ever tako tho word of a crook that a reputable scientist like mo would do what I am nbout to do." Ho had taken out his penknife and opened it. Then he beckoned to mo. "Bare his arm and hold his wrist, Walter," ho said. Cratg bent down with tho knlfo and tho tube, thon paused a moment and turned to tubo so thnt wo could boo it. On the label wero the ominous words: Germ Culture 6248A Bacillus Leprae (Leprosy) Calmly ho took tho knife and proceeded pro-ceeded to make an incision In tbo man's arm. Tho crook's feelings underwent un-derwent a terrific struggle. "No no no don't," ho Implored. "I will take you to tho Clutching Hnnd even If ho kills mo!" Kennedy stepped back, replacing the tubo in his pocket. "Very1 well, go ahead!" he agreed." Wo followed tho crook, Craig still holding the deadly box of fulmlnato of mercury carefully balanced so that If anyone shot him from a hiding placo It would drop. No sooner'had wo gono than Gertie hurried to tho nearest telephone to Inform tho duelling Hand of our escape. Elalno had sunk back into the chair as the telephono rang. Clutching Hnnd nnswercd it. A moment later, in uncontrollable fury ho hurled tho Instrument to tho floor. "Here we've got to act quickly that devil has escaped again," ho hissed. "We must got her away. You keep her here. I'll bo back right away with a car." Ho dashed madly from the church, pulling off his mask as he gained tho street. Kennedy had forced, tho crook ahead of ub Into the car which was waiting, and I followed, taking the wheel this time. "Which way, now quick!" demand-ed demand-ed Craig. "And If you get mo In wrong I've got that tube yet you remember." re-member." Our crook started off with a whole burst of directions that rivaled tho motor guide "through the town, following fol-lowing trolley tracks, jog right, Jog left under tho railroad brldgo, leaving trolley tracks; at the cemetery turn left, stopping at the old stono church." "Is this It?'' asked Craig Incredulously. Incredu-lously. "Yes as I live," swore tho crook lu a cowed voice. Ho had gone to pieces. Kennedy Jumped from the machine. "Here, take this gun, Walter," he said lo mo. "Don't take your oyes off tho fellow keep1 him covered." Craig walked around tho church, out of sight, until ho camo to a Bmall vestry window and looked In. There was Elaine, sitting In a chair, and near her stood an elderly-looking mnn In clerical garb, which to Craig's trained eyo was quite evidently a disguise. dis-guise. Elalno happened Just then to glance nt tho window nnd her eyes grew wide with astonlsbmont at the sight of Craig. " Ho mado a hasty motion to her to mako a dash for the door. She nodded quietly. With a glance nt her guardian sho suddenly mado a rush. Ho was at her in a moment, pouncing pounc-ing on her, catlike. Konnedy had seized an Iron bar that lay bosldo the window whore somo workmen had been ropalrlng tho Btono pavement, and with a blow shattered the glass and tho sash. At the sound of tho smashing glass the crook turned and with a mighty effort throw Elalno asldo, drawing his rovolvor. As ho rnlscd It, Elalno sprang at him and frantically seized his wrist. Uttorly merciless tho man brought the butt of tho gun down with f,ull force on Elaine's head. Only hor hat nnd hair savjed her, but sho sank unconscious. un-conscious. Then ho turned at Craig and fired twlco. One shot graed Craig's hat, but tho other struck him in tho ohoulder and Kennedy reeled. With a desperato effort ho pulled himBelf toward h.er and leaped forward again, closing with tho follow and wrenching tho gun from him beforo ho could flro again. Just then ti6 man broko away nnd mado a dash for tho door leading back into tbo church iiaelf, with Kennedy after him. Up ho wont into tho choir loft and then Into tho belfry Itself. Thoro they came to sheer hand-to-hand strugglo. Konurdv tripped on a loose board, and-would and-would havo fallon backwards If he had not boen nblo to recover himself just iu timer I Tho crook, desprato, leaped for th ladder loading rarther up into ffj KennodJ followed. I Elalno ha recovered consciousness almost Immediately, and, hearing the oommotlon, pt!rr4 and started to rise , and look'hbMiL " From tho church sho couid hear sounds of tho strugglo. Sho paused Just long enough to seize the crook's revolver lying on the floor. Sho hurried Into tho church and up into tho belfry, thence up tho ladder, whence tho sounds camo. The crook bythter tlmo had gained -. tho oulsido of tho steeplo through an oponlng. Kennedy was in closo pur L suit "-T On tho top ot tho steeplo was a great glided cross, considerably larger than a man. As tho crook clnmbered-outslde, clnmbered-outslde, ho scaled the steople, using a lightning rod and somo projecting points to pull himself up, desperately. Kennedy followed unhesitatingly. Thero thoy wero, struggling in doad-ly doad-ly combat, clinging to tho gilded cross. Tho first 1 know of jt was a horrified gasp from my own crook. I looked up I 1 ff niMjiiiMrty-'H'i i "'"W.ff'v V Mini "iMimi 3 -BJN''m ''tiiMiV"i..ft'r BF " & - i$. f i i" -.- aHV . . y Mn-- , . . f - 1 i""'" iT. S., ii-i..NW.rswi B,'''''iit, innjW"' " fr AT xn .'-v ...... y: Y ...- i .--"-v - m - v A-. ,-, $A v.s " -.:..,. ly;Hy-"'w - II Ml MilMlui) wc..."'! ,bBK..'. . -vvvv .v X ,, v. "J " J "., Just Then I Saw a Woman's Faco Tenoe With Horror; It Was Elaine. carefully, fearing it wub a stall to get mo off my guard. Thero wore Kennedy nnd the other J crook, struggling, swaying back and forth, botween life and deuth. There was nothing I could do. Kennedy wnB clinging to a light- ) ning rod on tho cross. It broke. I gasped as Craig reeled back. But ' ho managed to cntch hold of tho rod farther down and cling to It. Tho crook began to exult dlaboll. j cally. Holding with both hands to tho j cross ho lot himself out to his full " J length and stamped on Kennedy's fin- . gors, trying every way to dislodge him. It was all Kennedy could do to keep his hold. I cried out In agony at tho Bight, for ho had dislodged ono of Craig s hands. Tho other could not hold much longor. Ho was nbout to fall. JusC thon I eaw a face at tho little window oponlng put from tho laddor to the outside of the steeple a woman's wom-an's faco, tenBo with horror. It was Elalno! Quickly a hand followed, and In it wnB a rovolvcr. Just aa tho crook was about to dislodge dis-lodge Kennedy's other hand I saw a Hash and puff of smoke, nnd a second later heard a report and another- and another. Horrors I Tho crook who had taken taltn Boomed to Btngger back, wildly, taking a couple ot stops in tho thin air. Kennedy regained his hold. With a sickening thud tho body of tho crook landed on tho ground around tho corner of tho church from mo. "Como youl" I ground out, covor-lng covor-lng my own crook with tho pistol, "and If you attempt a getaway I'll kill you, too!" Ho followed, trembling, unnerved. Wo bent ovor tho man. It seemed that every bono iu his body must bo broken. Ho groaned, and boforo could even attempt anything for him, was dead. As Konnedy lot himself slowly and palnftfly down tho lightning rod. Elaino Beizod him and, with all hor strongth, pulled hlra through tUv window. win-dow. Ho vftta qulto weak now from fos of ' ! ' blood. I "Aro you all right?" sho gasped, as they reached tho foot of the ladder In tho belfry. Craig looked down at hlB torn and Boiled clothes. Then, In splto of tho smarting pain of his wounds, Ito Bmlled, "Yos all right!" "Thank Heaven!" sho murmured fervently, fer-vently, trying to stanch tho flow of blood. "This time It was you saved me!" he cried, "Elaine!" Involuntarily his arms Bought hem and ho hold her a momont, looking1 dop into hor wonderful yea I Then tholr faces came alawly t gether In their first kiss. i ITO BE CONTINUED.) |