The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-06-29

| AhOAIaA 6lIuB6l0 hcuuCuJ
controlled his loathing Of the creature
before him.
"All right-but you'll hear from
me-sooner than you suspect" he
shouted, starting for the door.
Then he came back and lifted his
hat, hiding as much as possible the
selenium cell, letting the light fall
on 1t.
"Only Elaine's life has saved you"
With a last threat he dashed out.
He hailed cab, returning from some
steamship wharves not far away.
"Quickl" he ordered, giving the
Dodge address on Fifth avenue.
Minute after minute the police and
waited. Was anything wrong?
Where was Craig2
Just then a tremor grew into a
tinkle. then came the strong burr of
the bell. Kennedy needed US.
With shout Of encouragement to
the men I dashed out and over to the
old house.
Meanwhile Clutching Hand himself
had approached the table to recover
his weapon and had noticed the queer
little selenium CELL
"The deuce!" he cried. Hes
planned to get me anyhowl"
Clutching Hand rushed TO the door
then stopped short. Outside he could
hear the police and myself.
Clutching Hand slammed shut his
door and pulled down over 1t a heavy
wooden bar.
At the desk he paused and took out
piece of cardboard. Then, with
heavy black-marking pencil. he calmly
printed on it, while we battered at the
barricaded door, a few short feet away.
He laid the sign on the desk, then
on another piece of cardboard, drew
crudely hand with the index finger
pointing. This he placed on a chair.
indicating the desk
Just as the swaying and bullying
door gave way, Clutching Hand gave
the desk pull. 1t opened up-his get
away.
He closed it with sardonic smile
in our direction, just as the door
crashed In.
We looked about. There was not
soul in the room, nothing but the sele-
mum cell, the chairs, the desk
'Lookl" cried, catching sight of
the index finger, and going over to the
desk.
We rolled back the top. There on
the fiat top was sign:
Dear Blockheads: eg
Kennedy and couldn't walt.
Then came that mysterious sign of
the Clutching Hand
| We hunted over the rooms, but
could find nothing that showed clue.
Where was Clutching Hand? Where
was Kennedy?
In the next house Clutching Hand
had literally come out of an upright
| piano into the room corresponding TO
that he had left. Hastily he threw off
his handkerchief. SLOUGH hat, old coat
and trousers. A neat striped pair of
trousers replaced the old, frayed and
baggy pair. A new shirt, then sporty
vest and frock coat followed.
AS he put the finishing touches on
he looked for all the world like a be-
whiskered foreigner.
At the door of the new headquarters,
a few seconds later, stood with the
police.
Not a sign of him anywhere"
growled one of the officers.
Elaine was sitting In the library
reading when Aunt Josephine turned
to her.
What time is It, dearP" she asked.
Elaine glanced at her pretty new
trinket.
Nearly three, Auntie-just a couple
of minutes" she said.
Just then there came the sound of
feet running madly down the hallway.
They jumped up, startled.
| Kennedy, his coat flying and hat
| jammed over his eyes, had almost
bowled over poor Jennings in his mad
race down the hall.
WELL" demanded Elaine haughtily.
what's"
Before she knew what was going on
Craig hurried up to her and literally
ripped the watch of her wrist, break
ing the beautiful bracelet.
He held It up, gingerly. Elaine was
speechless. Was this Kennedy? Was
he possessed by such an inordinate
jealousy of Bennett?
| As he held the watch up, the second
haid licked around and the minute
hand passed the meridian Of the hour.
viciously sharp needle cleaned
out-then sprang back into the filigree
work again.
WELL" she gasped again, what's
the meaning of this?"
Craig gazed at Elaine In silence.
Should he defend his rudeness, il
she did not understand? She stamped
her foot. and repeated the question q
third time.
What do you mean. sir. by such
conduct?"
Slowly he bowed.
II just don't like the kind of birth
| day presents you receive" he said,
turning on his heel. Good afternoonI"
CTo BE CoNTINUED)
| Motion pictures of the Exploits of
Elaine are shown at the Mount Holly
Theatre every Monday night.
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