Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-07

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dark house. Half Q mile. perhaps, down the road
they halted and left the car beside the walk
Dr. Martin was too surprised to marvel at any
thlnE new, and he realised that he was in the power
OF tive desperate men. Quickly they blndfolded
him,
u seemed an interminable walk as they led
him about to confuse him. but at last he could feel
that they had taken him into a house and along
pausaseways, which they were making unnecessarily
long In order to destroy all recollection that they
could. Finally he knew that he was in a room in
which others were present. He suppressed shud-
dor at the low, menacng voices
moment later he felt them remove the ban
dase from his eyes. and. blinking at the light he
could see hard-faced fellow, pale and weak, on
blood-stained couch. Over him bent a masked man
and another man stood near by, endeaVoring by
improvised bandages to stop the flow of blood.
What can you do for this fellow?" asked the
masked man.
DR.. Martin, seeing nothing else to do for he was
more than outnumbered now, bent down and ex-
Rmined him.
AS he rose. he said HE will be dead from loss
OF blood by morning no matter If he is properly
bandaged."
SIS there nothing that can save him?" whispered
the Clutching Hand hoarsely.
Blood TRANSMISSION might save him." replied
the doctor. But 30 much blood would be needed
that whoever gives It would be liable to die him
self"
clutching Hand stood silent a moment thinking,
he gazed at the man who had been one Of his
chief reliance. Then, with a menacing gesture,
he spoke in q low, bitter tone:
"She who shot him shall supply the blood"
A few quick directions followed to his subor-
dinates, and as he made ready to go he muttered,
Lar Inn atfr from
the room"
Then, with the man who had aided him in the
murder Of Taylor Dodge. he sailed out into the
blackness that precedes dawn
1t was Just before early daybreak when the
Clutching Hand and his confederate reached the
Dodge house in the city and came up to the back
door, over the fences. AS they stood there the
Clutching Hand produced a master key and started
to open the door, But before he did SO he took out
his watch.
Let me see," he ruminated. Twenty minutes
past 4. At exactly half past. want you to do as
told you-seeH"
The other crook nodded
you may co." ordered the Clutchng Hand
AS the crook skunk away Clutching Hand
stealthily let himself into the house. Noseessly he
prowled through the halls until he came to Elanes
doorway.
He gave hasty look up and down the hall.
There no sound. Quickly he took a syringe
from his pocket and bent down by the door, Insert
ing the end under it, he squrted some liquid
through which vaporized rapidly In a wide, fine
stream of spray. Before he could give an alarm,
Rusty was overcome by the noxious fumes, rolled
over on his back and lay stiIl.
Outside, the other crook was waiting looking at
his watch. AS the hand slowly turned the half
hour he snapped the watch shut. with a quick
glance up and down the deserted street. he deftly
started up the rain pipe that passed near Elaines
window.
This time there was no faithful Rusty to give
warning and the second intruder, after a glance
at Elaine still sleeping, went quickly to the door.
dragged the insensible dog out of the way turned
the key and admitted the Clutching Hand AS he
did so he closed the door.
Evidently the fumes had not reached Elaine or
they had, the thrush Of fresh air revived her. for
she walked and quickly reached for the gun In an
instant the other crook had Ieaped at her. Holding
his hand over her mouth to prevent her screaming,
he snatched the revolver away before she could
fire It.
In the meantime the Clutehing Hand had taken
out some ehloroform. and. rolling towel In the
form OF cone. placed II over her face. She strug-
gled. gasping and gagging. but the struggles grew
When Elaine was completely under the influ-
enee OF the drug. they lifted her out OF bed, the
chlorofOrm cone still her face and quietly car
ried her to the door, which they had opened steal
thily.
Downstairs they carried her until they came to