Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-04-03

being regulated"
Kennedy hung up the receiver. lie
was stunned.
"The watch will cause her death at
three o'clock" said the Clutching
Hand Swear 10 leave here without
discovering my identity and ! viii tell
you how. You can save her! In that
watch" he Missed. Il hs We set a poi
soned needle In a spring that will BE-
released and will plunge u into her
arm at exactly three o'clock. On the
needle Is ~ricinus."
Craig advanced. furious. As he did
so Clutching Hand pointed calmly 10
the clock. II was twenty minute ~
threei
With a mental struggle Kennedy
controlled his loathing Of the creature
before him.
"All right-but you1l hear from
m~e-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 II.
only Elaine's life has saved you"
With a last threat he dashed out
He hailed a cab. returning from some
steamship wharves not far away.
Quick he ordered. giving the
Dodge address on Finh venue
Minute after minute the police n
| waited. Mas anything wrong7
Where was Craig?
Just then a tremor grew into n
tinkle. then came the strong burr az
the bell. Kennedy needed as.
With a shout Of encouragement 10
the men dashed out aud over to the
old house.
Meanwhile ClutchinT Hand himself
had approached the table TO recover
his weapon and had noticed the queer
little selenium cell
The deuce," he cried. Hes
planned % get me anyhow!"
Clutchlng 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 II a heavy
wooden bar.
Al the desk he paused and took out
a piece OF cardboard. Then. with a
heavy black marking pencil. he calmly
printed on Il. 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 a hand with the index finger
pointing. This h. placed on a chair.
indicating the desk.
Just as the swaying and bullying
door gave way. Clutching Hand gave
the desk q pull II opened up-his get.
away.
lie closed Il with a sardonic smile
In our direction. just as the door
crashed In.
We looked about. There was not n
soul In the room. nothing but the sele-
mum cell. the chairs. the desk.
Look" ] cried. catching sight OF
he index finger, and going over to tho
desk.
We rolled back the tor. There on
the fiat tor was A sign:
Dear 6Ioekhesds:
Kennedy and ! couldn't wait.
Then came that mysterious sign of
the ClutcEing Hand.
We hunted over the rooms. but
could find nothing that showed a clue.
Where was Clutching Hand? Where
was Kennedy?
In the next house ClutchIng Hand
had literally come out or an upright
piano into the room corresponding 10
that he had left. Hastily he threw on
his handkerchief. SLOUGH hat. old coat
and trousers. A neat striped pair N
trousers replaced the old. frayed and
baggy pair. A new shirt. then a sporty
vest and a frock coat followed.
As he put the finishing touches on
he looked for All the world like Y be
whiskered foreigner
At the door or the new headquarters.
a few seconds later. | stood with the
police.
Not a sign N him ans where."
srowled one az the officers.
Elaine Vas sitting in the library
reading when Aunt Josephine turned
20 her.
What time N II. dear" she asked.
Elaine glanced AT her pretty new
trinket.
Nearly three. Auntie-iust a couple
OF minutes. she said.
Just then there came the sound ~
feet running madIy down the hallway.
They jumped up. startled.
Kennedy. his coat flying aud hat
ismmed over his eyes. had almost
bowled over poor Jennings III hts mad
race down the hall.
Well" demanded Elaine h~aughtily,
what's"
Before she knew what was going on
Craig hurried up 10 her and literally
ripped the watch cr her wrist. break.
ing the beautiful bracelet.
He held II 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.