Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-02-27

tfves, burst In.
Fire" cried one OF the policemen.
leaping back to turn in an alarm from
the special apparatus upstairs.
All except Martin began beating out
the flames. using such weapons as
they already held in their hands to
batter down the door
To Martin there was one thing para
mount-the jewels.
In TIE midst Of the confusion. Elaine,
closely followed by her friend, Susie.
made her way fearlessly into the stiae
Of smoke down the stairs.
There are your jewels. Mr.. Martin. "
cried Kennedy. kicking the precious
| burlap bag with his foot as II had
been so much ordinary merchandise.
| and turning toward what WIS 70 his
mind tte most .-fl r;art th,-g *
stake tt itu-i'r, take; =. 90"
ige,t- uc ;1r ,'r',s.ar Usnu.
"1hank boa, ar' s.. r4leted ..-r'i:.
foirly pca".' - CO., o., bag and te"rire
it open The. G.1-t ea' aw,y "a"
then AT. si'" 3D.. eyrl5ned, eAty'
ming the cootnr,s wito s..isLaci.2a
|
Events were moving rapidly
The limousine he'd been standing In
nocently enough at the curb rear the
corner, with the taAicab close r.
hind a.
Less than ga minu's' after the
had entered. three we'll dressed .n"1
| came out CT 'he vacant shop, erra'
emily from the tailor's above. ard
climbed le'surely into their car
AS the last one entered. he half
| turned to the taxicab driver. hiding
from rassers-by TIE sign of the Clutch
ing Hand. which The taxicab driver re-
turned in tho same manner Then the
big car wdirlad up the avenue
All this VIC learned later from a
street sweeper who was at work near
by.
Down below, while the police and
| detectives were putting out he ire.
Kennedy WIS examining the wall OF
the cellar. looking for the spot where
the crooks had escaped.
as secret door" he exclaimed. as
he paused after tapping alon,, Tire wall
to determine ~ character You car
see how the force OF the explosion has
| loosoned It."
Sure enough. when he T1iuted Il cut
| to us, Il was plainls visit bic One OF
he detectives ricked up a crowbar and
| others still with the hastily selected
implements thev had seiIed to fight
the fire. startod IN to PR 4 open
As II yielded Terredv rushed his
way through. Elaine, always utterly
fearless, followed Then the rest oil
us went throueh.
There seemed to be nothing how
ever, that world help us IN The cellar
next door, and Kennedy. mounted ne
stems of a stairway in the roar
The stairway led to a sort OF store
room, full OF barrel ard boxes. bu'
| otherwise charrcter'ess When ] az
lived Kennedy vac r'rgerly ho'din :
MP the smocks Witch the crooks had
worn.
We're on the rigtt trail" comment
| cd Elai1e az he showed them to her
but where do you suppose the OWE
ers are"
Craig shrugged his shoulders and
gave a quick look about. "Evidert.Y
they came in from and went away by
the street." he observed. hnrryinc to
the door. followed By Elaine.
On the sidewalk ac g2zod 90 tie
avenue then catching SIGHT OF nc
street cleaner. called TO him.
Yes. cor" replied the man. ftolidiy
looking up from his work II zee three
| gintlemen come out and get into Az
automobile"
Which way did they go," asked
Kennedy
For answer the man jerked his
thumb over his shoulder in the general
direction uptown.
With keen glance, Kennedy strained
HIS eyes. Far up the avenue he could
descry the car threading Its way in
and on. among the others. just about
disappearing.
A moment later Craig caught sight
of the vacant taxicab and rocked his
finger at the driver. who answered
promptly by cranking his engine.
| You saw that limousine standing
here?' asked Craig.
Yes" nodded the chauffeur, with a
| show of alertness
We'll. follow IT," ordered Kennedy
jumping into the cab.
"Yes, SIR"
Craig was just about to close the
door when a slight figure flashed past
us and dainty foot was placed on the
step.
Please, Mr.. Kennedy" pleaded
Elaine. 'let me 60. They may lead to
my fathers slayer"
She said II so earnestly that Craig
could scarcely have resisted II he had
wanted to do 90.
Just az Elaine and Kennedy were
moving OF I came out Of the vacant
store, with Bennett and the detectives
"Craigl" ! cried. Where are you
going?"
Kennedy stuck his head out of the
| window, and I am quite sure that he