The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-31


In strument That Saved Her Life.
he whispered hoarseiy. The FaIsers
must have fallen down. The girl her
self is coming!"
Dan himself had no time to waste.
He retreated into the hallway Just as
Jennings was opening the door for
Elaine.
Marie took her wraps and left her,
while Elaine handed her numerous
packages to Jennings.
Dan watched every motion.
Put them away, Jennings" she
said softly.
Jennings had obeyed and gone up
stairs. Elaine moved toward the IL
brary. Dan took a quiet step or two
behind her, in the same direction.
In the library Clutching Hand was
now frantically searching for the
spring. He heard Elaine coming and
lodged behind the curtains again just
as she entered.
With a hasty look about, she saw
no one. Then she went quickly to the
panel, found the spring and pressed
it. So many queer things had hap
pened to her since she went out that
she had begun to worry over the safe
ty of the papers.
The panel opened. They were there,
all right. She opened the box and
took them out, hesitating to break the
seal before Kennedy arrived
Stealthy and tigerlike, the Clutch
/ ing Hand crept up behind her AS he
did so, Dan gazed in through the por-
there's from the hall
With a spring. Clutching Hand
leaped at Elaine, snatching at the pa
pers. Elaine chung to them tenacious
| ly, in spite of the surprise, and they
! struggled for them, Clutching Hand
holding one hand over her mouth to
| prevent her screaming. Instantly Dan
was there, aiding his chief.
Choke her, Strangle her. Don't
| let her scream," he ground out.
They fought viciously. Would she
succeed? 1t was two desperate, IN
scrupulous men against one frail girl.
Suddenly, from the man in armor
I in the corner. as if by a miracle. came
a deep, loUu voice.
Help! Help! Murder! Police!
They are strangling mel"
| The effect was terrific.
! Cutching Hand and Dan, hardened
in crime as they were, fell pack,
dazed, overcome for the moment at
the startling effect.
They looked about Not a soul.
Then. to their utter CONSERVATION,
from the helmet again came the deep.
vibrant warning.
Help Murder! Policei"
Kennedy and I had been listening
over the vocaphone, for the moment
nonplused at the fellows daring.
Then we heard from the uncanny
instrument; For Heavens sake
Chief. hurry. The Falsers have fallen
down. The girl herself is coming!"
What it meant we did not know. But
Craig was almost beside himself, as
ne ordered me to get the police by tel
ephOne, if there was any way to block
them. Only instant action would count
however What to do?
We could hear the master Grim
inal plainly fumbling now.
Yes, that's the Clutching hand, he
repeated.
Wait" I cautioned, someone else
is coming!"
By a sort of instinct he seemed Il
recognize the sounds
"Elaine!" he exclaimed, paling.
Instantly followed, in less than
can tell it, the sounds of a suppressed
shuttle
He has seized her-gagged her,
l cried in an agony of suspense.
We could now hear everything tina
was going on in the library. Craii
was wildly excited. AS for me, wa
speeches.. Here was the vocaphon,
we had installed. 1t had warned US
, But what could we do?
1 looked blankly at Kennedy. H
was equal to the emergency.
He calmly turned the switch
; Then, at the top of his lungs b
shouted: Help! Help! Police! The
are strangling mel"
l looked at him in amazement Wha
, did he think he could do-block
: away?
1T works both ways" ne mutteret
: Help! Murder! Policei"
We could hear the astonished ours
ing of the two men. Also, down tn
hall, now, we could hear footsteps al
preaching in answer to his call 70
help-5unt Josephine. Jennings, Mari
l and others, all shouting out that Their
r were cries in the library
The deucel What is it?" muttere
a gruff voice.
The man in armorl" Missed Clutcl
ing Hand.
Here they come. too. Chief"
There was a parting scuffie.
"There-take that"
"A loud metallic ringing came frol
| the vocaphone
Then silencei
What had happened?
, In the library. recovering from the
crock of surprise, Dan cried out I
the Clutehing Hand. THE deuce
What is ST."
Then looking about. Clutchin