The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-04-02
order to get another. I'll have TO go.
Ill get this story from you. Craig"

house, the Clutching Hand had been
talking to two OF his emissaries, an at
tractive young woman and man.
They were Flirty Florrie and Dan
the Dude.
Nov, / want you to get Kennedy"
he said. 1.-THE way to do it is to sep
arate Kennedy and Elaine-see?"
"All right, Chief, we'll do it," they
replied.
Clutching Hand had scarcely left
when FIirty Florrie began by getting
published in the papers the story
which l had seen.
The next day she called me UP from
the suburban house. Having got me
to promise to see her, she had scarce
ly turned from the telephone when
Dan the Dude walked in from the next
room.
He's coming" she said.
Dan was carrying huge stag head
with beautifully branched pair Of
antlers. Under his arm was a coil Of
wire which he had connected to the
inside of the head.
"Finel" he exclaimed. Then, point
ing to the head he added, tits all
ready. See how fixed it? That ought
to please the Chief.
Dan moved quickly to the mantel
and mounted a stepladder there by
which he had taken down the head,
and started to replace the head above
the mantel.
He hooked the head on a nail.
There" he said, unscrewing one of
the beautiful brown glass eyes of the
stag.
Back of it could be seen camera
shutter. (.
Zone of those new quick shutter
cameras" he explained.
Then he ran a couple of wires along
the molding around the room and into
closet, where he made the connec-
ton with a sort of switchboard on
which a button was marked, SHUT
TER" and the switch, WIND FILM"
Now, Flirty," he said, coming out
of the closet and pulling up the shade
which let flood of sunlight into the
room, you see, l want you to stand
here-then, do your little trick
Just then the bell rang.
THAT must be Jameson" she cried
"Now-get to your corner"
With last look Dan went into the
closet and shut the door.
Perhaps half an hour later Clutching
Hand himself called me up on the
telephone. 1t was he-not the Star
as l learned only too late.
/ had scarcely got out of the house
as Craig told me afterwards, when
Flirty F'lorrie told all over again the
| embroidered tale that had caught my
ear.
Kennedy said nothing, but listened
intently, perhaps betraying in his face
| the skepticism he felt.
"You see" she said, still voluble ant
eager to convince him, Il was only
walking on the street. Here-let me
show you. 1t was just like this"
She took his arm and, before he
| knew, it, led him to the spot on the
floor near the window which Dan hat
indicated. Meanwhile Dan was lis
tening attentively in his closet.
Newsstand there. You are JUS
as | was-only | didn't expect any
thing"
She was pantomiming some one ap
preaching stealthily while Kennedy
watched her with interest, tinged will
doubt. Behind Craig in his closet
Dan was reaching for the switchboard
button
you see." she said advancing
quickly and acting her words, "h'
placed his hands on my shoulders
so--then threw his arms about m,
neck--so!"
She said no more, but imprinted ;
deep, passionate kiss on Kennedy
mouth, clinging closely to him. Be
fore Kennedy could draw away, Dai
in the closet. had pressed the but
ton and the switch several times il
rapid succession.
"Th-that's very realistic" gaspet
Craig, good deal taken aback by thu
sudden osculatory assault.
He frowned.
It'll look into the case, he said
backing away. "There-there may b
some scientific explanation-but-
err
He was plainly embarrassed IN
fastened to make his adieux.
How little impression the thin
made on Kennedy can be easily see
from the fact that on the way dowr
town that afternoon he stopped a
Martins, on Fifth avenue, and bough
ring "a very handsome solitaire, tn
finest Martin had in the shop.
4 It must have been about the tim
that he decided to stop at Martin
that the Dodge butler. Jennings, az
Mitted young lady who presented
card on which was engraved th
name
Miss Florence Leigh,
20 Prospect Avenue.
4. AS he handed Elaine the card. sh
I 1. -. f.k,