Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-04-24

tSh'u the CLERK.
NO" came back the reply, the
watch Mr. Bennett bought Is still here
being regulated"
Kennedy hung up the receiver He
was stunned.
The watch will cause her death at
three O'clock" said the Clutching
Hand Swear to leave here without
discovering my identity and will tell
you how. You can save her! In that
watch" he hissed Il have set a poi
sonCd needle in "a spring that will be
released and will plunge 1t into her
arm at exactly three o'clock On the
needle Is ricinus"
Craig advanced. furious. AS he did
so Clutching Hand pointed calmly to
the clock. 1t was twenty minutes OF
three
With n mental struggle Kennedy
controlled his loathing of the creature
before him.
"All right-but you'll hear from
me-sConer 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 It.
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 Fifth avenue.
Minute after minute the police and
I waited. Was anything wrongf
Where was Craig?
Just then a tremOr grew into
tinkle. then came the strong burr OF
the bell. Kennedy needed US.
With a shout OF encouragement to
the men | dashed out and over TO the
old house.
Meanwhile Clutching Hand himself
had approached the table-tne queer
his weapon and hea
little seiueuce!" he cried. Hes
= MANNED to get me anyhow"
Clutching Hand rushed to the door
then stopped short. Outside he cou'a
hear the police and myself.
Clutching Hand slammed shut MS
door and pulled down over It heavy
wooden bar.
At the desk he paused and took OUT
a niece of cardboard Then, with
heavy black marking pencil. he calmly
printed on it, while we battered at tho
barricaded door, few short feet away.
He laid the sign on the desk. then
nf cardboard drew
crudely a hand with the index nnsef
D. pointing. This he placed on a chair
l. indicating the desk.
Just as the swaying and bulginl
door gave way, Clutching Hand gave
"a the desk pull. 1t opened up-his get
!, away.
u He closed II with a sardonic SMILE
in our direction. just as the doc
= crashed In.
o. We looked about There was not
rs soul In the room, nothing but the seit
Ao mum cell. the chairs. the desk
Look" | cried. catching sight
ITO the index finger. and going over to tn
desk.
is We rolled back the top. There
~ the fat top was a sign;
Dear BIockheads:
us Kennedy and ! couldn't walt.
Tue Then came that mysterious sign
the Clutching Hand.
heI We hunted over the rooms. b
ged ,.,., ,ho, .bowsd , c,u
III" Where was Clutching Hand? VINE
was Kennedy?
In the next house Clutching Hal
'n0 had literally come out OF an upris
piano into the room corresponding
HIS that he had left. Hastily he threw
his handkerchief, SLOUGH hat. old CO
ID and trousers. A neat striped pair
trousers replaced the old. frayed a
baggy pair. A new shirt, then a spol
vest and a frock coat followed.
As he put the finishing touches
WHY he looked for all the world Ike
ne whiskered foreigner
oou. At the door of the new headquarte
inal onds ,ater 7 stood with
.,na police.
utes mot a sign Of him anywheI
gYowled one Of the officers.
that
as Elaine was sitting In the hor
mere reading when Aunt Josephine tur
to her.
Al What time is 1t. dear!" she asi
Elaine glanced at her pretty
hen trinket.
ne Nearly three. Auntie-1ust . COZ
'oulo OF minutes" she said.
XIII Just then there came the soune
ming feet running madly down the haii'
oked They jumped up. startled.
MIN Kennedy. his coat flying ana
TANNED over his eyes. had AIN
de- bowled over poor Jennings In his
m. race down the hall.
mt a well" demanded Elaine haush
cnine what's"
II 10 BEFORE she knew what was goin
ought Craig hurried up to her and htel
vered ripped the watch of her wrist or
ing the beautiful bracelet
nedy. He held It up. gingerly. Elaine
S