Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-02-27

ma. Someone tried to get into my

hand. Someone tried TO get into my
window"
MY gracious," cried Aunt Joseph
end"
Well" Elaine laughed. Z little nery-
ously. now that IL was all over. Il
want you all 10 20 To bed and stop
worrying about me. Don't YOU sec
I'm perfectly able 10 take care Of my
self? Besides. there isn't a hancc
now Of the burglar coming back. Why.
! shot him."
Yes" put in Aunt Josephine. but
Elaine lauehingly interrupted her
and playfully made as though she
were driving them out OF her room.
Rusty she called. Down. there
The intelligent collie seemed to un-
derstand. lie lay down by the door
way. his nose close Ia the bottom OF
the door. and his ears alert.
Finally Elaine. too. retired again.
Meanwhile the wounded man was
being hurried % ole of the hangouts OF
the mysterious Clutching Hand.
TIL a containing the wounded
Pitts Slim" drew up. and the other
two men leaped out OF IL. With "A hur-
ried glance about they unlocked the
front door with "A pass key and z
tered. carrying the man.
Indoors was another emissary OF the
C%lutching Hand. a rather studious-
looking chap. =
Why. whAt's the natter" he ex-
claimed as the crooks entered his room
supporting their half fainting. wounded
pal.
slim got 2 couple Of pills." they
painted as they laid him on a couch.
How? demanded the other.
Trying To get into the Dodge house.
Elaine did H."
Slim was. quite evidently. badly
wounded and Was bleeding ~profusely.
A glance at him was enough for the
misunderstanding chap. lie went TO a
secret panel and. pressing II down.
took out what was apparently a secret
house telephone.
In another part OF this mysterious
house was the secret room of the
Clutching Hand himself. where he hid
his identity FROM even his most trust
ed followers.
His telephone rang and he took
down the receiver.
Pitts Sims been wounded. badly.
chief" was all he waited To hear.
With scarcely a word he hung up
the receiver. then opened a table
drawer and took out j full. face mask.
Next he went to a nearby bookcase.
pressed another secret spring, and a
panel opened. lie passed through, the
mask adjusted.
Across. in the larger outside study.
another panel opened, and the Clutch
ing Hand. all crouched up. trans
formed. appeared. Without a word he
advanced TO the couch on which the
wounded crook lay. and examined him.
How did IL happen" he asked at
length.
Miss Dodge shot him." answered
the others. with an automatic"
That Craig Kennedy must have
given II to her." he exclaimed with
suppressed fury,
For a m the Clutching Hand
stopped to consider. Then he seized
the regular telephone.
Doctor Martini" he asked, as he got
the number he called.
Late as il was. the doctor. who was
a well-known surgeon I'm that part of
the country. answered from an ex-
tension OF his telephone near his ted
The call was urgent. and apparently
from a family which he did not feel
mat he could neglect.
Doctor Martin was a middle-aged
man, one of those medical men on
whose judgment one i~nstinctively re-
lies.
II was only a matter Of minutes be-
fore the doctor was speeding over the
now deserted suburban roads. appar-
emily on an errand OF mercy.
At the address hat had been
given him he drew up to the side Of
the road. got out and ran up the steps
to the door. A ring at the bell
brought a sleepy man TO the door, in
his trousers and nightshirt.
"How's the patient?' asked Doctor
Martin. eagerly.
Patient" repeated the man. rub
bling his eyes. There's no one sick
here"
Slowly ii dawned on the doctor that
IL was a false alarm. and that he
must be the victim OF some practical
joke.
Well. that's a great note" he
growled. as the man shut the door.
lie descended the steps. m%uttering
harsh language al some unknown
trickster. AS he climbed back into
his machine and made ready 10 start
two men seemed Il rise before him
as II from nowhere.
As a matter OF fact they had been
sent there by the Clutching Hand. and
were hiding In a nearby cellarway un-
III their chance came.
One man stood on the running
board. on either side of him. and two
guns yawned menacingly at him.
Drive ahead that u..vf. p.-ol