The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-07
EIGHTH EPISODE
The Hidden Voice.


Jameson, wake upi"
The strain of the Dodge case was
beginning to tell on me, for it was
keeping US at work at ell kinds of
hours TO circ"mvent the Clut,hing
Hand. by far he clsverest crir inal
with whom Kennedy had ever had
anything to do.
leaped out of bed, still in my pa
1amas, and stood for moment staring
about. Then / ran into the living
room. looked about. rubbing my
eyes, startled No one was there
'Hey-Jameson-wake up,"
It was 5pooky.
mandsd.
Suddenly ! heard the voice again
no doubt about it. either
Here | am--over on the couch."
scratched my head. puzzled. There
was certainly no one on that couch.
A laugh greeted me- Plainly. though.
II came from the couch. went over
ta i and, ridiculous as IT seemed, be-
san 10 throw aside the pillows
There lay nothing but little OBJ
ing c&ken box. perhaps eigh. or ten
inches square al the ends. In the face
were two peculiar square holes. and
from the Top projected black disk.
about ,he size of watch. fastened on
2 swinging metal arm. In the face OF
the disk were several perforated holes
picked up the strange looking
thing in wonder and from that magic
c>k b." actually came burst of
l2ushter.
Come over to the laboratory. right
sway, pealed forth a merry voice.
'J'vs something 70 show you"
We'll" ] sasped. what do you
knog about that?"
Very early shat morning Craig had
got up leaviag me snoring. Cases
neve~ vear.ed him. Ee thrived on ex-
c:;eaent.
He had gone over TO the laboratory
end set 10 work corner over an
oi.ler Of those peculiar boxes. exactly
Ike that which he had already left in
Cur rooms.
Half an hour afterward I walked
Into the laboratory, feeling a little
sheepish over the practical Joke. but
rNne the less curious to find out all
about 1t.
'Whs; is it?" asked, indicating the
apparatus.
~ vocaphone," he replied. still
laughing the loud speaking telephone,
the little box that hears and talks.
Il talks right out in meeting.
tCo-ao transmitter to hold to
the mouth, no receiver to hold to
the ear You see, this trans
mitte- is so sensitive that it picks Up
even whisper. and the receiver is
placed back of those two megsphone-
like pyramids
He was standing at a table. careful
II packing up one OF the vocaphones
and lot OF wire.
Il believe the Clutching Hand has
been shadowing the Dodge house." he
continued thoughtfully "As long as
we watch the place. too. he viii do
nothing. But IL we should seem, os-
tentatiously. not to be watching, per-
haps he may try something. and we
may be able to get a clue to his iden-
tity over this vocaphone. See?"
nodded We've got to run him
down somehow" agreed
Yes he aid, taking his coat and
hat Il am going to connect up one
of these things in Miss Dodge's libra
ry and arrange with the telephone
company for a clear wire so that we
can listen In here, where that fellow
viii never suspect"
At about the same time that Craig
and | sailed forth on this new mis-
sion. Elaine was arranging some fow-
ers on stand near the corner of the
Dodge library where the secret panel
was in which her father had hidden
the papers for the possession of which
the Clutching Hand had murdered
him.
She had moved away from the table.
but, as she did so. her dress caught
in something in the woodwork, She
tried to loosen It and in so doing
touched the little metallic spring on
which her dress had caught
Instantly. to her utter surprise. the
PANE, moved. It slid open, disclosing
q strong box.
Elaine took It, amused, looked at 1t
q moment, then carried it to a table
and opened it.
Inside were some papers. sealed in
an envelope and marked ''Limpy Red
Correspondence"
They must be the Clutching Hand
papers," she exclaimed to herself.
hesitating moment. in doubt what to
do