The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-12

10 Lies There Before Him.
rs nonexistenr-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Look, Walter" he exclaimed as he
drew out the paper from the machine.
l bent over, and together we COM
pared the rs with those in the Clutch
ing Hand letter, the paper from the
bomb and the letter which Craig had
taken FROM Elaine's desk.
AS Craig pointed out the resem-
dances with a pencil my amaze
ment gradually changed into
comprehension and comprehension
into conviction. The meaning OF it all
began to dawn on me.
The writing was identical. There
were no differences!
While we were locked in the secre-
tary's Office Bennett and Elaine were
continuing their chat on various social
topics. Suddenly, however, with a
glance at the clock, Bennett told Elaine
that he had an important letter to die
tate and that it must go of at once.
She said that she would excuse him
a few minutes, and he pressed a but
ton to call his secretary.
or course, the secretary did not ap-
rear. Bennett left his office, with
some annoyance, and went into the ad-
joining room. the door to which Ken
nedy had not locked.
He hesitated moment, then opened
the door quietly. To his establishment
he saw Kennedy. the secretary and
Ia Ill
animation of the typewriter.
Gliding, rather than walking back
into his own Office. he closed the door
and locked it. Almost instantly fear
and fury at the presence of his hated
! rival, Kennedy, turned Bennett, as it
were, from the Jekyll of a polished
lawyer and lover of Elaine into an in
sanely jealous and revengeful Mr..
Hyde. The strain was more than his
warped mind could bear.
With look of intense horror and
loathing Elaine watched him slowly
change from the composed, calm, in
telIectual Bennett she knew and re-
spected into repulsive, mad figure of
a man.
His stature even seemed to be al
tered. He seemed to shrivel up and
become deformed, His face was terribly
distorted.
And his long, sinewy hand slowly
twisted and bent until he became the
personal embodiment of the Clutching
Hand,
AS Elaine. transfixed with terror,
watched Benefits astounding meta
morphosis, he ran to the door leading
to the outer Office and hastily locked
that also.
Then, with his eyes cleaning with
rage and his hands working in murder
Gus frenzy, he crouched nearer and
nearer, toward Elaine.
She shrank back, screaming again
and again in terror.
He was the Clutching Hand.
In spite of closed doors we could
now plainly hear Elaine's shrieks.
Craig, the secretary and myself made
rush for the door to BENEFITS pri-
vate Office Finding it locked, we be-
| gan to batter it.
| By this time, however, Bennett had
hurled himself upon Elaine and was
sfosFly. choking her.
Kennedy found that it was impos-
sible to batter down the door in time
by any ordinary means. Quickly he
seized the typewriter and hurled il
through the panels. Then he thrust
his hand through the opening and
turned the catch.
AS we flung ourselves into the room
Bennett rushed into a closet in cor
| ner, slamming the door behind him. Il
was composed of sheet iron, and effec
tually prevented anyone from break
ing through. Kennedy and tried vain
ly, however, to pry it open.
While we were thus endeavoring tc
! force an entrance Bennett. in a sort
of closet;~had put on the coat. hat
and mask which he invariably wore
in the character of the Clutchine
Hand. Then he cautiously opened g
secret door in the back of the closet
and slowly made an exit.
Meanwhile the secretary had beer
doing his best to revive Elaine, who
was on the floor. hysterical and hall
\ unconscious from the terrible shock
she had experienced.
Intent on discovering Benefits
L.
the wall of the Office, thinking there
might be some button or secret spring
which would open the closet door.
While we were doing so the dool
of q large safe in the secretary's of
fee gradually opened. and the Clutch
ing Hand emerged from it. stepping
i carefully. toward the door leading tc
the outer office. intent on escaping in
that direction.
At that moment caught sight Of
him. and. leaping into the secretary's
ofice. l drew my revolver and ordered
him to throw up his hands. He obeyed
Holding up both hands. he slowly
drew near the door to his private of
fee.
/ Suddenly he dropped one hand and
pressed hidden spring in the wall
Instantly heavy iron door shot out
ro4%nn Good Moo1