davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-19
Copyright. 1914 by the star Company An Foreign Reserved

Just then Dodge caught sight of me.
For the moment l thought perhaps he
was going to fulfill his threat.
Who the devilAxwhy didn't you tell
me reporter was here. Jennings?" he
fputtered Indignantly. pointing toward
the door.
Argument, entreaty. were of no
avail. There was nothing to do but go.
At least. | reflected. / had the great
er part of the story-all except the one
big thing, however-the name of the
criminal. But Dodge would know him
tomorrow!
hurried back to the Star to write
my story in time to catch the last
morning edition.
Meanwhile. II / may anticipate my
story, l must tell of what we later
learned had happened to Dodge so
completely to upset him.
Ever since the Consolidated Mutual
had been hit by the murders he had had
many lines out in the hope of enmesh-
ing the perpetrator. That night. as
found out the next day. he had at last
heard of clue. One of the company's
detectives had brought in a red.head-
ed, lame, partly paralyzed crook, who
enjoyed the expressive monniker of
''Limpy Red" Limpy Red was a
gunman of some renown. evil-faced
and. having nothing much to lose, des.
perate. Whoever the master criminal
of the clutching hand might have been
he had seen fl, to employ Limpy, but
had not taken the precaution of getting
rid of him soon enough when he was
through.
Therefore Limpy had grievance
and now descended under pressure to
the low level of Switching to Dodge in
his office.
"No. governor" the trembling
wretch had said as he handed over
grimy envelope. Il amt never seen
his face-but here is directions how to
find his hangout"
As Limpy ambled out. he turned to
Dodge, quivering at the enormity of his
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-19

objectionable sin in gangland: For
Gods sake. governor" he implored.
don't let on how you found out!"
And yet Limpy Red had scarcely left
with his promise not to tell, when
Dodge. happening to turn over some
on his own desk, bearing that mysteri-
Gus clutching hand!
He tore it open, and read in amaze
ment:
Destroy Limpy Reds instructions
within the next hour"
Dodge gazed about in wonder. This
was getting on his nerves. He de-
termined to go home and rest.
Outside the house, as lie left his car,
pasted over the monogram on the door,
he had found another note, with the
same weird mark and the single word:
"Remember!"
In spite of the pleadings OF young
Bennett. Dodge refused to take warn
ing. In the safe in his beautifully
fitted library he deposited Limpy's doc.
ument in an envelope containing all
the correspondence tina, had led up to
the final step in the discovery.
1t was late in the evening when !
returned to our apartment and, not
finding Kennedy there, knew that
would discover him at the laboratory.
Craig" l cried as l burst in on
him. 1--WE got case for you-greater
than any ever before"
Kennedy looked up calmly from the
ruck of scientific instruments that sur
rounded him-test tubes. beakers,
carefully labeled bottles
"Indeed?" he remarked coolly go
ing back to his work.
Yes" I cried 1T is a scientific
criminal who seems to leave no clues. y
Kennedy looked up gravely. Every
criminal leaves a trace" he said quiet.
ly. "It it hasn't been found. then it
must be because no one has ever
looked for 1t in the right way"
Still gazing at me keenly, he added !:
Yes, ! already knew there was such
man at large. have been called in
on that Fletcher case-he was a trus-
tee of the university, you know"
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-19

Limpy had long since reached the
point of saturation and lurching forth
from his new found cronies he sought
other fields of excitement. Likewise
did the newcomer, who bore strange
resemblance to the lookout who had
been stationed outside at the Dodge
house scant half hour before.
What happened later was only a
matter of SECONDHAND waiting until
the hated snitch-for gangdom hates
the informer worse than anything else
dead or aliye-had turned G sufficient
ly dark and deserted corner.
A muffled thud, stified groan fol-
lowed as a heavy section of lead pipe
wrapped in newspaper descended on
the Grass skull of Limpy.
1t was the vengeance OF the Clutch
ing Hand-swift, sure, remorseless.
And yet it had not been a night OF
complete success for the master Grim
inal. as anyone might have seen who
could have followed his sinuous route
to place of greater safety. Unable
to wait longer. he pulled the papers
he had taken from the safe from his
pocket. His chagrin at finding most
of them to be blank found only one
expression of foiled fury-that men
acing clutching hand-the real one!
Kennedy had turned from his futile
examination for marks on the tele-
phone There stood the safe, moder-
ate sized strong box, but of a modern
type. He tried the door. 1t was locked.
There was not mark on it. The com
bination had not been tampered with.
Nor had there been any attempt to
soup" the safe.
With quick motion he felt in his
pocket as if looking for gloves. Find
ing none, he glanced about and seized
two pieces of paper from the desk.
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-19

touching the register, he wrenched the
telephone from the grasp of the dead
man. replacing it in it's normal posi-
ton. Only for a second did he pause
to look at his victim as he destroyed
the evidence of his work.
Minutes were precious. First Dodge's
pockets. then his desk engaged his at
tention. There was left the safe.
AS he approached the strong box.
the master criminal took two walls
from his pocket. Removing a bust of
Webster that stood on the safe. he
poured the contents of the walls in two
mixed masses of powder, forming a
heap on the safe, into which he insert
ed two magnesium wires.
He lighted them, sprang back, hid
ing his eyes from the light, and
binding gush of flame, lasting per-
haps ten seconds. poured out from the
top of the safe.
1t was not an explosion. but just
dazzling, intense flame that sizzled and
cracked. 1t seemed impossible, but
the glowing mass was literally sink
ing, sinking down into the cold steel.
At last it burned through-as if the
safe had been of tinder!
Without waiting a moment longer
than necessary. the masked criminal
advanced again and actually put his
hands down through the top of the
safe, pulling out a bunch of papers.
Quickly he thrust them all. with Just
a glance, into his pocket.
Still working quickly. he took the
bust of the great orator. which he had
removed, and placed it under the light
Next, from his pocket he drew two
curious stencils, as it were, which he
had apparently carefully prepared
With his hands. still carefully gloved,
| he rubbed the stencils on his hair, as
II to cover them with film of natural
oils. Then he deliberately pressed
them over the statue in several
places. 1t was a peculiar action, and
he seemed to fairly gloat over it when
it was done and the bust returned to
| its place, covering the hole.
As noiselessly as he had come. he
| made his exit after one last malignant
look at Dodge. 1t was now but the
work of moment to remove the wires
window, taking them and destroying
the evidence down in the cellar.
A low whistle from the masked
crook, now again in the shadow,
brought his pal stealthily to his side.
TITS all right" he whispered hoarse-
ly to the man. Now you attend to
Limpy Red"
The villainous looking pal nodded
and, without another word. the two
made their getaway, safely, in opposite
directions.
When Limpy Red, still trembling.
left the office of Dodge earlier in the
evening. he had repaired as fast as his
sEambling feet would take him tc his
| favorite dive up on Park Row.
Had the Bowery "sinkers" not got
into his eyes he might have noticed
among the late jewellers man who
| spoke to no one, but took his place
near by at the bar.
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-19
THE CLUTCH|NG
HAND WINS
AGAIN.
NEW YORK MYSTERIOUS MAS.
TER CRIMINAL PERFECTS
ANOTHER COUP.
City Police Completely BaffIed

Here's this murder of Fletcher, the
retired banker and trustee of the uni
versity," he explained. Not n clue
except warning letter signed with
this mysterious clutching fist. Last
week 1t was the robbery of the Hax-
worth jewels and the killing of old
Haxworth. Again that curious sign OF
the hand. Then there was the bastard
iy attempt on Sherburne, the steel
magnate. Not trace of the assail-
ant except this same clutching fist. So
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-19

With them, in order not to confuse
any possible finger prints on the bust,
he lifted it off.
/ gave gasp of surprise
There, in the top of the safe,
yawned gaping hole, through which
one could have thrust his arm!
What is it?" we asked, crowding
about him.
"Thermit." he replied laconically.
"Thermit?" 1 repeated.
"Yes-a compound of iron oxide and
powdered aluminium, invented by a
chemist at Essen. Germany It gives
a temperature of over five thousand
degrees. 1t will eat it's way through
the strongest STEEL
Jennings, his mouth wide open with
wonder, advanced to take the bust
from Kennedy.
"No-don't touch it," he waved him
off, laying the bust on the desk. 81
want no one to touch it-don't you
see how careful / was to use the
paper. that there might be no ques-
tion about any clue this fellow may
have left on the marble?"
AS he spoke, Craig was busting over
the surface of the bust with some
black powder.
Look" exclaimed Craig suddenly.
Finger prints!" cried excitedly.
Yes" nodded Kennedy, studying
them closely. "A clue-perhaps."
''What-those little marks-a clue ?"
asked voice behind U.S.
I turned and saw Elaine looking
over our shoulders, fascinated. 1t was
evidently the first time she had real.
lied that Kennedy was in the room.
"How can you tell anything by
that?" she asked
why. easily" he answered. pick.
ing up glass paper weight which
lay on the desk You see, l place
my finger on this ,weight-so. You
could see it even without the powder
on this glass. Do you see those lines?
There are various types of markings
-four general types-and each per.
sons markings are different, even II
of the same general type-loop, whorl,
arch or composite
He continued working as he talked
Your thumb marks, for example,
Miss Dodge. are different from mine
Mr.. Jameson's are different from both
of us. And this fellows finger prints
are still different. 1t is mathematical
ly impossible to find two alike in
every respect"
Kennedy was holding the papa
weight near the bust as he talked.
shall never forget the look OF
blank amazement on his face as he
bent over closer.
MY God" he exclaimed excitedly,
this fellow is a master criminal! He
has made stencils or something OF
the sort on which, by some mechan-
ical process, he has actually forged
the hitherto infallible finger prints!''
l. too. bent over and studied the
marks on the bust and those Ken
nedy had made on the paper weight to
show Elaine.
THE FINGER PRINTS ON THE
BUST WERE KENNEDY'S OWN.
CTo BE CoNTINUEDa :
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
EIGHT CA0ILlACS CARRY
STATE LICENSE TAG NO. |
coveted Number Adorns More Cnrs OF
RMS Make rhnn Amy other In
Forty-Thrcc states.

me wcli-known reputation of the
senate OF the United States as the most
exclusive body in the world seems to
nave oven gained before the Holders
vi 'hc NO. Tag Society" came into
existence. The latter is the term an
pned TO motorists whose cars arc
adorned by the tag No /. indicating
lhat inc motor license bears tho most
'e,tu ana most sought-or OF all the
numbers issued by tho several states
Not more than forty-thrcc cars in tho
S"''eo states can carry this number
because two of the States South Caro-
~" anu ieNas, have no State reEistra-
non. and in Iowa, Maryland New
',"'"Pshire ana Tennessee the rcgistra-
tiohs 10 not begin with the mineral l.
out or the forty three cars SO distiu-
Euished by the 1915 tags eight are
aniiiacs. according to data gathered
oE Motor Age This is greater num-
Der carrying No. tags than any other
s,hSlc make The next highest lis three
'here being five makes which have that
quota OF No. | representatives. Three
others have two each. and eighteen have
ono each
me states in which the Cadiliacs
mead the license number list are Ala
hama. Idaho, Illinois. Maryland. Neyndn
N"rth Dakota, Rhode Island and Utah
IN Nevada and Maryland the cadillacs
arc OF the eight cylinder model. and
me one in Maryland carries No 1000.
'""t peihg the first number on the 1915
registration list
'aoillac owners whose cars are
marked above all others in their re-
SpectiNe states are: - o. Brown
birmingham. Ala: Charles T.. koclsch
Boise. Idaho; Sidney = Gorham. Chi
Saso: IL. NJ. Luzius. Baltimore Md: r.
y. ellison. Reno. State distributor for
Nevada: u. II. Russ, Bismarck, y d.
Or. Il. II. Robinson. Wakefield II,
ana DR. Harry y. Mayo. salt Lake City.
o'"h, the hrst man to drive a motor
car in The Utah capital
pr. Mayo has been driving cars for
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
BRISCOE CARS TO AVERAGE
rs MILES ON GALLON
i'ns"linc Consumption Guaranteed D.,
manufacturers ON News Cars iu
JituCy ScryiCc Hero

II is of interest TO note that the first
eighteen 'jitneys' put into service by
the Virginia hallway and Power Com.
pany are Briscoc cars. The company
has ordered loo of these cars and the
hrSt eighteen were shipped on April
]" and put into immediate service rhe
cars are standard in every way, and
each viii carry four passengers, in ad-
dition to the driver.
Horace DeLisscr. vicc-prcsident and
general manager of tho RrisCoe Motor,
Company. who concluded the deal with
the Virginia street car concern. SAYS
that these l:riscoe cars will operate
under guarantee that their caroline
consumption viii not exceed a gallon
Tor every twenty five miles travel
This, according 10 DeLisser, is not a
diHoult thing. because one OF tho
strongest selling points on the Iris
coe is the unusual iuel economy of its
French motor.
The Virginia Street Railway Com
pany will build garages for the main
tcnancc Of the 100 Rrscoes
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
CARLISLE INDIANS LEARN
HOW TO MAKE FORD CARS
Titled Foreigners, Sons of American
Mitllonnircs, and European Refugees
Work I'm Hnrmony.

There proba bly, never has been in the
history of the world "A democracy ouite
so purely aud thoroughly democratic as
'he factory Of the Ford Motor Company.
in the Ford shops, making Ford cars.
arc titled Europeans sons of American
nliliQnaires. refugees from tho opprcs
SION ana poverty of the old World
american college students. ana now
American Indians. Since last win,cr
there have been working in Tho Eo,d
factory six students OF the Carlisle In
"'"n Sch"oi lheir Ford experience
III practical motor car making-is a part
! of their college training. and will las,
ahout nine r:Gfiths. when thcv return m
their classroom studies AT Carlisle Tho
most distinE uished OF the Carlisle hove
prohahlN, is Peter Colac, a fun blood
M"nomince. who was captain and f,,,l
back OF the famous carlisle footbau
Team in l"l All six are clcan-cut
| ciear-eNcd. earnest Young Americans
lhtir ambition and effectiveness are
SHOWN IN tn" weekly reports OF the Ford
investigator. These reports all 20 back
10 their principal at Carlisle
Another proof of Ford democracy is
INC presence in the Ford plant OF an
other distinuui young American lie
!" tilnord v Herbert, son OF Victor
i'erhcrt, the famous American COM
poser. II may he a far cry from music
10 motor car making hut Young AIR
Herbert IL making good" almost as i'm
pressivcly as his celebrated father has
made good MIR Herbert is a Cornell
sradua'c and is learning the motor car
| industry from the inside out" His
college training, OF course, included
higher mathematics. such as algebra.
geometry etc, and so earnest il he i'm
ms work that he has been teaching
hither mathematics 1T night TO his shon
foreman. AS a result OF this, Mr. Her
pert Is very popular young man, and
whenever he is shifted from one de-
rartment TO another there is sure to be
"holler" from tho bercf, foreman
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
RADIUS RODS AND TORQUE
ARM ARE IMPORTANT
ID. \. prcntis, Local Dealer for III.
Studrhaker. EaplninS Functions
OF pnrts OF Car.

There are two vital features OF
construction OF an automobiles" said
II. \. Pren,is local dealer in Stude-
bake automobiles, Yesterday, (which
are more important than pneumatic
tires III making 4 machine ride easily.
These are the radius rods and the
tor.iuc arm. Their functions arc easily
understood, yet few persons arc &C
uuaintcd with :hcm.
Consider the radius rods first II
,hc car transmits its driving force di-
rcctly To the springs. then the springs
must he heavy and stif to withstand
the downward strain OF the body of the
car and the driving strain sending ;he
machine forward. And these springs
so heavy and stiff made hard riding
The advantage OF radius rods can be
instantly seen il one looks ut Il stripped
Studobaker chassis. The rods extends
from the rear axle housing TO a point
about midway CT the frame directly
transmitting the driving power. With
this strain taken off the springs. they
can he made lighter. I'm easier riding
car is the result
Another tremendous strain is an au-
iomohile is that developed by the trans
mission of power from tho motor TO the
rear axle. With tho propeller shaft and
transmission turning. the tendency is
for the entire car to follow this turn
ing strain. Good engineering practice
requires that this strain NC counter
acted. as in the Studcbakcr car by.
the use OF torQuc arm This is merely
Il s;ocl bar from the rear axle housing.
parallel to the propeller. 10 the cou:cr
cross piece OF the frame OF the chassis
II takes up the strain that otherwise Is
:" severe that cars without a tornue
arm have sometimes had the propcllcr
shaft mechanism. universal Joints and
all, come right up through the floor,
tearing our floor boards. back scat and
cushions.
Yet the toraue arm must not have
absolute riEidity because il would re-
SUIT IN *ttn drive aud considerable
JoltlnG where tho going is rough. Studc-
baker ohviatcs this by tho neatest piece
OF construction Imaginable. II is sim
ply by fastening the torquc arm at the
front end with i spring and bolt The
spring allows Just enough play To pre-
vent sim, jolly riding. and the bolt
takes care of the twisting and strain
on the torQue arm.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
.WHY AMERICAN DRIVERS
HAVE NO LUCK IN RACES
Dario Resta Says Americans Are Too
.Avcrse To Gear Changing to Get
Motor Efficiency.
MILFORD BUILDS NEW CAR
Champion of 1910 VIII Soon Have
Racer Tie Will Use in indianapolis
500-Mile Race Ready for Try-Out
on Tracks Near Brooklyn.


b, INDIANAPOLIS, IND. April ol.--
Why American drivers have had no
luck in winning international auto
mobile races during the last few Years
is explained by Dario Rcsta, favorite
for the next Indianapolis 5oc-mile race,
by virtue of his recent triumphs in the
Vanderbilt ana Grand Prize contests
IT San Francisco
American drivers. says Rcs;a. arc too
averse to gear changing TO Set the
highest cncicucy out OF thci, motor.
No matter how lonG or how hard the
pull they insist on going the whole
distance in high. rhis is bound 10
work ruin in the long run
Ecsta's car is equipped with a tach-
ometer, designed TO show the crank
shaft speed OF his motor at al tines.
The second il runs below "a certain fig
urc. he shifts gears. and allows il 30
catch up again. II THIS way his me tor
is working freely and easily at all
stages. with the result that IL 'ioes not
break down nearly as quick.
IrkinG under tho smart OF pas: de-
fcsts Ralph milford, Amcrica's 1910
road racing champion, is building car
of his own for the ucNt Indianapolis
race. which. he hopes. viii once more
restore America 10 motor car racing sU.
promacy The machine is about i'm
ishcd, milford SAYS. and viii soon he
ready FOR its road trials. II is being
assembled i'll his shops in Eroo kIyn, y.
Mulfords ability as a designer is
TOO we'll known to ncccssitare much
comment All tho Lozicr cars he drove
in the old days were erected uriCr his
personal supervision. Last Noa,. dur
inC his leisure hours he bull, The l:ull
II.N,.
which though il never Won any import.
ant races. conclusively proved it had
the stuff.
This years car, SAYS EuiTord. Will h.
one that VIII open the eyes OF some
OF the wiccacrcs who contend that no
racing job can he turned out in this
country equal to those OF Europe. II
VIII have both the speed and tn. en-
durancc, milford says. lie hopes TO get
a nnal line on its ability in the speed
Nay elimination trials, when he will
Lot II out TO the limit. Ills entry, he
says. MAY be expected shortly.
The arrival Of Eddie Richcnbacher at
the indianapolis motor speedway with
ono OF the new MaXwclls built for tho
next 5Ho-mi!e race is held To indicate
thai Rick" has been chosen rs "A tX-
turc ON the Maxwell racing team for
the coming season. though no official
announcement TO this effect has vet
beer made.
Eickcnhachcr is known far and wide
* one OF the fastest drivers the world
has ever seen lIIs treatment OF "a car
throughout contest is mcrciless
either landing il IN front by ~ mile or
else sending /, TO the scrap hcap 1t
may be that Iiarroun. head Of the Max
well racing crew. is figuring on baking
pace maker out Of the speed demon
10 lurc the est of the field TO dcstruc-
tion. For this task il is certain he
would hi ideally suited, as nobody can
uasS him once he gets going
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
BUILDING AN INNER TUBE
WHICH OUTLASTS ANY TIRE
I.aminntcd Tubes or Goodyear Tire and
Ruhhcr Company Giving
Splendid Service.

I'VE have succeeded In building an
inner tube which outlasts any tire. four
tubes outwcarnS five castings, on the
average" says l.. &. Rockhili. mama
ger OF the automobile tire department
OF the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Com
pany. Akron, Ohio. Our tubes are
laminutcd, that is. they are built up
layer on layer. First We roll the rub
Der into thin sheets. so that any nav s
can be readily seen. and faulty shoe:
discarded. These sheets arc wrapped
together and vulcanizcd into one solid
rubber tire. Tubes built OF one niece
Of rubber often contain flaws which
are not detected
Another reason why our tubes wear
so long is our practice Of making the
waive patch an integral part of the
tube our valve patch is not stuck on.
as. is the case In many tubes. but is
part of the tube itself. This makes
ii icakproof.
This year NC are making our tubes
tucker. averaging II per cent heavier
than before The Increased weight is
all in pure rubber, and greatly
strengthens the tube Yet, notwith-
standing this added thickness. we have
lowered our price 20 per cent, which
makes tho Goodyear Illuminated tube
cost about the same as others
our enormous productions enables us
To do this The increase In Goodvcnr
tube sales last year was about rs per
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
WOLVES GIVE BUICK
RACE IN OKLAHOMA

While driving home few nights
AGO IN my new Buick roadster, on
Countcrcd TWO prairie wolves" writes
W. l. Philips. OF Turlcy. Okla. The
animals promptly challenged me to n
race. and promptly accepted
stepped on tho juice dispenser, and the
car shot out after the wolves. The
victory was not to be easily won, how
ever, for the wolves put on speed
FINALLY one ot the creatures drnppcd
behind. but tho other continued the
race until "" encountered the wheels.
and. quit" by accident, ran complctclv
over the said wolf"
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25

Announcement is made by Dodge
hrotherS Of the appointment OF c. w
MdthfSon. formerly New York district
representative of tho company, as man
ager OF the service department. Mr.
Mathesons headquarters will be At the
general Offices in Detroit. and he will
take up his new duties at once.
Formerly pr. sidcnt OF the Matheson
Meteor Car Company. Mr.. Mathcson has
been prominent figure in the auto
mobile industry FOR the past twelve
years, and brings To his new position
II thorough knowledge OF every phase
OF the business