The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-08


the startling effect. 9
They looked about. Not q soul.
Then, to their utter CONSERVATION.
from the helmet again came the deep.
vibrant warning.
Help! Murder! Policei"
Kennedy and I had been listening
over the vocaphone, for the moment
nonplused at the fellows daring.
Then we heard from the uncanny
instrument: For Heavens sake.
Chief, hurry. The. Falsers have fallen
down. The girl herself is coming!"
What 1t meant we did not know. But
Craig was almost beside himself, 40
he ordered me to get the police by tel.
ephone, IL there was any way to block
them Only instant action would count,
however. What to do?
We could hear the master Grim
final plainly fumbling now.
Yes, that's the Clutching hand" he
repeated.
"wait," cautioned, someone else
is coming!"
BY sort Of instinct he seemed to
recognize the sounds.
'Elaine!" he exclaimed, paling.
Instantly followed, in less than
can tell 1t. the sounds Of a suppressed
shuttle.
He has seized her-gagged her"
cried in an agony Of suspense.
We could now hear everything that
was going on in the library. Craig
was wildly excited. AS for me, was
speechless. Here was the vocaphone
we had installed. 1t had warned us.
But what could we do?
looked blankly at Kennedy. He
was equal to the emergency.
He calmly turned the switch.
Then, at the top of his lungs he
shouted: Help! Help! Police! They
are strangling mel"
looked at him in amazement. What
did he think he could do-blocks
away?
1T works both ways" ne muttered.
'Help! Murder! Police!"
We could hear the astonished curs-
ing Of the two men. Also, down the
hall, now, we could hear footsteps ap.
preaching in answer to his call for
help-Aunt Josephine. Jennings, Marie
and others, all shouting out that there
were cries In the library.
THE deuce! What is it?" muttered
a gruff voice.
THE man in armor!" Kissed Clutch
ing Hand.
Here they come. too, Chief"
There was parting scuffie.
"There-take that"
"A loud metallic ringing came from
the vocaphone.
Then silence!
What had happened?
In the library. recovering from their
crock OF surprise, Dan cried out to
the lClutching Hand. "The deuce!
What is it?"
Then looking about, Clutching
Hand quickly took in the situation.
THE man In armor!v he pointed
out. 7
Dan was almost dead with fright
at the weird thing.
Here they come. too, Chief" he
gasped, as, down the hall he could
hear the family shouting out that
someone was in the library.
With q parting thrust, Clutching
Hand sent Elaine reeling.
She held on to only corner of the
papers. He had the greater part of
them. They we're torn and destroyed,
anyway
Finally, with all the venomousness
of which he was capable. Clutching
Hand rushed at the armor suit, drew
back his gloved fist, and let it shoot
out squarely In a vicious solar plexus
blow.
"There-take that" he roared.
The suit ratified furiously. Out of
1t spilled the vocaphone, with a bang
on the floor.
An instant later those in the hall
rushed in. But the Clutching Hand
and Dan were gone out of the win.
dow, the criminal carrying the greater
part Of the precious papers.
Some ran to Elaine, others to the
window. The ladder had been kicked
away, and the criminals were gone.
Leaping into the waiting car, they had
been whisked away.
Hello! Hello! Hello!" called q
voice, apparently from nowhere.
What is that?" cried Elaine.
She had risen by this time, and was
gazing about, wondering at the strange
voice. Suddenly her eye fell on the
armor scattered all over the floor.
She spied the little oak box.
"Elaine!"
Apparently the voice came from
that. Besides 1t had familiar ring
to her ears.
"Yes-Craig!" she cried.
That is my vocaphone,-the little
box that hears and talks" came back
to her. "Are you all right?"
"Yes-all right-thanks to the voca-
phone"
She had understood In an instant.
She seized the helmet and breastplate
to which the vocaphone still was at
tached and was holding them close to
herself.
Kennedy had been calling and lis
tening intently over the machine, won
dering whether 1t had been put out of
business In some way.
1T works-yet!" he cried excitedly
to me.