Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-28

! after the terrible occurrence outside. She
/ looked at him. speeches..
/ II happened that Kennedy had some
artificial flowers on the stand which he
| had been using long before in the study
OF synthetic colorins materials. Before
/ Elaine could recover her tongue he seized
them and stuck them into tall beaker
| like vase. Then he deliberately walked
20 the window and placed the beaker on
the ledge in a most prominent position.
Elaine and Bennett. 20 say nothing OF
myself gazed at him. awe-struck
Isis there no other way but 10 sur
render7" she asked
Kennedy mournfully shook his head.
Nothing that any OF ne could say, not
even the pleadngs of Elaine herself. could
move him. The thought that at II O'Clock
a third innocent passerby might lie
stricken on the street seemed to move him
powerfully.
When. at II o'clock. nothing happened,
as Il had at the other two hours he was
even more confirmed In his purpose En-
treaties had no effect, and late In the
morning he succeeded in convincing us all
that his purpose was irrevocable.
As we stood at the door mournfully
bidding our visitors farewell until tho
morrow, when he had decided to sail, l
could see that he was eager TO be alone.
lie had been looking now and then at the
peculiar instrument which he had been
studying earlier in the day, and / could
see on his face a sort OF subtle Intent
ness.
I'm so sorry-Craig," murmured
Elaine, choking back her emotion and
finding II impossible TO go on
80 am /, Elaine" he answered, tensely.
.But-perhaps- this trouble blows
over
He paused, unable to 10 on. turned ana
shook his head. Then with forced gaiety
he babe Elaine and Perry Bennett adieu'
saying that perhaps a trip might do him
good.
They had scarcely gone out. and Ken
nedv closed the door carefully, when no
turned and went directly to the instru-
ment which had seen him observing so
interestedly.
Plainly I could see that It was register
ing something.
whats the natter" asked. non
plussed.
'Just a moment, Walter" no replied
evasiveiy as II not quite sure OF himself
He walked fairly close TO the WINDOW
this time. keeping well out OF the direct
line OF II. however, and there STOOD saN-
ing out into the street
A CLINT. as II Of the sun shining on
pair Of opera glasses. could be seen from
a window across the street
1--WE are being watched" he said' slowly
turning and looking at mo nxedly, put
don't dare investigate lest It cost the nVes
OF more unfortunates.'
He stood for a moment in deep thought
Then he pulled out suitcase ana began
silently to pack 1t.
Although we had not dared to invesu-
gate. we knew that from building across
the street emissaries of the Clutching
Hand were watching for our sisnal VI
surrender. -
The fact was, as we found out later
that IN n poorly furnished room' mueh
after the fashion OF that which, win tue
helm OF the authorities, we had one
raided In the suburbs. there were AT that
moment two crooks.
ono ~ them was the famous, or rather
,nfauous. Prof 10 Croix, with whoin'
I'm n disguise as a doctor. we hau AZ
reaay had some experience when he stole
from the Hillside sanitarium the twilight
sleen drugs. The other was the young
secretary Of the Clutchlng Hand VINO
had given the warning at the SUBURBAN
headquarters at the time when they were
endeayoring TO transfuse Elaine Dodge
blood TO save the life OF the crook whom
she had shot
Lo Croix gleefully patted a peculiar in-
strument beside him. Apparently It was
a combination OF powerful electric arcs
the rays OF which were shot through a
Ifunnel-llke arrangement into converter
or. rather. sort OF concentration ap-
paratus from which the dread power
could be released through tube-like at
/ fair at one end. II was his infra-red heat
wave. Fray, engine.
| Il told you-it would work." cried lie
Croix.
( | did not argue any further with Craig
about his sudden resolution TO go away.
/ But It Is a very solemn proceeding 10
pack up and admit defeat after such
/ brilliant succession OF cases as had been
his until We met this master criminal.
4 lie was unshakable. however, and the
next morning we closed the laboratory
and loaded our baggage, which was con-
siderable. on taxicab.
! Neither OF us said much. but l saw a
quick look OF appreciation on Craig's face
a. we pulled up at the wharf and saw
that Elalne's car was already there. lie
seemed deeply moved that Elaine should
come at such an early hour to have a last
word.
Our car stopped and Kennedy moved
over toward her car. directing two por-
tiers, whom l noticed that he chose with
care. to wait al one side. one OF them
was an old Irishman with a limp; the
other a wiry Frenchman with a pointed
beard.
In spite OF her pleadings. however, Ken
nedy held to his purpose. and as we shook
hands for the last time I thought
Elaine would almost break down.
Near the gangplank in the crowd.
noticed a couple OF sinister faces watch
ing the ships officers and the paAsen-
gers going aboard. KenEedys quick eve
spotted them. too, but he did not show
In any way that he noticed anything as,
followed by our two porters. we quickly
climbed the gangplank
A moment Craig paused by the rail- aud