The Ely miner., 1915-05-07

the center of the room, as If on guard,
while Clutching Hand sat before the
safe watching 1t intently.
Someone at the door-Jennings is
answering the bell" Michael whis-
pered hoarsely.
"Confound it," muttered Clutching
Hand, as both moved again behind the
heavy velour curtains.
"Tm so glad to see you, Mr. Ken
nedy," greeted Elaine unaffectedly as
Jennings admitted us.
She had heard the bell and was COM
ing downstairs as we entered. We
three moved toward the library and
someone switched on the lights.
Craig strobe over to the safe. The
cold sweat on 1t had now turned to
icicles. Craigs face clouded with
thought as he examined 1t more close
ly. There was actually a groaning
sound from within.
'It can't be opened" he said to him
self. "The time lock is set for tomor-
row morning"
Outside, if we had not been SO abb
sorbed In the present mystery, we
might have seen Michael and the
Clutching Hand listening to us.
Clutching Hand looked hastily at his
| watch.
"The deuce!" he muttered under his
breath, sitting his suppressed fury.
We stood looking at the safe. Ken
nedy was deeply interested, Elaine
standing close beside him. Suddenly
he seemed to make up his mind.
"Quick-Elaine!" he cried, taking
her arm. Stand back"
We all retreated. The safe door,
powerful as it was, had actually begun
to warp and bend The plates were
bulging. A moment later, with loud
report and concussion, the door blew
off.
A blast Of cold air and flakes like
snow flew out. Papers were scattered
on every side.
| We stood gazing, aghast, a second,
then ran forward Kennedy quickly
examined the safe. He bent down and
from the wreck took up a package,
now covered with white.
AS quickly he dropped it.
THAT is the package that was sent"
cried Elaine.
Taking it in a table cover, he laid
1t on the table and opened it. Inside
was peculiar shape flask, open at the
top, but like a vacuum bottle
"A Dewar flask" calculated Craig.
What is it?' asked Elaine, appeal
ing to him.
Liquid air!" he answered CAS- it
evaporated, the terrific pressure of
expanding air in the safe increased
until it blew out the door. That is
what caused the cold sweating and the
groans."
We watched him, startled.
On the other side of the portieres
Michael and Clutching Hand waited.
Then, in the general confusion, Clutch
ing Hand slowly disappeared, foiled
Where did this package come
from?" asked Kennedy of Jennings
suspiciously.
Jennings looked blank.
Why" put in Elaine. Michael
brought it to me-"
Get Michael" ordered Kennedy.
A moment later he returned. "I
found him, going upstairs" reported
Jennings, leading Michael in.
Where did you get this package?'
shot out Kennedy.
1T was left at the door, sir, by a
boy, SIR
Question after question could not
shake that simple, stolid sentence.
Kennedy frowned.
"You may CO." he said finally, as if
reserving something for Michael later.
A sudden exclamation followed from
Elaine as Michael passed down the
hall again. She had moved over to
the desk, during the questioning, and
was leaning against it.
Inadvertently she had touched an
envelope 1t was addressed, Craig
Kennedy"
Craig tore 1t open, Elaine bending
anxiously over his shoulder, frightened.
We read:
]
THE LAST TIME. 1T IS THE END"
Beneath it stood the fearsome sign
of the Clutching Hand!
|
The warning of the Clutching Hand
had no other effect on Kennedy than
the redoubling of his precautions for
safety. Nothing further happened that
J night, however, and the next morning
found US early at the laboratory.
1t was the late forenoon, when, aft.
er a hurried trip down to the office, l
rejoined Kennedy at his scientific
workshop.
We walked down the street when a
big limousine shot past. Kennedy
stopped in the middle of remark He
had recognized the car, with q sort of
instinct.
At the same moment saw a smil-
Ing face at the window of the car 1t
was Elaine Dodge.
The car stopped in something less
than twice it's length and then backed
toward us.
Kennedy, hat off, was at the window
In moment. There were Aunt Jose
phine and Susie Martin, also
Where are you boys going?" asked
Elaine, with interest, then added with
a gayety that i'll concealed her real
anxiety, I'm SO glad to see you--to
see that-er-nothing has happened
from the dreadful Clutching Hand"
why, we were just going up to our
rooms" replied Kennedy.
Cant we drive you around?"
We climbed in and moment later
were of. The ride was only too short