The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-05-11

|
two. Elaine's picture was precisely
the same size.
Next he tore out the picture OF the
scientist and threw it carelessly into
the fireplace. Then he placed Elaine's
picture in its place and hung 1t up
again, standing off to admire it,
! watched him gleefully. Was this
Craig? Purposely. moved my elbow
suddenly and pushed q book with a
bang on the floor. Kennedy actually
| jumped. picked up the book with a
muttered apology. No, this was not
| the same old Craig.
Perhaps half an hour later was still
reading. Kennedy was now pacing up
and down the room, apparently unable
to concentrate his mind on any but
one subject
He stopped a moment before the
photograph, looked at 1t fixedly. Then
he started his methodical walk again,
hesitated, and went over to the tele-
phone. calling a number which rec
ognized.
''She must have been pretty well
done up by her experience" he said
apologetically, catching my eye. Il
was wondering if-hellol-oh, Miss
| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES called up to
see If you were all right"
Craig was very much embarrassed,
but also very much in earnest.
A musical laugh rippled over the
telephone. yes. I'm all right, thank
you, Mr.. Kennedy-and put the pack
age you sent me into the safe, but"
'Package?" frowned Craig why,
sent you no package, Miss Dodge. In
the safe?"
why, yes, and the safe is all COW
cred with moisture-and so cold"
Moisture-cold?" he repeated
hastily.
Eyes. / have been wondering If it is
all right. In fact, was going to call
you up. only / was afraid you'd think
was foolish"
Il shall be right over" he answered
hastily, clapping the receiver back on
its hook. Walter" he added, seizing
his hat and coat, come on-hurry!"
| A few minutes later we drove up in
a taxi before the Dodge house and
rang the bell
Jennings admitted US sleepily.
It could not have been long after we
left Miss Dodge, late in the afternoon,
that Susie Martin, who had been quite
Uorrind ovor o,r lone ohoaxna cftor
the attempt to rob her father. dropped
in on Elaine. Wide-eyed, she had lis
tened to Elaine's story of what had
happened
"And you think this Clutching Hand
has never recovered the discriminating
papers that caused him to murder
your father?" asked Susie.
Elaine shook her head. mo. Let me
show you the new safe I've bought.
Mr. Kennedy thinks it wonderful"
Il should think you'd be proud OF it, .
admired Susie. Il must tell father to
get one, too"
At that very moment, If they had
known it, the Clutching Hand. with
his sinister, masked face, was peering
at the two girls from the other side
of the portieres.
Susie rose to go and Elaine followed
her to the door. No sooner had she
gone than the Clutching Hand came
out from behind the curtains. He gazed
about moment, then, moving over to
! the safe about which the two girls had
been talking. stealthi1y examined it.
He must have heard someone COM
ing, for with gesture of hate at the
safe itself, as though he personified it,
he slipped back of the curtains again.
| Elaine had returned, and as she sat
down at the desk to go over some pa
pers which Bennett had left relative
to settling up the estate the masked
intruder stealthily and silently with
| drew
"A package for you, Miss Dodge"
| announced Michael later in the eve
| ming, as Elaine, in her dainty evening
gown, was still engaged in going over
the papers. He carried it in his hands
rather gingerly.
Mr. Kennedy sent it, ma'am. He
says it contains clues, and win you
| please put it in the new safe for him. "
Elaine took the package eagerly and
examined it. Then she pulled open
the little round door of the globular
safe.
i 1T must be getting cold out. Mi
chael," she remarked. This package
is as cold as ice."
'It is, ma'am," answered Michael.
She closed the safe, and, with a
glance at her watch, set the time lock
and went upstairs to her room.
No sooner had Elaine disappeared
than Michael appeared again, catlike,
through the curtains from the drawing
room, and, after glance about the
dimly lighted library, discovering that
the coast was clear, motioned to fig
ure hiding behind the portieres.
A moment and Clutching Hand him
self came out.
He moved over to the safe and
looked it over Then he put out his
hand and touched it.
"Listen!" cautioned Michael.
Someone was coming, and they
hastily skunk behind the protecting
portieres. 1t was Marie, Elaine's maid.
She turned up the lights and went
over to the desk for book for which
Elaine had evidently sent her. She
paused and appeared to be listening.
Then she went to the door.
"Jenningsl" she beckoned.
What is it, Marie?" he replied.
She said nothing, but as he came up
the hall led him to the center of the
room.
Listen! heard signs and groans!"
Jennings looked at her a moment
puzzled, then laughed You girls!a
he exclaimed. Il suppose you'll always
think the library haunted now"
But, Jennings, listen" she per
sisted.
Jennings did listen. Sure enough
there were sounds, weird. uncanny. He
gazed about the room. 1t was eerie
Then he took few steps toward the
safe. Marie put out her hand to it and
started back.
why. that safe is all covered with
cold sweat" she cried with batet
breath.
Sure enough, the face Of the safe
was beaded with dampness. Jennings
put his hand on it and quickly drew Il
away, leaving a mark on the damp
| ness.