The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-04-21

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the clerk
NO." he objected hastily. shaking
his head and paying the money quick
ly. Its a present-and I want 1t to-
night"
He took the watch and left the store
hurriedly.
In the laboratory, Kennedy was
working over an oblong oak box, per-
haps eighteen inches in length and
half as high. In the box could see,
besides other apparatus, two good
sized spools of fine wire.
What's all that?" l asked inquisi-
lively.
Another of the new instruments
that scientific detectives use," he re-
sponded. scarcely looking up. "a little
magnetic wizard, the telegraphone."
(Which is?" prompted.
Something we detectives might use
to take down and can telephone con-
versations and other such converse
lions. When it is attached properly
to a telephone, 1t records everything
that is said over the wire. The record
is not made mechanically on cylin-
der, but electro-magnetically on this
wire"
Craig continued to tinker tantaliz-
ingly with the machine which had
been invented by a Dane, Valdemar
Poulsen.
He had scarcely finished testing the
telegraphone when the laboratory door
opened and a clean-cut young man
entered.
Kennedy, knew, had found that the
routine work of the Clutching Hand
case was beyond his limited time and
had retained this young man, Raymond
Chase, to attend to that.
Just now what worried Craig was
the situation with Elaine, and l fam
cied that he had given Chase some
commission in connection with that.
I've got it, Mr.. Kennedy" greeted
Chase with quiet modesty.
Good" responded Craig heartily. Il
knew you would"
Got what?" asked a moment later.
swer
I've located the new residence of
Flirty Florrie," he replied.
1 saw what Kennedy was after at
once. Flirty F1orrie and Dan the Dude
had caused the quarrel between him.
self and Elaine. Dan the Dude was
dead. But F1irty Florrie might be
forced to explain it.
That's fine" he added, exultingly.
Now I'll clear that thing up"
He took a hasty step to the tele-
phone, put his hand on the receiver
and was about to take 1t on the
hook. Then he paused, and saw
his face working.
Finally his pride, for Kennedy's was
highly sensitive nature. got the bet.
ter of him.
NO" he said. half to himself, mot
yet"
Elaine had returned home.
Alone, her thoughts naturally went
back to what had happened recently
to interrupt friendship which had
been the sweetest in her life.
There must be some mistake" she
murmured pensively to herself, think
ing of the photograph Flirty had given
her "Oh, why did send him away
Why didn't 1 believe him?"
Mechanically, she put out her hant
to the telephone.
She was about to take OF the re
ceiver, when something seemed tc
stay her hand. She wanted him, tc
come to her.
Craig's eye fell on the telegraphone
and an idea seemed to occur to him.
walter, you and Chase bring thaI
thing along" he said a moment later
At last we came to the apartment
house at which Chase had located the
woman
Now, Chase" he directed, "yor
needn't go in with US. Walter and
can manage this now. But don't ge
out of touch with me. I shall neeC
you any moment-certainly, tomor
row."
Kennedy slipped on badge in
scribed: Telephone inspector"
Walter" he smiled, you're elect
ed my helper"
We entered the apartment hous
hall and found a negro boy in charg'
of the switchboard.
You look over the switchboard
Kelly" he winked at me. while ties
out the connections back here. Their
must be something wrong with tn
wires or there wouldn't be SO man.
complaints"
He had gone back to the switch
board while the negro, still unsuspl
cious, watched without understanding
what it was all about.
81 don't know" Craig muttered fnal
ly for the benefit Of the boy, but
think I'll have to leave that tester
after all. Say, IL put It here. you'll
have to be careful not to let anyon
NEEDLE with it. II you do, there1l b
the deuce to pay. Seer"
Kennedy had already started to fai
ten the telegraphone to the wires b
had selected from the tangle.
At last he finished and stood up.
Don't disturb it and don't let an,
one else touch it." he ordered. BE
ter not tell anyone-that's the bes
way. I'll be back for It tomorrow
probably.
"Yas, sah," nodded the boy, with
bow, as he went out.
Back in the new hang-out. tn
Clutching Hand was laying down tn
law to his Eeutenants and heeler
when Slim at last entered.
HUH" growled the master erin
inal, conveying the fact that he wa
considerably relieved to see him {
last Where have you beenT Nv
been of on a little job myself. an
: got back"
cIir,, annIn1izad nrnfnselv