The Dickinson press., 1915-05-01

ously, now that it was all over, i
want you all to 60 to bed and stop
worrying about me. Don't you see
I'm perfectly able to take care OF my
self? Besides, there isn't chance
now of the burglar coming back. why,
I shot him."
YES" put in Aunt Josephine, but
Elaine laughingly interrupted her
and playfully made as though she
we're driving them out of her room.
"Rusty!" she called. Down, there!"
The intelligent collie seemed to un.
derstand. He lay down by the door
way, his nose close to the bottom OF
the door, and his ears alert.
Finally Elaine, too, retired again.
Meanwhile the wounded man was
being hurried to one Of the hangouts OF
the mysterious Clutching Hand.
The car containing the wounded
pitts Slim" drew up, and the other
two men leaped out of it. With hur-
ried glance about they unlocked the
front door with pass key and en-
tered, carrying the man.
Indoors was another emissary of the
Clutching Hand, rather studious'
looking chap.
why, what's the matter?" he ex.
claimed as the crooks entered his room
supporting their half-fainting, wounded
pal
slim got couple of pills." they
painted as they laid him on a couch.
"How?" demanded the other.
Trying to get into the Dodge house.
Elaine did it,
Slim was, quite evidently, badly
wounded and was bleeding profusely.
A glance at him was enough for the
studious-looking chap. He went to
secret panel and, pressing it down,
took out what was apparently secret
house telephone.
In another part Of this mysterious
house was the secret room of the
Clutching Hand himself, where he hid
his identity from even his most trust
ed followers.
His telephone rang and he took
down the receiver.
PITTS Sims been wounded, badly.
Chief" was all he waited to hear.
With scarcely word he hung up
the receiver, then opened table
drawer and took out full face mask
Next he went to a nearby bookcase,
pressed another secret spring, and a
panel opened. He passed through, the
mask adjusted.
Across in the larger outside study.
another panel opened, and the Clutch
ing Hand, all crouched up, trans
formed, appeared. Without word he
advanced to the couch on which the
wounded crook lay, and examined him.
How did it happen?" he asked at
length.
Miss Dodge shot him." answered
the others, with an automatic"
That Craig Kennedy must have
given it to her!" he exclaimed with
suppressed fury.
For moment the Clutching Hand
stopped to consider. Then he seized
the regular telephone
Doctor Martini" he asked, as he got
the number he called.
Late as it was, the doctor, who was
a well-known surgeon in that part Of
the country, answered from an e0
tension Of his telephone near his he'd
The call was urgent, and apparently
from family which he did not feel
| that he could neglect.
Doctor Martin was a middle-aged
man, one Of those medical men on
whose judgment one instinctively re-
lies.
1t was only a matter of minutes be.
fore the doctor was speeding over the
now deserted suburban roads, appar
emily On an errand of mercy.
At the address that had been
given him he drew up to the side OF
the road, got ont and ran up the steps
to the door. A ring at the bell
brought sleepy man to the door, in
his trousers and nightshirt.
"How,s the patient?' asked Doctor
Martin, eagerly.
Patient" repeated the man, rub
bing his eyes. There's no one SICK
] here"
Slowly it dawned on the doctor that
| it was false alarm, and that he
must be the victim Of some practical
joke.
well, that's a great note," he
growled, as the man shut the door.
He descended the steps, muttering
harsh language at some unknown
trickster. AS he climbed back into
his machine and made ready to start
two men seemed to rise before him
as If from nowhere.
| AS matter of fact they had been
sent there by the Clutching Hand, and
were hiding in a nearby cellarway un'
til their chance came.
| One man stood on the running
board, on either side Of him, and two
guns yawned menacingly at him.
| Drive ahead that way!" muttered
one man, seating himself in the run,
about with his gun close to the doc
tors ribs.
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