Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-06-11

She seized the telephone and eager
ly called Kennedy's number.
Hello" answered a voice.
rs that you, Craig?" she asked ex
citedly.
mo. this is Mr.. Jameson"
| "Oh, Mr.. Jameson, I've discovered
the Clutching Hand papers," she be
gan. more and more excited.
Have you read them?" came bach
the voice quickly.
mo; shall II"
Then don't unseal them" cautioned
the voice. PUT them back exactly as
you found them and I'll tell Mr.. Ken
nedy the moment l can get hold OF
him."
All right" said Elaine. "Tm dc
that. And please get him as soon as
you possibly can"
Il will"
I'm going out shopping now" she
returned, suddenly. But, tell him I'll
be right back-right away"
Very WELL"
HANGING up the receiver, Elaine
dutifully replaced the papers in the
box and returned the box to its secret
hiding place, pressing the spring and
sliding the panel shut.
A few minutes later she left the
house in the Dodge car.
Outside our laboratory, leaning up
against railing, Dan the Dude. an
emissary of the Clutching Hand, whose
dress now greatly belied his under
world "monniker," had been shadow
ing US, watching to see when We left.
The moment we disappeared, he
raised his hand carefully above his
head and made the sign Of the Clutch
ing Hand. Far down the street, in a
closed car. the Clutching Hand him.
self. his face masked, gave an an
swering sign.
A moment later he left the car, gaz-
ing about stealthily. Not a soul was
in sight and he managed to make his
way to the door of our laboratory
without being observed.
Probably he thought that the pa
pers might be at tie laboratory, for
he had repeatedly failed to locate
them at the Dodge house. At any rate
he was busily engaged in ransacking
drawers and cabinets, in the labora-
tory. when the telephone suddenly
rang
An instant he hesitated. Then, dis
guising his voice as much as he could
to initiate mine, he took up the re-
ceiver.
"Hello!" he answered.
His face was a study in all that
was dark as he realized that it was
Elaine calling. He clenched his crook
ed hand even more viciously.
Have you read them?" he asked,
curbing his impotence as she unsus-
pectingly poured forth her story, sup
possedly to me.
Then don't unseal them" he has
tened to reply. Put them back. |
Then there can be no question about |
hem. You can open them before wit |
nesses."
For moment he paused, then add |
ed: Put them back, and tell no
'ne Of their discovery. l will tell Mr..
Kennedy the moment l can get him."
Clutching Hand studied for a mo-
nent and then grabbed the telephone
gain.
Hello. Dan," he called when he got
lis number. Miss Dodge is going
shopping. l want you and the other
Ealsers to follow her-delay her all
'ou can. Use your own judgment"
It was what had come to be known
n his organization as the Brother
lood of Falsers." There, in the back
Dom of a low dive, were Dan the
Dude, the emissary who had been loi-
ering about the laboratory. a gun.
nan, Dago Mike. a couple of women,
latterns, one known as Kitty the
iawk, and boy of eight or ten, whom
hey called Billy.
"All right, Chief" shouted back
Ian, their leader, as he hung up the
telephone after noting carefully the
asty instructions. We'll do it
rust u.s."
With alacrity the Brotherhood
'ent their separate ways.
Elaine had not been gone long from
lie house when Craig and | arrived
lere.
TOO bad" greeted Jennings, but
[iss Elaine has just gone shopping
nd l don't know when she'll be
ack."
Aunt Josephine greeted us cordially,
nd Craig set down the vocaphone
ackage he was carrying.
I'm not going to let anything hap
IN here to Miss Elaine again il .
IN help it," remarked Craig in a low q
ne. moment later. gazing about the
orary.
What are you thinking of doing?" /;
'ked Aunt Josephine keenly.
I'm going to put in a vocaphone," !
returned, unwrapping it. 7
What's that" she asked. q
"A loud speaking telephone-con-
'cted with my laboratory" he ex- y
aimed, repeating what he had al n
ady told me. while she listened al 4
ost awe-struck at the latest scientific e
onder.
He was looking about. trying to fig a
e out just where 1t could be placed
best advantage. when he approached a
3 suit of armor. n
Il see you have brought It back and %
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outgoing, and just kept at It until al