The Ordway new era., 1915-05-28
in the corner, as II by q miracle. came

deep. louQ VOICE.
Help! Help. Murder! Policsi
They are strangling mel"
'The effect was terrific.
Clutching Hand and Dan, hardened
in crime as they were, fell back.
dazed, overcome for the moment at
the startling effect
They looked about. Not a soul.
Then, to their utter CONSERVATION.
from the helmet again came the deep.
vibrant warning.
Help. Murder! I'olice!"
Kennedy and 1 had been listening
over the vocaphone. for the moment
nonplused at the fellows daring.
Then we heard from the uncanny
instrument: For Heavens sake.
Chief, hurry. The Falsers have fallen
down. The girl herself is coming!"
What 1t meant we did not know. But
Craig was almost beside himself as
he ordered me to get the police by tel
ephone. II there was any way to block
them. Only instant action would count.
however What to do?
We could hear the master Grim.
inal plainly fumbling now.
Yes, that's the Clutching hand" he
repeated.
Walt" cautioned, someone else
Is coining!"
BY a sort of-instinct he seemed to
recognize the sounds.
"Elaine!" he exclaimed paling
Instantly followed. In less than
can tell 1t. the sounds OF a suppressed
shuf1e.
He has seized her-gagged her."
I cried In an agony OF suspense.
We could now hear everything that
was going on in the library. Craig
vas wildly excited. AS for me. I was
speechlsss. Here was the vocaphone
We had Installed. 1t had warned us.
But what could we do?
looked blankly at Kennedy. He
was equal to the emergency.
He calmly turned the switch.
Then. at the top OF his lungs he
shouted: Help! Help! Police! They
are atrangiing mel"
looked at him In amazement. What
did hB think he could do-blocks
away?
1T works both ways" ne muttered.
''Hblpi Murder! Police!"
We cuuid hear the astonished curs-
ing Of the two men. Also, down the
hail. now, we could hear footsteps ap.
prunuhihg in answer to his call for
heip-Aunt Josephine. Jennings. Marie
and others, all shouting out that there
were cries In the library.
"Ths deuce! What Is it," muttered
. Kruf voice
The man in armor!" hissed Clutch
fns Hand.
sHere they come. too. ChIef!"
There was parting scuffie.
''There-take that"
"A loud metallic ringing came from
the vocaphone.
Then silence!
What had happenedf
In the library, recovering from their
crock Of surprise. Dan cried out to
the Clutching Hand. "The deuce!
What is itr'
Then looking about. .Clutchins
Hand quickly took in the situation.
THE man in armor!" he pointed
out
Dan was almost dead with fright
at the weird thing.
Here they come. too. Chief" he
gasped. as. down the hall he could
hear the family shouting out that
someone was In the library.
With parting thrust. Clutchins
Hand sent Elaine reeling.
She held on to only corner of the
papers. He had the greater part of
them. They were torn and destroyed,
anyway.
Finally. with all the venomousness
of which he was capable. Ciutching
Hand rushed at the armor suit. drew
back his gloved fist, and let 1t shoot
out squarely In a vicious solar plexus
blow
'There-take that" he roared.
The suit ratified furiously Out OF
on the floor.
An instant later those in the hall
rushed In. But the ClutchIng Hand
and Dan were gone out OF the win.
dow. the criminal carrying the greater
part of the precious papers.
Some ran to Elaine, others to the
window. The ladder had been kicked
away. and the criminals were gone.
Leaping into the waiting car. they had
been whisked away.
Hello! Hello! Hcllo!" called .
voice. apparently from nowhere.
What Is that?" cried Elaine.
She had risen by this time. and was
gazing about wondering at the strange
voice. Suddenly her eye fell on the
armor scattered all over the floor.
She spied the little oak box.
"Elaine."
Apparently the voice came from
that. Besides 1t had familiar ring
to her ears.
"Yes-Craig!" she cried.
THAT Is my vocaphone-the little
box that hears and talks" came back
IN her care Won all riRht2"