The Elbert County tribune., 1915-04-30

son VIII lead you to 1t Come, wal
ter" he added. picking up the bags.
Ten minutes later, outside the new
headquarters, a crouched-up figure.
carrying a small package. his face
hidden under his soft hat and up
turned collar. could have been seen
sinking along until he came to the
steps.
He went up and peered through the
aperture OF the doorway. Then he
rang the bell Twice he raised his
hand and clenched it in the now ia
millar clutch.
A crook inside saw 1t through the
aperture and opened the door. The
figure entered and almost before the
door was shut tied the masking hand
kerchief over his face, which hid his
lieutenants The crook bowed to the
chief. who. with a growl as though of
recognition. moved down the hall.
As he came to the room from which
Slim had been sent on his mission,
the same group was seated in the
thick tobacco smoke.
You fellows clear out" he growled.
Il want to be alone"
"The old man is peeved," muttered
one. outside. as they left.
The weird figure gazed about the
room to be sure that he was alone.
When Craig and left the police he
had given me most minute instruc-
tions which l was now following out
to the letter
81 want you to hide there" he said.
indicating a barrel back of the house
next to the hangout. when you see
wire come down from the headquar.
ters. take 1t and carry it across the
lot to the old house. Attach 1t to the
bell; then wait. When it rings. raid
the Clutching Hand joint"
/ waited what seemed to be an in
terminable time back of the barrel.
Finally, however, / saw a coil of fine
wire drop rapidly to the ground from
window somewhere above. l made
dash for it, as though l were trying to
rush the trenches, seized my prize
and, without looking back to see where
L.
Around the lot 1 skirted, until at
last l reached the place where the
police were waiting. Quickly we
fastened the wire to the bell
We waited
Not sound from the bell.
Up in the room in the joint the
hunched-up figure stood by the table
He had taken his hat off and placed it
carefully on the table and was now
waiting.
Suddenly a noise at the door startled
him. He listened. Then he backed
away from the door and drew a revol-
yer.
AS the door slowly opened there en-
tered another figure, hat over his eyes.
collar up, a handkerchief over his
face. the exact counterpart of the
first!
other.
Hands up" shouted the first fig
ure. hoarsely. moving the gun and
closing the door with his foot.
The newcomer slowly raised his
crooked hand over his head. as the blue
steel revolver gaped menacingly.
With quick movement of the other
hand the first sinister figure removed
the handkerchief from his face and
Strengthened up.
1t was Kennedy!
Come over to the center of the
room" ordered Kennedy.
Clutching Hand obeyed, eyeing his
captor closely
Now lay your weapons on the ta-
ble."
He tossed down a revolver.
The two still faced each other.
Take off that handkerchief"
1t was a tense moment. Slowly
Clutching Hand started to obey Then
he stopped. Kennedy was just about
to thunder, 60 on" when the criminal
calmly remarked. You've got ME- all
right, Kennedy. but in twenty minutes
Elaine Dodge will be dead"
He said it with a nonchalance that
might have deceived anyone less as
tute than Kennedy. Suddenly there
flashed over Craig the words: THE
MIN w LII DE IOl1lLED OfF AL
THREE O'CLOCK"
There was no fake about that Ken
nedy frowned menacingly If he
killed Clutching Hand, Elaine would
die. II he fought he must either kill
or be killed If he handed Clutching
Hand over Elaine was lost. He looked
at his watch. 1t was twenty-five min
utes of three.
What do you mean-tell me?" de-
manded Kennedy with forced calm.
Yesterday Mr.. Bennett bought a
wrist watch for Elaine" the Clutching
Hand said quietly. "They left it to
be regulated. One of my men bought
one just like it. Mine was delivered
IN har todav'