The Monticellonian., 1915-05-13

in the corner, as if by miracle, came | deep, loud voice.
 Help! Help! Murder! Police! They are strangling me!"
 The effect was territc.
 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 consternation, from the helmet again came the deep, vibrant warning.
 Help Murder! Policet'
 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 it meant we did not know. But Craig was almost beside himself, as he ordered me to get the police by tel
 
 them Only instant action would count, however. What to do?
 We could hear the master crim- inal plainly fumbling now
 Yes, that's the Clutching hand" he repeated
 Wait, 1 cautioned, someone else is coming!"
 By sort of instinct he seemed to recognize the sounds.
 "Elaine," he exclaimed paling.
 Instantly followed, in less than I can tell 1t, the sounds of suppressed shuftte.
 He has seized her-gagged her." l cried in an agony of suspense.
 We could now hear everything that was going on in the library. Craig was wildly excited. As for me. I was speeches.. Here was the vocaphone we had installed It had warned us. But what could we do? l 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 strangling me!s
 l looked at him in amazement. What did he think he could do-blocks away?
 It works both ways ne muttered Help Murder, Police,"
 We could hear the astonished CUTS ing of the two men. Also, down the hall, now, we could hear footsteps ap- preaching in answer to his call for help-Aunt Josephine, Jennings. Marie and others, all shouting out that there were cries in the library
 The deuce! What is it?" muttered a gruff voice.
 The man in armor!" hissed Clutch ing Hand.
 Here they come, too, Chief"
 There was a parting scuffie.
 "There-take that"
 "A loud metallic ringing came from the vocaphone.
 Then silence,
 What had happened?
 In the library, recovering from their crock of surprise, Dan cried out to the Clutching Hand. "The deuce, What is it?''
 Then looking about. Clutching 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, Clutching 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, Clutching Hand rushed at the armor suit, drew back his gloved fist, and let it shoot out squarely in vicious solar plexus blow.
 "There-take that," he roared.
 The suit rattled furiously. Out of it spilled the vocaphone, with bang 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.
 "Helloi Hello Hellol" called a 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 it had familiar ring to her ears.
 "Yes-Craig," she cried.
 That is my vocaphone-the little box that hears and talks" came back to her. Are you all right?"
 "Yes-all right-thanks to the yoca- phone'
 She had understood in an instant. She seized the helmet and breastplate to which the vocaphone still was at tached and was holding them close to herself I.l ,x