The Dolores star., 1915-06-18

Has the waSeA purchased for Nh
ElAins Dodge bssn Asliveredr" ~
asked the CLERK.
no. came back the rsply. the
wstch Mr.. Bennett bought b sun here
being regulated"
Kennedy hung mp the receiver. He
was stunned.
1.-THE watch VIM cause her death at
three O'Clock" said the Clufching
Hand. Swear 10 leave here without
discovering my identity and wfll ten
you how. You can save her! In that
watch" he Kissed. II have set Q poi
soned needle In . spring that win be
released and WIN plunge 1t into her
arm at exactly three O'Clock. On the
needle 10 ricinusi"
Craig advanced. furious. Az he did I
10 Clutching Hand pointed calmly to
the clock It was twenty minutes Of
three!
with a mental struggle Kennedy
controlled his loathing Of the creature
before him.
IAN risht-but you1l hear from
me-sooner than you suspect" he
shouted. starting for the door.
(. Then he came back and lifted hia
hat, hiding as much as possible the
seleninm cell, letting the light fall
ON It.
only Elaine's life has saved you"
With 4 last threat he dashed out.
He hailed cab. returning from some
steamship wharves not far away.
"Quick!" he ordered. giving the
Dodge address on Fifth avenue.
Minute after minute the police and
waited. Was anything wrong?
Where was Craig?
Just then q tremor grew into .
tinkle. then came the strong burr OF
the bell. Kennedy needed us.
With . shout Of encouragement to
the men ! dashed out and over to tho
old house.
Meanwhile Clutching Hand himself
had approached the table to recover
his weapon and had noticed the queer
little selenium cell.
THE deuce!" he cried. Hes
planned to get me anyhow!"
Clutching Hand rushed to the door
then stopped short. Outside. he could
hear the police and myself.
Clutching Hand slammed shut his
door and pulled down over it q heavy
wooden bar.
At the desk he paused and took out
a piece Of cardboard. Then, with .
heavy matchmaking pencil, he calmly
printed on II, while we battered at tho
barricaded door, few short feet away.
He laid the sign on the desk, then
on another piece Of cardboard, drew
crudely a hand with the index finger
pointing. This he placed on . chair.
indicating the desk
Just az the swaying and bullying
door gave way, Clutching Hand gave
the desk pull. 1t opened up-his get
away.
He closed It with a sardonic smile
in our direction, Just as the door
crashed in.
We looked about. There was not
soul in the room. nothing but the sels-
mum cell, the chairs, tho desk.
"Look!" I cried. catching sight Of
the index finger. and going over to the
desk.
We rolled back the top. There on
the nat top was q sign:
Dear Bloekheads:
Kennedy and eouIdn't wait.
Then came that mysterious sign OF
the Clutching Hand.
We hunted over the rooms, but
could find nothing that showed a clue.
Where was Clutching Hand? Where
was Kennedy? =
In the next house Clutching Hand
had literally come out Of an upright
piano into the room corresponding to
that he had left. Hastily he threw on
his handkerchief, SLOUGH, hat old coat
and trousers. kneat striped pair of
trousers replaced the old, frayed and
baggy pair. A new shirt, then sporty
vest and a frock coat followed.
As he put the flnishing touches on
he looked for all the. world like be-
whiskered foreigner.
At the door Of the new headquarters,
. few seconds later, stood with the
police.
mot . sign OF him anywhere.
growled one VI the ohcers.
Elaine was sitting in the Mhfary
reading when Aunt Josephine turned
to her
what time is 1t, dear?" she asked
Elaine glanced at her pretty new
trinket.
Nearly three, Auntie-just q couple.
Of minutes" she said.
Just then there came the sound Of
feet running madly down the hallway.
They jumped up. startled.