The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1915-06-24

near them.
Leave the store-quick!" rang out
Kennedy's voice.
Down below the crooks were beat
ing hasty retreat through secret
entrance which they had effected.
The bag! The bag!" we could
hear one of them below.
THE bomb-run!" cried another
voice gruf11y. 4
The explosion that followed lifted
us fairly off our feet.
As the smoke from the explosion
cleared away, Kennedy could be seen,
the first to run forward.
Meanwhile Martins detectives had
rushed down a flight of back stairs
that led into coal cellar. With coal
shovels and bars, anything they could
lay hands on, they attacked the door
that opened forward from the coal cell
lar into the front basement where
the robbers had been.
A moment Kennedy and Bennett
paused on the brink of the abyss
which the bomb had made, waiting for
the smoke to decrease. Then they
began to climb down cautiously over
the piled-up wreckage.
The explosion had set the basement
afre. but the fire had not gained much
Roadway by the time they reached the
basement Quickly Kennedy ran to
the door into the coal cellar and
opened it
From the other side Martin, fol
lowed by the police and the detec-
tives. burst in.
-Firei" cried one of the policemen,
leaping back TO turn in an alarm from
the special apparatus upstairs.
All except Martin began beating out
tie flames. using such weapons as
they already held in their hands to
batter down the door.
To Martin there was one thing para
nount-the jewels.
In the midst Of the confusion, Elaine,
closely followed BY ter friend, Susie,
made her way fearlessly into the stiie
Of smoke down the stairs.
There are your Jewels, Mr.. Martin,
cried Kennedy, kicking the precious
barlap bag with his foot as if it had
been so much ordinary merchandise,
and turning toward what was in his
mind the most important thing at
scske-tte direction taken by the
agents Of the CIutching Hand
Thank heayen," calculated Martin,
fairly p0Uncing on the bag and tearing
II open. They didn't get away with
them-after ALI" he exclaimed, exam
lining the contents with satisfaction.
Events were moving rapidly.
The limousine had been standing in
EocentIy enough at the curb near the
corner with the taxicab close be-
hfad f.
Less than ten minutes after they
had entered. three welI-dressed men
cane ogt If the vacant shop, appar-
eatiy from the taiIors above, and
climbed lsfsureIy into their car.
AZ the last one entered, he half
turned to the taxicab driver, hiding
fsoaz paasers-by the sign Of the Clutch
Lng Hand which the taxicab driver re-
Turned IN the same manner. Then the
Big car wkified up the avenue.
an thls We learned late. from g
street. sweeper who was at work near
By,
Down below, while the police and
detectives were putting out the fire,
Kennedy MS examining the wall Of
me cellar, boxing for the spot where
the crooks bad escaped
~ secret doort" he exclaimed, as
he parsed after tapping along the wall
70 determine It's character. you can
gee how the force Of the explosion has
Ioosemed f."
Sure enough, when he pointed II out
70 as. II was plainly Visible. One of
the detectives picked 80 crowbar and
others, stllI with the hastily selected
implements they had seized TO fight
the IRE, started IN to pry it open.
AZ II yielded Kennedy rushed his
way through; Elaine, always utterly
fearless, followed Then the rest OF
uS went through.
There seemed to be nothing, how
ever, that would help us in the cellar
next door and Kennedy mounted the
steps OF stairway In the rear.
The stairway led to a sort OF store
room, fun Of barrels and boxes. but
otherwise characterless. When I ar
rived Kennedy was gingerly holding
up the smocks which the crooks mad
worn.
Were On the right trail.' comment