davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-13

With them. In order not to confuse
any possible finger prints on the bust.
he lifted 1t OF.
gave gasp OF surprise.
There, In the top of the safe.
yawned gaping hole, through which
one could have thrust his arm!
What is it," We asked, crowding
about him.
"Thermit," he replied laconically.
"Thermit?" / repeated.
"Yes-a compound of iron oxide and
powdered aluminium, invented by a
chemist at Essen. Germany. 1t gives
a temperature Of over FIVE thousand
degrees. 1t will eat its way through
the strongest steel"
Jennings. his mouth wide open with
wonder, advanced to take the bust
from Kennedy.
"No-don't touch IT, he waved him
oil, laying the bust on the desk. II
want no one to touch it-don't you
see how careful | was to use the
paper. that there might be no ques-
tion about any clue this fellow may
have left on the marble?"
As he spoke, Craig was busting over
the surface Of the bust with some
black powder.
"Look!" exclaimed Craig suddenly.
Finger prints." cried excitedly.
Yes" nodded Kennedy, studying
them closely. "a clue-perhaps."
"What-those little marks-a clue,"
asked voice behind uS,
turned and saw Elaine lookins
over our shoulders, fascinated 1t was
evidently the first time she had real.
lied that Kennedy was in the room.
"How can you tell anything by
that?" she asked.
"Why, easily" he answered. pick.
ing up glass paper weight which
lay on the desk. You see, place
my finger on this weight-so. You
could see 1t even without the powder
on this glass. Do you see those lines!
There are various types Of markings
-four general types-and each per.
sons markings are different, even II
Of the same general type-loop. whorl
arch or composite" ...r
He continued working as he talked.
Your thumb marks, for example,
Miss Dodge. are different from mine.
Mr.. Jameson's are different from both
Of us. And this fellows finger prints
are still different. 1t is mathematical
ly impossible to find two alike iu
every respect"
Kennedy was holding the paper
weight near the bust as he talked.
shall never forget the look Of
blank amazement on his face IS be
bent over closer.
my God!" he exclaimed excitedly,
"this fellow is master criminal! He
has made stencils or something Of
the sort on which. by some mechan.
ical process, he has actually forged
the hitherto infallible finger prints!"
|, too, bent over and studied the
marks on the bust and those Ken.
nedy had made on the paper weight 70
show Elaine.
THE FINGER PRINTS ON TIN
BUST WERE KENNEDY's OWN.
! cro BE coNTuuEDa !.
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-13

Just then Dodge caught sight of me.
For the moment thought perhaps he
was going to fulfill his threat.
Who the devil-why didn't you tell
me reporter was here, Jennings?" he
fputtered Indignantly. pointing toward
the door.
Argument. entreaty. were Of no
avail. There was nothing to do but 60.
At least. l reflected. had the great
er part of the story-all except the one
big thing, however-the name Of the
criminal. But Dodge would know him
tomorrow!
! hurried back to the Star to write
my story In time to catch the last
morning edition.
Meanwhile. II I may anticipate my
story, ! must tell Of what we later
learned had happened to Dodge 30
completely to upset him.
Ever since the Consolidated Mutual
had been hit by the murders he had had
many lines out In the hope of enmesh.
Ing the perpetrator. That night. as
found out the next day. be had at last
heard Of clue. One Of the company's q
detectives had brought In a red-head.
ed, lame. partly paralyzed crook. who
enjoyed the expressive monniker oi
"Limpy Red" Limpy Red was q
gunman of some renown. evil-faced
and, having nothing much to lose, des
perate. Whoever the master criminal
OF the clutching hand might have been
he had seen A, to employ Limpy. but
had not taken the precaution of getting
rid of him soon enough when he was
through.
Therefore Limpy had a grievance
and now descended under pressure tc
the low level Of Switching to Dodge In
his offlce.
mo. governor" the trembling
wretch had said as he handed over q
grimy envelope, Il amt never seen
his face-but here is directions how to
find his hangout."
As Lmpy ambled out, he turned to
Dodge. quivering at the enormity Of his
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-13

to pause and pear out into the moon.
light that flooded the back Of his
house, he might have seen the figures
of two stealthy crooks crouching in
the half shadows Of one Of the cellar
windows, one crook. at least. masked.
The masked crook held In his hands
carefully the ends Of two wires at.
tached to an electric feed, and. sending
his pal to keep watch outside, he en-.
tered the cellar Of the Dodge house
through window. whose pane they
had carefully removed. As he came
through the window he dragged the
wires with him, and. after q moments
reconnoitering, attached them to the
furnace pipe OF the old-fashioned hot.
air heater. where the pipe ran up
through the floor to the library above.
The other wire was quickly attached
to the telephone where It's wires en-.
tered.
Upstairs Dodge. evidently uneasy In
his mind about the precious Limpy
Red letter. took 1t from the safe along
with most Of the other correspondence
and. pressing q hidden spring in the
wall. opened a secret panel and placed
most Of the important documents In
this hiding place.
Downstairs the masked master Grim.
inal had already attached a voltmeter
to the wires he had installed, waiting.
Just then could be heard the tinkle
Of Dodge's telephone. and the old man
rose to answer 1t. As he did SO he
placed his foot on the iron register,
his hand taking the telephone and the
receiver. At that instant came a pow.
erful electric fash. Dodge sank on the
floor, clutching the instrument, elec.
trocuted.
A moment later the criminal slid
silently into Dodge's room. Carefully
putting on rubber gloves and avoiding
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-13
THE CLUTCH|NG
HAND WINS
AGAIN.
NEW YORK MYSTERIOUS MAS.
TER CRIMINAL PERFEcTS
ANOTHER COUP.
City Police Completely Baffled

Here's this murder of Fletcher, the
retired banker and trustee OF the uni
versity," be explained. mot q clue
except . warning letter signed with
this mysterious clutching .nst. Last
week Il was the robbery Of the Hax.
worth Jewels and the killing OF OLD
Haxworth. Again that curious sign'of
the hand. Then there was the dastard-
~ attempt on Sherburne. the steel
masnste. Not Q trace Of the assail.
ant except this same clutchins hst. 30
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-13

touching the register. he wrenched the
telephone from the grasp Of the dead
man, replacing 1t In its normal posi-
tion. Only for a second did he pause
to look at his victim as he destroyed
the evidence Of his work.
Minutes we're precious. First Dodge's
pockets. then his desk engaged his at
tention. There was left the safe.
As he approached the strong box
the master criminal took two vials
from his pocket. Removing a bust oil
Webster that stood on the safe. he
poured the contents Of the walls in two
mixed masses Of powder, forming a
heap on the safe, into which he insert
ed two magnesium wires.
He lighted them, sprang back. hid
ing his eyes from the light. and a
binding gush of fame. lasting per
haps ten seconds, poured out from the
top Of the safe.
1t was not an explosion. but just q
dazzling. intense flame that sizzled and
cracked. It seemed impossible, but
the glowing mass was literally sink
Ing, sinking down into the cold steel
At last it burned through-as If the
safe had been Of tinder!
Without waiting a moment longer
than necessary, the masked criminal
advanced again and actually put his
hands down through the top OF the
safe. pulling out bunch Of papers
Quickly he thrust them all, with Just
q glance, into his pocket.
Still working quickly, he took the
bust Of the great orator, which he had
removed, and placed it under the light
Next. from his pocket he drew two
curious stencils. as 1t were. which he
had apparently carefully prepared
With his hands. still carefully gloved
he rubbed the stencils on his hair. al
II to cover them with film of natural
oils. Then he deliberately pressed
them over the statue in several
places. It was q peculiar action, and
he seemed to fairly gloat over 1t when
1t was done and the bust returned to
its place, covering the hole.
As noiselessly as he had come, he
made his exit after one last malignant
look ut Dodge. 1t was now but the
work Of a moment to remove the wires
he had placed and climb out of the
window. taking them and destroying
the evidence down in the cellar.
A low whistle from the masked
crook, now again In the shadow
brought his pal stealthily to his side
'It's all right" he whispered hoarse
ly to the man. Nov you attend te
Limpy Red"
The villainous looking pal nodded
and. without another word, the two
made their getaway. safely. In opposite
directions.
When Limpy Red. still trembling
left the ONCE of Dodge earlier In the
evening. he had repaired as fast as bis
shambling feet would take him to bill
fsvorite dive up on Park Row.
Had the Bowsry "sinkers" not goI
into his eyes hs might have noticed
among the late revelers = man wht
spoke to no one. but took his place
near by at the bar.
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-13

Don't Let On How You Found Outl"
objectionable sin in gangland: For
Gods sake. governor" he implored,
don't let on how you found out!"
And yet Limpy Red had scarcely left
with his promise not to tell. when
Dodge. happening to turn over some
papers. came upon an envelope left
on his own desk, bearing that mysteri-
GUS clutching hand!
He tore 1t open, and read in amaze.
ment:
Destroy Limpy Reds instructions
within the next hour"
Dodge gazed about in wonder. This
was getting on his nerves. He de-
termined to 60 home and rest.
Outside the house. as he left his car,
pasted over the monogram on the door.
he had found another note, with the
same weird mark and the single word:
Remember"
In spite OF the pleadings OF young
Bennett. Dodge refused to take warn
Ing. In the safe in his beautifully
fitted library he deposited Limpy's doc.
ument In an envelope containing all
the correspondence thai had led up to
the final step In the discovery.
1t was late In the evening when
returned to our apartment and, not
finding Kennedy there, knew that |
would discover him at the laboratory.
Craig" I cried as / burst in on
him. I've got case for you-greater
than any ever before"
Kennedy looked up calmly from the
ruck Of scientific instruments that sur
rounded him-test tubes, beakers,
carefully labeled bottles.
"Indeed?" he remarked, coolly go
Ing back to his work.
YES" ! cried. 1T is a scientific
criminal who seems to leave no clues"
Kennedy looked up gravely. Every
criminal leaves q trace" he said quiet.
ly III It hasn't been found. then II
must be because no one has ever
looked for 1t In the right way"
Still gazing Ut me keenly. he added:
Yes. already knew there was such
. man at large. | have been called IN
on that Fletcher case-he was q trus-
tee Of the university, you know"
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-13


"The motive!" l queried.
Evidently his pockets had beer
gone through, though none OF the valu
ables were missing. Things on his
desk show that hasty search hal
been made"
Just then the door opened and Ben
nett burst in.
As he stood over the body. gazing
down at 1t. repressing the emotions Of
q strong man, he turned to Elaine, and
In q low voice exclaimed: "The
Clutched Hand did this. shall conse
crate my life to bring this man to Jus
tice!"
He spoke tensely, and Elaine, look
ing up into his face. as II imploring his
help in her hour Of need, unable tc
speak, merely grasped his hand.
Kennedy. who. in the meantime, had
stood apart from the rest OF us, was
examining the telephone carefully.
"A clever crook" heard him NUT
ter between his teeth "He must have
worn gloves. Not q finger print-ai
least here"
Perhaps can do no better than Il
reconstruct the crime az Kennedy
later pieced these startling events to
gether.
Long after ! had left and even afteI
Bennett left. Dodge continued working
IN his library. for he was known ~ {
prodigious worker.
Had he taken the trouble, however
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-07-15

Edison, at the latter's home in East
Orange, N, ].
1t was agreed by navy department
officials that Orville Wright and Hen
ry Ford unqUestiOnably viii be mem
bers Of the board if they viii accept,
as Wright has already signifed he
viii do. -.
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-07-15
lANIELS COMPLETING NAVAL
BOARD OF INVENTIONS

Washington, July IS eo'y Dan
iels' announcement of full personnel
Of new naval board of invention and
developments to follow shortly con-
ference he is scheduled to have with
the organizations head, Thomas A,
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-07-15
SCRDEEoOpUA

Thomas A. newly appointed head of the
Inventions Development photo
New York left right Admiral Fletcher Mrs. Daniels
= tary Navy Daniels and Thomas A. Edison.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
LIVE STOCK PRICES

The prices of meat administrators,
cattle, sheep and chickens-to pro-
ducers Of the United States on April
Is averaged about $3.50 per 100
pounds, which compares with $74O
a year ago, $735 two years ago, $3.50
three years ago, $3.50 four years ago,
and $774 five years ago.
Beef cattle and calves are lower
than one and two years ago but high
er than three years ago; hogs are low
err than any of the preceding three
years; sheep and lambs on the other
hand are ruling higher than any of
the preceding three years; and in this
connection it might be observed that
the average price of wool, unwashed,
on April Is was about 22.7 cents per
pound as compared with 1853 cents
a year ago, 1T cents two years ago,
17.3 cents three years ago, and 1877
cents four years ago. Horses rule
lower than any of the preceding three
years
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
BACK TO THE CLASSICS
By JAMES ONEAL

My suggestion regarding organIza.
ton is this: 1t should be the business
of every local to see that every new
member taken in receives three books,
1.-THE Communist Manifesto" Social
ism, Utopisn and Scientific" and "No
Compromise" Any worker who d.
gests these will want more. Further.
more, you will then have a party MEM
Der who will "stick," not one who
pays one months dues and then dis
appears,
Following this every speaker in the
state should carry these books and
should he find member who has not
read them there should be sale made
on the spot. You do not have to talk
to revolutionary Socialists about or.
ganization. These books make rev.
lutlonary Socialists. They are less
studied now than they were ten years
ago. Back to the classics if you want
better organization and a more &C.
tive membership.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
BIG THINGS ARE IN STORE

The w. S. has an important mis-
sion to fill. Her opportunities are
vast, but when the time comes she
must be prepared. So already Ye
Editor Shipley is planning big things
for the future. They are as follows:
1. Purchase of great printing
plant.
2. Establishment of a funny colyum.
The first proposition will be easily
disposed of; it will require merely the
connected cooperation of hatful of
the wealthy CONS. This should not
deter even financially embarrassed
CONS. from lending hand. The Sec
ond prop. presented a problem of al
most insurmountable difficulties. To
secure a com. with sufficient talent
to conduct such colyum was a tre-
mendous task. Ye Editor was FORUM
ate, however, in securing the services
of ourself, at substantial salary for
this job.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
100000 LEAFLETS FOR
BROOKLYN AGAINST WAR

Brooklyn Socialists have printed
100000 punchy little leaflets exhort
ing the people to stand against war
The leaflet is not long and is print
ed in big type, SO that "He who runs
may read" Here are some of its
striking phrases:
"War-what for?"
eve stand at the door OF the most
horrible war in history"
What for?"
"Who wants war;"
"a paid press that wants circula-
ton wants war"
Profits, military glory militarism,
want war"
Men and women of America, work
ers of the land, do you want war;"
mo; thousand times no."
Oppose war, no matter what the
excuse for war;
War against war is the real war"
Down with profits and war"
up with humanity, comradeship
and peace"
American workers, American men
and women, unite against war"
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
WHY PROSTITUTION
CANNOT BE DOWNED

The New York state factory investi-
eating commission reports that out of
10000 girls in the candy making,
shirt making and paper box making
industries over $4,000 get less than Sc
a week.
The wages of over 100000 men and
women in the department stores,
candy making, shirt making and paper
box making trades is SO week.
Eleven large department stores in
New York City employ an average
force of 27,264 workers. During the
course of one year 44,30S were added
and 41,S59 left or were dropped. In
other words one and one-half as many
people flowed through the stores as
are usually employed in them at one
time. What becomes of the 41,S59?
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
NEWS IN BRIEF
BROOKLYN SOCIALISTS
ACTIVELY OPPOSE WAR

War won't find the Brooklyn Social
lists mapping, At special general
meeting of the county organization in
the Brooklyn Labor Lyceum they act
ed on the following plans of action
in case the United States plunges
into war with Germany or Mexico.
l. Defined their attitude toward
war.
2. Adopted ways and means to
counteract 'jingoism"
3. Elected a war committee to
keep the party organization intact in
case war was declared and martial
law interfered with the present or.
ganization.
4. Adopted ways and means in ref.
erence to Intervention in Mexico.
The stand was unanimous against
war, a resolution being adopted con.
corning the Mexican and German
situation reading, 1--WE are unalter
ably opposed to war even If this coun
try should go to war"
The object Of the inter-local con
ference, Socialist committee cen
Trailing the anti-war sentiment was
approved and the county authorized
to support the conference.
In combating the present wal
mania, 1t was decided to have street
meetings in certain districts, the loca
branches consolidating their forces.
Charles A. Vanderporten presided
at the meeting. 1t was the largest
gathering of Socialist party members
in ten years, it was declared.
Candidates were nominated for the
county ticket. The elections take
place November 7.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
STORY FOR DR.. MANNING
AND HIS DISCIPLES
Something for a Rainy Day"

Her is true war story of a London
laborer's wife.
Mrs. - has three sons, one in the
army, and two at home, the latter
aged, respectively, 10 and years.
Her income is Is shillings a week from
her husband, two shillings sixpence
from the Soldiers association and the
same from the 13-year-old boy when
working and four shillings earned by
herself at shirt making, altogether "a
shillings or six dollars.
Bread, she says, is their heaviest
expense, since they use four loaves a
day, costing 1920 a week. Rent
comes to $1.25 altogether and mere
cost Of living leaves only a few pen
MES out of the weekly income. Meat
in the form of stew Is luxury for
the main food of the family. Her
story continues:
Il spend nothing on myself. |
don't remember when l had any new
clothes. l don't belong to any feather
clubs. I am too old for that I'm
forty. Some times the children run
errands and so get penny to spend
on the moving pictures. They like
the cowboy films. My husband works
very long and very hard, but allows
himself only three pence (six cents)
a day for outside meals He has nc
money to go anywhere, SO he goes to
bed. l have plenty Of work to do
don't know what business means. My
wedding ring went long time age
for bread, and now I wear a brass one
But the hardest thing to bear is when
lady visitor asks me why don't put
something away for rainy day"
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
OUR METHOD is BURLEsQUE

Upon assuming our new duties we
found our path bestrewn with un-
foreseen obstacles. The office had not
been swept for a month and there
were no shears in the place. Then
we were compelled to adopt a modus
operandi that would take well, which
we did after due deliberation In all
fairness credit for it should be given
to com. Proletaria Bill 1t was he who
demonstrated the effectiveness of the
editorial "burlesque" in annihilating
an enemy. So we determined to avail
ourself of the "burlesque" privilege
We did this for two reasons. In the
first place we will be able to throw
all the stones we like at CONS. with
whom we do not agree without fear
of having our chair pulled out from
under us. And in the second place
we consider it an effective means of
eliminating "the system" as a part of
our environment. We intend to laugh
it off the earth. In other words we
will 'burlesque" our way into the CO.
op. commonwealth.
The success of our efforts will, how
ever, depend upon the ability of the
CONS. to pull business away from
ASS. Press, etc, papers In this both
Ye Editor and ourself join in wishing
you luck.
We are yours for the Revolution,
w. G. r.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
PRIEST ASKS NATIONAL APP.
Preparation TO COMBAT
SOCIALISM

In Il recent issue OF the Sunday
Visitor" Rev. j. j. hereto, of Wood
stock college, has an article in which
he urges the national government tc
take strenuous measures to break the
grip that Socialism already has or
the nation.
AS a means to this end he advo
Gates, first that all Socialist papers
be excluded from the malls and, sec
ond, that congress should appropriate
not less than $2,4O0,000 annually tc
publish and circulate an anti-Socialis
magazine under the direction of one
Of the departments of government.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
THE USEFUL AGITATOR

Fortunately there are people in the
world who cannot keep still. Neglect
does not shut them off and abuse
merely stimulates them. If they are
advised by cautious, elderly persons
that their agitation is pernicious, they
reply that they cannot help it. "To
were echoed by all the abolitionists
that we ought not to agitate the
question of slavery, when it is that
which is forever agitating us, is like
telling a man with the fever and
ague on him to stop shaking and he
will be cured."-The New Republic.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
PEONAGE FOUND ON TEXAS
FARM; FIVE MEN FINED

While the commercial clubs of this
state are still protesting that Chair
man Frank Walsh, OF the industrial
commission, is liar when he says
that the tenant farmers of Texas are
in condition of serfdom, a party OF
prominent farmers plead guilty tc
peonage in the federal court at Sher
man, Texas.
The peonage case came from the
Eastman farm in Houston county
which comprises about 10000 acres
that are worked by 200 negroes who
are held in slavery just as effectually
as their forebears were before the
war.
The indictments are founded upon
the information Of an old negro nam
ed Bob Bats, who escaped from the
farm and walked to Tyler, Tex, a
distance Of more than 100 miles, to
appear before the federal grand jury.
He told the story of how he, and his
wife Mary, and their little boy Luther
attempted to escape, but his wife and
son were captured and taken back.
Further Investigations followed, which
revealed the most shocking servitude
uncovered in many years. Not even
John Kenneth Turner's stories of
Yucatan are more awful than the
stories of the negro poems of the
Eastman farm. The stories of the
whippings disclose unusual brutality.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17

AT the close of a Socialist lecture
in the state Of Oklahoma, an old ne.
gro rose to his feet and asked the lee
turer, What am 20 people goin' to do
TO- de nigger?" Nothing at ALL" said
the lecturer. 1--WE are only going to
pry the capitalist class off the negros
back, and let the negro do something
for himself" why, white man, dat
am all dat de niggar wants." exclaim
ed the negro