Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-07

The fellow grabbed for Rusty. Rusty
was too quick He jumped. Around tho
room they ran. Rusty saw the wide
open window-and his chance Out he
went and disappeared, leaving the man
oursins him
A moments argument followed then
they wrapped Elaine in the blankets
alone, stil bound and gagged, and car
ried her out
was waiting, gazing now and then at his
watch. and then at the wounded man be-
fore him In chair his first assistant
sat, watching Dr. Martin.
A knock at the door caused them 20
turn their heads. The crook opened It.
and In walked the other crooks who had
carried off Elaine In the suit Of armor.
Elaine was now almost conscious, as
they sat her down in chair, and partly
loosed her bonds and gag. She gazsd
about. frightened
''oh, help, help" she screamed. as she
caught sight of the now familiar mask
of the Ciutching Hand.
Call all you want-here, young lady"
he laughed unnaturally. mo one can
hear. These walls are eoundproof.
Elaine shrank back.
Now, doc" he added harshly TO Dr.
Martin. 1T was she who shot him Her
blood must save him"
Dr. Martin recoiled at the thought of
torturins the beautiful young girl before
him.
"Are--you willing-to have your blood
transfused?' he parleyed
moi no! mol" she cried in horror.
DR.. Martin turned to the desperate
criminal. II cannot do It,"
The duece you can't"
A cold steel revolver pressed down on
Or. Martins stomach. In the other hand
the master crook held his watch.
You have Just one minute 10 make up
your mind.
Dr. Martin shrank back. The revolver
followed. The pressure Of a fly's foot
meant eternity for him.
'T-rli tryr'
The other crooks next carried Elaine.
struggling. and threw her down beside
the wounded man. Together they ar
ranged another couch beside him.
DIR. Martin, still covered by the gun.
bent over the two, the hardened criminal
and the delicate, beautiful girl. Clutch
ing Hand glared fiendishly, insanely.
From his bag he took a little piece of
something that shone like oliver. It was
in the form OF a minute, hollow cylinder.
with two grooves on II. a cylinder so tiny
that II would scarcely have slipped over
the point of pencil.
"A cannula," he explained, as he pre-
pared to make an incision In Elaine's
arm and in the arm of the wounded
rogue.
He cuffed it over the severed end OF the
artery so cleverly that the inner Innings
OF the vein and artery, the endothelium,
as 1t is called, we're in complete contact
with each other.
Ciutching Hand watched eagerly, as
though he had found some new, scien-
tific engine of death in the little hollow
cylinder.
4. moment and the blood that was,
perhaps, to save the life OF the wounded
felon, was coursing into his veins from
Elaine,
moment later, DR.. Martin looked up
at the Clutching Hand and nodded, well
it's workingI"
At Elaines head, Cfutchink Hand, him
self. was administering Just enough ether
to keep her under and prevent a struggle
that would wreck all. The wounded mar
had not been anaesthetized ana seemed
teebly conscious of what was being done
to save him.
All were now bending over the two.
| DR.. Martin bent closest over Elaine. He
looked at her anxiously, felt. her pulse
watched her breathing. then pursed up
his lips.
This is-dangerous." he ventured. eaz-
ing askance at the grim Ciutching Hand
cant help It," came back laeonically
and relentlessly.
The doctor shuddered.
The man was veFitahls vampire.
| -
Outside the deserted house. Kennedy
and l We're looking helplessly about.
suddenly Kennerdy dashed back and
reappeared a minute later with a coupIe
Of pieces Of armor. He held them dowr
to Rusty and the dog shifted at them.
But Rusty stood still.
| Kennedy pointed 10 the ground.
Nothing doing. In leading us wher,
he had been before. Rusty had reached
the end Of canine ability.
Everything we could do 10 make Rust,
understand that we wanted him to follow
a tran was unaYailing. He simply coult
not do It. Kennedy coaxed ana scoIded
Rusty merely sat up on his hind legs an,
begged with those irresistible brown ewes
You can't make a bloodhound OUT q
a COLLIE" despaired Craig. looking abou
again helplessly.
Then he reached into HIS rocket an,
pulled out police whistle. He blew
three sharp blasts.
Wauid it bring help?
While we were thus desnairine. the con.
tinned absence OF Dr. Martin from bom,
had alarmed his family and had set n
motion another train Of events.
When he did not return, and eould M
be located at the place to which he vs..
supposed to have gone, several polics,
men had been summoned to his house
ana they had. come. finally, with res
ploodhounds from a suburban station.
There were the tracks OF his car. Tha
| Jones, Helen LAyfnson FNintoa Ny.I-