The Springdale news., 1915-04-02


 Is that you, Craig?" she asked ex- citedly.
 No this is MT. Jameson"
 Oh, MT. Jameson, I've discovered the Clutching Hand papers, she be- gan. more and more excited.
 Have you read them?" came back the voice quickly.
 No; shall I?"
 Then don't unseal them" cautioned the voice. Put them back exactly as You found them and I'll tell MT Ken nedy the moment I can get hold of him :
 All right" said Elaine. "I'l1 do that And please get him as soon as you possibly can II will.
 I'm going out shopping now she returned, suddenly. "But, tell him I'll be right baek-right away"
 Very we'll"
 Hanging up the receiver. Elaine dutifully replaced the papers in the box and returned the box to its secret hiding place. pressing the spring and sliding the panel shut.
 A few minutes later she left the house in the Dodge car.
 Outside our laboratory, leaning up against railing, Dan the Dude. an emissary of the Glutching Hand, whose dress now greatly belied his under world .monniker," had been shadow ing us, watching to see when we left.
 The moment we disappeared, he raised his hand carefully above his head and made the sign of the Clutch ing Hand. Far down the street. in elo sed car. the Clutching Hand him. self. his face masked. gave an an swering sign.
 moment later he left the car, gag ing about stealthily Not a soul was in sight and he managed to make his way to the door of our laboratory without being observed.
 Probably he thought that the pa- pers might be al the laboratory. for he had repeatedly failed to locate them at the Dodge house. At any rate he was busily engaged in ransaeking drawers and cabinets. in the labora- tory when the telephone suddenly rang
 An instant he hesitated. Then dis guising his voice as much as he could to initiate mine, he took up the re- eeiver
 Hello," he answered.
 His face was a study in all that was dark as he realized that it was Elaine calling. He clenched his crook ed hand even more viciously.
 Have you read them?" he asked, curbing his impatienee as she unsus pectingly poured forth her story, SUD- possedly to me.
 Then don't unseal them he has, tened to reply. Put them back Then there can be no question about them You can open them before wit nesses."
 For moment he paused, then add ed. Put them back, and tell no one of their discovery. will tell MT. Kennedy the moment l can get him.
 Clutching Hand studied for a mo- ment and then grabbed the telephone again
 Hello. Dan,' he called when he got his number Miss Dodge is going shopping I want you and the other Falsers to follow her-delay her all you can. Use your own judgment
 It was what had come to be known in his organization as the Brother hood of Falsers" There, in the back room of a low dive, were Dan the Dude, the emissary who had been loi- man, Dago Mike. couple of women slatterns. one known as Kitty the Hawk and boy of eight or ten, whom they called Billy.
 All right, Chief shouted back Dan. their leader, as he hung up the telephone after noting carefully the hasty instructions. We'll do it- trust us"
 With alacrity the Brotherhood went their separate ways.
 EIalle udu uot Dcen soHe lOis iIOli the house when Craig and I arrived there.
 Too bad" greeted Jennings, but Miss Elaine has just gone shopping and don't know when she'll be back
 Aunt Josephine greeted us cordially, and Craig set down the vocaphone package he was carrying.
 I'm not going to let anything hap pen here to Miss Elaine again if 1 can help it." remarked Craig in a low tone. a moment later, gazing about the library.
 What are you thinking of doing?" asked Aunt Josephine keenly.
 I'm going to put in vocaphone," he returned, unwrapping it.
 Whats that?" she asked
 "A loud speaking ephone-con- nected with my laboratory he ex- plained, repeating what he had al- ready told me, while she listened al- most awe-struck at the latest scientific