The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-05-04

AoU Aodssureu Jn9m Win Tue SlSu OA
the Clutching Hand, and the revolvers
were lowered.
AS they parleyed hastily. the
roughneck and the fake chauffeur
lifted Elaine out of the taxi. She was
bound and gagged.
''Well, now we've got her, what shall
we do with herr" asked one.
TITS got to be quick. There's an
other cab" put in the driver.
1.-THE deuce with that"
"The deuce with nothing" he re-
turned. THAT fellow Kennedy's
clever one. He may come to. If he
does, he won't miss us Quick. nowi'
"See," cried the third. See that old
boiler down there at the edge of tho
water? Why not put her in thereY
No onell ever think to look in such
place"
With hasty expression Of approval.
the roughneck picked Elaine up bodily,
still struggling vainly, and together
they carried her, bound and gagged
to the tank The opening, which was
toward the water, was small. but they
managed, roughly, to thrust her in.
A moment later and they had rolled
up huge bowlder against the small
entrance, bracing it SO that it would
be impossible for her to get out from
the inside. Then they drove of hast
lily.
EroptfcaJIx Tlo,na n.noood -
loosen the gag. She screamed. Her
voice seemed to be bound around by
the iron walls as she was herself She
shuddered The water was rising
had reached her chest, and was still
rising, slowly, inexorably.
What was that2 Silence? Or was
someone outside?
y
Coolly, in spite of the emergency.
Kennedy took In the perilous situa-
ton.
The lower end of the boiler, which
was on a slant on the rapidly shelving
beach. was now completely under wa
ter and impossible to get at Besides.
the opening was small, too small
Kennedy gazed about frantically
and his eye caught the sign on the
factory:
..s.s......... ......
: oxYACETYLENE WELDING co.
s..... ........'.....
"Come, Walter" he cried, running
up the shore.
A moment later, breathless, we
reached the doorway. 1t was, of
course, locked. Kennedy whipped out
his revolver and several well-directed
shots through the keyhole smashed
the lock. We put our shoulders to 1t
and swung the door open. entering
the factory.
Beside work bench stood two long
cylinders, studded with bolts.
"That's what I'm looking for" ex-
claimed Craig. Here, Walter. take
| one. I'll take the other-and the
tubes-and-'
We ran, for there was no time to
lose. AS nearly as could estimate it.
] the water must now be slowly closing
over Elaine.
! What is it," l asked, as he Joined
up the tubes from the tanks to the
peculiar hooklike apparatus he car
: ried.
J IAN oxyacetylene biowpipe," he NUT
/ tered back feverishly. Used for weld
ing and cutting, too" ne added.
With a light he touched the nozzle,
instantly a kissing, binding fame,
needle made the steel under it mean
descent. The terrific heat from, one
nozzle made the steel glow. The
; stream of oxygen from the second
completely consumed the hot metal.
/ Kennedy was actually cutting out a
huge hole in the still exposed surface
Of the tank-all around. except for a
few inches, to prevent the heavy
piece from falling inward
AS Kennedy carefully bent outward
the section of the tank which he had
cut, he quickly reached down and
lifted Elaine. unconscious, out of the
water
Gently he laid her on the sand. II
was the work Of only a moment to cut
the cords that bound her hands.
There she lay. pale and still. Was
/. she dead?
Kennedy worked frantically to re-
/ vive her.
/ At last, slowly, the color seemed to
return to her pale lips. Her eyelids
! fiuttered. Then her great, deep eyes
opened.
AS she looked up and caught sight
of Craig bending anxiously over her,
she seemed to comprehend. For mo-
ment both were silent. Then Elaine
reached up and took his hand.
Craig" she whispered, you
you've saved my life!"
Her tone was eloquent.
Elaine" he whispered, still gazing
down into her wonderful eyes. "the
Clutching Hand shall pay for thisl II
! is fight to finish between us!"
(, (TO BE CONTINUED)
Motion pictures of the Exploits Of
Elaine are shown at the Mount Holly
Theatre every Monday night