The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-06-29

well, I've found the new headquar.
tiers all right-over on the West side. -
Kennedy picked up the selenium
cell and a long coil of fine wire,
which he placed in bag. Then he
took another bag already packed, and,
shifting them between us, we hurried
downtown.
Near the vacant lot, back of the
new headquarters, was an old broken
down house. Through the rear of It
we entered.
started back in establishment as
we entered and found eight or ten
policemen already there Kennedy
had ordered them to be ready for a
raid, and they had dropped in one at
time without attracting attention.
We'll, men," he greeted them. ct
see you found the place all right.
Now, in a little while jameson will
return with two wires. Attach them
to the bell which l will leave here
When it rings, raid the house. Jane
son will lead you to it. Come, Wal.
ter" he added, picking up the bags.
Ten minutes later, outside the new
headquarters, crouched-up figure,
carrying a small package, his face
hidden under his soft hat and up
turned. collar, could have been seen
Sinking along until he came to the
steps.
He went up and peered through the
aperture Of the doorway. Then he
rang the bell. Twice he raised his
hand and clenched 1t in the now IA.
miliar clutch.
crook inside saw 1t through the
aperture and opened the door. The
figure entered and almost before the
door was shut tied the masking hand
kerchief over his face, which hid his
identity from even the most trusted
lieutenants. The crook bowed to the
chief, who, with growl as though OF
recognition, moved down the hall.
AS he came to the room from which
Slim had been sent on his mission
the same group was seated in the
thick tobacco smoke.
you fellows clear out" he growled
Il want to be alone"
"The old man is peeved," muttered
one, outside, as they left.
The weird figure gazed about the
room to be sure that he was alone.
When Craig and l left the police he
had given me most minute instruc.
lions which l was now following out
to the letter
Il want you to hide there" he said
indicating a barrel back of the house
next to the hangout. when you see a
wire come down from the headquar.
ters, take it and carry it across the
lot to the old house. Attach it to the
bell; then walt. When 1t rings, raid
the Clutching Hand Joint"
I waited what seemed to be an in
terminable time back of the barrel
Finally, however, saw a coil of fine
wire drop rapidly to the ground from
a window somewhere above l made G
dash for it, as though l were trying tc
rush the trenches, seized my prize
and, without looking back to see where
1t came from, beat hasty retreat
Around the lot l skirted, until al
last l reached the place where the
police were waiting. Quickly we
fastened the wire to the bell.
We waited
Not sound from the bell.
Up in the room in the Joint the
hunched-up figure stood by the table
He had taken his hat off and placed II
carefully on the table and was now
waiting.
Suddenly noise at the door startled
him. He listened. Then he backed
away from the door and drew revol
yer.
AS the door slowly opened there en-
tered another figure, hat over his eyes
collar up, a handkerchief over his
face, the exact counterpart of the
firstl
For moment each glared at the
other.
Hands upI" shouted the first fig
ure. hoarsely, moving the gun and
closing the door with his foot.
The newcomer slowly raised his
crooked hand over his head, as the blue
steel revolver gaped menacingly.
With quick movement of the other
hand the first sinister figure removed
the handkerchief from his face and
Strengthened up.
1t was Kennedy!
Come over to the center of the
ROOM" ordered Kennedy.
Clutching Hand obeyed, cycling his
captor closely.
Nov lay your weapons on the Ia
ble."
He tossed down a revolver.
The two still faced each other.
Take off that handkerchief"
1t was a tense moment Slowly
Clutching Hand started to obey Then
he stopped. Kennedy was just about
to thunder, go on" when the criminal
calmly remarked, You've got ME- all
right, Kennedy, but in twenty minutes
Elaine Dodge will be dead!"
He said it with a nonchalance that
might have deceived anyone less as
tute than Kennedy. Suddenly there
flashed over Craig the words: "THE
TRICK WILL BE PULLED OFF AT
THREE O'CLOCKr
There was no fake about that. Ken
nedy frowned menacingly. If he
killed Clutching Hand, Elaine would
die. If he fought be must either kill
or be killed. If he handed Clutching