Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-17


that could be construed as intelligence.
II Craig had only been able TO see. he
would have found out that with his back
toward the tsxicab driver, the hobo held
ont hand behind him and made the sign
of the Clutching Hand glancing surropti-
tiously at the driver to cstch tho answer
ing Sign. while Craig ga1ed earnestly up
the two roads.
At last Crag gave him up as hopeless
"NNell--go ahead-that way" he indicated.
picking the most likely road.
AZ the chauffeur was about to start he
stalled his engine
Hurry" Urged Craig. exasperated at
the delays.
The driver got out and tried to crank
the engine. Again and again he turned
II over. but somehow it refused TO start
Then he lifted the hood and began TO
tinker
What's the natter" asked Craig. i'm
patiently jumping out and bending over
the engine, too.
The driver shrugged his shoulders.
Must be something wrong with the igni-
ton. I guess" he replied.
Kennedy looked the car over hastily.
~ can't see anything wrong he frowned
well, there is" growled the driver.
Precious minutes. were speeding away as
they argued. Finally with his character
istic energy. Kennedy put the taxlcab
driver aside.
Let me try it." he said. Miss Dodge,
will YOU arrange that spark and throttleT'
Elaine. equal to anything did 50, and
Craig bent down and cranked the engine.
-. -, 49, f{ret eniu
"see!" he exclaimed. There wasn't
anything. after all"
lie took n step toward the taNicah.
Z SAY objected the driver. hastily, In
torposing himself between Craig, and the
wheel which he seemed disposed to take
now. whose running this boat. anyhow
Surprised. Kennedy tried to shoulder the
fellow out Of the way. The driver resisted
sullenly.
.,NIr Kennedy-look OUT" cried Elaine.
Craig turned But It was too late. The
rough-looking fellow had awakened to
life. Suddenly he stopped up behind Ken
nedy with a blackjack. AS the heavy
weight descended Craig crumpled IN ON
the ground unconscious
With a scream. Elaine turned and
started TO flee. But the chauffeur seized
her arm.
"sny bo." he asked OF the rough fell
low. what does Clutching Hand want
with her? Quick! There's another Gao
likely TO be along in moment with that
fellow Jameson in It"
The rough fellow, with an oath. seized
her and dragged her into the taxicab.
GO ahead" he growled, indicating the
road
And away they sped. leaving Kennedy
unconscious on the side Of the road
where we found him.
"What are we to do?" l asked help
lessly of Kennedy. when We had at last
got him on his feet.
His head still ringing from the force Of
the blow of the blackjack. Craig stopped
down, then knelt In the dust OF the road.
then ran ahead bit, where It was
somewhat muddy.
(Which way--whlch way?" he muttered
to himself.
I thought perhaps the blow had affect
ed him and leaned over to see what he
was doing. Instead he was studying the
marks made by the tire OF the Clutch
ing Hand cab. Very decidedly. there in
the road, the little anti-slsid marks on
the tread of the tire showed--some worn,
some cut-but with each revolution the
same marks reappearing Enthusiastically.
More than that. 1t was an unusual make
of tire. Craig was actually studying the
finger prints, so to speak, OF an auto
mobile.
More slow now and carefully. we pro-
ceeded, for a mistake meant losing the
trail OF Elaine. Kennedy absolutely
refused to get inside our ca b, but chung
tightly to a metal rod outside while he
stood on the running board-now strain
ing his eyes along the road to catch any
faint glimpse of either taxi or limousine,
or the dust from them. now gazing IN
tently at the ground following the finger
prints OF the taxicab that was carrying
off Elaine. All pain was forgotten by
him now in the intensity of HIS anxiety
for her ~. .--.
We came to another crossroads and the
driver glanced at Craig stop" he
ordered
In another instant he was down in the
dirt, examining the rPad for marks.
THAT way!" he indicated, leaping back
to the running board.
We piled back into the car and pro
ceeded under Kennedy's direction as fast
! as he would permit So It continued, per
hAps for couple OF hours.
At last Kennedy stopped the cab and
slowly directed the driver 10 veer into an
open space that looked peculiarly lone
some. Near II stood one-story brick
factory building. closed but not aban-
doned.
As looked about az the unattractive
scene, Kennedy already was down on his
knees in the dirt again, studying the tirt