Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-28
'''E xploitsgEIaine

peculiar noise in the laboratory itseli
disturbed him. and he hastily thrust tbs
asbestos-platinum shield into his pocket
Though we had not realized It. our re.
turn had been anticipated
Suddenly. from a closet projected q
magazine gun, and before we could move
the Clutchlng Hand himself slowly ap.
peared behind us.
All" he exclaimed with mock polite
ness, so you thought you'd fool me. die
you? Well"
Just then two other crooks, who had
let themselves In by the skeleton key
through the basement, jumped into the
room through that door covering US.
We started to our feet. but in an in
slant found ourselves sprawling on the
floor
In the cabinet beneath the laboratory
tai BILE, another crook had been hidden, and
he tackled us with all the skill of an
old foot ball player, against whom we
had no defense.
Four OF them were upon US instantly.
At the same time Thomas, the faith
less valet Of Bennett, had been dispatched
by Clutchlng Hand to commander his
masters roadster in his absence, and,
carrying out the instructions, he had
driven up before Elaine's house at the
very moment when she was going out fol-
a walk.
Thomas jumped out Of the car and
touched bis hat deferentially.
"A message from Mr. Bennett. ma'am. -
he explained Mr.. Kennedy and Mr.
Bennett have sent me to ask you to come
over to the laboratory"
Unsuspecting, Elaine stepped into he
car and drove off.
instead, however, OF turning and pull
ing up on the laboratory side of the
street. Thomas stopped opposite It He
got out and Elaine. thinking that per-
maps II was to save time that he had not
turned the car around, followed
But when the valet instead Of crossing
the street, then went up to a door of a
house and rang the bell, she began to
suspect that all was not as it should be
What are you going there for,
Thomas?' she asked. There's the labor
atory there"
But. Miss Dodge" he apologized. Mr..
Kennedy and Mr.. Bennett are here. They
told me they'd be here"
The door was opened quickly by a look
out Of the Clutching Hand, and the valet
asked If Craig and Elaine's lawyer were
in. OF course the lookout replied that
they were and before Elaine knew 1t
she was jostled into the dark hallway
and the door was banged shut
Resistance was useless now, and she
was hurled along until another door was
opened.
There she saw LeCroix and the other
crooks.
And. as the door slammed. she caught
sight Of the fearsome Clutching Hand
himself
She drew back, but was too fright
ened even to scream,
With a harsh. cruel laugh the super
criminal beckoned to her to follow him
and look down through a small trap
door.
Unable now to resist she did so.
There she saw LeCroix and the other
had told the truth. Kennedy was stand
ing in deep thought, while I sat on an
old box smoking a cigaret-very miser-
able.
Was this to be this sole outcome of
Kennedy's clever ruse. was wondering.
Were we only to be shipwrecked In sight
of port7
As the various Intellectual schemes for
escape surged through my head hap
pened to look up and caught a glance of
horror on Cralg's face. followed his
eyes. There. above us. was Elaine!
saw her look from US to tho Clutch
ing Hand in terror. But none OF us ut
tered a word.
II will now show you, my dear young