Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-03-06

From the other side Martin, fol.
lowed by the police and the detec.
tives, burst in.
FIRE." cried one of the policemen,
leaping back to turn in an alarm from
the special apparatus upstairs.
All except Martin began beating out
the flames, using such weapons as
they already held in their hands to
batter down the door
To Martin there was one thing para.
mount-the jewels.
In the midst of the confusion, Elaine,
closely followed by her friend, Susie,
made her way fearlessly into the stifle
of smoke down the stairs.
There are your jewels, Mr.. Martin"
cried Kennedy, kicking the precious
burlap bag with his foot as If it had
been so much ordinary merchandise,
and turning toward what was in his
mind the most important thing at
istake-the direction taken by the
agents of the Clutching Hand.
Thank heaven!" calculated Martin
fairly bouncing on the bag and tearing
1T open. "They didn't get away with
them-after all" he exclaimed, exam
lining the contents with satisfaction.
Events we're moving rapidly.
LaA cfa NJ n.
nocently enough at the curb near the
corner with the taxicab close be-
hind it,
Less than ten minutes after they
had entered, three well-dressed men
came out of the vacant shop, appar'
emily from the tailor's above, and
climbed leisurely into their car.
AS the last one entered, he half
turned to the taxicab driver, hiding
from passers-by the sign Of the Clutch
ing Hand, which the taxicab driver re,
turned in the same manner. Then the
big car whirled up the avenue
All this we learned later from a
street sweeper who was at work near
by,
Down below, while the police and
detectives were putting out the fire.
Kennedy was examining the wall OF
the cellar, looking for the spot where
the crooks had escaped.
"a secret door," he exclaimed, as
he paused after tapping along the wal
to determine its character. You car
see how the force of the explosion has
loosened it."
Sure enough, when he pointed it out
to us, 1t was plainly visible. One Of
the detectives picked up crowbar and
others, still with the hastily selected
implements they had seized to fight
the fire, started in to pry it open.
AS it yielded Kennedy rushed his
way through; Elaine, always utterly
fearless, followed. Then the rest o.
us went through.
There seemed to be nothing, how
ever, that would help us in the cellar
next door, and Kennedy mounted the
steps of stairway in the rear.
The stairway led to a sort of store
room, full of barrels and boxes, bu
otherwise characterless. When / ar
rived Kennedy was gingerly holding
up the smocks which the crooks hat
worn.
Were on the right trail" comment
ed Elaine as he showed them to her
but where do you suppose the own
ers are?"
Craig shrugged his shoulders anC
gave a quick look about "Evidentl!
they came in from and went away by
the street." he observed, hurrying t.
the door, followed by Elaine.
On the sidewalk he gazed UP the
avenue, then catching sight of thu
street cleaner, called to him.
eyes, sor," replied the man, stolidly
looking up from his work. 81 see three
gintlemen come out and get into al
automobile"
(Which way did they go?" asked
Kennedy
For answer the man jerked hi
thumb over his shoulder in the genera
direction uptown.
With keen glance, Kennedy strained
his eyes. Far up the avenue he coulC
descry the car threading its way il
and on. among the others, just abou
disappearing.
A moment later Craig caught sigh
of the vacant taxicab and orooked hi
finger at the driver, who answered
promptly by crsnking his engine.
"You saw that limousine standing
here?' asked Craig.
eyes" nodded the chauffeur, with
show of alertness.
"Well, follow 1t" ordered Kennedy
jumping into the cab.
Eyes, sir"
Craig was just about to close tn
door when a slight figure flashed pas
us and dainty foot was placed on tn
step.
please, Mr.. Kennedy" pleade'
Elaine, let me go. They may lead t
my fathers slayer"
She said it so earnestly that Graf
could scarcely have resisted If he ha,
- do