The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-04
Elaine Dodge was inside!

It's tnree pduultS, 10 the spot uxeu ou
as a rendezvous. Later had come the
taxicab AS it hove into sight. the
three well-dressed crooks had drawn
revolvers. thinking perhaps the plan
for getting rid of Kennedy might pos
sibly have miscarried But the taxi.
cab driver and the rough-faced fellow
had reassured them with the sign OF
tbs Clutching Hand. and the revolvers
We're lowered
AS they parleyed hastily. the
roughneck and the fake chauffeur
lifted elaine out of the taxi She was
bound and gagged
We'll, now we've got her. what shall
we do with her?' asked one
It's got to be quick. There's an.
other cab," put in the driver.
THE deuce with that"
THE deuce with nothing" he re-
turned That fellow Kennedys a
clever one. He may come to. II he
does. he won't miss us Quick, now."
See" cried the third "See that old
boiler down there at the edge of the
water? Why not put her in there?
No one'll ever think to look in such
a 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 1t would
be impossible for her to get out from
the inside. Then they drove off hast
lily.
Frantically Elaine managed to
loosen the gag She screamed Her
voice seemed to be hound 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 that? Silence? Or was
someone outside?
Coolly, in spite of the emergency,
Kennedy took in the perilous situa'
tion.
The lower end of the boiler. which
was on 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:
.......................... .............. .....
: OXYACETYLENE WELDING co. !:
'''... ...'.........'
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 it
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" eT
claimed Craig. Here, Walter. take
one. III 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 closins
over Elaine.
What is it?" | asked, as he Joined
up the tubes from the tanks to the
peculiar hooklike apparatus he car
ried
"An oxyacetylene blowpipe," he NUT
tered back feverishly. Used for weld
ing and cutting, too" he added
With a light he touched the nozzle
instantly a hissing,~ binding lame
needle made the steel under it incan
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. Il;
was the work of only moment tc cut
| the cords that bound her hands
There she lay, pale and still. Was
| she dead?
Kennedy worked franticaly to re-
vive her.
At last. slowly, the color seemed to
return to her pale lips Her eyelids
| futtered Then her great, deep eyes
/ opened.
! AS she looked up and caught sight
of Craig bending anxiousiy 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 this! II
is fight to finish between us!"