The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-24

Must be something wrong with the
ignition, guess" he replied.
Kennedy looked the car over hastily.
T can't see anything wrong" he
frowned.
well, there is" growled the driver.
Precious minutes were speeding
away as they argued. Finally with his
characteristic energy, Kennedy put the
taxicab driver aside.
Let me try it." he said. Miss
Dodge, will you arrange that spark
and throttle?"
Elaine. equal to anything. did so, and
Craig bent down and cranked the en-
CINE. 1t started ON the first spin.
"See;" he exclaimed. There wasn't
anything, after ALL"
He took a step toward the taxicab.
"Mr. Kennedy-look out!" cried
Elaine.
Craig turned. But it was too late.
The rough-looking fellow had awak-
ened to life. Suddenly he stepped up
behind Kennedy with a blackjack. AS
the heavy weight descended Craig
crumpled up on the ground uncon-
scious.
With a scream, Elaine turned and
started to run. But the chauffeur
seized her arm.
Say, bo," he asked of the rough fell
low, what does Clutching Hand want
with her? Quick! There's another
cab 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, in
dicating the road.
And away they sped, leaving Ken
nedy unconscious on the side of the
road. where we found him.
what are we to dog" 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 a bit,
where it was somewhat muddy.
(which way-which way?" he NUT
tered to himself.
1 thought perhaps the blow had at
fected him and leaned over to see
what he was doing. Instead, he was
studying the marks made by the tire
of the Clutching Hand cab.
More slowly now and carefully, we
proceeded. for a mistake meant losing
the trail of Elaine.
We came to another crossroads and
the driver glanced at Craig. "Stop!'
he ordered.
L. y T.
the dirt, examining the road for marks
THAT way!" he indicated, leapinl
back to the running board.
We piled back into the car and pro
ceeded under Kennedy's direction, al
fast as he would permit. So it con
tinued, perhaps for a couple of hours.
At last Kennedy. stopped the cal
and slowly directed the driver to wee
into an open space that looked partic
ulariy lonesome. Near it stood one
story brick factory building, closed
but not abandoned.
AS looked about at the unattrac
tive scene. Kennedy already was dow
on his knees In the dirt again, study
ing the tire tracks. They were al
confused. showing that the taxical
we were following had evidentl,
backed In and turned several time
before going on.
Crossed by another set of tir'
tracks," he exclaimed excitedly
studying closer. THAT must hav
been the limousine. waiting"
Laboriously he was following tn
course Of the cars in the open space
when one word escaped him. Fool
prints!"
He was up and on in moment, be
fore we could imagine what he wa
after. We had got out of the cal
and followed him as. down to tn
very shore OF a sort of cove or bay
he went. There lay a rusty. discard
ed boiler on the beach, half sui
, merged in the rising tide. At thi
tank the footprints seemed to g
right down the sand and into tn
waves, which were slowly obliteratin
, them. Kennedy gazed out as II
make out possible boat on the hor
zon where the cove widened out
"Look!" cried.
Further down the shore, a few fee
I had discovered the same prints, g
ing in the opposite direction, back t
; ward the place from which he ha
just come. / started to follow then
but soon found myself alone. Ke
nedy had paused beside the old boile
What is IT." asked. retracing m
I steps.
+ He did not answer. but seemed to
listening. We listened also. rher
= certainly was a most peculiar nols