Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-06-18

Elaine Dodge been delivered?" he
asked the clerk
No." came back the reply, "the
watch Mr.. Bennett bought is still here
being regulated"
Kennedy hung up the receiver. He
was stunned.
The watch will cause her death at
three O'clock" said the Clutching
Hand Swear to leave here without
discovering my identity and will tell
you how. You can save her! In that
watch" he Kissed, 81 have set a poi
soned needle in a spring that will be
released and will plunge it into her
arm at exactly three o'clock. On the
needle is ricinus!"
Craig advanced, furious. AS he did
so Clutching Hand pointed calmly to
the clock 1t was twenty minutes of
three!
With a mental struggle Kennedy
controlled his loathing of the creature
before him.
"All right-but you'll hear from
me-sooner than you suspect" he
shouted, starting for the door.
Then he came back and lifted his
hat, hiding as much as possible the
selenium cell, letting the light fall
on it.
"Only Elaine's life has saved you"
With last threat he dashed out.
He hailed cab, returning from some
steamship wharves not far away.
"Quick!" he ordered, giving the
Dodge address on Fifth avenue.
Minute after minute the police and
waited. Was anything wrong?
Where was Craig?
just then a tremor grew into
tinkle, then came the strong burr of
the bell. Kennedy needed us.
With shout of encouragement to
the men dashed out and over to the
old house.
Meanwhile Clutching Hand himself
had approached the table to recover
his weapon and had noticed the queer
little selenium cell.
THE deuce!" he cried. He's
planned to get me anyhow"
Clutching Hand rushed to the door
then stopped short. Outside he could
hear the police and myself.
Clutching Hand slammed shut his
door and pulled down over it a heavy
wooden bar.
At the desk he paused and took out
a piece of cardboard. Then, with a
heavy black-marking pencil, he calmly
printed on it, while we battered at the
barricaded door, few short feet away
He laid the sign on the desk, then
on another piece of cardboard drew
crudely hand with the index finger
pointing. This he placed on chair,
indicating the desk.
Just as the swaying and bullying
door gave way, Clutching Hand gave
the desk pull. 1t opened up-his get
away.
He closed it with sardonic smile
in our direction, just as the door
crashed in.
We looked about. There was not
soul in the room, nothing but the sele-
mum cell, the chairs, the desk
Look" | CRIED catching sight of
the index finger. and going over to the
desk.
We rolled back the top. There on
the fiat top was sign:
Dear Blockheads:
Kennedy and couldn't wait.
Then came that mysterious sign of
the Clutching Hand.
We hunted over the rooms, but
could find nothing that showed clue.
Where was Clutching Hand? Where
was Kennedy?
In the next house Clutching Hand
had literally come out of an upright
piano into the room cores onding to
that he had left. Hastily he threw off
his handkerchief, SLOUGH hat, old coat
: and trousers. A neat striped pair of
trousers replaced the old, frayed and
baggy pair. A new shirt, then a sporty
vest and a frock coat followed.
AS he put the finishing touches on
he looked for all the world like a be-
whiskered foreigner.
At the door of the new headquarters,
few seconds later, | stood with the
l police.
mot a sign of him anywhere"
growled one Of the officers.
Elaine was sitting in the library
8 reading when Aunt Josephine turned
. to her.
What time is it, dear?" she asked.
Elaine glanced at her pretty new
: trinket.
Nearly three, Auntie-just a couple
of minutes" she said.
Just then there came the sound of
feet running madly down the hallway.
They jumped up, startled.
: Kennedy, his coat flying and hat
damned over his eyes, had almost
bowled over poor Jennings in his mad
race down the hail.
l WELL" demanded Elaine haughtily,
what's"
D Before she knew what was going on
I Craig hurried up to her and literally