Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-17
The Exploits of Elaine

tracks. They were all confused. showing
that the taNicab We were following had
evidently backed In and turned several
times before going on.
Crossed by another set Of tracks" he
exclaimed excitedly. studying closer.
THAT must have been the limousine.
waiting"
Laboriously he was following the course
OF the cars In the open space. when the
one word escaped him, Footprints
lie was up and off In moment before
we could imagine what no was after We
had got out OF the cab and followed him
as, down 20 the very shore or bay. he
went. There lay a rusty. discarded boiler
on tho beach. half submerged in the rising
4 tide. AZ this tank the footprints seemed
20 go right down the sand and into the
them. Kennedy gazed out as IL 10 make
out possible boat on tho horizon where
tho cove widened out.
Look" cried.
further down the shore. n few feet.
had discovered the same prints, going in
the opposite direction, back toward the
place from which he had Just come
started to follow them. but soon found
side tho old boiler.
What Is b?' 1 asked retraoing my
steps.
| He did not answer, but seemed Go be lis
tening, We listened also. There certainly
was q most peculiar noise inside that
tank.
| Was It a muffled scream?
| Kennedy reached down and picked up
rock, hitting the tank a resounding
blow. AS the echo died down, he listened
again
Yes. there was = sound--s scream per-
haps-a woman's voice faint, but unmis-
taxable.
looked at his face inQuirinsly with
out a word ] read in II the confirmation
OF the thought that had flashed into my
mind
Elaine Dodge was inside
First had come the limousine, with it's
three bandits. to the spot fixed on as a
rendezvous. Later had come the taxicab.
AS IL hove into sight, the three we'll
dressed crooks had drawn revolvers.
thinking perhaps the plan for getting rid
OF Kennedy might possibly have mis-
carried. But the taxicab driver and the
rough-faced fellow had treasured them
with the sign OF the Clutching Hand and
! the revolvers werc lowered
AS they parleyed hastily. the rough-neclS
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 herr" asked one,
ITS got to be quick There's another
cab" put in tho driver.
/ THE deuce with that"
Tho deuce with nothing" he returned.
THAT fellow Kennedys a clever one. He
may come TO. II he does, he won't miss
us. Quick, now!"
II wish I'd broken his skull" muttored
the rough-neck.
Wed better leave her somewhere
here" remarked one of the better dressed
three. II don't think the chief wants. us
to kill her--yet." he added, with an omi-
nous glance at Elaine, who. in spite of
threats, was not cowed, but was vainly
struggling at her bonds
well. where shall 1t be-" asked an
other.
They looked about
Sec" cried the third 'Jsee that old
boiler down there at the edge of the
water7 Why not put her In their? Nc
fone'h ever think TO look In such a place.
Down by the waters edge. where he
pointed, lay big boiler, such as is used
ON stationary engines. with its end lap
ped by the waves. With a hasty express
sion Of approval. the rough-neck picked
Elaine mp 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.
moment later and they had rolled
up q huge boulder against the small en-
trance. bracing it so that It would be
impossible for her TO get out from the
inside. Then they drove off hastily.
inside the old boiler lay Blaine, stu
bound and gagged. II she could only