The Elbert County tribune., 1915-04-09

q deep, loud voice.
Help, Help! Murder. Poiicsl
They are strangiing me-
The effect was terrthc.
Ciutching Hand and Dan, hardened 4
in crime as they were, fell back.
dazed overcome for the moment at
the startling effect
They looked about. Not soul.
Then. to their utter consternation'
from the helmet again came the deep
vibrant warning.
Help, Murder! Police'
Kennedy and 1 had been listening
over the vocaphone. for the moment
nonplused at the fellows daring.
Then we heard from the uncanny
instrument: For Heavens sake,
Chief, hurry. The Falsers have fallen
down. The girl herself is coming
What 1t meant we did not know. But
Craig was almost beside himself, as
he ordered me to get the police oy tel
ephone. If there was any way to block
them. Only instant action would count.
however What to do?
We could hear the master Grim
inal plainly fumbling now.
Yes. that's the Clutching hand. he
repeated
Wait" I cautioned, someone else
is comingi"
BY a sort of instinct he seemed to
recognize thei sounds.
"Elaine,' he exclaimed. paling.
Instantly followed, in less than
can tell 1t. the sounds of a suppressed
shuttle.
He has seized her-gagged her,"
l cried In an agony OF suspense.
We could now hear everything that
was gotns on in the library. Craig
was wildly excited. AS for me. / was
speechless Here was the vocaphone
we had Installed. 1t had warned us
But what could we do?
| hooked blankly at Kennedy. He
WIN equal TO the emergency.
He calmly turned the switch.
Then. at the top of his lungs he
shouted: Help. Help, Police. They
ane strangiing mel"
| loBked at him in amazement. What
did hs think he could do-blocks
away?
TT works both ways" ne muttered.
'Hblpi Murderl Police!"
We ouuid hear the astonished ours
ing of thB two men. Also, down the
hall. now, we could hear footsteps ap-
rroHui1itrg in answer to his call for
heip-Aunt Josephine. Jennings, Marie
and others, all shouting out that there
were cries in the library.
The deuce, What is it," muttered
q gruff .voiee.
The man in armorn' hissed Clutch
fns Hand.
Here they come, too, Chief"
There was a parting scuffle.
"There-take that"
"A loud metallic ringing came from
the vocaphone.
Then silence,
What had happened7
In the library, recovering from their
crock of surprise, Dan cried out to
the Clutching Hand. THE deuce,
What Is IT,
Then looking about Clutching
Hand quickly took in the situation.
The man in armori" he pointed
out
Dan was almost dead with fright
at the weird thing.
Here they come, too, Chief" he
gasped. as. down the hall he could
hear the family shouting out that
someone was in the library.
With parting thrust. Clutchins
Hand sent Elaine reeling.
She held on to only corner of the
papers He had the greater part of
them. They were torn and DESTROYED.
anyway.
Finally. with all the venomousness
of which he was capable. Ciutchins
Hand rushed at the armor suit. drew
back his gloved fist, and let it shoot
out sauarely in vicious solar plexus
blow
"There-take that!" he roared
The suit ratified furiously. Out OF
1t spilled the vocaphone, with bang
on the floor.
An instant later those in the hall
rushed in But the Clutching Hand
and Dan were gone out of the win.
dow, the criminal carrying the greater
part of the precious papers.
Some ran to Elaine, others to the
window. The ladder had been kicked
away. and the criminals were gone.
Leaping into the waiting car, they had
been whisked away.
Hello! Hello! Hello," called a
voice, apparently from nowhere.
What is that?" cried Elaine.
She had risen by this time, and was
gazing about, wondering at the strange
voice. Suddenly her eye fell on the
armor scattered all over the floor.
She spied the little oak box.
-Elainei'
Apparently the voice came from
that. Besides 1t had familiar ring
to her ears.
"Yes-Craigl" she cried.