The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-18
edition of the Star. and quickly ran my ..
over the headline:
THE C[UTCH|NG
HAND WINS
AGAIN.
NEW Y0RK'S MYSTERIOUS
MASTER CRIMINAL PER-
FECTS ANOTHER COUP.
City Police Completely BaffIed.

Here's this murder of Fletcher, the retired
banker and trustee OF the university" he
explained. Not clue-except a warning
letter signed with this mysterious clutching
hst Last week 1t was the robbery ef the
Haxworth jewels and the killing of old Hax-
wort'-' Again the curious sign Of the hand.
Then there was the dastardly attempt on
Sherburne. the steel magnate. Not a trace
of the assailant. except this same clutching
fist. So 1t has gone. Jameson--the most
alarming and inexplcable series of murders
that has ever happened In this country. and
nothing but this uneanny hand to trace them
by"
The editor raused ;loment, and then ex-
claimed: why, this fellow seems to take a.
diabolical-I might almost say pathological
pleasure in crimes of violence, reve re.
avarice and self-protecton. Sometimes 1t
seems as IL he delights in the pure deviltry
OF the thing. 1t is weird"
He leaned over and spoke in, a low tense
tone ''strangest OF all, the tip has just como
to us that Fletcher, Haxworth. Sherburne
and all the rest OF these wealthy men were
insured in the Consolidated Mutual Life.
now Jameson, want you to find Taylor
Dodge the president. and interview him.
Get what you at any cost"
I had naturally thought first of Kennedy.
put there was no time now to call him up
and. besides. I must Dodge Immediately
dodge, 1 discovered over the telephone,
was not at home. nor at any OF the clubs to
which he belonged. Late though it was, I
concluded that he was at his office. No
amount of persuasion could get me past the
door, and, though I found out later, and
snail tell soon what was going on there,
deterWined, about o'clock, that the best
way to get at Dodge was to go to his house
on Fifth avenue, IL I had to camp on his
front doorstep until morning The harder I
found the stor. to get the more I wanted It,
with some misgivings about being ad-
mitted, I rang the bell OF the splendid,
though not very modern, Dodge residence.
An English butler, with a nose that must
have been his fortune, opened the door and
gravely informed me that Me Dodge was
not at home, but was expected at any mo-
ment.
Once in, 1 was not going lightly to give
up that advantage. 1 bethought myself of
his daughter, Elaine. one of the most pom
ular debutantes of the season, and sent in
my card to her, on chance of interesting r
her and seeing her father. writing on the
bottom of the card, Would like to interview
Mr. Dodge regarding Clutching Hand"
summoning up what assurance I had. which
10 sometimes considerable, followed thu
butler down the hall he bore my card
AS he opened the door of the drawing room
caught vision of a slip Of a girl in eve
ming clothes.
Elaine Dodge was both the ingenue and
tho thlete-the thoroughly modern type Of
giri-equally at home tn tennis and tango,
table talk and tea. vivacious eyes that
hinted at a stunning amber brown sparkled
beneath masses of the most wonderful au-
ourn hair Her pearly teeth, when she smiled,
were marvellous And she smiled often, for
iite to her seemed a continuous Aim of en-
5oyment.
Near her I recognized from his pictures
Harry Eennett. the rising young corporation
lawyer mighty good looking fellow with
an anaole, pleasing way about him, perhaps
thirty-hve years old or so. but already prom
inent' and quite friendly with Dodge
Who Is 1t, Jennings?" she asked
"A reporter. Miss Dodge" answered the
butler, glaeing superciliously back at me.
And you know how your father dislikes to
see any one here at the house,"fhe added
deferentially to her.
1 took in the situation at a glance Ben
nett was trying not to look discourteous. but