The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-07-23

Locket. 'Hsrs-thesS eess . whole
days tips"
He handed Jens . DOLLAR - small
change.
Still grumpy. but moIlified - the
silver. Jens let them 90 up aad opened
the door to our rooms again. Theirs
stood the cabinet. ~ outwardly inno.
cent A. whom II came In.
Juggling and tueging they managed
to get the heavy piece Of furniture out
and downstairs again. loading II Cd
the wagon. Then they drove on WITH
1t. accompanied by a parting volley
from Jensen.
In IN unfrequented street, perhaps
half q mile away. the wagon stopped
With 4 keen glance around. the driver
and his helper made sure that no one
was about
Such a shaking up as you've givea
mel" growled a voice as the cabinet
door orened. But I've got him this
| time!"
II was the Clutching Hand
Craig gazed into our living room cas-
tiously
Il can't see anything wrong" he said
to m as ! stood just beside lim Miss
Dodge" he added. will you and the
rest excuse me II ask you to wait
just moment longer?"
Elaine watched him, fascinated He
crossed the room then went into each
Of our other rooms. Apparently moth
Ing was wrong and minute later be
reappeared at the doorway. NJ
Il guess it's all right" he said. Per
haps 1t was only Jensen. the janltor."
Elaine, Aunt Josephine and Susie
Martin entered. Craig placed chairs
for them. but still | could see that he
was uneasy. From time to time, whils
they were admiring one OF our treas
ures after another. he glanced about
suspciously.
What is the trouble do you think"
asked Elaine wonderingly noticing
his manner
II can't Just say" answered Craig.
tryin. to appear easy.
She had risen and with keen inter-
est was looking at the books, the pic
lures, the queer collection of weapons
and odds and ends from the under
world that Craig had amasses ir his
adventures
At last her eye wandered across the
room. She caught sight OF her own
picture. occupying a place of honor
but hanging askew.
Isn't that just like a mani" she ex-
claimed. Such housekeepers as you
are-sLCh carelessness!"
She had taken a stop or two across
the room to straighten the picture.
Miss Dodge." almost shouted Ken
nedy. his face fairly blanched. Stop"
She turned. her stunning eyes filled
with amazement at his suddenness.
Nevertheless she moved quickly to one
side, as he waved his arms. unable to
speak quickly enough.
Kennedy stood quite still. casing 1t
the picture. askew. with suspicion.
That wasn't that way when we left,
was 1t. Walter?" he asked.
ut certainly was not" answered
positively. There was more time
spent In getting that picture just
right than | ever saw you spend on the
room"
Craig frowned.
AS for myself did not know what
to make Of It.
I'm afraid | shall have to ask you
to step into this back ROOM" said Craix
at length to the ladies. I'm sorry
but we can't be too careful with this
Intruder. whoever he was"
Elaine, however. stopped at the door.
For moment Kennedy appeared to
be considering. Then his eye fell on
a fishing rod that stood ia a corner.
He took it and moved toward the pio-
lure
On his hands and knees, to one
side, down as close as he could get to
he floor. with the rod extended At
arms length, he motioned to me to do
he same. behind him.
Carefully Kennedy reached out with
he pole and Strengthened the picture.
AS he did 80 there was q flash, q
oud, deafening report. and a great
'uff Of smoke from the fireplace.
The fire screen was riddled and over
urned charge of buckshot shat
cred the precious photograph OF
elaine.
We had dropped nat on The door at
he report. looked about Kennedy
vas unframed and 30 were the rest
With bound he was at the fire.
'lace. followed by Elaine and the rest
Il US There. in what remained OF a
'ackage done up roughly In newspa-
'er, was shotgun with Its barrel
awed OF about six inches from the
ock. fastened to block OF wood, and
onnected to series OF springs ON
he trigger, released by little electro
magnetic arrangement actuated By
wo batteries and leading by wires up
long the molding to the picture where
ne slightest touch would complete the
ircuit.
startled cry from Elaine caused us
} turn.
Gha Uo OF I'm