The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-17

end?"
Well" Elaine laughed, a little nerv-
ously, now that it was all over, II
want you all to go to bed and stop
worrying about me. Don't you see
self? Besides, there isn't chance
now of the burglar coming back. Why,
l shot him."
YES" put in Aunt Josephine, "but
Elaine laughingly interrupted her
and playfully made as though she
were driving them out of her room.
RUSTY" she called. Down, there!"
The intelligent collie seemed to un-
derstand. He lay down by the door
way, his nose close to the bottom of
the door, and his ears alert.
Finally Elaine, too, retired again.
Meanwhile the wounded man was
being hurried to one of the hangouts of
the mysterious Clutching Hand.
The car containing the wounded
Pitts Slim" drew up, and the other
two men leaped out of it. With hur-
rfed glance about they unlocked the
front door with a pass key and en-
tered, carrying the man.
Indoors was another emissary of the
Clutching Hand, a rather studious-
looking chap.
why, what's the matter?" he ex-
claimed as the crooks entered his room
supporting their half-fainting, wounded
pal.
slim got a couple of pills." they
painted as they laid him on couch.
"How?" demanded the other.
Trying to get into the Dodge house.
Elaine did it."
Slim was, quite evidently. badly
wounded and was bleeding profusely
A glance at him was enough for the
misunderstanding chap. He went to a
secret panel and, pressing it down,
took out what was apparently secret
house telephone.
In another part of this mysterious
house was the secret room of the
Clutching Hand himself, where he hid
his identity from even his most trust
ed followers
His telephone rang and he took
down the receiver.
pitts Sims been wounded, badly
chief" was all he waited to hear.
With scarcely a word he hung up
the receiver, then opened a table
drawer and took out a full face mask
Next he went to a nearby bookcase
pressed another secret spring, and q
panel opened. He passed through, the
mask adjusted
Across, in the larger outside study
another panel opened, and the Clutch
ing Hand, all crouched up, trans
formed, appeared. Without a word he
advanced to the couch on which the
wounded crook lay, and examined him
How did it happen?" he asked al
length
Miss Dodge shot him." answered
the others. with an automatic"
That Craig Kennedy must have
| given it to herr" he exclaimed with
, suppressed fury.
For a moment the Clutching Hand
stopped to consider. Then he seized
the regular telephone.
Doctor Martini" he asked, as he go
the number he called.
Late as it was, the doctor, who wa:
4
the country, answered from an ex
: tension of his telephone near his bed
The call was urgent, and apparently
: from a family which he did not fee
that he could neglect
Doctor Martin was a middle-ageC
man, one of those medical men OF
whose judgment one instinctively re
lies
1t was only matter of minutes be
I fore the doctor was speeding over the
now deserted suburban roads, appar
emily on an errand of mercy
AT the address that had beer
! given him he drew up to the side o.
/ the road, got out and ran up the stepl
to the door. A ring at the bel
brought sleepy man to the door, il
his trousers and nightshirt.
''How's the patient?' asked Doctor
Martin, eagerly.
Patient" repeated the man, rub
bling his eyes. There's no one sicl
kere."
Slowly it dawned on the doctor tina
it was a false alarm, and that h
must be the victim of some practica
joke.
We'll, that's a great note, b.
growled. as the man shut the door
He descended the steps, mutterinl
harsh language at some unknown
trickster. AS he climbed back int,
his machine and made ready to star
two men seemed to rise before hin
as If from nowhere.
AS a matter of fact they had bee
sent there by the Clutching Hand, an
were hiding in nearby cellarway III
til their chance came.
One man stood on the runnin
board, on either side of him, and tw
guns yawned menacingly at him.
Drive ahead that wayl" muttere
one man, seating himself in the ruI
about with his gun close to the dot
tors ribs.
The other kept his place on the ruI
ming board, and on they drove in til
direction Of the mysterious, dar
house. Half mile, perhaps, dow
the-road, they halted and left the ca
beside the walk.
{ Doctor Martin was too surprised t
marvel at anything now, and he rea
lied that he was in the power of tw
desperate men. Quickly they blin'
folded him.