Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-07
The Exploits of Elaine

the police themselves could follow, while
two men came along holding in leash
the pack. leaders of which were Search
light" and Bob"
1t had not been long before the party
came across the deserted runabout be-
side the road There they had stopped
for a moment
II was Just then that they heard Ken
nedy's call. and one OF them had been
detailed TO answer IT.
well. what do you WANT" asked the
officer. cycling Kennedy susplolously,- as
he stood there with tho Armor. What's
them pieces OF tin--hey9"
Kennedy quickly flashed his own spe-
(, cial badge. II want to trail a girl" he
exclaimed hurrledly. Can find a blood
hound about hereg''
"A hound7 Why we have paek--over
there"
Bring then-auick." ordered Craig.
| The policeman, who was an intelligent
fellow, saw at once that. as Kennedy
said, the two trails crossed He shouted
and IN a few seconds the others, with
the pack, came
A brief parley resulted in our joining
forces
Kennedy held the armor down to the
dogs. ''searchlight" gave low whine,
then, followed by Bob and the others,
was off, all with noses close to the
ground. We followed,
The armOr was, after all, the missiRE
link
Through the woods and fields the dogs
led us,
Would we be In time to rescue Eiainee
In the mysterious haunt Of the Clutch
ing Hand, all were still standing around
Elaine and the wounded Pitts slim,
Just then q cry from enc OF the group
startled the rest. One OF them. less harA.
ened than the Clutohing Hand had turned
away from tho sight had gone to the
window. and had been attracted by some.
thing outside.
'Lookl" he cried.
From the absolute stiffness Of death,
there was now wild excitement among
the crooks,
'Policel policel" they shouted to each
other as they fled by doorway to :.
secret passage.
Cntching Hand turned to his first as
sistant.
fou 80, 100, ne ordered.
sse
The dogs had led us TO a strange look
ing house, and were now baying ana leap
ing up against the door. We did not stop
to knock, but began to break through, for
inside We could hear family sounds OF
excitement and cries of ''Poglcei polioei'
The door yielded and we rushed into a
long hallway. UP the passage we went
until we came to another door.
An instant and we were all against Il,
1t was stout, but II shook before us. The
panels began TO yield.
sss
On the other side of that door from us,
the master crook stood for a moment. DR.,
Martin hesitated, not knowing quite what
to do
Just then the wounded Pitts slim lifted
his hand feebly. He seemed vaguely 10
understand that the game was up He
touched ths Clutohing Hand,
'You did your best, chief" he muir
INJURED thickiy. Beat It. II you can. I'm
goner, anyway"
Cutching Hand hesitated by tha
wounded crook. This was the loyalty of
sangiand. worthy q better cause. He
could not bring himself TO desert his
pal He was undecided. stili.
But there was the door huiging and
panel bursting.
He moved over 10 a panel In the wall
and pushed a spring, II slid open and
he stepped through. Then 1t closed-not
second too soon.
Back I'm his private room he quickly
| stepped to a curtained iron door. Pushing
back the curtains he went through Il and
disappeared, the curtains falling back.
At the end Of the paasageway, he
stopped. in a sort OF grotto or cave. AS
he came out, he looked back. All was
stu. No one was about. He was safe
here, at least
OFF came the mask and he turned
down the road. a few rods distant beyond
some bushes. a. little concerned about
the wild happenings as any other pass
er-by might have been,
| AT the very moment when we burst
In, DR.. Martin. seeing his chance. stopped
the blood TRANSMISSION, working franticalIy
to stay the flow Of blood.
Kennedy eprang to Elaine's side. hor-
rifted by the blood that had spattered
over everything,
With a mighty effort he checked a
blow that he had aimed at DIR. Martin,
as It flashed over him that the surgeon,
now free again. was doing his best TO
save the terribly imperilled life Of Elaine.
Just then the police burst through the
secret panel and rushed on. leaving us
alone, with the unconscious. scarcely
breathing Elaine.
From the sounds we could tell that they
had come to the private room OF the
clutching Hand. It was empty ana they
were nonplussed.
| mot window" called one
What are those eurtainsT'
They pulled them back, disclosing an
iron door. They tried II. but II was
bolted on the other side. Blows had no
effect They had TO give II up for the
instant.
A policeman now stood beside Elaine,
and the wounded burglar who was NUT
tertpg deliriouAly 20 himself
He was pretty far gone. as the police
man kneit down and tried to get state.
! meat out of him