Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-06-18

to the bell which I will leave here.
When it rings, raid the house. Jane
son will lead you to 1t. Come, Wal
ter" he added. picking up the bags.
Ten minutes later, outside the new
headquarters, crouched-up figure,
carrying small package, his face
hidden under his soft hat and up
turned collar could have been seen
Sinking along until he came to the
steps.
He went up and peered through the
aperture of the doorway. Then he
rang the bell. Twice he raised his
hand and clenched it in the now IA
miliar clutch.
A crook inside saw it through the
aperture and opened the door. The
| figure entered and almost before the
door was shut tied the masking hand
kerchief over his face, which hid his
identity from even the most trusted
lieutenants. The crook bowed to the
chief, who, with growl as though of
recognition, moved down the hall.
AS he came to the room from which
Slim had been sent on his mission,
the same group was seated in the
thick tobacco smoke.
"You fellows clear out" he growled.
81 want to be alone"
"The old man is peeved," muttered
one, outside, as they left.
The weird figure gazed about the
room to be sure that he was alone.
When Craig and left the police he
had given me most minute instruc-
tions which l was now following out
to the letter.
Il want you to hide there" he said,
indicating a barrel back of the house
next to the hangout when you see a
wire come down from the headquar-
ters, take 1t and carry it across the
lot to the old house. Attach it to the
bell; then wait. When it rings, raid
the Clutching Hand joint"
waited what seemed to be an in
terminable time back of the barrel
| iiebiiJs hO"CfSls ooW q WI VI INV
wire drop rapidly to the ground from
a window somewhere above. | made a
dash for it, as though l were trying to
rush the trenches, seized my prize
!, and, without looking back to see where
it came from. beat hasty retreat.
; Around the lot I skirted, until at
last | reached the place where the
police were waiting Quickly we
fastened the wire to the bell.
We waited.
Not sound from the bell
Up in the room in the joint the
hunched-up figure stood by the table
He had taken his hat off and placed II
, carefully on the table and was now
waiting.
Suddenly noise at the door startled
: him. He listened Then he backed
away from the door and drew revol
} yer.
AS the door slowly opened there en-
tered another figure, hat over his eyes
, collar up, a handkerchief over his
, face, the exact counterpart of the
, first!
For a moment each glared at tn,
A other.
Hands up!" shouted the first fig
ure, hoarsely, moving the gun ant
closing the door with his foot
The newcomer slowly raised hi
crooked hand over his head, as the blu
steel revolver gaped menacingly.
With a quick movement of the othe
hand the first sinister figure remove,
the handkerchief from his face an,
Strengthened up.
1t was Kennedy
Come over to the center of tn
ROOM" ordered Kennedy.
Clutching Hand obeyed, cycling hi
captor closely.
Now lay your weapons on the ta
ble.'
He tossed down a revolver.
The two still faced each other.
Take off that handkerchief"
1t was a tense moment. Slowl
Clutching Hand started to obey. The
he stopped. Kennedy was just abou
to thunder, go on" when the crimina
calmly remarked, you've got ME- al
right, Kennedy, but In twenty minute
Elaine Dodge will be dead!"
He said it with nonchalance tina
might have deceived anyone less az
tute than Kennedy, Suddenly Their
flashed over Craig the words: "THl
TRICK WILL BE PULLED OFF A.
THREE O'CLOCK"
There was no fake about that. Ker
nedy frowned menacingly. If b
n killed Clutching Hand, Elaine woul
Il die If he fought he must either xii
t or be killed. If he handed Clutchin
J. Hand over Elaine was lost. He locke
at his watch. 1t was twenty-five mir
|. utes of three.
It What do you mean-tell ms?" dc
l. manded Kennedy with forced calm.
Yesterday Mr.. Bennett bought
n wrist watch for Elaine" the Clutchin
n Hand said quietly. "They left it t
n be regulated. One Of my men bough