davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19

ing It on her. "take this-keep it
near yout"
The noises ceased at length, as
strangely as they had begun.
Half an hour later they had all gone
back to bed and were asleep. But
Elaine's sleep now was fitful, a con-
slant procession of faces fitting be-
fore her closed eyes.
Suddenly she woke with a start and
stared into the semi-darkness. Was
that face real, or a dream face? Was
it the hideous helmeted face that had
dragged her down into the sewer
once? That man was dead. Who was
this?
She gazed at the bedroom window,
holding the huge revolver tightly.
There, vague in the night light, APP
peared a figure. Surely that was no
dream face of the oxygen helmet. Be
sides, it was not the same helmet.
She sat bold upright and fired point
blank at the window, shivering the
glass. A second later she had leaped
from the bed, switched on the lights
and was running to the sill.
Downstairs Aunt Tabby and Uncle
Joshua had heard the shot. Joshua
was now wide awake.
''Wh-what was it," he asked, puff
ing at the exertion of running up
stairs.
81 saw-a face-at the window
with some kind of thing over iti'
gasped Elaine 1T was like one l saw
once before"
Uncle Joshua did not wait to hear
any more. He ran out of the room
and into the garden beneath Elaine's
window.
He looked about for signs of an in
truder. There was not sound.
He happened to look down at the
ground Before hin>was small box.
He picked it up. Here's something,
though" he said.
Joshua went back to the house.
whats in ft?' asked Elaine IS he
rejoined the woman.
She took the curious little box and
unfastened the cover. AS she opened
it she drew back. There in the box
was little ivory figure of man,
all hunched up and shrunken, hid
eous figure.
1t was the afternoon following the
day of our strange discovery of the
fireplace done in sympathetic ink on
the apparently blank sheet of paper
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19

with parting word of instruction
from WI, who remained In the car.
The Chinaman carried with him the
heavy bag with the oxygen helmet.
Long Sin hurried down the road
until he came to a trolley pole, then
he looked hastily at his watch. 1t
vas twenty minutes at least before
the next car would pass.
Quickly, almost monkeylike, he
climbed up the pole. carrying with him
tie end of wire which he had taken
from the bag.
Having thrown this over the feed
wire, he slid quickly to the ground
cain, then, carrying the other end
# the wire in his rubber-gloved hand
through the underbrush until he came
to a passageway in the rough and un-
cleared hillside-a small opening
formed by the rocks.
1t was dark inside, but he did not
hesitate to enter, carrying the wire
AID the bag with him.
So
It was nightfall before we arrived
with Elaine at Aunt Tabby's.
Kennedy lost no time in examining
tie fireplace.
At one point in the drawing pc
culiar protuberance was marked. KEN
nedy was evidently hunting for that.
He found 1t at last and pressed the
sort of lever. A small section at the
side of the fireplace opened up, dis.
closing an iron ladder leading down
into one of those Characteristic hiding
places in which the Clutching Hand
used to delight.
Lets go down and explore it,
suggested, taking q step toward the
ladder.
Kennedy reached out and pulled me
back. Then without word he pressed
the little lever and the door closed.
Il think we'd better wait while
Walter" he declared. II would rather
hear Aunt Tabby's haunts myself"
We were sitting about the room
when suddenly the most weird and un
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19
in the interest Of educationaI work.

DR.. E. B. Barnes went to OwingsviIle,
Thursday to preach the c. w. B. M. SER
mon at the Christian church.
Miss Hopkins of PineviIIe. who is taking
course at the Normal School was the
guest of Mrs. Alex Denny "Wednesday.
Miss George Walton. of Richmond Ky.
visited Misses Manette and Virginia Pey-
ton, at Newly. KY. the past week.
Miss leila Rice came home from Lex
ington on Fsiday accompanied by Misses
Thomas and Mckee, two of her classmates
from Hamilton.
Mr.. Hart Perry went to Louisville Tues
day to attend the Commencement of the
Louisville School of Pharmacy and to be
presented with his diploma.
Preston Cox and little daughter. of
near Richmond. have returned home after
pleasant visit to the formers parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. J. c, Cox Enterprise
Miss Dorcas Francis returned from Jack
son, KY, where she has for several years
been teaching In the high school. She
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19

Kennedy said nothing for a moment
Then he seized his hat and coat.
IF you don't mind he said, well
go back there with you.
WI Fang, the Chinese master mind.
had arrived in New York.
Besides WI, the inscrutable Long
Sin, astute though he was. was a
mere pigmy-his slave. his advance
agent, as 1t were.
New York did not know of the ar
rival of WI Fang. the mysterious. yet.
But down in the secret recesses of
Chinatown, in the ways that are devil
Gus and dark, the oriental crooks
knew and trembled.
Thus it happened that Long Sin was
not permitted to enjoy even the fore
taste of BENEFITS spoils which he
had forced from him after his weird
transformation into his real self, the
Clutching Hand, when the Chinaman
had given him the poisoned draft that
had put him into his long sleep.
He had obtained the paper showing
where the treasure amassed by the
Clutching Hand was hidden, but WI
Fang(his master. had come.
The night following his arrival, WI
Fang was reclining on divan, when
his servant announced that Long Sin
was at the door.
Have you brought the map with
your" asked WI.
Long Sin bowed low again, and drew
from under his coat the paper which
he had obtained from Bennett. For
a moment the two. master and slave
in guile, bent over, closely studying it.
At one point of the map Long Sins
bony finger paused over a note which
Bennett had made:
Beware of poisoned gas upon open.
ing compartment"
"And you think you can trace II
out?" asked WI.
Without doubt" bowed Long Sin,
He went over to bag near by,
which he had already sent up by an.
other servant, and opened it. Inside
was an oxygen helmet. He replaced
it, after showing it to WI.
with the aid of the science of the
white devil" purred Long Sin subtly
Outside, WI had already ordered a
car to wait, and together the two
drove off rapidly. Into the country
they sped, until at last they came tc
a lonely turn in lonely road.
Long Sin alighted and disappeared
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19

in Benefits effects, when the speak
ing tube sounded and 1 answered it.
''Why-it's Elaine l exclaimed.
Kennedy's face showed the keenest
pleasure at the unexpected visit.
Tell heg to come right up he said
quickly.
1 opened the door for her.
'Why-Elaine-I'm awfully glad to
see you," he greeted, but l thought
you were rusticating"
81 was, but, Craig, it seems to me
that wherever 1 go something hap
pens," she returned You know, Aunt
Tabby said there were haunts.
thought it was an old woman's fear
but last night heard the strangest
noises out there, and 1 thought / saw
face at the Window face in a he'll
met. And when Joshua went out, this
is what he found on the ground under
my window"
She handed Kennedy a box, a pc
culiar affair which she touched ginger
ly, and only with signs of the greatest
aversion.
Kennedy opened it. There in the
bottom of the box was a curious lit
tie ivory devil-god. He looked at it
curiously moment.
"Let me see," he ruminated, still
regarding the sign. 1.-THE house you
bought for Aunt Tabby once belonged
to Bennett, didn't ito"
Elaine nodded her head. yes. but
I don't see what that can have to do
with it," she agreed, adding with a
shudder Bennett is dead"
Kennedy had taken piece of pa
per- from the desk where he had put
it away carefully. Have you ever
seen anything that looks like this?'
he asked, handing her the paper.
Elaine looked at the plan carefully
as Kennedy and l scanned her face
She glanced up. her expression show
ing plainly the wonder she felt.
why, yes she answered. THAT
looks like Aunt Tabby's fireplace IN
the living room"
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19
Fifteenth EPISODE
THE SERPENT SIGN.

Rescued by Kennedy at last from
the terrible incubus of Benefits per
secution in his double life of lawyer
and master criminal, Elaine had, for
the first time in many weeks, feel
ing of security.
Now that the strain was off, how
ever, she felt that she needed rest and
a chance to recover herself, and it had
occurred to her that a few quiet days
with Aunt" Tabitha, who had been
her nurse when she was a little girl,
would do her a world of good.
She had sent for Aunt Tabby, yet
the fascination of the experiences
through which she had Just gone still
hung over her. She could not resist
thinking and reading about them as
she sat one morning with the faithful
Rusty in the conservatory of the
Dodge house.
had told the story at length in the
Star. and the heading over it had
caught her eye.
1t read:
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19
SYNOPSIS.

The New York police are mystified by a
series OF murders and other crimes. The
principal clue to the criminal is the warn
Ing letter which is sent the victims. signed
with a "clutching hand" The latest vic
tim of the mysterious assassin is Taylor
Dodge, the insurance president. His
daughter, Elaine, employs Craig Ken
needy. the famous scientific detective. to
try to unravel the mystery. What Ken
nedy acoomplshes is told by his friend
Jameson, a newspaper man. Enraged at
the determined effort which Elaine and
Craig Kennedy are making to put an end
to his crimes the Clutchtng Hand. as this
strange criminal is known, resorts to all
sorts of the most diabolical schemes to
put them out of the way. Each chapter
of the story tells of new plot against
their lives and of the way the great de-
tective uses all his skill to save this pref
ty girl and himself from death.
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19

Mrs. j. w. Hamilton returned Tuesday
night from avisit to friends in Nicholas
vile.
Mrs. DR.. Almon of Lancaster, was the
guest of Mrs. Hattie Buchanan on Mon
day
Mr. Preston Smith spent several days in
Louisville with his sister. Mrs. Van Wrinkle
last week.
Dr.. D. Clay Lilly. of Nashville, Tenn,
has been the recent guest Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Grant E. Lily.
Miss Jeanette Pates had as her week
eud guests, Misses Williams and Wilson
OF Hamilton College
Mrs. W. caperton, and daughter,
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19
will return to Jackson in September.

will return to Jackson in September.
Miss George Walton. of Richmond. Ky.
and Misses Manette and Virginia Peyton
of Newly, Ky, spent from Tuesday until
Wednesday with Mrs. S. C. Ross at
Kirksville.
Mrs NJ. c. Kellogg was appointed dele
gate and Mrs. Robert Burnam alternate to
the Biennial of National Music Clubs
which meets in Los Angeles June "a till
July Bird.
Miss Lillian Maupin. who has been
teaching at Valley view for the past three
months has just closed her school with
large attendance She will leach the fall
school at the same place.
Nh. J. c. Miller, of Richmond, will ar
rive tomorrow to be guest of Miss Mary
Rassenfoss Mrs. Homer Kiser and chill
dren returned from visit to relatives in
Richmond Miss Jennie Howard is at
home from a visit to her father Mr.. Vim.
Howard, in Richmond Bourbon News
Additional Personals on Page 3
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19

- AS Elaine glanced down the column
Jennings announced that Aunt Tabby,
as she loved to call her old friend,
had arrived and was now in the IL
brary with Aunt Josephine.
With an exclamation of delight
Elaine dropped the paper and, fol-
lowed by Rusty, almost ran into the
library.
"Oh, I'm SO glad to-see you" half
laughed Elaine, as she literally flung
herself into her nurses arms. 81 feel
SO unstrung-and 1 thought that If
could just run off for few days with
you and Joshua in the country, where
no one would know, 1t might make me
feel better. You have always been so
good to me. Marie! Are my things
packed? Very we'll; then get my
wraps"
Her maid left the room.
'Bless your SOUL" mothered Aunt
Tabby, stroking her soft, golden hair,
I'm always glad to have you in that
fine house you bought me. And, faith,
Miss Elaine, the house is a splendid
place to rest in, but 1 don't know
what's the matter with 1t lately.
Joshua says it's haunts."
"Haunts?" repeated Elaine in
amused surprise. why, what do you
mean?"
Marie entered with the wraps before
Aunt Tabby could reply, and Jennings
followed with the baggage.
Nonsense" continued Elaine gayly,
as she put on her coat and turned to
bid Aunt Josephine goodbye.
Elaine went out, followed by Rusty
and Jennings with the luggage.
Now for a long ride in the good
fresh air." sighed Elaine. as she
leaned back on the cushions of the
Dodge limousine and patted Rusty,
while the butler slowed away the
bags
The air certainly did, If anything,
heighten the beauty of Elaine, and at
last they arrived at Aunt Tabby's,
tired and hungry.
The car stopped and Elaine, Aunt
Tabby and the dog got out. There,
waiting for them, was Uncle" Joshua,
as Elaine playfully called him, for
mer gardener of the Dodges, now a
plain, honest countryman on whom
the city was fast encroaching; jolly
old fellow, unframed by the world.
Aunt Tabby's was an attractive,
small house, not many miles from
New York, yet not in the general line
OF suburban travel.
Kennedy and had decided to bring
Benefits papers and documents over
to the laboratory to examine them
We were now engaged in going over
the great mass of material which he
had collected in the hope of finding
some clue TO the stolen millions
which he must have amassed as a re
suit of his villainy. The table was
stacked high.
Aknock at the door told us that the
expressman had arrived and mo
ment later he entered, delivering a
heavy box. Kennedy signed for II
and started to unpack it.
! was hard at work when came
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19
Personal
Phone 6ss or CSC for all personal items

All communications to this Office in
tended for publication, must be signed
other wise they go TO the waste basket.
The name is not for publication. but
is evidence of good faith.
Mrs. Joe Boggs had as her guest, Mrs.
Layton. of Cincinnati.
Mrs. Bell Reid. of Pueblo. CAL, has been
the guest of Mrs. Harvey Chenault
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20
Charlton Vaccination.

To the Live Stock Owners of the
State:
Past experience has taught that
best results are obtained when
animals are vaccinated against
Charlton early in the Spring go az
to allow about 80 days in which to
secure protection before the sea.
son approaches when charbon in.
lection usually develops.
The State Live Stock Sanitary
Board strongly urges, therefore.
that, in those sections OF the State
in which charbon infection has
been known to EXIT in previous
years, vaccination of animals
should be commenced not later
than March list: That is. the fret
dose, of a double dose vaccine,
should be given at that time.
If stock owners will give this
matter their careful atteption, il
will increase the number OF pro.
tected animals at the beginning
of the Charlton season, and ma.
terially limit the spread of the
disease, should the coming season
prove favorable to the develop.
mint of charbon infection.
). LoU1 lana STATE LIVE STOCK
SANITARY BOARD. =.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

The closed season on all game
birds, game animals, and the trap.
ping of fur-bearing animals went
into effect on Tuesday last. the
10Th met. It ia now unlawful to
shoot or trap wild geese, brant.
ducks, grosbess, rails, (marsh
hens or mudhens), coots, (poules
d'eau) fallinules, snipe, woodcock
(cherooks aud papabottes). tat.
iers, curlews, plovers. quail. dovss,
wild turkey, etc. OF the game
animals, squirrels and deer are
now under the protection OF the
closed season, and it is unlawful
to trap otter, mink, muskrat,
racoon. skunk, beaver and fox.
There are a number of "outlaw"
birds in the state that may be
killed at any time. They are tur'
kew. buzzard. black vulturee. or
carton crows; duck hawks. Coop
er haws, and crows and Grow.
blackbirds or grackles when des-
tructive to crops, and kingdshers
when. nesting in levees,
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20
Meeting at Franklin in Interest d
Agriculture.

Speakers from the Extension
Department of the La. State Uni
versity addressed the farmers OF
st. Mary parish here on last
Tuesday on diversified farming
and stock raising. A good num-
Der were present to hear them and
to profit by their instruction. Mr..
r. w. Kiser, beef cattle specialist,
spoke on beef cattle. Mr.. John A.
Redhead, in charge of demonstra-
ton corn clubs, in the State, spoke
on corn growing in the South. Mr..
A. F. Rolf, poultry specialist.
spoke on raising poultry and it's
possibilities in the South. Mr.. G..
E. Neson spoke on the way to
prevent hog cholera and the use
of hog cholera serum.
The addresses of each of the
above speakers was listened to
with marked attention, and the
mastery of the subjects they
handled, the clear, convincing and
sensible information and advice
they gave, convinced the farmers
and others who heard them that
the theory they urged, if accepted
and reduced to honest practice,
will .solve the next agricultural
problem to the satisfaction and
the prosperity of the Louisiana
farmer.
Let this plan of education and
of cane and scientific farming
continue-let it be accepted and
worked out faithfully by the
farmer.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

On Tuesday morning last Mr..
A. S. Kleinpeter died mt his home
10 Patterson. He had been acct.
dentally wounded while hunting
short time before his death. His
wound was not considered danger
Gus, but he came out before his
wound was sufficiently healed and
q few days ago pneumonia de.
velop9d which bsffled the skill of
his attending physicians. Mr..
Kleinpeter was a native OF East
Baton Rouge parish, but most Of
his life was spent in Patterson.
At the time of his death he was
the cashier of the Citizens State
and Savings Bank, at Patterson.
He was a business man of fine
ability and was universally popu.
lar. He leaves q widow, his
mother and TWO sisters to mourn
his loss. To them the Banner cx-
tends its tenderest az rnpathy.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

The district court of Caddo par.
ish has decided the case of R. N.
Sims vs.. w. L. Young, State
bank examiner. Judge Bell de-
cided that Young's term of Office
had expired; but he also decided
that Governor Hail had no right
% appoint his successor during
RECESS of the Senate, on the
grounds that the Governor can
only appoint with, the. consent OF
the Senate. So, for the present,
Mr.. Young holds on to the Office
and the Governor has received
another set back.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

A candy kitchen has been es-
tablished in the rooms in the rear
OF 'he Misses Como's store on
Main street. The kitchen is
beautifully arranged and very at
tractive. Every Saturday even
ing from 8 o'clock until 6 o'clock
homemade candy of all kinds
will be made and sold there. The
proceeds of the kitchen are for the
benefit of the Ladies Auxiliary
Society of the Episcopal Church.
The idea of this enterprise origi-
mated with Misses Jessie Smith
and Marion Short, and is carried
on under their management.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

Az We understand 1t. the Frisco
Railroad, for the privilege OF pass:
ING through Third street. entered
into an agreement with the author.
lies of Franklin to keep said
street In a fr-t.cias. condition.
We sugge-t that this railroad IL
not living up to its contract: The
street is getting into bad con-
ditiou-a number of bad holes in
It make travelling thereon un'
pleasant, if not dangerous. W.
suggest that our town autnori.ies
cali upon the Frisco railroad to
i've up to it's contract.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20
STATE OF LOUISIANA.
23rd judicial District Court-PAr.
ish Of st. Mary. 49,. 80.
Succession of Charles Parker,
deceased. No. 3567:.

Notice is hereby given to the credit.
ors of this estate and TO all other per-
sons herein interested to show cause
within ten days from the date of this
notification, why the 6nal account pre-
scented by Cyrus ". Walker.
administrators of. this estate should
not be approved and homoio-
gated and the funds distributed In &C.
cordance Herewith. - =: ).
In evidence whereof, witness nv ofh-
cial signature and the Impress of the
sea- If my Office this 18th day of Feb.
ruary, A. D., 1915.
Jos..J. SCHWARTZ, :;
Deputy Clerk Of Court. =.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

Father Rousseau is having the
grounds in front and on the sides
of the handsome Catholic Church
building fixed up. Fresh earth
has been hauled there to grade
the lot and a beautiful hedge has
been planted on each side of the
avenue leading to the Church en-
trance and completely around the
lot.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

We are pleased to see many of
our citizens taking interest in i'm.
proving their homes and grounds.
A little effort on the part of each
citizen would give our town a
prominent position upon the map.
Nature has done much for us in
picturesque scenery, now let US
do much for ourselves along the
improvement line.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

A committee of the Italian so.
ciety of Franklin, composed OF
Messys. Louis Caro-, Paul Dimi.
celli and V. FIGARO, are soliciting
subscriptions among their friends
for the purpose of celebrating St
Joseph's Day, which celebration
will be on Sunday, March 21st.
The members of the society gave
a splendid entertainment in the
month of March last year. We
wish them every success in their
venture this year.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

Mr.. Robert Collins, assistant
travelling auditor of the State, has
been for the last several days
auditing the books of the sheriff
and tax collector. He found the
books not only correct, but in a
fine condition. We knew that he
would 80 find them and will al.
ways 90 find them as long as Hon.
W. T. Peterman holds the sheriff's
Office.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

We still have one or'two men in
this community who stand around
on the street corners and from
morning until night complain
about the town, their neigh bors.
their taxes and the weather. Such
men are mighty common clay,
and it is fortunate we have 80 few
of them.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20

The Mardi Gras day festival
passed much quieter in Franklin
this year than in previous years.
There were fewer maskers on the
streets and they were composed
principally of little boys and girls.
The ball given at night for the
benefit of the Episcopal Church,
however, was a brilliant success.
1.-The beauty and chivalry" of
Franklin gathered there and to the
sweetest music "chased the glow
ing hours with flying feet" until
midnight sounded the end of
Pleasures King, and ushered in
the Lenten season of fasting and
prayer.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-20
Maj yin Morris
Contractor
and Builder
Plans and Specifications
Furnished on all Glasses
of Buildings. ..
FRANKLIN, LA
FOR SALE.

House and lot in Gallery
Avenue. House consists of
8 rooms, 9 halls and one
bath room. Lot 12Ox12O.
For terms apply to +,
CHAs. E. BoUDREAUx,
Flanklin, La.