The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-06-03

.vs. N. watch purchased tor Miss
Elaine Dodge been del!yered'' 90
asked the clerk.
no" came back the reply, the
watch Mr.. Bennett bought Is still here
being regulated"
Kennedy hung up the receiver. He
vas stunned.
The watch will cause her death at
three o'clock said the Clutching
Hand Swear 10 leave here without
discovering my identity and ! will tell
you how. You can save her In that
watch he Kissed. Il have set a poi
soned needle in a spring that all be
released and will plunge II into her
arm at exactly three o'clock On the
needle Is ricinus."
Craig advanced. furious. A. he did
so C~lutohlng Hand pointed calmly TO
the clock. II vas twenty minutes OF
three.
With a mental struggle Kennedy
controlled his loathing OF the creature
before him.
All rght-tut you1l hear from
me-ssoner than you suspect be
shouted. starting FOR the door.
Then he came back and lifted HE
hat, hiding as much as possible the
Selenium cell, letting the light fall
on 10.
only Elaiue's life has saved you"
With a last threat he dashed out
He hailed a cab, returning from some
steamship wharves not far away.
Quick" he ordered, giving the
Dodge address on Fifth avenue.
Minute after minute the police and
! waited. Wal anything wrongr
Where Vas Craig7
just then a tremor grew into a
;.nkle, then came the strong burr OF
the bell. Kennedy needed US.
With a shout OF encouragement to
the men | dashed out and over 10 the
old house.
Meanwhile Clu,ching Hand himself
had approached the tate 10 recover
bis weapon and had noticed the queer
l!ttle selenium cell.
The deuce" he cried. He's
planned TO &c; me anyhow"
Clutch!ng Hand rushed TO the door
then stopped short. Outside he could
hear the police and myself.
Clutchlng Hand slammed shut his
door and pulled down over Il a heavy
wooden bar.
Al the desk he paused and took out
a piece OF cardboard. Then. with q
heavy black.marking pencil. he calmly
printed on Il, while we battered at the
barricaded door, a few short feet away.
He laid the sign on the desk. then
on another piece OF cardboard. drew
crudely a hand with the index finger
pointing. This he placed on a chair.
indicating the desk.
Just as the swaying and bulging
door gave way, Clutching Hand gave
the desk a pull. It opened up-his get.
away.
He closed Il with a sardonic smile
In our direction, Just as the door
crashed in.
We looked about. There was not q
soul in the room. nothing but the sele-
mum cell, the chairs. the desk.
Look" | cried. catching sight OF
the index finger, and going over to the
desk.
We rolled back the top. There on
the fiat top was a sign:
Dear 6~loekheads:
Kennedy and couldn't wait.
Then came that mysterious sign OF
the Clutching Hand.
We hunted over the rooms. but
could ind nothing that showed a clue.
Where was C%lutching Hand? Where
was Kennedy?
In the next house Clutchlng Hand
had literally come out OF an upright
piano into the room corresponding to
that he had left. Hastily he threw on
his handkerchief, SLOUGH hat. old coat
and trousers, 4 neat striped pair OF
trousers replaced the old, frayed and
baggy pair. A new shirt. then a sporty
vest and a frock coat followed.
As he put the finishing touches on
he looked for all the world like a be.
w~hiskered foreigner.
AZ the door OF the new headquarters.
n few seconds later. | stood with the
police.
Not a sign OF him anywhere"
growled one OF the officers.
|
Elaine was sitting in the library
, reading when Aunt Josephine turned
TO her.
What time is II, DEAR" she asked.
Elaine glanced at her pretty new
: trinket.
, Nearly three, Auntie-just a couple
] OF minutes" she said.
Just then there came the sound OF
. feet running madly down the hallway.
J They jumped up. startled.
> Kennedy, his coat flying and hat
TANNED over his eyes, had almost
, bowled over poor Jennings in his mad
race down the hall.
! Well" demanded Elaine haughtily.
what's"
: Before she knew what was going on
. Craig hurried up to her and literally
ripped the watch on her wrist. break.