davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29
CHAPTER xiIl.-contInued

did my best TO leave them alone
on the way back but Miss Patty stuck
close to my heels II was showing,
and the going vas slow For the first
hve minutes she only spoke once.
And so Miss Summers and DIcky
Carter are old friends"
IL appears So" Mr.. Pierce said
Shes rather magnanimous, under
tho circumstances. Miss Patty re-
marked demurely.
Under what circumstances
f ] heard her laugh little, behind me
Never mind she said you
needn't tell me anything you don,
caro- TO. But what stew you musr
all have been In"
There WAS minutes silence behind
me. and then Mr.. Pierce laughed too
Stew" he said For the last few
days I've been either paralyzed with
fright or electrified into wild burste
Of mendacity And I'm not naturally
a Har,"
Really" she rstorted What an
actor you are"
They laughed together at that, and
gained little on them At the cor
ner where the path skirted the deeI
park and turned toward the house
lost them altogether and fiounderet
on ataue. But ! had not gone twenty
feet when ! stopped suddenly. About
hfty yards ahead lantern was com
Ing toward mo through the snow, mac
j could hear mans voice. breathles.
and gasping
Set II down" II said The damned
thing must be filled with lead" II
sounded like Thoburn.
It's the snow" another voice re
piled Mr. Won Inwalds Il told you
It would take two trips"
Yes" Thohurn retorted. breathing
In groans. Stay up AL night to get
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29
0Oo 9S RI
neRRILIN

put q small package on the counter,
and stared at me over it. There's
treachery here. black treachery." Shs
pointed one long thin forefnger st ths
bundle.
What is II! A bomb" | asked.
stepping back. More than once 1t had
occurred to me that having royalty
around sometimes meant dynamite.
Miss Cobb showed her teeth.
Yes. bomb" she said. Minnie.
last night, when the Summers woman
was out, goodness knows where.
Blanche Moody and | went through
her room. We did not hnd my precious
missivss from Mr.. Jones. but We did
find these. Minnie. tied around with a
pink stocking. Minnie, have felt II
all along. Mr.. Oskar Won lnwald 10 the
prince himself
"No."
yes. And mora than that, he Is
making desperate love to Miss Sum-
mers Three of those letters we're
written In one day! Why. even Mr..
Jones"
The wretch" | cried. was sud.
denly savage. Miss Cobb was reach
ing out for the bundle. | snatched II
from her.
Give me those letters instantly,
she cried shrilly. But marched from
behind the counter and over to the
fireplace.
Never" said. and put the package
on the log When they were safely
blazing. | turned and looked at Miss
Cobb.
I'D put my hand right beside those
letters TO save Miss Patty a heart.
ache" said, and you know It."
You're a fool" She was raging
You'll let her marry him and have
the heartaches afterward"
She won't marry him." | snapped
and walked away with my chin up,
leaving her staring.
But | wasn't SO sure as ! pretended
10 be. Mr.. Won invalid and Mr.. Jen.
nings had been closeted together most
of the morning, and Mr.. Won invalid
was whistling as he started out for the
military walk. 1t seemed as II the
very thing that had given Mr.. Pierce
his chance to make good had i'm.
proved Mr. Jennings disposition
enough TO remove the last barrier to
Miss Jennings wedding with some
body else.
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29
CHAPTER XIV.

Even IL we hadn't known, we'd have
guessed there was something In the
air. There was an air OF subdued ex.
citement during the rest hour In the
springhouse, and good bit OF whis.
pering and laughing. in groups which
would break up with faces as long as
the moral law the moment they saw
my eye on them.
They were planning a mutiny. az
you may say, and | guess no sailors
on pirate ship were more afraid OF
the captains fist than they were OF
Mr., Pierce's disapproval. He'd been
smart enough to see that most Of them.
having bullied other people all their
lives. liked the novelty of being bullied
themselves. And now they we're get
ting a new thrill by having a revolt
They were terribly worked up.
Miss Patty stayed after the others
had gone, sitting in front OF the empty
fireplace In the same chair Mr.. Pierce
usually took. and keeping her back to
me, When I'd finished folding the
steamer rugs and putting them away,
went around and stood In front OF her
Your eyes are red," remarked.
I've got a cold" She was very
naughty.
Your nose isn't red" insisted
And, anyhow. you say you never
have cold"
81 wish you would let me alone, Min.
ME- She turned her back to me. Il
dare say may have cold II wish. -
DO you know what they are saying
here?" demanded. DO you know
that Miss Cobb has found out In some
way or other who Mr.. Won invalid Is =?
And that the four o'clock gossip edi-
ton says your father has given his
consent and that you can 90 and buy a
diadem or Shateyer you are going to
wear. right off?"
Well" she said. in a choked voice
with her back to me. what OF it.
Didn't you and Mr.. Pierce both dc
your best to bring 1t about!"
"Our WHAT" | couldn't believe my
ears.
You made father we'll. He's 90
p-pleasant he'll do anything-excepl
leave this awful place!"
well. Of all the ungrateful peo
pie" | began. and then Mr.. Pierce
came In. He had curious way oil
stopping when he saw her, as II she
just took the wind out Of his sails, SC
to speak, and then OF whipping of his
hat. II anything with sails can wear q
hat. and going up to her with his hear,
In his eyes. He always went straigh,
to her and stopped suddenly about two
feet away. trying to think of some
thing ordinary to say. Because ths
extraordinary thing he wanted to say
was always on the end Of his tongue.
But this day he didn't light up wher
he saw her. He went through all ths
other motions. but his mouth was se,
In straight line, and when be came
close to ber and looked down his eye,
were hard. It's been my experience oI
men that the younger they are the
harder they take things and the more
incorporating they are.
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29

mimic. spring house girl al HOPE saua-
."f,Hh!l ellis The story. II opens with the
nfNai or Miss Patty Jennings vino Ia re-.
ported to b. engaged To marry A prince.
aha tlr death of The old doctor who owns
the sanatofium. The estate Ia left Ia a
serp- grace grandson, Dicky carter Who
mlHs' appear on certain date and run
iht sahatorlum successfully for two
pnhtfts or forfeit the Inheritance A case
p mlInps delays Dicks arrival Mr.. Tho
snIh ~ hoy-rthg about In hopes OF ss-
dflng the place for summer hotel
fiffctt college man In hard luck is pre-
saiieh upon by Van Alstyne. Dicks broth
n Jaw, to ifnpersonate ths missing heir
thn take charge OF the Hsnatorium until
IsLter arrives Dick. VINO has .ioped
WIN fhttys younger sister. Dorothy, ar
tIsss ana the couple go into hiding In
Tue oin shelter house. Fearing to face
pcrothys father. who is at the sanafor-
!nni, ifck nrranges with Pierce 10 CON
uhne "a the management Of the property
JulIa Summers. leading lady OF Pisrrsts
branded theatrical company arrives
Me In suing DtckY for breach of promise
fhr prince, under the iucognito Of Oshsr
.pn invalid. arrives az the sanatnrlum
ssrnss. character man with Pierce's show
s.n sraduats D. takes tho place OF
hhhidriufn physician. Pierce who IL
very much interested In Patty. shows a
strong dislike for Inwald Dick becomes
i~rNlHh over tho inde pendent manner In
mHch fl.rce IL running tha sanatorium
Miss Summers discovers that the Dick
carter sha is seeking Ia tho owner Of the
hanatoriuTn. Dick in attempting TO steal
hs love letters from Miss Summers
breaks into the wrong room and gets the
wrong letters Miss Summers dog has
,.onEllsions ,,,s from ayersntiny. The patients
haii"ve u has been poisoned by the doped
sprtnS water In panic they go 10
Pierce and start a row He tell. them
u" truth about themselves and they
make preparations 10 leave snow
blockade compels the patients to return
iiHcr lays out a course or rational and
simple living and all agre. to give II a
trisL They take 10 III. new order Of
Things enthusiastically and thu effects are
rLickly sean. Dick and his relatives
however are not pleased They hold a
rfrrt-st meeting In the shelter house and
Nns Summers walks In on them Miss
summers vlndlctiveness toward Dick
nw'nh'cs away az sight OF his wife. Dor
oihv
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29
Last Call to the Dining Car. Minnie.

match the same thing match each 9th
er-! What do you say?-Barnes
"P 81 love you feel like a
damn fool saying IL, but heaven knows
it's true"
p. P, S.-still love you. It's easier
the second time
IN. B.-l love you-got the habit
now and can't stop writing it.-B."
Well, had to keep calm and attend
to business, but was seething inside
Ike & Seidlitz powder Every few
minutes I'd reread the letter under the
edge Of the stand, and the more read
II the more excited | got When a
woman's gone past thirty before she
gets her first love letter, she isn't
sure whether 10 thank providence or
the man, but she's pretty sure TO make
a fool OF herself
Thoburn came to the news stand on
his way out with the ice-cutting gang
to the pond
Last call to the dining car. Minnie"
he said, Will you-won't you-will
won't you-will you Join the
dance"
Il haven't any reason for changing
my plans" retorted 81 promised the
old doctor to stick by the place. and
I'm sticking
AS the man said when he sat down
on the fly paper You're going by your
heart, Minnie. and not by your head.
and In this toss. heads win"
But with my new puffs on the back OF
my head, and my letter in my pocket.
] wasn't easy to discourage. Thoburn
shoaldered his pick and, headed by
Doctor Barnes, the ice-cutters started
out in single file. As they passed Doc.
tor Barnes glanced at me, and my
heart almost stopped
DO they--is 1t a match" he asked,
with his eyes on mine.
| couldn't speak. but nodded yes"
and all that afternoon could see the
wonderful smile that lit up his face
as he went out.
Miss Cobb stopped at the news stand
on her way to the gymnasium She
was a homely woman at any time, and
In her bloomers she looked like q
soup-bone. She padded over to the
counter in her gym shoes. and for
once she'd forgotten her legs.
May | speak to you, Minnie." she
asked
You mostly do" I said. There
isn't new rule about speaking. Ia
there?"
This is important. Minnie" she
said, rolling her eyes around as she
always did when she was excited. I'm
in such state OF ex-l see you bought
the puffs Perhaps you will lend them
to me IL we arrange for a country
dance"
I'm not lending them." said firm
ly. 1t would have been like lending
an engagement ring, to my mind.
Miss Cobb was not offended. She went
at once to what had brought her, and
bent over the counter.
Minnie. you love Miss Jennings
almost like daughter. don't you"
Like q sister. Miss Cobb" said.
I'm not feeble yet"
well. you wouldn't want to see her
deceived"
y wouldn't have IT," I answered.
Then what do you call thisi" She
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29

the blamed stuff here. and then get
up at dawn for cold bath and a
twenty-nlle walk and an apple for
breakfast. Ugh, my shoulder is disIo.
Gated"
! turned and few back 10 Miss Pat.
ty and Pierce They had stopped In
the shelter of the fence corner and
Mr.. Pierce WAS on his knees in front
OF herl | was SO astounded that | for.
got for the moment what had brought
me.
"Just a second" he was saying. It's
ice on the heel"
Please get up OF your knees, you'll
take cold"
j -Esvsr had . cold. I'll scrape II otf
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29

81 was looking for you." he said to
her. The bishop has just told me-
There are no obstacles now"
None" she said, looking up at him
with wretchedness in her eyes, II he
had only seen. Il am very happy"
She was just saying" said bitter
ly, how grateful she was to both Of
u.s."
Il don't understand"
1T Is not hard to understand" she
said, smiling. wanted to slap her.
Father was unreasonable because he
was I'll. You have made him we'll. I
can never thank you enough"
But she rather overdid the Joy part
of It, and he leaned over and looked In
her face.
Il think I'm stupid" he said. Il
know I'm unhappy. But isn't that what
I was to do-to make them we'll II I
could"
How could anybody know she
began angrily. and then stopped. You
have done even more" she said
sweetly. You've turned them into
cheruhims and seraphims. Butter
would't melt In their mouths"
He smiled.
MY amiability must be the reason
you dislike mel" he suggested. They
had both forgotten me.
DO l dislike your" she asked. rails
ing her eyebrows. Il never really
thought about 1t, but I'm sure don't"
She didn't look at him. she looked at
me. She knew knew she lied.
His smile faded
WELL he said. speaking OF dislik-
ing amiability. you don't hate your
self. I'm sure"
You are wrong" she retorted. Il
loathe myself" And she walked to
the window. He took a step or two
after her.
why do II at all?" he asked in
low tone. You don't love him-and
can't. And II 1t isn't love" He re-.
membered me suddenly and stopped.
please go on" she said sweetly
from the window. DO not mind Min
ME. She is my conscience anyhow.
She is always scolding me: you might
both scold In chorus
81 wouldn't presume to scold."
Then give me a little advice and
look superior and righteous. I'm ac-
customed to that also"
"As long as you are in this mood.
can't give YOU anything but a very
good day" he said angrily, and went
toward the door. But when he had al.
most reached 1t he turned.
Il will say this" he said, you have
known for three days that Mr.. Tho
burn was going to have supper to-
night, and you didn't let US know. You
must have known his purpose"
] guess | was as surprised as she
was. Id never suspected she knew.
She looked at him over her shoul-
der.
why shouldn't he have a sup
per-" she demanded angrily. I'm
starving-we're all starving for decent
food. I'm kept here against my will.
Why shouldn't | have one respect
able meal? You with your wretched
stewed fruits and whole-wheat breads!
Ugh"
I'm sorry. Thoburn's idea, of course,
Is to make the guests discontented. 50
they will leave"
"Oh." she said She hadn't thought
OF that. and she flushed AT least"
she said. you must give me credit for
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29

not trying to spoil Dick and Dolly's
chance here"
I'VE are going to allow the party to
go on" he said. stiff and uncompromis-
Ing. II would have been better il he'd
accepted her bit Of apology.
How kind Of you! l dare say he
would have 1t, anyhow" She was sar.
castle again.
Probably. And you-will go?"
Certainly"
Even when the result"
"Oh. don't preach!" she said. put,
ting her hands to her ears. III Won
and Minnie want to preach, why don't
you preach at each other? Minnie
talks love, love. love And you preach
health and morality. You drive me
crazy between you"
fTo BE CONTINUED,
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-04-29

A child receives kisses free, but q
young man has to stek. them sad a
old man has to buy then
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-10

Bennett left, Dodge continued working
in his library, for he was known as a
prodigious worker.
Had he taken the trouble, however,
to pause and peer out into the moon
light that flooded the back OF his
house. he might have seen the figures
of two stealthy crooks crouching in
the half shadows of one of the cellar
windows, one crook, at least, masked.
The masked crook held in his hands
carefully the ends of two wires at
tached to an electric feed, and, sending
his pal to keep watch outside, he en-
tered the cellar of the Dodge house
through a window, whose pane they
had carefully removed. AS he came
through the window he dragged the
wires with him, and, after a moments
accommodating, attached them to the
furnace pipe of the old-fashioned hot
air heater, where the pipe ran up
through the floor to the library above.
The other wire was quickly attached
to the telephone where its wires en-
tered.
Upstairs Dodge, evidently uneasy in
his mind about the precious Limpy
Red letter, took it from the safe along
with most of the other correspondence
and, pressing a hidden spring in the
wall, opened secret panel and placed
most of the important documents in
this hiding place.
Downstairs the masked master Grim.
inal had already attached a voltmeter
to the wires he had installed, waiting
Just then could be heard the tinkle
of Dodge's telephone, and the old man
rose to answer 1t. AS he did so he
placed his foot on the iron register,
his hand taking the telephone and the
receiver. At that instant came a pow
erful electric flash. Dodge sank on the
floor, clutching the instrument, cleo
trocuted.
A moment later the criminal slid
silently into Dodge's room. Carefully
putting on rubber gloves and avoiding
touching the register. he wrenched the
telephone from the grasp of the dead
man. replacing it in it's normal posi-
ton. Only for second did he pause
to look at his victim as he destroyed
the evidence of his work
Minutes were precious. First Dodge's
pockets. then his desk engaged his at.
tention. There was left the safe.
AS he approached the strong box.
the master criminal took two walls
from his pocket. Removing bust of
Webster that stood on the safe, he
! poured the contents of the walls in two
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-10

and, without another word, the two
made their getaway, safely, in opposite
directions.
When Limpy Red, still trembling.
left the Office of Dodge earlier in the
evening, he had repaired as fast as his
stumbling feet would take him to his
favorite dive up on Park Row.
Had the Bowery ''sinkers" not got
into his eyes he might have noticed
among the late jewellers a man who
spoke to no one, but took his place
near by at the bar.
Limpy had long since reached the
point of saturation and lurching forth
from his new found cronies he sought
other fields of excitement. Likewise
did the newcomer, who bore a strange
resemblance to the lookout who had
been stationed outside at the Dodge
house a scant half hour before.
What happened later was only a
matter of secondhand waiting until
the hated snitch-for gangdom hates
the informer worse than anything else
dead or alive-had turned a sufficient
ly dark and deserted corner.
A muffled thud, a stified groan fol
lowed as heavy section of lead pipe
wrapped in newspaper descended on
the Grass skull of Limpy.
1t was the vengeance of the Clutch
ing Hand-swift, sure, remorseless.
And yet it had not been a night of
complete success for the master GRIM
inal, as anyone might have seen who
could have followed his sinuous route
to place of greater safety. Unable
to wait longer. he pulled the papers
he had taken from the safe from his
pocket. His chagrin at finding most
of them to be blank found only one
expression of foiled fury-that men
acing clutching hand-the real one!
Kennedy had turned from his futile
examination for marks on the tele-
phone. There stood the safe, moder-
ate sized strong box but of modern
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-10

apartment uptown, and would be right
down.
Together, Kennedy, Elaine and my
self lifted Dodge to a sofa and Elaine's
aunt, Josephine, with whom she lived,
appeared on the scene, trying to quiet
the sobbing girl.
Kennedy and 1 withdrew little way,
and he looked about curiously.
what was it?" 1 whispered. WAS
it natural, an accident, or-or MUIR
der?" The word seemed to stick in
my throat. If it was a murder, what
was the motive? Could it have been
to get the evidence which Dodge had
that would incriminate the master
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and ex-
amined the body of Dodge. When he
rose his face had a peculiar look.
"Terriblei" he whispered to me.
Apparently he had been working at
his accustomed place at the desk when
the telephone rang. He rose and
crossed over to it. See! That brought
his feet on this register let into the
floor. As he took the telephone re-
ceiver down a flash of light must have
shot from it to his ear. 1t shows the
characteristic electric burn"
1.-THE motive?" 1 queried.
Evidently his pockets had been
gone through, though none of the valu-
ables were missing. Things on his
desk show that a hasty search has
been made"
Just then the door opened and Ben
nett burst in.
AS he stood over the body, gazing
down at it, depressing the emotions of
a strong man, he turned to Elaine, and
in a low voice exclaimed: THE
Clutched Hand did this. shall conse-
crate my life to bring this man to Jus.
tice!"
He spoke tensely, and Elaine, look
ing up into his face, as If imploring his
help in her hour of need, unable to
speak, merely grasped his hand.
Kennedy, who, in the meantime, had
stood apart from the rest of US, was
examining the telephone carefully.
"a clever crook" heard him NUT.
ter between his teeth. He must have
worn gloves. Not finger print-at
least here"
Perhaps / can do no better than to
reconstruct the crime as Kennedy
later pieced these startling events to.
gether.
Long after had Left and even aftor
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-10
The Exploits.
Of Elaine
A Detective Novel and Motion Picture Drama
INNNNNNyNNINNNNSNN

All right, L exclaimed, nttle
nettled that he should have anticipated
me even so much in the case. But
you haven't heard the latest"
What is it?" he asked with provok-
ing calmness.
Taylor Dodge" 1 blurted out, has
the clue. Tomorrow he will track down
the mani"
Kennedy fairly jumped as 1 repeat
ed the news.
How long has he known?" he de-
manded eagerly.
Perhaps three or four hours" haZ-
arded
Kennedy gazed at me fixedly.
Then Taylor Dodge is dead" he
exclaimed, throwing off his acid-stained
laboratory jacket, and hurrying into
his street clothes.
"Impossible!" I calculated.
Kennedy paid no attention to the OBJ
| lection. Come, Walter" he urged
eve must hurry before the trail gets
: cold"
There was something positively I'M
canny about Kennedy's assurance. 1
doubted-yet 1 feared.
|
night when we pulled up in night
hawk taxicab before the Dodge house,
mounted the steps and rang the bell.
Jennings answered sleepily, but not
so much so that he did not recognize
me. He was about to bang the door
shut when Kennedy interposed his
foot.
Where is Mr. Dodge?" asked Ken
nedy. Us he all right?"
"Of course he is-in bed" replied
the butler.
Just then we heard a faint cry, like
nothing exactly human. Or was it our
heightened imaginations, under the
spell of the darkness?
'rListeni" cautioned Kennedy.
We did, standing there now in the
hall. Kennedy was the only one of US
who was cool. Jennings face blanched
then he turned tremblingly and went
down to the library door, whence the
sounds had seemed to come.
He called, but there was no answer
He turned the knob and opened the
door, The Dodge library was large
room. In the center stood big, fiat
topped desk of heavy mahogany. II
was brilliantly lighted.
At one end of the desk was a tele-
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on the
floor at that end of the desk-perfect
ly rigid-his face distorted-a CHASTITY
figure. A pet dog ran over, shifted
frantically at his masters legs and
suddenly began to howl dismally.
Dodge was dead!
"Help!" shouted Jennings.
| Others of the servants came rush
ing in. There was, for the moment
the greatest excitement and confu
sion.
Suddenly wild figure in flying gar
ments fitted down the stairs and into
the library, dropping beside the dead
man, without seeming to notice US al
all.
Father" shrieked woman's voice
heart-broken. "Fatherl oh-my God
-he-he is dead!"
It was Elaine Dodge.
With a mighty effort, the heroic CIR
seemed to pull herself together.
Jennings" she cried, "call Mr.. Ben
nett-immediatelyi"
From the one-sided, excited CONVEX
sation of the butler over the telephone
gathered that Bennett had been IL
the process of disrobing in bis OWL