The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-09-10

asked the clerk
mo-" came back the reply. the
watch Mr. Bennett bought Is still here
being regulated"
Kennedy hung up the receiver. He
was stunned
| THE watch will cause her death at
three O'clock" said the Clutchinx
Hand. Swear to leave here without
discovering my identity and will tell
you how. You can save her! In that
watch" he Kissed. II have set a pot
soned needle in a spring that will b
released and will plunge 1t into her
arm at exactly three O'Clock On tho
needle Is ricinus!"
Craig advanced. furious. AS he did
so Clutching Hand pointed calmly to
the clock. 1t was twenty minutes OF
three!
With a mental struggle Kennedy
controlled his loathing of the creature
before him.
"All right-but you'll hear from
me-sooner than you suspect" he
shouted. starting for the door.
Then he came back and lifted his
hat. hiding as much as possible tho
selenium cell. letting the light fall
on 1t.
only Elaine's life has saved you
With last threat he dashed out.
He hailed cab. returning from some
steamship wharves not far away.
Quick" he ordered. giving tho
Dodge address on Fifth avenue.
Minute after minute the police and
waited. Was anything wrong?
Where was Craig?
Just then a tremor grew into =
tinkle, then came the strong burr Of
the bell. Kennedy needed us.
With a shout of announcement to
the men l dashed out and over to the
old house.
Meanwhile Clutching Hand himself
had approached the table to recover
his weapon and had noticed the queer
little selenium CELL
The deuce!" he cried. Hes
planned to get me anyhow!"
Clutching Hand rushed to the door
then stopped short. Outside he could
Ao0A tAC pOIICo anu myself.
Clutching Hand slammed shut his
door and pulled down over it a heavy
wooden bar.
At the desk he paused and took out
q piece OF cardboard. Then, with q
heavy matchmaking pencil, he calmly
printed on 1t, while we battered at the
barricaded door, few short feet away.
He laid the sign on the desk, then
on another piece OF cardboard. drew
crudely hand with the index finger
pointing. This he placed on a chair.
indicating the desk.
Just as the swaying and bullying
door gave way, Clutching Hand gave
the desk pull. 1t opened up-his get
away.
He closed it with a sardonic smile
In our direction. just as the door
crashed in.
We looked about. There was not .
soul in the room. nothing but the sele-
nSum cell. the tchairA. the desk.
Look" I cried, catching sight OF
the index finger. and going over to the
desk.
We rolled back the top. There on
the Nat top was a sign:
Dear elockheada.
Kennedy and | couldn't wait.
Then came that mysterious sign a
the Clutching Hand.
We hunted over the rooms. bun
could find nothing that showed a clue.
Where was Clutching Hand? Where
was Kennedy?
In the next house Clutching Hand
had literally come out of an uprixhn
piano into the room corresponding to
That he had left Hastily he threw on
his handkerchief, SLOUGH hat old coat
and trousers. A neat striped pair Of
trousers replaced the old, frayed ana
oaggy pair. A new shirt, then a sporty
vest and frock coat followed.
AS he put the finishing touches On
ne looked for all the world like a be.
whiskered foreigner
AT the door OF the new headouarters
few seconds later. stood with the
police.
Not sign OF him anywhere
srowled one OF the officers.
Elaine was sitting In the library
'eading when Aunt Josephine turned
o her.
What time is 1t. dear?" she asked.
Elaine glanced at her pretty new
rinket
Nearly three, Auntie-just a couple
II minutes" she said.
Just then there came the sound Of
eet running madly down the hallway.
They jumped up. startled.
Kennedy, his coat flying and hat
ahmed over his eyes, had almost
'owled over poor Jennings In his mad
ace down the hall.
Well" demanded Elaine hauRhtilv.
what's"
Before she knew what was going ON
'raig hurried up to her and literally
ipped the watch of her wrist, break
ng the beautiful bracelet.
He held 1t up, gingerly. Elaine was
peechless. Was this Kennedy? Was
e possessed by such an inordinate
a2IOuRV Of Ropuoft3