The Ordway new era., 1915-06-18

10 Inc Dell Wnlcn Will leaVe neEe'
When It rings, raid the house. Jane
son will lead you to It. Come. Wal.
ter" he added. picking up the bags.
-
Ten minutes later, outside the new
headquarters. q crouched-up figure.
carrying a 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. ,H.nt
He went up and peered through the
aperture of the doorway. Then he
rang the bell. Twice he raised his
miliar clutch. tg.
A crook inside saw 1t 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.
II 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 l left the police he
hat given me most minute instruc.
tions which l was now following out
to the letter.
81 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 1t across the
lot to the old house. Attach 1t to the
bell; then wait. When 1t rings. raid
the Clutching Hand joint"
waited what seemed to be an In.
terminable time back Of the barrel.
Finally, however. I saw coil of fine
wire drop rapidly to the ground from
a window somewhere above. l made a
dash for 1t. as though I were trying to
rush the trenches. seized my prize
and, without looking back to see where
1t came from, beat a hasty retreat.
Around the lot I skirted, until at
last l 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 of and placed IT,
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. 0tt
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 q moment each glared at the
other.
Hands up!" shouted the first fig
ure. hoarsely.l moving the gun and
closing the door with his foot.
The newcomer slowly raised his
crooked hand over his head. as the blue
steel revolver gaped menacingly.
With quick movement Of the other
hand the first sinister figure removed
the handkerchief from his face and
Strengthened up.
1t was Kennedy!
Come over to the center of the
room" ordered Kennedy.
Clutching Hand obeyed, eyeing his
captor closely.
Now lay your weapons on the ta-
ble"
He tossed down a revolver.
The two still faced each other.
Take of that handkerchief"
1t was a tense moment. Slowly
Clutching Hand started to obey. Then
he stopped. Kennedy WIS Just about
to thunder Go on" when the criminal
calmly remarked. You've got ME all
right. Kennedy, but in twenty minutes
Elaine Dodge will be dead"
He said 1t with nonchalance that
might have deceived anyone less as
tute than Kennedy. Suddenly there
flashed over Craig the words: THE
TRICK WILL BE PULLED OFF AT
THREE O'CLOCK"
There was no fake about that. Ken
| nedy frowned menacingly. II he
killed Clutching Hand, Elaine would
die. II he fought he must either kill
or be killed II he handed Clutchins
Hand over Elaine was lost. He looked
at his watch. 1t was twenty-five min.
utes OF three.
What do you mean-tell me?" de-
manded Kennedy with forced calm.
Yesterday Mr.. Bennett bought a
wrist watch for Elaine" the Clutching
Hand said quietly. They left 1t to
be regulated. One Of my men bought
one Just like 1t. Mine was delivered
to her today"
"A likely story" doubted Kennedy.
For answer the Clutching Hand