The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-03-04
SIXTH EPISODE
1.-THE Vampire"

1.-THE Vampire"
Kennedy went the next day to the
Dodge house, and, as usual. Perry Ben
:nett. Elaine's lawyer. was there in the
library with Elaine, still going over
:the Clutching Hand case in their en-.
:deavOr to track down the mysterious
:master criminal
Bennett seemed as deeply as ever
lin love with Elaine. Still, as Jennings
:admitted Craig, it was sufficiently evi.
:dent by the manner in which Elaine
:left Bennett and ran to greet Craig
that she had the highest regard for
Thin.
I've brought you little document
that may interest you," remarked Ken
:nedy, reaching into his pocket and
pulling out an envelope.
Elaine tore it open and looked at
the paper within.
"Oh, how thoughtful of you!" she
;exclaimed in surprise.
: 1t was permit from the police made
:out in her name allowing her to car
Try a revolver
moment later, Kennedy reached
Into his coat pocket and produced a
little automatic which he handed to
:her.
: Thank you," she cried eagerly
Elaine examined the gun with inter
est. then, raising it, pointed it play
fully at Bennett.
taking her arm quickly and gently de-
;flecting the weapon away. You
mustn't think it is a toy. 1t explodes
at mere touch of the trigger-when
that safety ratchet is turned"
Bennett had realized the danger and
:had jumped back, almost mechanical.
:ly AS he did so, he bumped into a
suit of medieval armor standing by
the wall, knocking it over with re
sounding crash.
Il beg pardon" he calculated, I'm
very sorry. That was very awkward
of me-"
: Jennings, who had been busy about
the portieres at the doorway. started
to pick up the fallen knight.
TOO bad, too bad" apologized Ben
nett profusely. Il really forgot how
~AooS was W lHS IlilA6
"Oh, never mind" returned Elaine
a little crestfallen, ut is smashed all
:right-but it was my fault. Jennings
send for someone to repair it
1t was late that night that a masked
figure succeeded in raising itself to
:the narrow ornamental ledge unde'
;Ilaine's bedroom window.
Elaine was light sleeper, and, be
:sides, Rusty, her faithful collie, now
fully recovered from the poison, was
lin her room.
Rusty growled and the sudden noise
awakened her
Startled, Elaine instantly thought oil
1.-The automatic. She reached under hel
:pllloW, keeping very quiet and drew
forth the gun that Craig had giver
her. Stealthily conceaiing her actions
under the covers, she leveled the auto
matte at the figure silhouetted in hei
window and fired three times.
The figure fell back
Down in the street below. the as
sistant of the Clutching Hand who
had waited while Taylor Dodge was
:electrocuted, was waiting as his con
federate, pitts Slim"-which indicat
led that he was both wiry in stature
land Hbelous in delegating his nativity
made the attempt
As Slim came tumbling down. hav
ing fallen back from the window above
MORTALITY wounded. the confederate lift
ed him up and carried him out of sigh
!hurriedly.
Elaine. by this time, had turned OF
the lights and had run to the window
to look out. Rusty was barking loud
ly.
In side street near by stood a wait
ing automobile, at the wheel of which
sat another of the emissaries of the
:Clutching Hand. The driver looked
up, startled as he saw his fellow
hurry around the corner carrying the
wounded pitts Slim 1t was thu
work of just a moment to drop tht
wounded man, as comfortably as pos
sihle under the circumstances, in thu
rear seat, while his pals started tn,
car off with a jerk in the hurry of es
cape.
Jennings, having hastily slipped hi
trousers on over his pajamas. CAM
running down the hail. while Marie
frightened, came in the other direc
ton. Aunt Josephine appeared a few
seconds later, adding to the genera
excitement.
whats the natter" she asked
aHxiously.
"A burglar. I think" exclaime'
maine. still holding the gun In he