Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-03-13

lneN are strduRllnk me
IN effect was terrific.
CIutching Hand and Dan. hardened
in crime as they were. fell back
dazed. overcome for .he moment at
the startling effect.
They looked about. No n soul.
Then. 20 their utter CONSERVATION
from the helmet again came the deep.
vibrant warning.
Help, Murder. Police'"
Kennedy and | had been listening
over the vocaphone. tor the moment
nonplused at the fellows daring.
Then We heard from the uncanny
instrument: For Heavens sake.
Chief. hurry. The FaIsers have fallen
down. The girl herself Is coming
What II meant we did not know. But
Craig was almost beside himself. as
ne ordered me TO get the police by tel
ephone. II there was any wa 70 block
them Only instant action would count.
however. What TO do?
We could hear the master Grim
inal plainly fumbling now.
Yes. that's the Clutching hand. he
repeated.
Wait" I cautioned. someone else
is coming,"
BY a sort OF instinct he seemed to
recognize the sounds.
-Elainei" he exclaimed. paling.
Instantly followed. in less than I
can tell il. the sounds or a suppressed
shuttle.
HE has seized her-gagged her"
cried I'm an agony OF suspense.
We could nov hear everything that
was going on In the library. Craig
was wildly excited. As for me. I was
speeches.. Here was the ~vocaphone
we had installed. II had warned US.
But what could We do?
| looked blankly at Kennedy. lie
was equal 10 the emergency.
He calmly turned the switch.
Then. al the top OF his lungs he
shouted: Help, Help, Police, They
are strangling me-"
looked at him In amazement What
did he think he could do-blocks
away?
IL works both ways" ne muttered.
Help. Murder, Police"
We could hear the astonished ours
ing of the two men. Also. down the
hall. now. we could hear footsteps ap-
preaching in answer 10 his call for
help-Aunt Josephine. Jennings. Marie
n others. all shouting out that there
were cries In the library.
The deuce, What is it," muttered
a gruf voice.
The mar in armor," Missed Clutch
ing Hand.
Here they come. too. Chief"
There was a parting scuffie.
"There-take that"
A loud metallic ringing came from
the v~ocaphone.
Then silence,
What had happened
In the library. recovering from their
crock OF surprise. Dan cried out 10
the Clutching Hand. The deuce!
What is IT."
Then looking about. Clutching
Hand quickly took IN the situation.
The man in armor," he pointed
out.
Dan was almost dead with fright
at the weird thing.
Here they come. too. Chief ne
gasped. as. down the hall he could
hear the family shouting out that
someone was in the library.
With a parting thrust. Clutching
Hand sent Elaine Keeling.
She held on to only a corner of the
papers. He had the greater part OF
them. They were torn and destroyed.
anyway
Finally. with all the v-enomousness
OF which he was capable. Clutching
Hand rushed at the armor suit. drew
back his gloved fist. and let IL shoot
out ~squarely In a vicious solar plexus
blow.
"There-take that" he roared
The suit ratified f%uriously. Out OF
IL spilled the ~vocaphone. with a bans
OF the floor.
An instant later those In the hall
rushed In. But the C%lutching Hand
and Dan were gone out OF the win
dow. the criminal carrying the greater
part of the precious papers.
Some ran TO Elaine. others to the
window. The ladder had been kicked
away. and the criminals were gone.
Leaping into the waiting car. they had
been whisked away.
Hello, Hello. Hello" called a
voice. apparently from nowhere.
What Is that" cried Elaine.
She had risen BY this time. and was
gazing about. wondering az the strange
voice. Suddenly her eye fell on the
armor scattered all over the floor.
She spied the little oak box.
Elaine"
Apparently the voice came from
that. Besides II had a familiar ring
TO her ears.
"Yes-Craig," she cried.
That Is my vocaphone-the little
box that hears and talks" came back
10 her. Are you all right"
"Yes-all right-thanks to the voca-
phone"
She had understood In an instant.