The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1915-06-24

Craig the secretary ana Iu!eeh mo-"
a rush for the door TO BENEFITS pr
yate Office. Finding It locked, We be
gan 10 batter H. -
Kennedy found that II was impos-
sjble 10 batter down the door In time
BY any ordinary means. Quickly ne
seired the typewriter and hurled u
through the panels. Then he thrust
his hand through the opening ana
turned the catch.
As we fung ourselves into the room
Bennett rushed into closet In cor.
ner. slamming the door behind him "
was composed of sheet iron, and enec'
tually prevented anyone from break
ing through. Kennedy and tried 'a'n'
~. however. 20 pry Il opcl.
While we we're thus endeavoring TO
force an entrance Bennett In a sor'
OF closet. had put on the coat hat
and mask which he Invariably wore
in the character OF the Clutching
Hand. Then he cautiously opened
secret door in the back OF the closet
and slowly made an exit
Meanwhile the secretary had been
doing his best 20 revive Elaine, who
was on the foor hysterical and half
unconscious from the terrible shock
she had experienced.
Intent on discovering Bennetts
whereabouts. Kennedy and ! examined
the wall OF the once. thinking there
might be some button or secret spring
which would open the closet door,
While We were doing so the door
OF a large safe in the secretarys OF
Ace gradually opened. and the Clutch
ing Hand emerged from it stepping
carefully toward the door leading -
the outer Office, intent on eTcapinE -
that direction.
At that moment caught sight ~
him. and. leaping into the secretary
otflce. ! drew my revolver and ordered
him 20 throw up his hands. lie ooeyed
Holding up both hands, he slowly
drew near the door 70 his private Of.
fee
Suddenly he dropped one hand and
pressed a hidden spring In the wall
Instantly a heavy iron door shot out
and closed over the wooden door. En-
trance 10 the private Office was abso'
lutely cut OF.
With an angry snarl the Clutch!ng
Hand leaped az me
As he did so fred twice.
He staggered back.
The shots were heard By Kennedy
and Elaine as we'll as the secretary,
and at the same instant they discor'
cred the iron door which barred the
entrance TO the secre,ary's Office.
Rushing into the outer oifce they
found the clerks excitedly attempting
20 open the door OF the secretary's
Office. which was locked Kennedy
drew revolver and shot through the
lock, bursting open the door.
They rushed into the room.
Clutching Hand vas apparently seat.
ed in a chair at a desk. his face bur.
led In his arms. while was appar.
entity disappearing through the door.
Kennedy and the clerks pounced
upon the figure in the chair and tore
OF his mark. To their astonishment
they discovered IL was myself
My shots had missed, and Clutching
Hand had leaped on me with mad.
dened fury.
Dressed In my coat and hat which
he had deity removed after overpow.
ering me, Clutching Hand had By this
time climbed through the window OF
the outer Office and was making his
way down the FIRE escape 10 the street.
He reached the foot OF the iron steps,
leaped OF and ran quickly away
Shouting a few directions 70 the sec.
retary. the clerks and Elaine. Kennedy
climbed through the window and dart.
ed down the fire escape In swift pur.
suit.
The Clutching Hand, however, man.
aged 20 elude capture again
While these exciting events were
occurring in Bennetts Office some
queer do!ngs we're in progress In the
heart OF Chinatown.
Deep underground. in one of the
catacombs known only 70 the inner.
most members OF the Chinese secret
societies. was Tong Wah, popularity
known as the hider," engaged in
some mysterious work.
Before him were eight odd.shaped
Chinese vials. and from these he was
carefully measuring certain proper.
t!ons, as II concocting some powerful
potion.
He stepped hack and looked arourd
suspiciously as he suddenly heard
footsteps above. The next moment
Long Sin. who had entered through q
trap door. climbed down a long lad
der and walked into the room.
Approaching Tong Wah, he asked
when will the death drink be
resdy?"
1T is now prepared" was the re.
ply.
A few minutes later the Clutching
Hand drove up 10 Long Sins house IN
the taxicab and. after paying the
chauffeur, went 10 the door and
knocked sharply.
In response TO his knocking. Long
Sin appeared on the threshold and mo.
toned TO Bennett to come In, evides..