Tensas gazette., 1915-05-14


seen in mechanical pencils used in
offices. hotels. banks and such places.
Kennedy examined the thing with
interest
What is it," ! asked.
"A new kinograph." he replied.
still gazing carefully at the rolled
up part of the paper. Il have in
stalled it because it registers every
footstep on the floor of our apartment
We can't be too careful with this
Clutching Hand. want to know
whether We have had any visitors or
not in our absence. This straight line
indicates tha' we have not Wait a
moment"
Craig hastily unlocked the door and
entered. Inside ] could see him pac-
ing up and down our modest quarters.
DO you see anything. Walter?"
he called.
l looked q. the kinograph. The
pen had started to trace it's line. no
longer even and straight. but zigzag.
at different heights across the paper
He came to the Loor. What do you
think of it?" lie inquired
Some idea." answered enthusi-
astically.
We entered and fell to work on a
special Sunday story that I had been
forced to neglect. | was not so busy,
however. that ! did not notice out Of
the corner of my eye that Kennedy
had taken from its cover Elaine
Dodge's picture and was gazing at it
ravenously.
had finished as much of the article
as l could do then and was smoking
and reading it over. Kennedy was
still gazing at the picture Miss Dodge
had given him, then moving from place
to place about the room. evidently
wondering where it would look best.
doubt whether he had done another
blessed thing since we returned.
He tried it on the mantel. That
wouldn't do. At last he held it up be-
side a picture of Galton, l think, of
finger print and eugenics fame. who
hung on the wall directly opposite the
fireplace. Hastily he compared the
two. Elaine's picture was precisely
the same size.
Next he tore out the picture of the
scientist and threw 1t carelessly into
the fireplace. Then he placed Elaine's
picture in its place and hung it up
again. standing of to admire it.
watched him gleefully. Was this
Craig? Purposely moved my elbow
suddenly and pushed a book with a
bang on the floor. Kennedy actually
jumped. l picked up the book with a
muttered apology. No. this was not
the same old Craig.
Perhaps half an hour later was still
reading. Kennedy was now pacing up
and down the room. apparently unable
to concentrate his mind on any but
one subject.
He stopped a moment before the
photograph, looked at it fixedly. Then
he started his methodical walk again.
hesitated, and went over to the tele.
phone, calling a number which l rec
ognized.
"She must have been pretty we'll
done up by her experience" he said
apologetically. catching my eye. 81
was wondering if-hello!-oh, Miss
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. called up to
see If you were all right"
Craig was very much embarrassed,
but also very much in earnest.
A musical laugh rippled over the
telephone. "Yes, I'm all right, thank
you. Mr.. Kennedy-and put the pack
age you sent me into the safe, but"
"Package?" frowned Craig. why, /
sent you no package. Miss Dodge. In
the safe?"
why, yes. and the safe is all GOV.
cred with moisture-and so cold"
"Moisture-cold?" he repeated
hastily.
Yes. | have been wondering IL It is
all right. In fact. was going to call
you up. only was afraid you'd think
was foolish"
Il shall be right over" he answered
hastily, clapping the receiver back on
its hook. Walter" he added, seizing
his hat and coat, come on-hurry!"
A few minutes later We drove up in
taxi before the Dodge house and
rang the bell.
Jennings admitted us sleepily.
1t could not have been long after we
left Miss Dodge, late in the afternoon,
that Susie Martin. who had been quite
worried over our long absence after
the attempt to rob her father, dropped
in on Elaine. Wide-eyed, she had lis
tened to Elaine's story of what had
happened.
And you think this Clutching Hand
has never recovered the discriminating
papers that caused him to murder
your father?" asked Susie.
Elaine shook her head. mo. Let me
show you the new safe I've bought.
Mr.. Kennedy thinks it wonderful"
Il should think you'd be proud of it."
Susie. Il must tell father to
get one. too"
At that very moment. II they had
known it. the Clutching Hand. with
his sinister, masked face, was peering
at the two girls from the other side
of the portieres.