Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-24
CONTINUED from Page EIGHTY

N~NANf%%NNe eANAA 80 1AeANf
It had been about tho middle Of the
morning that an express wagon had
pulled up sharply before our apartment.
Mr.. Kennedy live here" asked one Of
the expressmen, descending with his
helper and approaching our janitor, Jens
Jensen, a typical Swede, who was com
ing up out OF the basement.
Jens growied surly. "Yes-but Mr.
Kannady. he bane out
TOO bad-we've got this large cabinet
no ordered from Grand Rapids. We
can't cart 1t around all day. Can't you
let us in 30 we can leave it?'
Jensen muttered "wall-I guess It
bane all right"
They took the cabinet off the wagon
and carried II upstairs, Jensen opened
our door. still grumbling, and they placed
the heavy cabinet in the living room.
Sign here"
You fallers bane a nuisance" pro-
tested Jens. signing nevertheless.
Scarcely had the sound OF their foot
falls died away in the outside hallway
when the door Of the cabinet slowly
opened and a masked face protruded.
gazing about the room.
II was the Clutchiug Hand.
From the cabinet he took q. large pack
ago wrapped in newspapers. As he held
it, looking keenly about, his eye rested
on Elaine's picture. A moment he looked
at It then quickly at the fireplace OPP
posite.
An idea seemed TO occur 70 him. He
took the package TO the fireplace. re-
moved the screen and laid the package
over the andirons with one end pointing
out into the room.
Next he took from the cabinet coupIe
OF storage batteries and a coil of wire.
Derby and quickly he fixed them on the
package.
Meanwhile. before an alleyway across
the street and further down the long
block the express wagon had stopped.
The driver and his helper olambered out
and for q moment stood talking in low
tones. with covert giances at our apart
ment' They moved into the alley and the
dryer drew out battered pair of opera
glasses, leveled that at our windows.
Having completed fixing the batteries
and wires, Clutching Hand ran the wires
along the moulding on the wall overhead.
from the fireplace until he was directly
over Elaine's picture. SkilIfuIly he man.
aged to fix the wires, using them I'm place
OF the picture wires to support The
framed photograph. Then he carefully
moved the photograph until It hung very
noticeably askew on the wall.
Inc last wire Joined. he looked about
the room. then noiselessly movd TO the
window and raised the shade.
Quickly he raised his hand and brought
the fingers slowly together. 1t was the
sign.
orr In the alley the express driver and
his helper were still gazing up through
the opera glaSs.
What dye See. BinH" he asked, hand
ing over the glass.
The other took II and looked. TITS him
the Hand. Jack" whispered the helper.
handing the glasses back.
Quickly they Jumped into the woman
and away II ratified.
Jensen was smoking placidly as the
wagon pulled up the second time.
Sorry" said the driver sheepishiy,
but we delivered the cabinet to the
wrong Mr.. Kennedy"
He pulled out the inevitable book 20
prove it.
wall you bane fine faliers." growled
Jensen. putting like furnace, in his
fury. You cannot go up agane."
We'll get fired for the mistake"
pleaded the helper.
Just this once" urged the driver, as
he ratified some loose change IN his
pocket. ':Hsre-there goes a whole DAYS
tips"
He handed Jens dollar in small
change.
stu. grumpy, but Modified by the
silver. Jens let them go up and open the
door to our rooms again. There stood
the cabinet, as outwardly innocent as
when 1t came in.
Lugging and tugging they managed to
get the heavy piece OF furniture out and
downstairs again, loading it On the