The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-21
order to get another. I'll have 70 60
I'll get this story from you. Craig"

The day before, In the suburban
house. the Clutching Hand had been
talking to two of his emissaries. an at
tractive young woman and q man.
They were Flirty Florrie'snd Dan
the Dude.
Now. I want you to get Kennedy"
he said. THE way to do 1t is TO sep
arate Kennedy and Elaine-seef
"All right. Chief. we'll do It," they
replied.
Clutching Hand had scarcely left
when Flirty Florris began by getting
published in the papers the story
which had seen.
The next day she called me up from
the suburban house. Having got me
to promise to see her, she had scarce
ly turned from the telephone when
Dan the Dude walked in from the next
room.
He's coming" she said.
Dan was carrying a huge stag head
with beautifully branched pair Of
antlers. Under his arm was q coll Of
wire which he had connected to the
inside of the head.
"Finel" he exclaimed. Then. point.
ing to the head, he added, Its all
ready See how fixed itT That ought
to please the Chief.
Dan moved quickly to the mantel
and mounted q stepladder there by
which he had taken down the head.
and started to replace the head above
the mantel.
He hooked the head on nail.
There" he said, unscrewing one Of
the beautiful brown glass eyes Of the
stag.
Back Of 1t could be seen camera
shutter.
"one Of those new quick shutter
cameras" he explained.
Then he ran a couple Of wires along
the molding around the room and into
closet, where he made the connec-
tion with a sort of switchboard on
which button was marked. SHUT.
TER" and the switch, WIND FILM"
Now, Flirty." he said, coming out
OF the closet and pulling up the shade
which let food OF sunlight into the
room, you see. | want you to stand
here--then, do your little trick
Just then the bell rang.
THAT must be Jameson" she cried.
"Now-get to your corner"
With last look Dan went into the
closet and shut the door.
Perhaps half an hour later Clutching
Hand himself called me up on the
telephone. 1t was he-not the Star
as l. learned only too late, .
/ had scarcely got out of the house,
as Craig told me afterwards, when
Flirty Florrie told all over again the
embroidered tale that had caught my
ear.
Kennedy said nothing, but listened
tntently, perhaps betraying in his face
the skepticism he felt
"You see," she said, still voluble and
eager to convince him, Il was only
walking on the street. Here-let me
show you. 1t was just like this"
She took his arm and, before he
knew, 1t, led him to the spot on tho
floor near the window which Dan had
indicated. Meanwhile Dan was lis.
tening attentively in his closet.
Newsstand there. You are just
as I was-only l didn't expect any.
thing"
She was pantomiming some one ap-
preaching stealthily while Kennedy
watched her with interest, tinged with
| doubt. Behind Craig in his closet,
Dan was reaching for the switchboard
! button.
you see," she said advancing
quickly and acting her words, "he
placed his hands on my shoulders
so-then threw his arms about my
neck-so!"
She said no more, but imprinted a
deep, passionate kiss on Kennedy's
mouth, clinging closely to him. Be-
fore Kennedy could draw away, Dan
in the closet, had pressed the but
ton and the switch several times in
rapid succession. -
"Th-thats very realistic" gasped
Craig, a good deal taken aback by the
sudden osculatory assault.
He frowned.
I'LL look into the case" he said,
backing away. "There-there may be
some scientific explanation-butA y
! er"-
He was plainly embarrassed and
hastened to make his adieux.
|
How little impression the thing
made on Kennedy can be easily seen
from the fact that on the way down.
town that afternoon he stopped at
Martins, on Fifth avenue, and bought
a ring-a very handsome solitaire, the
finest Martin had in the shop.
1t must have been about the time
that he decided to stop at Martins
that the Dodge butler, Jennings, ad'
mitted a young lady who presented a
card on which was engraved the
| name
Miss Florence Leigh,
20 Prospect Avenue.
AS he handed Elaine the card, she
looked up from the book she was read
ing and took 1t.
| aAn xf-I,k ~hzx, D. Tarrsc ua