The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-03

- YES. L nave Deen wondering IL II is
all right. In fact, was going to call
you up, only was afraid you'd think
was foolish
81 shall be right over he answered
hastily, clapping the receiver back on
its hook Waiter" he added, Selling
his hat and coat, come on-hurryI"
A few minutes later we drove up in
a 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"
81 should think you'd be proud of it"
admired Susie. Il must tell father to
| get one, too
At that very moment, if they had
] known it, the Clutohing Hand, with
his sinister, masked face, was peering
at the two girls from the other side
of the portieres.
Susie rose to go and Elaine followed
her to the door, No sooner had she
gone than the Clutching Hand came
out from behind the curtains. He gaZed
about a moment, then, moving over to
the safe about which the two girls had
been talking, stealth1ly examined it.
He must have heard someone COM
ing, for with a gesture of hate at the
safe itself, as though he personified it,
he slipped back of the curtains again.
Elaine had returned, and as she sat
down at the desk to go over some pa-
pers which Bennett had left relative
to settling up the estate the masked
intruder stealthily and silently with
drew.
"a package for you, Miss Dodge .
announced Michael later in the eve
ming, as Elaine, in her dainty evening
gown, was still engaged in going over
the papers. He carried it in his hands
rather gingerly.
MIR. Kennedy sent it, ma'am. He
says it contains clues, and will you
please put it in the new safe for him. -
Elaine took the package eagerly and
examined it. Then she pulled open
the little round door of the globular
safe.
at must be getting cold out. Mi.
chael," she remarked. This package
is as cold as Ice
1T is, ma'am," answered Michael.
She closed the safe, and, with a
glance at her watch, set the time lock
and went upstairs to her room.
No sooner had Elaine disappeared
than Michael appeared again, catlike,
through the curtains from the drawing
room, and, after glance about the
dimly lighted library, discovering that
the coast was clear, motioned to fig
ure hiding behind the portieres.
A moment and Clutching Hand him
self came out
He moved over to the safe and
looked it over. Then he put out his
hand and touched it.
'Iisten!" cautioned Michael
Someone was coming, and they
hastily skunk behind the protecting
portieres. 1t was Marie, Elaine's maid
She turned up the lights and went
over to the desk for a book for which
Elaine had evidently sent her. She
paused and appeared to be listening
Then she went to the door,
"Jenningsi" she beckoned.
what is it, Marie?" he replied
She said nothing, but as he came VI
the hall led him to the center of tbs
; room.
Listen! heard signs and groansl
Jennings looked at her a moment
puzzled, then laughed. You girlsI'
he exclaimed. 81 suppose you'll alwayi
) think the library haunted now"
But. Jennings, Hsten,'' she per
sisted.
3 Jennings did listen. Sure enough
' there were sounds, weird, uncanny. H
4 gazed about the room It was eerie
Then he took a few steps toward tn
\ safe. Marie put out her hand to it an,
t started back.
.'why, that safe is all covered wit
i cold sweat!'' she cried with bate
p breath.
e Sure enough. the face of the SAT
t was beaded with dampness. Jenning
put his hand on it and quickly drew
e away, leaving a mark on the damn
a ness.
i, "w-what do you think of that?" h
; gasped.
: I'm going to tell Miss Dodge" erie
Marie, genuinely frightened.
A moment later she burst int
d Elaine's room.
] What is the matter, Narie?" aske
s Elaine, laying down her book fYo
Q look as If you had seen ghost"
@Ah, but mademoiselle-it ees ju.
!. like that. The safe-if mademoisell
win come down stairs, viii show
e you''
Puzzled, but interested, Elaine fo
& lowed her. In the library Jenninf
pointed mutely at the new safe Elair
approached it. AS they stood abou
n new beads Of perspiration. as it wer
formed on it. Elaine touched It an
v also quickly withdrew her hand.
II can't imagine what's the matter
q she said But-Wel ELI JENNINGS. W