The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1915-07-15


wounded man, as comforta bly, as pos
sible under the circumstances, in the
rear seat, while his pals started the
car off with jerk in the hurry of es-
cape.
. Jennings, having hastily slipped his
trousers on over his pajamas, came
running down the hall, while Marie,
frightened, came in the other direc-
ton. Aunt Josephine appeared few
seconds later, adding to the general
excitement.
What's the natter" she asked,
anxiously.
"A burglar, I think" exclaimed
Elaine, still holding the gun in her
hand. Someone tried to get into my
window"
my gracious!" cried Aunt Joseph
fne, in alarm, Where will this thing
end?"
We'll" Elaine laughed, a little nerv-
ously, now that it was all over, Il
want you all to go to bed and stop
worrying about me. Don't you see
I'm perfectly able to take care of my
self? Besides, there isn't a chance
now of the burglar coming back. Why,
l shot him"
"Yes," put in Aunt Josephine, "but
-"
Elaine laughingly interrupted her
and playfully made as though she
we're driving them out of her room.
RUSTY" she called. Down, there"
The intelligent collie seemed to I'M
derstand. He lay down by the door
way, his nose close to the bottom of
the door, and his ears alert.
Finally Elaine, too, retired again.
Meanwhile the wounded man was
being hurried to one of the hangouts of
the mysterious Clutching Hand
The car containing the wounded
Pitts Slim" drew up, and the other
two men leaped out of it. With hur-
ried glance about they unlocked the
front door with pass key and en-
tered, carrying the man.
Indoors was another emissary of the
Clutching Hand rather studious-
looking chap.
why, what's the matter?" he ex-
claimed as the crooks entered his room
supporting their half-fainting, wounded
pal.
slim got a couple of pills. they
painted as they laid him on a couch.
"How?" demanded the other.
Trying to get into the Dodge house.
Elaine did it."
Slim was, quite evidently, badly
wounded and was bleeding profusely
A glance at him was enough for the
misunderstanding chap He went to a
secret panel and, pressing it down,
took out what was apparently secret
house telephone.
In another part of this mysterious
house was the secret room of the
Clutching Hand himself, where he hid
his identity from even his most trust
ed followers o
His telephone rang and he took
down the receiver
pitts Sims been wounded, badly,
chief" was all he waited to hear.
With scarcely word he hung up
the receiver then opened a table
drawer and took out full face mask
Next he went to nearby bookcase,
pressed another secret spring, and a
panel opened He passed through, the
mask adjusted
Across, in the larger outside study,
another panel opened, and the Clutch
ing Hand, all crouched up, trans
formed, appeared. Without word he
advanced to the couch on which the
wounded crook lay, and examined him.
How did it happen?" he asked at
length.
Miss Dodge shot him." answered
the others, with an automatic"
THAT Craig Kennedy must have
given it to her!" he exclaimed with
suppressed fury
For moment the Clutching Hand
stopped to consider Then he seized
the regular telephone.
Doctor Martini he asked, as he got
the number he called.
Late as it was, the doctor, who was
a well-known surgeon in that part OF
the country, answered from an eX-
tension of his telephone near his bed.
The call was urgent, and apparently
from a family which he did not feel
that he could neglect.
Doctor Martin was a middle-aged
man, one of those medical men on
whose Judgment one instinctiveiy re-
lies.
1t was only matter of minutes be-
fore the doctor was speeding over the