Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-05-28

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Well" Elaine laughed, little ner'
ously, now that it was all over, :
want you all to 60 to bed and sto
worrying about me- Don't you Sc
I'm perfectly able to take care of m,
self? Besides. there isn't a chanc
now OF the burglar coming back. VIII,
l shot him."
YES" put in Aunt Josephine, "bu
Elaine laughingly interrupted he
and playfully made as though sh
were driving them out of her room.
RUSTY" she called. Down, there.
The intelligent collie seemed to ur
derstand. He lay down by the dool
way. his nose close to the bottom @
the door. and his ears alert.
Finally Elaine, too, retired again.
Meanwhile the wounded man wa
being hurried to one of the hangouts O
the mysterious Clutching Hand.
The car containing the wounde,
Pitts Slim" drew up, and the othe
two men leaped out of it. With a hur
ried glance about they unlocked tn,
front door with a pass key and en-
tered, carrying the man.
Indoors was another emissary of tn,
Clutching Hand, a rather studious
looking chap.
why. what's the natter" 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 a 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.
His telephone rang and he took
down the receiver.
Pitts Sims been wounded, badly,
chief" was all he waited to hear.
With scarcely a word he hung up
the receiver, then opened a table
drawer and took out full face mask.
Next he went to a 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 a 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 1t to herr" he exclaimed with
suppressed fury.
For a 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
4 wellknown surgeon in that part of
the country, answered from an ex-
tension Of his telephone near his bed.
The call was urgent, and apparently
rom a family which he did not feel
hat he could neglect.
Doctor Martin was a middle-aged
nan, one Of those medical men on
whose judgment one instinctively re-
les.
1t was only matter of minutes be-
ore the doctor was speeding over the
low deserted suburban roads, appar-
ntly on an errand Of mercy.
At the address that had been
,iven him he drew up to the side of
he road, got out and ran up the steps
o the door. A ring at the bell
rought a sleepy man to the door, in
is trousers and nightshirt.
"How's the patient?" asked Doctor
iartin. eagerly.
Patient" repeated the man. rub
ing his eyes. There's no one sick
ere"
Slowly it dawned on the doctor that
was a false alarm, and that he
lust be the victim Of some practical
oke.
We'll, that's great note" he
as the man shut the door.
He descended the steps, muttering
arsh language at some unknown
-ickster. AS he climbed back into |
is machine and made ready to start |
vo men seemed to rise before him
s II from nowhere.
AS a matter of fact they had been
ent there by the Clutching Hand. and |
ere hiding in a nearby cellarway I'M
| their chance came.
One man stood on the running
oard, on either side of him, and two
uns yawned menacingly at him.
Drive ahead that way." muttered |
ne man, seating himself in the rum
bout with his gun close to the doc
RS ribs.
The other kept his place on the run
ing board, and on they drove in the |