The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-05-13

citedly.
mo. this IL Mr.. jameson"
"oh, Mr.. Jameson, I've discovered
the Clutching Hand papers" she be.
gan. more and more excited.
Have you read them?" came back
the voice quickly.
mo: shall II"
Then don't unseal them" cautioned
the voice. Put them back exactly as
you found them and I'll tell Mr.. Ken
nedy the moment | can get hold OF
him"
"All right" said Elaine. "Tll do
that And please get him rs soon as
you possibly can"
II will"
I'm going out shopping now" she
returned, suddenly. nut, tell him I'll
be right back-right away"
Very we'll
Hanging up the receiver. Elaine
dutifully replaced the papers In the
box and returned the box TO its secret
hiding place. pressing the spring and
sliding the panel shut.
A few minutes later she left the
house in the Dodge ca-.
Outside our laboratory, leaning up
against a railing. Dan the Dude, an
emissary OF the Clutching Hand. whose
dress now greatly belied his under.
world "monniker." had beer shadow.
ing us. watching 10 sec when we left.
The moment We disappeared. he
raised his hand carefully above his
head and made the sign Of the Clutch.
ing Hand Far down the street, in a
closed car. the Clutching Hand him.
self. HIS face MASKED, gave an IN.
swering sign.
\ moment later M left the car. eaa.
ing about stealthily Not a soul was
In sight and he managed 20 make his
way 10 the door OF our laboratory
without being observed,
Probably he thought that the pa.
pers might be at the laboratory. for
he had repeatedly failed to locate
them at the Dodge house. At any rate
he was busily engaged In ransacking
drawers and cabinets, in the labora.
tory, when the telephone suddenly
rang
An instant he hesitated. Then, dis.
guising his voice as much as he could
TO initiate mine, he took up the re.
ceiver.
"Hello!" he answered.
His face was a study in all that
was dark as he realized that II was
Elaine calling. He olenched his crook.
ed hand ever more ~viciously.
Have you read them" he asked.
curbing his impotence as she unsus.
pectingly poured forth her story, sup.
possedly to me.
Then don't unseal them" he has.
tened TO reply. Put them back.
Then there can be no question about
them. You can open them before wit.
nesses."
For a moment he paused. then add.
ed: Put them back, and tell no
one OF their discovery. vii. tell Mr..
Kennedy the momen | can get him"
C%lutching Hand studied for a mo.
ment and then grabbed the telephone
again.
Hello, Dam" he called when he got
his number. Miss Dodge is going
shopping. ! want you and the other
Falsers TO follow her-delay her all
you can. Use your own judgment
1t was what had come 10 be known
in his organization as the Brother.
hood Of Falsers." There. in the back
room OF a low dive, were Dan the
Dude, the cmissary who had been loi.
tering about the laboratory, a gun.
man, Dago Mike, a couple OF women,
slatterns one known as Kitty the
Hawk. and a boy Of eight or ten, whom
they called Billy.
AN right. Chief" shouted back
Dan, their leader. as ne hung up the
telephone after noting carefully the
hasty instructions. WEI do it
trust US"
With alacrity the Brotherhood
went their separate ways.
Elaine had not been gone long from
the house when Craig and | arrived
there.
Too bad" greeted Jennings. but
MISS Elaine mas Just gone shopping
and ! don't know when she'll be
back"
Aunt Josephine greeted us cordially.
and Craig set down the v~ocaphone
package he was carrying.
I'm not going to let anything hap
pen here TO Miss Elaine again II !
can help IT," remarked Craig In a low
tone. a moment later, gazing about the
library.
What are you thinking OF dolng?"
asked Aunt Josephine keenly.
I'm going TO put In a vocaphone,"
he returned. unwrapping II.
What's that?" she asked.
"A loud speaking telephone-con.
nected with my laboratory" he ex.
planned. repeating what he had al.
ready told me, while she listened al.
most awe-struck at the latest scientific
wonder.
He was looking about, trying To nR.
ure out Just where II could be placed
to best advantage, when he approached