Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-14

A moment Kennedy thought. Here was
a qusndary.
mo" ne shouted, Selling the telephone
Before Kennedy could move, clutching
Hand pulled the telephone wires with
almost superhuman strength from the
junction box.
I'm that watch" he Kissed, II have
set a poisoned needle in a spring that
viii be released and will plunge into her
arm at exactly o'clock. On the needle
Is ricinusl'
Craig advanced, furious. AS he did SO
clHtching Hand pointed calmly to the
clock. 1t was twenty minutes of threel
With a mental struggle Kennedy con-
trolled his lothing Of the creature before
him.
IAN right-but you'll hear from me -
sooner than you suspect" he shouted,
starting for the door.
Then he came back and lifted his hat.
hiding as much as possible the selenium
cell. letting the light fall on IL.
only Elaine's life has saved you"
With last threat he dashed out. He
hailed a cab returning from some steam
ship wharves not far away.
"Quick!' he ordered. giving the Dodge
address on Fifth avenue.
Minute after minute the police and I
waited. Was anything wrong? Where
was Craig?
then came the strong burr Of the bell
Kennedy needed us.
With a shout of encouragement to the
men I dashed out and over to the house
Meanwhile ciutching Hand himself had
approached the table to recover his
weapon and had noticed the queer little
selenium cell. He picked It up and for
the first time saw the wire leading out
The deucel" he cried. Hes planne,i
to get me anyhow"
At the desk he paused and took out
piece of cardboard. Then. with a heavy
black-marlSins pencil. he calmly printed
on It, while we battered at the barricaded
door, a few short feet away.
He laid the sign on the desk. then on
another piece OF cardboard, drew crudely
a hand with the index finger, pointing.
This he placed on a chair, Indicating the
desk.
Just as the swaying and bullying door
gave way, Clutching Hand gave the desk
a pull. 1t opened up-his getaway.
|, He closed it with a sardonic smile in
our direction, just as the door crashed in
We looked about. There was not,a soul
in the room, nothing but the selenium
cell. the chairs, the desk
Look! cried, catching sight of the
index finger, and going over to the desk.
We rolled back the top. There on the
flat top was a sign:
Dear BIocIxheads,
Kennedy and couldn't wait.
Yours as ever.
Then came that mysterious sign of the
Clutching Hand.
In the next house Clutching Hand hed
literally come out OF an upright piano
nto the room corresponding to that he
lad left. Hastily he threw off his haAd<
kerohief, SLOUGH hat, old coat and trous-
ers A neat striped pair OF trousers re-
placed the old. frayed and baggy pair.
A new shirt. then a sporty vest and
frock coat followed.
At the door Of the new headquarters, a
few seconds later. stood with the police.
mot a sign Of him anywheres." growied
one of the officers.
Nor was there. Down the street we
could see only straight. well-dressed.
distinguished looking man who had evil
IDENTIFY walked down to the docks to see
friend off. perhaps.
Elaine was sitting in the library read
Ing when Aunt Josephine turned to her.
What time is it. dear7'' she asked.
Elaine glanced at her pretty new
trinket.