The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-31


"All right" nodded Jennings, ex-
aiming the order and finding it ap-
parently all right.
Dan followed him in, taking the lad
der and bucket upstairs, where Aunt
Josephine was still reading.
The man to clean the windows,
ma'am," apologized Jennings.
"Oh, very well" she nodded, taking
up her book, to go. Then, recalling
the frequent injunctions of Kennedy,
she paused long enough to speak
quietly to Jennings.
Stay here and watch him." she
whispered as she went out.
Jennings nodded, while Dan opened
a window and set to work.
Elaine now decided to go home.
From his closed car, the Clutching
Hand gazed intently at the Dodge
house. He could see Dan on the lad
der, now washing the library window,
his back toward him.
Dan turned slowly and made the
sign of the hand. Turning to his
chauffeur, the master criminal spoke
a few hurried words in a low tone and
tne driver hurried OH.
few minutes later the driver
might have been seen entering a near
by drug store and going into the tele-
| phone booth. Without a moments
hesitation he called upon the Dodge
house, and Marie, Elaine's maid, an
swered
rs Jennings there?" he asked.
Tell him a friend wants to speak
to him.
Wait a minute" she answered. I'll
get him"
Marie went toward the library, leav-
ing the telephone off the hook Dan
was washing the windows. half in
side. half outside the house, while Jen-
nings was trying to be very busy, al
though it was apparent that he was
watching Dan closely.
"A friend of yours wants to speak
to you over the telephone, Jennings"
said Marie, as she came into the
library.
The butler responded slowly, with a
covert glance at Dan.
No sooner had they gone, however,
than Dan climbed all the way into the
room, ran to the door and looked after
them. Then he ran to the window.
Across and down the street, the
Clutching Hand was gazing at the
house. He had seen Dan disappear
and suspected that the time had come
Sure enough. there was the sign OF
the hand. He hastily got out of the
car and hurried up the street. AL
this time the chauffeur was keeping
Jennings busy over the telephone with
some trumped-up story.
AS the master criminal came in by
the ladder through the open window
Dan was on guard, listening down the
hallway. A signal from Dan, and
Clutching Hand slid back of the por
there's. Jennings was returning.
I've finished these windows an
|. nounced Dan as the butler reappeared
"Now, I'll clean the hall windows"
| Jennings followed like a shadow.
No sooner had they gone thar
Clutching Hand stealthily came from
behind the portieres.
One of the maids was sweeping il
the hall as Dan went toward the win
dow, about to wash it.
Il wonder whether l locked thost
windows?" muttered Jennings. paus
ing in the hallway. Il guess I'd BET
ter make sure"
He had taken only step towar,
the library again when Dan watchfuIl,
caught sight of him. 1t would neve
do to have Jennings shopping aroun,
there now. Quick action was neces
sary. Dan knocked over a costl
Sevres vase.
There clumsy-see what you'v
done!" berated Jennings, starting t
pick up the pieces.
Dan had acted his part well an
promptly In the library Clutchin
Hand was busily engaged at that me
ment beside the secret panel search
ing for the spring that released il
He ran his finger along the woodwork
pausing here and there without SUI
ceeding.
"Confound it," he muttered, search
ing feverishly.
Kennedy, having made the arrang,
: ments with the telephone company b
which he had a clear wire from tn
Dodge house to his laboratory, had n
Joined me there and was putting o
ton of the vocaphone.
) Every now and then he woul
5 switch it on, and we would listen
: it as he demonstrated the wonderfI
little instrument to me. We Ia
: heard the window cleaner and Jer
: nings, but thought nothing of it a
the time.
Once, however. Craig paused. and
:. saw him listening more intently tina
e usual.
r They've gone out" he mutterec
D but surely there is some one in tn
! Dodge library"
v II listened. too. The thing was S
a sensitive that even a whisper coul
:. be magnifed. and l certainly did hea
T something.
I. Kennedy frowned. What was ths
b scratching noise? Could it be Jel
/ nings? Perhaps it was Rusty
+ Just then we could distinguish
r sound as though someone had move
about
). "No-that's not jennings. erie
Craig. "He went out"
d He looked at me a moment Th
e same stealthy noise was repeated.
), It's the Clutching Hand" he e.
e claimed excitedly.
A moment later Dan hurried int
L the Dodge library.
$ For heavens sake. Chief. hurry.