,,the ,,craig ,,kennedy ,,series ,,the ,,exploits ,,of ,,elaine ,,by ,,arthur ,b4 ,,reeve ,,contents ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,clutching ,,hand ,,ii ,,the ,,twilight ,,sleep ,,iii ,,the ,,vanishing ,,jewels ,,iv ,,the ,,frozen ,,safe ,v ,,the ,,poisoned ,,room ,,vi ,,the ,,vampire ,,vii ,,the ,,double ,,trap ,,viii ,,the ,,hidden ,,voice ,,ix ,,the ,,death ,,ray ,x ,,the ,,life ,,current ,,xi ,,the ,,hour ,,of ,,three ,,xii ,,the ,,blood ,,crystals ,,xiii ,,the ,,devil ,,worshippers ,,xiv ,,the ,,reckoning ,,the ,,exploits ,,of ,,elaine ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,clutching ,,hand ,jameson1 here's a story ,i wish you'd follow up1 remarked the managing editor of the ,star to me one evening after ,i had turned in an assignment of the late afternoon4 ,he handed me a clipping from the evening edition of the ,star and ,i quickly ran my eye over the headline3 ,,the ,,clutching ,,hand ,,wins ,,again ,,new ,,york',s ,,mysterious ,,master ,,criminal ,,perfects ,,another ,,coup ,,city ,,police ,,completely ,,baffled ,here's this murder of ,fletcher1 the retired banker and trustee of the ,university1 he explained4 ,not a clue--except a warning letter signed with this mysterious clutching fist4 ,last week it was the robbery of the ,haxworth jewels and the killing of old ,haxworth4 ,again that curious sign of the hand4 ,then there was the dastardly attempt on ,sherburne1 the steel magnate4 ,not a trace of the assailant except this same clutching fist4 ,so it has gone1 ,jameson--the most alarming and most inexplicable series of murders that has ever happened in this country4 ,and nothing but this uncanny hand to trace them by4 ,the editor paused a moment1 then exclaimed1 ,why1 this fellow seems to take a diabolical--,i might almost say pathological--pleasure in crimes of violence1 revenge1 avarice and self-protection4 ,sometimes it seems as if he delights in the pure deviltry of the thing4 ,it is weird4 ,he leaned over and spoke in a low1 tense tone4 ,strangest of all1 the tip has just come to us that ,fletcher1 ,haxworth1 ,sherburne and all the rest of those wealthy men were insured in the ,consolidated ,mutual ,life4 ,now1 ,jameson1 ,i want you to find ,taylor ,dodge1 the president1 and interview him4 ,get what you can1 at any cost4 ,i had naturally thought first of ,kennedy1 but there was no time now to call him up and1 besides1 ,i must see ,dodge immediately4 ,dodge1 ,i discovered over the telephone1 was not at home1 nor at any of the clubs to which he belonged4 ,late though it was ,i concluded that he was at his office4 ,no amount of persuasion could get me past the door1 and1 though ,i found out later and shall tell soon what was going on there1 ,i determined1 about nine o'clock1 that the best way to get at ,dodge was to go to his house on ,fifth ,avenue1 if ,i had to camp on his front doorstep until morning4 ,the harder ,i found the story to get1 the more ,i wanted it4 ,with some misgivings about being admitted1 ,i rang the bell of the splendid1 though not very modern1 ,dodge residence4 ,an ,english butler1 with a nose that must have been his fortune1 opened the door and gravely informed me that ,mr4 ,dodge was not at home1 but was expected at any moment4 ,once in1 ,i was not going lightly to give up that advantage4 ,i bethought myself of his daughter1 ,elaine1 one of the most popular debutantes of the season1 and sent in my card to her1 on a chance of interesting her and seeing her father1 writing on the bottom of the card3 ,would like to interview ,mr4 ,dodge regarding ,clutching ,hand4 ,summoning up what assurance ,i had1 which is sometimes considerable1 ,i followed the butler down the hall as he bore my card4 ,as he opened the door of the drawing room ,i caught a vision of a slip of a girl1 in an evening gown4 ,elaine ,dodge was both the ingenue and the athlete--the thoroughly modern type of girl--equally at home with tennis and tango1 table talk and tea4 ,vivacious eyes that hinted at a stunning amber brown sparkled beneath masses of the most wonderful auburn hair4 ,her pearly teeth1 when she smiled1 were marvellous4 ,and she smiled often1 for life to her seemed a continuous film of enjoyment4 ,near her ,i recognized from his pictures1 ,perry ,bennett1 the rising young corporation lawyer1 a mighty good looking fellow1 with an affable1 pleasing way about him1 perhaps thirty-five years old or so1 but already prominent and quite friendly with ,dodge4 ,on a table ,i saw a book1 as though ,elaine had cast it down when the lawyer arrived to call on the daughter under pretense of waiting for her father4 ,crumpled on the table was the ,star4 ,they had read the story4 ,who is it1 ,jennings8 she asked4 ,a reporter1 ,miss ,dodge1 answered the butler glancing superciliously back at me1 and you know how your father dislikes to see anyone here at the house1 he added deferentially to her4 ,i took in the situation at a glance4 ,bennett was trying not to look discourteous1 but this was a call on ,elaine and it had been interrupted4 ,i could expect no help from that quarter4 ,still1 ,i fancied that ,elaine was not averse to trying to pique her visitor and determined at least to try it4 ,miss ,dodge1 ,i pleaded1 bowing as if ,i had known them all my life1 ,i've been trying to find your father all the evening4 ,it's very important4 ,she looked up at me surprised and in doubt whether to laugh or stamp her pretty little foot in indignation at my stupendous nerve4 ,she laughed4 ,you are a very brave young man1 she replied with a roguish look at ,bennett's discomfiture over the interruption of the tete-a-tete4 ,there was a note of seriousness in it1 too1 that made me ask quickly1 ,why8 ,the smile flitted from her face and in its place came a frank earnest expression which ,i later learned to like and respect very much4 ,my father has declared he will eat the very next reporter who tries to interview him here1 she answered4 ,i was about to prolong the waiting time by some jolly about such a stunning girl not having by any possibility such a cannibal of a parent1 when the rattle of the changing gears of a car outside told of the approach of a limousine4 ,the big front door opened and ,elaine flung herself in the arms of an elderly1 stern-faced1 gray-haired man4 ,why1 ,dad1 she cried1 where have you been8 ,i missed you so much at dinner4 ,i'll be so glad when this terrible business gets cleared up4 ,tell--me4 ,what is on your mind8 ,what is it that worries you now8 ,i noticed then that ,dodge seemed wrought-up and a bit unnerved1 for he sank rather heavily into a chair1 brushed his face with his handkerchief and breathed heavily4 ,elaine hovered over him solicitously1 repeating her question4 ,with a mighty effort he seemed to get himself together4 ,he rose and turned to ,bennett4 ,perry1 he exclaimed1 ,i've got the ,clutching ,hand6 ,the two men stared at each other4 ,yes1 continued ,dodge1 ,i've just found out how to trace it1 and tomorrow ,i am going to set the alarms of the city at rest by exposing-- ,just then ,dodge caught sight of me4 ,for the moment ,i thought perhaps he was going to fulfill his threat4 ,who the devil--why didn't you tell me a reporter was here1 ,jennings8 he sputtered indignantly1 pointing toward the door4 ,argument1 entreaty were of no avail4 ,he stamped crustily into the library1 taking ,bennett with him and leaving me with ,elaine4 ,inside ,i could hear them talking1 and managed to catch enough to piece together the story4 ,i wanted to stay1 but ,elaine1 smiling at my enthusiasm1 shook her head and held out her hand in one of her frank1 straight-arm hand shakes4 ,there was nothing to do but go4 ,at least1 ,i reflected1 ,i had the greater part of the story--all except the one big thing1 however1--the name of the criminal4 ,but ,dodge would know him tomorrow6 ,i hurried back to the ,star to write my story in time to catch the last morning edition4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 if ,i may anticipate my story1 ,i must tell of what we later learned had happened to ,dodge so completely to upset him4 ,ever since the ,consolidated ,mutual had been hit by the murders1 he had had many lines out in the hope of enmeshing the perpetrator4 ,that night1 as ,i found out the next day1 he had at last heard of a clue4 ,one of the company's detectives had brought in a red-headed1 lame1 partly paralyzed crook who enjoyed the expressive monniker of ,limpy ,red4 ,limpy ,red was a gunman of some renown1 evil faced and having nothing much to lose1 desperate4 ,whoever the master criminal of the ,clutching ,hand might have been he had seen fit to employ ,limpy but had not taken the precaution of getting rid of him soon enough when he was through4 ,wherefore ,limpy had a grievance and now descended under pressure to the low level of snitching to ,dodge in his office4 ,no1 ,governor1 the trembling wretch had said as he handed over a grimy envelope1 ,i ain't never seen his face--but here is directions how to find his hang-out4 ,as ,limpy ambled out1 he turned to ,dodge1 quivering at the enormity of his unpardonable sin in gang-land1 ,for ,god's sake1 ,governor1 he implored1 don't let on how you found out6 ,and yet ,limpy ,red had scarcely left with his promise not to tell1 when ,dodge1 happening to turn over some papers came upon an envelope left on his own desk1 bearing that mysterious ,clutching ,hand6 ,he tore it open1 and read in amazement3 ,destroy ,limpy ,red's instructions within the next hour4 ,dodge gazed about in wonder4 ,this thing was getting on his nerves4 ,he determined to go home and rest4 ,outside the house1 as he left his car1 pasted over the monogram on the door1 he had found another note1 with the same weird mark and the single word3 ,remember6 ,much of this ,i had already gathered from what ,i overheard ,dodge telling ,bennett as they entered the library4 ,some1 also1 ,i have pieced together from the story of a servant who overheard4 ,at any rate1 in spite of the pleadings of young ,bennett1 ,dodge refused to take warning4 ,in the safe in his beautifully fitted library he deposited ,limpy's document in an envelope containing all the correspondence that had lead up to the final step in the discovery4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was late in the evening when ,i returned to our apartment and1 not finding ,kennedy there1 knew that ,i would discover him at the laboratory4 ,craig1 ,i cried as ,i burst in on him1 ,i've got a case for you--greater than any ever before6 ,kennedy looked up calmly from the rack of scientific instruments that surrounded him1 test tubes1 beakers1 carefully labelled bottles4 ,he had been examining a piece of cloth and had laid it aside in disappointment near his magnifying glass4 ,just now he was watching a reaction in a series of test tubes standing on his table4 ,he was looking dejectedly at the floor as ,i came in4 ,indeed8 he remarked coolly going back to the reaction4 ,yes1 ,i cried4 ,it is a scientific criminal who seems to leave no clues4 ,kennedy looked up gravely4 ,every criminal leaves a trace1 he said quietly4 ,if it hasn't been found1 then it must be because no one has ever looked for it in the right way4 ,still gazing at me keenly1 he added1 ,yes1 ,i already knew there was such a man at large4 ,i have been called in on that ,fletcher case--he was a trustee of the ,university1 you know4 ,all right1 ,i exclaimed1 a little nettled that he should have anticipated me even so much in the case4 ,but you haven't heard the latest4 ,what is it8 he asked with provoking calmness1 ,taylor ,dodge1 ,i blurted out1 has the clue4 ,to-morrow he will track down the man6 ,kennedy fairly jumped as ,i repeated the news4 ,how long has he known8 he demanded eagerly4 ,perhaps three or four hours1 ,i hazarded4 ,kennedy gazed at me fixedly4 ,then ,taylor ,dodge is dead6 he exclaimed1 throwing off his acid-stained laboratory smock and hurrying into his street clothes4 ,impossible6 ,i ejaculated4 ,kennedy paid no attention to the objection4 ,come1 ,walter1 he urged4 ,we must hurry1 before the trail gets cold4 ,there was something positively uncanny about ,kennedy's assurance4 ,i doubted--yet ,i feared4 ,it was well past the middle of the night when we pulled up in a night-hawk taxicab before the ,dodge house1 mounted the steps and rang the bell4 ,jennings answered sleepily1 but not so much so that he did not recognize me4 ,he was about to bang the door shut when ,kennedy interposed his foot4 ,where is ,mr4 ,dodge8 asked ,kennedy4 ,is he all right8 ,of course he is--in bed1 replied the butler4 ,just then we heard a faint cry1 like nothing exactly human4 ,or was it our heightened imaginations1 under the spell of the darkness8 ,listen6 cautioned ,kennedy4 ,we did1 standing there now in the hall4 ,kennedy was the only one of us who was cool4 ,jennings' face blanched1 then he turned tremblingly and went down to the library door whence the sounds had seemed to come4 ,he called but there was no answer4 ,he turned the knob and opened the door4 ,the ,dodge library was a large room4 ,in the center stood a big flat-topped desk of heavy mahogany4 ,it was brilliantly lighted4 ,at one end of the desk was a telephone4 ,taylor ,dodge was lying on the floor at that end of the desk--perfectly rigid--his face distorted--a ghastly figure4 ,a pet dog ran over1 sniffed frantically at his master's legs and suddenly began to howl dismally4 ,dodge was dead6 ,help6 shouted ,jennings4 ,others of the servants came rushing in4 ,there was for the moment the greatest excitement and confusion4 ,suddenly a wild figure in flying garments flitted down the stairs and into the library1 dropping beside the dead man1 without seeming to notice us at all4 ,father6 shrieked a woman's voice1 heart broken4 ,father6 ,oh--my ,god--he--he is dead6 ,it was ,elaine ,dodge4 ,with a mighty effort1 the heroic girl seemed to pull herself together4 ,jennings1 she cried1 ,call ,mr4 ,bennett--immediately6 ,from the one-sided1 excited conversation of the butler over the telephone1 ,i gathered that ,bennett had been in the process of disrobing in his own apartment uptown and would be right down4 ,together1 ,kennedy1 ,elaine and myself lifted ,dodge to a sofa and ,elaine's aunt1 ,josephine1 with whom she lived1 appeared on the scene1 trying to quiet the sobbing girl4 ,kennedy and ,i withdrew a little way and he looked about curiously4 ,what was it8 ,i whispered4 ,was it natural1 an accident1 or--or murder8 ,the word seemed to stick in my throat4 ,if it was a murder1 what was the motive8 ,could it have been to get the evidence which ,dodge had that would incriminate the master criminal8 ,kennedy moved over quietly and examined the body of ,dodge4 ,when he rose1 his face had a peculiar look4 ,terrible6 he whispered to me4 ,apparently he had been working at his accustomed place at the desk when the telephone rang4 ,he rose and crossed over to it4 ,see6 ,that brought his feet on this register let into the floor4 ,as he took the telephone receiver down a flash of light must have shot from it to his ear4 ,it shows the characteristic electric burn4 ,the motive8 ,i queried4 ,evidently his pockets had been gone through1 though none of the valuables were missing4 ,things on his desk show that a hasty search has been made4 ,just then the door opened and ,bennett burst in4 ,as he stood over the body1 gazing down at it1 repressing the emotions of a strong man1 he turned to ,elaine and in a low voice1 exclaimed1 ,the ,clutching ,hand did this6 ,i shall consecrate my life to bring this man to justice6 ,he spoke tensely and ,elaine1 looking up into his face1 as if imploring his help in her hour of need1 unable to speak1 merely grasped his hand4 ,kennedy1 who in the meantime had stood apart from the rest of us1 was examining the telephone carefully4 ,a clever crook1 ,i heard him mutter between his teeth4 ,he must have worn gloves4 ,not a finger print--at least here4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,perhaps ,i can do no better than to reconstruct the crime as ,kennedy later pieced these startling events together4 ,long after ,i had left and even after ,bennett left1 ,dodge continued working in his library1 for he was known as a prodigious worker4 ,had he taken the trouble1 however1 to pause and peer out into the moonlight that flooded the back of his house1 he might have seen the figures of two stealthy crooks crouching in the half shadows of one of the cellar windows4 ,one crook was masked by a handkerchief drawn tightly about his lower face1 leaving only his eyes visible beneath the cap with visor pulled down over his forehead4 ,he had a peculiar stoop of the shoulders and wore his coat collar turned up4 ,one hand1 the right1 seemed almost deformed4 ,it was that which gave him his name in the underworld--the ,clutching ,hand4 ,the masked crook held carefully the ends of two wires attached to an electric feed1 and sending his pal to keep watch outside1 he entered the cellar of the ,dodge house through a window whose pane they had carefully removed4 ,as he came through the window he dragged the wires with him1 and1 alter a moment's reconnoitering attached them to the furnace pipe of the old-fashioned hot-air heater where the pipe ran up through the floor to the library above4 ,the other wire was quickly attached to the telephone where its wires entered4 ,upstairs1 ,dodge1 evidently uneasy in his mind about the precious ,limpy ,red letter1 took it from the safe along with most of the other correspondence and1 pressing a hidden spring in the wall1 opened a secret panel1 placed most of the important documents in this hiding place4 ,then he put some blank sheets of paper in an envelope and returned it to the safe4 ,downstairs the masked master criminal had already attached a voltmeter to the wires he had installed1 waiting4 ,just then could be heard the tinkle of ,dodge's telephone and the old man rose to answer it4 ,as he did so he placed his foot on the iron register1 his hand taking the telephone and the receiver4 ,at that instant came a powerful electric flash4 ,dodge sank on the floor grasping the instrument1 electrocuted4 ,below1 the master criminal could scarcely refrain from exclaiming with satisfaction as his voltmeter registered the powerful current that was passing4 ,a moment later the criminal slid silently into ,dodge's room4 ,carefully putting on rubber gloves and avoiding touching the register1 he wrenched the telephone from the grasp of the dead man1 replacing it in its normal position4 ,only for a second did he pause to look at his victim as he destroyed the evidence of his work4 ,minutes were precious4 ,first ,dodge's pockets1 then his desk engaged his attention4 ,there was left the safe4 ,as he approached the strong box1 the master criminal took two vials from his pockets4 ,removing a bust of ,shakespeare that stood on the safe1 he poured the contents of the vials in two mixed masses of powder forming a heap on the safe1 into which he inserted two magnesium wires4 ,he lighted them1 sprang back1 hiding his eyes from the light1 and a blinding gush of flame1 lasting perhaps ten seconds1 poured out from the top of the safe4 ,it was not an explosion1 but just a dazzling1 intense flame that sizzled and crackled4 ,it seemed impossible1 but the glowing mass was literally sinking1 sinking down into the cold steel4 ,at last it burned through--as if the safe had been of tinder6 ,without waiting a moment longer than necessary1 the masked criminal advanced again and actually put his hand down through the top of the safe1 pulling out a bunch of papers4 ,quickly he thrust them all1 with just a glance1 into his pocket4 ,still working quickly1 he took the bust of the great dramatist which he had removed and placed it under the light4 ,next from his pocket he drew two curious stencils1 as it were1 which he had apparently carefully prepared4 ,with his hands1 still carefully gloved1 he rubbed the stencils on his hair1 as if to cover them with a film of natural oils4 ,then he deliberately pressed them over the statue in several places4 ,it was a peculiar action and he seemed to fairly gloat over it when it was done1 and the bust returned to its place1 covering the hole4 ,as noiselessly as he had come1 he made his exit after one last malignant look at ,dodge4 ,it was now but the work of a moment to remove the wires he had placed1 and climb out of the window1 taking them and destroying the evidence down in the cellar4 ,a low whistle from the masked crook1 now again in the shadow1 brought his pal stealthily to his side4 ,it's all right1 he whispered hoarsely to the man4 ,now1 you attend to ,limpy ,red4 ,the villainous looking pal nodded and without another word the two made their getaway1 safely1 in opposite directions4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,when ,limpy ,red1 still trembling1 left the office of ,dodge earlier in the evening1 he had repaired as fast as his shambling feet would take him to his favorite dive upon ,park ,row4 ,there he might have been seen drinking with any one who came along1 for ,limpy had money--blood money1--and the recollection of his treachery and revenge must both be forgotten and celebrated4 ,had the ,bowery sinkers not got into his eyes1 he might have noticed among the late revellers1 a man who spoke to no one but took his place nearby at the bar4 ,limpy had long since reached the point of saturation and1 lurching forth from his new found cronies1 he sought other fields of excitement4 ,likewise did the newcomer1 who bore a strange resemblance to the look-out who had been stationed outside at the ,dodge house a scant half hour before4 ,what happened later was only a matter of seconds4 ,it came when the hated snitch--for gangdom hates the informer worse than anything else dead or alive--had turned a sufficiently dark and deserted corner4 ,a muffled thud1 a stifled groan followed as a heavy section of lead pipe wrapped in a newspaper descended on the crass skull of ,limpy4 ,the wielder of the improvised but fatal weapon permitted himself the luxury of an instant's cruel smile--then vanished into the darkness leaving another complete job for the coroner and the morgue4 ,it was the vengeance of the ,clutching ,hand--swift1 sure1 remorseless4 ,and yet it had not been a night of complete success for the master criminal1 as anyone might have seen who could have followed his sinuous route to a place of greater safety4 ,unable to wait longer he pulled the papers he had taken from the safe from his pocket4 ,his chagrin at finding them to be blank paper found only one expression of foiled fury--that menacing clutching hand6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy had turned from his futile examination for marks on the telephone4 ,there stood the safe1 a moderate sized strong box but of a modern type4 ,he tried the door4 ,it was locked4 ,there was not a mark on it4 ,the combination had not been tampered with4 ,nor had there been any attempt to soup the safe4 ,with a quick motion he felt in his pocket as if looking for gloves4 ,finding none1 he glanced about1 and seized a pair of tongs from beside the grate4 ,with them1 in order not to confuse any possible finger prints on the bust1 he lifted it off4 ,i gave a gasp of surprise4 ,there1 in the top of the safe1 yawned a gaping hole through which one could have thrust his arm6 ,what is it8 we asked1 crowding about him4 ,thermit1 he replied laconically4 ,thermit8 ,i repeated4 ,yes--a compound of iron oxide and powdered aluminum invented by a chemist at ,essen1 ,germany4 ,it gives a temperature of over five thousand degrees4 ,it will eat its way through the strongest steel4 ,jennings1 his mouth wide open with wonder1 advanced to take the bust from ,kennedy4 ,no--don't touch it1 he waved him off1 laying the bust on the desk4 ,i want no one to touch it--don't you see how careful ,i was to use the tongs that there might be no question about any clue this fellow may have left on the marble8 ,as he spoke1 ,craig was dusting over the surface of the bust with some black powder4 ,look6 exclaimed ,craig suddenly4 ,we bent over4 ,the black powder had in fact brought out strongly some peculiar1 more or less regular1 black smudges4 ,finger prints6 ,i cried excitedly4 ,yes1 nodded ,kennedy1 studying them closely4 ,a clue--perhaps4 ,what--those little marks--a clue8 asked a voice behind us4 ,i turned and saw ,elaine1 looking over our shoulders1 fascinated4 ,it was evidently the first time she had realized that ,kennedy was in the room4 ,how can you tell anything by that8' she asked4 ,why1 easily1 he answered picking up a brass blotting-pad which lay on the desk4 ,you see1 ,i place my finger on this weight--so4 ,i dust the powder over the mark--so4 ,you could see it even without the powder on this glass4 ,do you see those lines8 ,there are various types of markings--four general types--and each person's markings are different1 even if of the same general type--loop1 whorl1 arch1 or composite4 ,he continued working as he talked4 ,your thumb marks1 for example1 ,miss ,dodge1 are different from mine4 ,mr4 ,jameson's are different from both of us4 ,and this fellow's finger prints are still different4 ,it is mathematically impossible to find two alike in every respect4 ,kennedy was holding the brass blotter near the bust as he talked4 ,i shall never forget the look of blank amazement on his face as he bent over closer4 ,my ,god6 he exclaimed excitedly1 this fellow is a master criminal6 ,he has actually made stencils or something of the sort on which by some mechanical process he has actually forged the hitherto infallible finger prints6 ,i1 too1 bent over and studied the marks on the bust and those ,kennedy had made on the blotter to show ,elaine4 ,,the ,,finger ,,prints ,,on ,,the ,,bust ,,were ,,kennedy',s ,,own4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,twilight ,,sleep ,kennedy had thrown himself wholeheartedly into the solution of the mysterious ,dodge case4 ,far into the night1 after the challenge of the forged finger print1 he continued at work1 endeavoring to extract a clue from the meagre evidence--the bit of cloth and trace of poison already obtained from other cases1 and now added the strange succession of events that surrounded the tragedy we had just witnessed4 ,we dropped around at the ,dodge house the next morning4 ,early though it was1 we found ,elaine1 a trifle paler but more lovely than ever1 and ,perry ,bennett themselves vainly endeavoring to solve the mystery of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,they were at ,dodge's desk1 she in the big desk chair1 he standing beside her1 looking over some papers4 ,there's nothing there1 ,bennett was saying as we entered4 ,i could not help feeling that he was gazing down at ,elaine a bit more tenderly than mere business warranted4 ,have you--found anything8 queried ,elaine anxiously1 turning eagerly to ,kennedy4 ,nothing--yet1 he answered shaking his head1 but conveying a quiet idea of confidence in his tone4 ,just then ,jennings1 the butler1 entered1 bringing the morning papers4 ,elaine seized the ,star and hastily opened it4 ,on the first page was the story ,i had telephone down very late in the hope of catching a last city edition4 ,we all bent over and ,craig read aloud3 ,,clutching ,,hand ,,still ,,at ,,large ,,new ,,york',s ,,master ,,criminal ,,remains ,,undetected--,,perpetrates ,,new ,,daring ,,murder ,,and ,,robbery ,,of ,,millionaire ,,dodge ,he had scarcely finished reading the brief but alarming news story that followed and laid the paper on the desk1 when a stone came smashing through the window from the street4 ,startled1 we all jumped to our feet4 ,craig hurried to the window4 ,not a soul was in sight6 ,he stooped and picked up the stone4 ,to it was attached a piece of paper4 ,quickly he unfolded it and read3 ,craig ,kennedy will give up his search for the ,clutching ,hand--or die6 ,later ,i recalled that there seemed to be a slight noise downstairs1 as if at the cellar window through which the masked man had entered the night before4 ,in point of fact1 one who had been outside at the time might actually have seen a sinister face at that cellar window1 but to us upstairs it was invisible4 ,the face was that of the servant1 ,michael4 ,without another word ,kennedy passed into the drawing room and took his hat and coat4 ,both ,elaine and ,bennett followed4 ,i'm afraid ,i must ask you to excuse me--for the present1 ,craig apologized4 ,elaine looked at him anxiously4 ,you--you will not let that letter intimidate you8 she pleaded1 laying her soft white hand on his arm4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 she added1 bravely keeping back the tears1 avenge him6 ,all the money in the world would be too little to pay--if only-- ,at the mere mention of money ,kennedy's face seemed to cloud1 but only for a moment4 ,he must have felt the confiding pressure of her hand1 for as she paused1 appealingly1 he took her hand in his1 bowing slightly over it to look closer into her upturned face4 ,i'll try1 he said simply4 ,elaine did not withdraw her hand as she continued to look up at him4 ,craig looked at her1 as ,i had never seen him look at a woman before in all our long acquaintance4 ,miss ,dodge1 he went on1 his voice steady as though he were repressing something1 ,i will never take another case until the ',clutching ,hand' is captured4 ,the look of gratitude she gave him would have been a princely reward in itself4 ,i did not marvel that all the rest of that day and far into the night ,kennedy was at work furiously in his laboratory1 studying the notes1 the texture of the paper1 the character of the ink1 everything that might perhaps suggest a new lead4 ,it was all1 apparently1 however1 without result4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was some time after these events that ,kennedy1 reconstructing what had happened1 ran across1 in a strange way which ,i need not tire the reader by telling1 a ,dr4 ,haynes1 head of the ,hillside ,sanitarium for ,women1 whose story ,i shall relate substantially as we received it from his own lips3 ,it must have been that same night that a distinguished visitor drove up in a cab to our ,hillside ,sanitarium1 rang the bell and was admitted to my office4 ,i might describe him as a moderately tall1 well-built man with a pleasing way about him4 ,chiefly noticeable1 it seems to me1 were his mustache and bushy beard1 quite medical and foreign4 ,i am1 by the way1 the superintending physician1 and that night ,i was sitting with ,dr4 ,thompson1 my assistant1 in the office discussing a rather interesting case1 when an attendant came in with a card and handed it to me4 ,it read simply1 ,dr4 ,ludwig ,reinstrom1 ,coblenz4 ,here's that ,dr4 ,reinstrom1 ,thompson1 about whom my friend in ,germany wrote the other day1 ,i remarked1 nodding to the attendant to admit ,dr4 ,reinstrom4 ,i might explain that while ,i was abroad some time ago1 ,i made a particular study of the ,daemmerschlaf--otherwise1 the twilight sleep1 at ,freiburg where it was developed and at other places in ,germany where the subject had attracted great attention4 ,i was much impressed and had imported the treatment to ,hillside4 ,while we waited ,i reached into my desk and drew out the letter to which ,i referred1 which ended1 ,i recall3 ,as ,dr4 ,reinstrom is in ,america1 he will probably call on you4 ,i am sure you will be glad to know him4 ,with kindest regards1 ,i am1 ,fraternally yours1 ,,emil ,,schwarz1 ,m4 ,d41 ,director1 ,leipsic ,institute of ,medicine4 ,most happy to meet you1 ,dr4 ,reinstrom1 ,i greeted the new arrival1 as he entered our office4 ,for several minutes we sat and chatted of things medical here and abroad4 ,what is it1 ,doctor1 ,i asked finally1 that interests you most in ,america8 ,oh1 he replied quickly with an expressive gesture1 it is the broadmindedness with which you adopt the best from all over the world1 regardless of prejudice4 ,for instance1 ,i am very much interested in the new twilight sleep4 ,of course you have borrowed it largely from us1 but it interests me to see whether you have modified it with practice4 ,in fact ,i have come to the ,hillside ,sanitarium particularly to see it used4 ,perhaps we may learn something from you4 ,it was most gracious and both ,dr4 ,thompson and myself were charmed by our visitor4 ,i reached over and touched a call-button and our head nurse entered from a rear room4 ,are there any operations going on now8 ,i asked4 ,she looked mechanically at her watch4 ,yes1 there are two cases1 now1 ,i think1 she answered4 ,would you like to follow our technique1 ,doctor8 ,i asked1 turning to ,dr4 ,reinstorm4 ,i should be delighted1 he acquiesced4 ,a moment later we passed down the corridor of the ,sanitarium1 still chatting4 ,at the door of a ward ,i spoke to the attendant who indicated that a patient was about to be anesthetized1 and ,reinstrom and ,i entered the room4 ,there1 in perfect quiet1 which is an essential part of the treatment1 were several women patients lying in bed in the ward4 ,before us two nurses and a doctor were in attendance on one4 ,i spoke to the ,doctor1 ,dr4 ,holmes1 by the way1 who bowed politely to the distinguished ,dr4 ,reinstrom1 then turned quickly to his work4 ,miss ,sears1 he asked of one of the nurses1 will you bring me that hypodermic needle8 ,how are you getting on1 ,miss ,stern8 to the other who was scrubbing the patient's arm with antiseptic soap and water1 thoroughly sterilizing the skin4 ,you will see1 ,dr4 ,reinstrom4 ,i interposed in a low tone1 that we follow in the main your ,freiburg treatment4 ,we use scopolamin and narkophin4 ,i held up the bottle1 as ,i said it1 a rather peculiar shaped bottle1 too4 ,and the pain8 he asked4 ,practically the same as in your experience abroad4 ,we do not render the patient unconscious1 but prevent her from remembering anything that goes on4 ,dr4 ,holmes1 the attending physician1 was just starting the treatment4 ,filling his hypodermic1 he selected a spot on the patient's arm1 where it had been scrubbed and sterilized1 and injected the narcotic4 ,how simply you do it all1 here6 exclaimed ,reinstrom in surprise and undisguised admiration4 ,you ,americans are wonderful6 ,come--see a patient who is just recovering1 ,i added1 much flattered by the praise1 which1 from a ,german physician1 meant much4 ,reinstrom followed me out of the door and we entered a private room of the hospital where another woman patient lay in bed carefully watched by a nurse4 ,how do you do8 ,i nodded to the nurse in a modulated tone4 ,everything progressing favorably8 ,perfectly1 she returned1 as ,reinstrom1 ,haynes and myself formed a little group about the bedside of the unconscious woman4 ,and you say they have no recollection of anything that happens8 asked ,reinstrom4 ,absolutely none--if the treatment is given properly1 ,i replied confidently4 ,i picked up a piece of bandage which was the handiest thing about me and tied it quite tightly about the patient's arm4 ,as we waited1 the patient1 who was gradually coming from under the drug1 roused herself4 ,what is that--it hurts6 she said putting her hand on the bandage ,i had tied tightly4 ,that is all right4 ,just a moment4 ,i'll take it off4 ,don't you remember it8 ,i asked4 ,she shook her head4 ,i smiled at ,reinstrom4 ,you see1 she has no recollection of my tying the bandage on her arm1 ,i pointed out4 ,wonderful6 ejaculated ,reinstrom as we left the room4 ,all the way back to the office he was loud in his praises and thanked us most heartily1 as he put on his hat and coat and shook hands a cordial good-bye4 ,now comes the strange part of my story4 ,after ,reinstrom had gone1 ,dr4 ,holmes1 the attending physician of the woman whom we had seen anesthetized1 missed his syringe and the bottle of scopolamine4 ,miss ,sears1 he asked rather testily1 what have you done with the hypodermic and the scopolamine8 ,nothing1 she protested4 ,you must have done something4 ,she repeated that she had not4 ,well1 it is very strange then1 he said1 ,i am positive ,i laid the syringe and the bottle right here on this tray on the table4 ,holmes1 ,miss ,sears and ,miss ,stern all hunted1 but it could not be found4 ,others had to be procured4 ,i thought little of it at the time1 but since then it has occurred to me that it might interest you1 ,professor ,kennedy1 and ,i give it to you for what it may be worth4 ,it was early the next morning that ,i awoke to find ,kennedy already up and gone from our apartment4 ,i knew he must be at the laboratory1 and1 gathering the mail1 which the postman had just slipped through the letter slot1 ,i went over to the ,university to see him4 ,as ,i looked over the letters to cull out my own1 one in a woman's handwriting on attractive notepaper addressed to him caught my eye4 ,as ,i came up the path to the ,chemistry ,building ,i saw through the window that1 in spite of his getting there early1 he was finding it difficult to keep his mind on his work4 ,it was the first time ,i had ever known anything to interfere with science in his life4 ,i thought of the letter again4 ,craig had lighted a ,bunsen burner under a large glass retort4 ,but he had no sooner done so than he sat down on a chair and1 picking up a book which ,i surmised might be some work on toxicology1 started to read4 ,he seemed not to be able1 for the moment1 to concentrate his mind and after a little while closed the book and gazed straight ahead of him4 ,again ,i thought of the letter1 and the vision that1 no doubt1 he saw of ,elaine making her pathetic appeal for his help4 ,as he heard my footstep in the hall1 it must have recalled him for he snapped the book shut and moved over quickly to the retort4 ,well1 ,i exclaimed as ,i entered1 you are the early bird4 ,did you have any breakfast8 ,i tossed down the letters4 ,he did not reply4 ,so ,i became absorbed in the morning paper4 ,still1 ,i did not neglect to watch him covertly out of the corner of my eye4 ,quickly he ran over the letters1 instead of taking them1 one by one1 in his usual methodical way4 ,i quite complimented my own superior acumen4 ,he selected the dainty note4 ,a moment ,craig looked at it in anticipation1 then tore it open eagerly4 ,i was still watching his face over the top of the paper and was surprised to see that it showed1 first1 amazement1 then pain1 as though something had hurt him4 ,he read it again--then looked straight ahead1 as if in a daze4 ,strange1 how much crime there is now1 ,i commented1 looking up from the paper ,i had pretended reading4 ,no answer4 ,one would think that one master criminal was enough1 ,i went on4 ,still no answer4 ,he continued to gaze straight ahead at blankness4 ,by ,george1 ,i exclaimed finally1 banging my fist on the table and raising my voice to catch his attention1 you would think we had nothing but criminals nowadays4 ,my voice must have startled him4 ,the usually imperturbable old fellow actually jumped4 ,then1 as my question did not evidently accord with what was in his mind1 he answered at random1 ,perhaps--,i wonder if-- and then he stopped1 noncommittally4 ,suddenly he jumped up1 bringing his tightly clenched fist down with a loud clap into the palm of his hand4 ,by heaven6 he exclaimed1 ,i--,i will6 ,startled at his incomprehensible and unusual conduct ,i did not attempt to pursue the conversation but let him alone as he strode hastily to the telephone4 ,almost angrily he seized the receiver and asked for a number4 ,it was not like ,craig and ,i could not conceal my concern4 ,wh-what's the matter1 ,craig8 ,i blurted out eagerly4 ,as he waited for the number1 he threw the letter over to me4 ,i took it and read3 ,professor ,craig ,kennedy1 ,the ,university1 ,the ,heights1 ,city4 ,dear ,sir1-- ,i have come to the conclusion that your work is a hindrance rather than an assistance in clearing up my father's death and ,i hereby beg to state that your services are no longer required4 ,this is a final decision and ,i beg that you will not try to see me again regarding the matter4 ,very truly yours1 ,,elaine ,,dodge4 ,if it had been a bomb ,i could not have been more surprised4 ,a moment before ,i think ,i had just a sneaking suspicion of jealousy that a woman--even ,elaine--should interest my old chums4 ,but now all that was swept away4 ,how could any woman scorn him8 ,i could not make it out4 ,kennedy impatiently worked the receiver up and down1 repeating the number4 ,hello--hello1 he repeated1 ,yes--hello4 ,is ,miss--oh--good morning1 ,miss ,dodge4 ,he was hurrying along as if to give her no chance to cut him off4 ,i have just received a letter1 ,miss ,dodge1 telling me that you don't want me to continue investigating your father's death1 and not to try to see you again about-- ,he stopped4 ,i could hear the reply1 as sometimes one can when the telephone wire conditions are a certain way and the quality of the voice of the speaker a certain kind4 ,why--no--,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,i have written you no letter4 ,the look of mingled relief and surprise that crossed ,craig's face spoke volumes4 ,miss ,dodge1 he almost shouted1 this is a new trick of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,i--,i'll be right over4 ,craig hung up the receiver and turned from the telephone4 ,evidently he was thinking deeply4 ,suddenly his face seemed to light up4 ,he made up his mind to something and a moment later he opened the cabinet--that inexhaustible storehouse from which he seemed to draw weird and curious instruments that met the ever new problems which his strange profession brought to him4 ,i watched curiously4 ,he took out a bottle and what looked like a little hypodermic syringe1 thrust them into his pocket and1 for once1 oblivious to my very existence1 deliberately walked out of the laboratory4 ,i did not propose to be thus cavalierly dismissed4 ,i suppose it would have looked ridiculous to a third party but ,i followed him as hastily as if he had tried to shut the door on his own shadow4 ,we arrived at the corner above the ,dodge house just in time to see another visitor--,bennett--enter4 ,craig quickened his pace4 ,jennings had by this time become quite reconciled to our presence and a moment later we were entering the drawing room1 too4 ,elaine was there1 looking lovelier than ever in the plain black dress1 which set off the rosy freshness of her face4 ,and1 ,perry1 we heard her say1 as we were ushered in1 someone has even forged my name--the handwriting and everything--telling ,mr4 ,kennedy to drop the case--and ,i never knew4 ,she stopped as we entered4 ,we bowed and shook hands with ,bennett4 ,elaine's ,aunt ,josephine was in the room1 a perfect duenna4 ,that's the limit6 exclaimed ,bennett4 ,miss ,dodge has just been telling me1-- ,yes1 interrupted ,craig4 ,look1 ,miss ,dodge1 this is it4 ,he handed her the letter4 ,she almost seized it1 examining it carefully1 her large eyes opening wider in wonder4 ,this is certainly my writing and my notepaper1 she murmured1 but ,i never wrote the letter6 ,craig looked from the letter to her keenly4 ,no one said a word4 ,for a moment ,kennedy hesitated1 thinking4 ,might ,i--er--see your room1 ,miss ,dodge8 he asked at length4 ,aunt ,josephine frowned4 ,bennett and ,i could not conceal our surprise4 ,why1 certainly1 nodded ,elaine1 as she led the way upstairs4 ,it was a dainty little room1 breathing the spirit of its mistress4 ,in fact it seemed a sort of profanation as we all followed in after her4 ,for a moment ,kennedy stood still1 then he carefully looked about4 ,at the side of the bed1 near the head1 he stooped and picked up something which he held in the palm of his hand4 ,i bent over4 ,something gleamed in the morning sunshine--some little thin pieces of glass4 ,as he tried deftly to fit the tiny little bits together1 he seemed absorbed in thought4 ,quickly he raised it to his nose1 as if to smell it4 ,ethyl chloride6 he muttered1 wrapping the pieces carefully in a paper and putting them into his pocket4 ,an instant later he crossed the room to the window and examined it4 ,look6 he exclaimed4 ,there1 plainly1 were marks of a jimmy which had been inserted near the lock to pry it open4 ,miss ,dodge1 he asked1 might ,i--might ,i trouble you to let me see your arm8 ,wonderingly she did so and ,kennedy bent almost reverently over her plump arm examining it4 ,on it was a small dark discoloration1 around which was a slight redness and tenderness4 ,that1 he said slowly1 is the mark of a hypodermic needle4 ,as he finished examining ,elaine's arm he drew the letter from his pocket4 ,still facing her he said in a low tone1 ,miss ,dodge--you did write this letter--but under the influence of the new 'twilight sleep4' ,we looked at one another amazed4 ,outside1 if we had been at the door in the hallway1 we might have seen the sinister-faced ,michael listening4 ,he turned and slipped quietly away4 ,why1 ,craig1 ,i exclaimed excitedly1 what do you mean8 ,exactly what ,i say4 ,with ,miss ,dodge's permission ,i shall show you4 ,by a small administration of the drug which will injure you in no way1 ,miss ,dodge1 ,i think ,i can bring back the memory of all that occurred to you last night4 ,will you allow me8 ,mercy1 no6 protested ,aunt ,josephine4 ,craig and ,elaine faced each other as they had the day before when she had asked him whether the sudden warning of the ,clutching ,hand would intimidate him4 ,she advanced a step nearer4 ,elaine trusted him4 ,elaine6 protested ,aunt ,josephine again4 ,i want the experiment to be tried1 she said quietly4 ,a moment later ,kennedy had placed her in a wing chair in the corner of the room4 ,now1 ,mrs4 ,dodge1 he said1 please bring me a basin and a towel4 ,aunt ,josephine1 reconciled1 brought them4 ,kennedy dropped an antiseptic tablet into the water and carefully sterilized ,elaine's arm just above the spot where the red mark showed4 ,then he drew the hypodermic from his pocket--carefully sterilizing it1 also1 and filling it with scopolamine from the bottle4 ,just a moment1 ,miss ,dodge1 he encouraged as he jabbed the needle into her arm4 ,she did not wince4 ,please lie back on the couch1 he directed4 ,then turning to us he added1 ,it takes some time for this to work4 ,our criminal got over that fact and prevented an outcry by using ethyl chloride first4 ,let me reconstruct the scene4 ,as we watched ,elaine going under slowly1 ,craig talked4 ,that night1 he said1 warily1 the masked criminal of the ,clutching ,hand might have been seen down below us in the alley4 ,up here1 ,miss ,dodge1 worn out by the strain of her father's death1 let us say1 was nervously trying to read1 to do anything that would take her mind off the tragedy4 ,perhaps she fell asleep4 ,just then the ,clutching ,hand appeared4 ,he came stealthily through that window which he had opened4 ,a moment he hesitated1 seeing ,elaine asleep4 ,then he tiptoed over to the bed1 let us say1 and for a moment looked at her1 sleeping4 ,a second later he had thrust his hand into his pocket and had taken out a small glass bulb with a long thin neck4 ,that was ethyl chloride1 a drug which produces a quick anesthesia4 ,but it lasts only a minute or two4 ,that was enough1 ,as he broke the glass neck of the bulb--letting the pieces fall on the floor near the bed--he shoved the thing under ,elaine's face1 turning his own head away and holding a handkerchief over his own nose4 ,the mere heat of his hand was enough to cause the ethyl chloride to spray out and overcome her instantly4 ,he stepped away from her a moment and replaced the now empty vial in his pocket4 ,then he took a box from his pocket1 opened it4 ,there must have been a syringe and a bottle of scopolamine4 ,where they came from ,i do not know1 but perhaps from some hospital4 ,i shall have to find that out later4 ,he went to ,elaine1 quickly jabbing the needle1 with no resistance from her now4 ,slowly he replaced the bottle and the needle in his pocket4 ,he could not have been in any hurry now1 for it takes time for the drug to work4 ,kennedy paused4 ,had we known at the time1 ,michael--he of the sinister face--must have been in the hallway1 careful that no one saw him4 ,a tap at the door and the ,clutching ,hand1 that night1 must have beckoned him4 ,a moment's parley and they separated--,clutching ,hand going back to ,elaine1 who was now under the influence of the second drug4 ,our criminal1 resumed ,kennedy thoughtfully1 may have shaken ,elaine4 ,she did not answer4 ,then he may have partly revived her4 ,she must have been startled4 ,clutching ,hand1 perhaps1 was half crouching1 with a big ugly blue steel revolver leveled full in her face4 ',one word and ,i shoot6' he probably cried4 ',get up6' ,trembling1 she must have done so4 ',your slippers and a kimono1' he would naturally have ordered4 ,she put them on mechanically4 ,then he must have ordered her to go out of the door and down the stairs4 ,clutching ,hand must have followed and as he did so he would have cautiously put out the lights4 ,we were following1 spell-bound1 ,kennedy's graphic reconstruction of what must have happened4 ,evidently he had struck close to the truth4 ,elaine's eyes were closed4 ,gently ,kennedy led her along4 ,now1 ,miss ,dodge1 he encouraged1 try--try hard to recollect just what it was that happened last night--everything4 ,as ,kennedy paused after his quick recital1 she seemed to tremble all over4 ,slowly she began to speak4 ,we stood awestruck4 ,kennedy had been right6 ,the girl was now living over again those minutes that had been forgotten--blotted out by the drug4 ,and it was all real to her1 too1--terribly real4 ,she was speaking1 plainly in terror4 ,i see a man--oh1 such a figure--with a mask4 ,he holds a gun in my face--he threatens me4 ,i put on my kimono and slippers1 as he tells me4 ,i am in a daze4 ,i know what ,i am doing--and ,i don't know4 ,i go out with him1 downstairs1 into the library4 ,elaine shuddered again at the recollection4 ,ugh6 ,the room is dark1 the room where he killed my father4 ,moonlight outside streams in4 ,this masked man and ,i come in4 ,he switches on the lights4 ',go to the safe1' he says1 and ,i do it1 the new safe1 you know4 ',do you know the combination8' he asks me4 ',yes1' ,i reply1 too frightened to say no4 ',open it then1' he says1 waving that awful revolver closer4 ,i do so4 ,hastily he rummages through it1 throwing papers here and there4 ,but he seems not to find what he is after and turns away1 swearing fearfully4 ',hang it6' he cries to me4 ',where else did your father keep papers8' ,i point in desperation at the desk4 ,he takes one last look at the safe1 shoves all the papers he has strewn on the floor back again and slams the safe shut4 ',now1 come on6' he says1 indicating with the gun that he wants me to follow him away from the safe4 ,at the desk he repeats the search4 ,but he finds nothing4 ,almost ,i think he is about to kill me4 ',where else did your father keep papers8' he hisses fiercely1 still threatening me with the gun4 ,i am too frightened to speak4 ,but at last ,i am able to say1 ',i--,i don't know6' ,again he threatens me4 ',as ,god is my judge1' ,i cry1 ',i don't know4' ,it is fearful4 ,will he shoot me8 ,thank heaven6 ,at last he believes me4 ,but such a look of foiled fury ,i have never seen on any human face before4 ',sit down6' he growls1 adding1 'at the desk4' ,i do4 ',take some of your notepaper--the best4' ,i do that1 too4 ',and a pen1' he goes on4 ,my fingers can hardly hold it4 ',now--write6' he says1 and as he dictates1 ,i write-- ,this8 interjected ,kennedy1 eagerly holding up the letter that he had received from her4 ,elaine looked it over with her drug-laden eyes4 ,yes1 she nodded1 then lapsed again to the scene itself4 ,he reads it over and as he does so says1 ',now1 address an envelope4' ,himself he folds the letter1 seals the envelope1 stamps it1 and drops it into his pocket1 hastily straightening the desk4 ',now1 go ahead of me--again4 ,leave the room--no1 by the hall door4 ,we are going back upstairs4' ,i obey him1 and at the door he switches off the lights4 ,how ,i stand it1 ,i don't know4 ,i go upstairs1 mechanically1 into my own room--,i and this masked man4 ',take off the kimono and slippers6' he orders4 ,i do that4 ',get into bed6' he growls4 ,i crawl in fearfully4 ,for a moment he looks about1--then goes out--with a look back as he goes4 ,oh6 ,oh6 ,that hand--which he raises at me--,,that ,,hand6 ,the poor girl was sitting bolt upright1 staring straight at the hall door1 as we watched and listened1 fascinated4 ,kennedy was bending over1 soothing her4 ,she gave evidences of coming out from the effect of the drug4 ,i noticed that ,bennett had suddenly moved a step in the direction of the door at which she stared4 ,my ,god6 he muttered1 staring1 too4 ,look6 ,we did look4 ,a letter was slowly being inserted under the door4 ,i took a quick step forward4 ,that moment ,i felt a rough tug at my arm1 and a voice whispered1 ,wait--you chump6 ,it was ,kennedy4 ,he had whipped out his automatic and had carefully leveled it at the door4 ,before he could fire1 however1 ,bennett had rushed ahead4 ,i followed4 ,we looked down the hall4 ,sure enough1 the figure of a man could be seen disappearing around an angle4 ,i followed ,bennett out of the door and down the hall4 ,words cannot keep pace with what followed4 ,together we rushed to the backstairs4 ,down there1 while ,i go down the front6 cried ,bennett4 ,i went down and he turned and went down the other flight4 ,as he did so1 ,craig followed him4 ,suddenly1 in the drawing room1 ,i bumped into a figure on the other side of the portieres4 ,i seized him4 ,we struggled4 ,rip6 ,the portieres came down1 covering me entirely4 ,over and over we went1 smashing a lamp4 ,it was vicious4 ,another man attacked me1 too4 ,i--,i've got him--,kennedy6 ,i heard a voice pant over me4 ,a scream followed from ,aunt ,josephine4 ,suddenly the portieres were pulled off me4 ,the deuce6 puffed ,kennedy4 ,it's ,jameson6 ,bennett had rushed plump into me1 coming the other way1 hidden by the portieres4 ,if we had known at the time1 our ,michael of the sinister face had gained the library and was standing in the center of the room4 ,he had heard me coming and had fled to the drawing room4 ,as we finished our struggle in the library1 he rose hastily from behind the divan in the other room where he had dropped and had quietly and hastily disappeared through another door4 ,laughing and breathing hard1 they helped me to my feet4 ,it was no joke to me4 ,i was sore in every bone4 ,well1 where ,,did he go8 insisted ,bennett4 ,i don't know--perhaps back there1 ,i cried4 ,bennett and ,i argued a moment1 then started and stopped short4 ,aunt ,josephine had run downstairs and now was shoving the letter into ,craig's hands4 ,we gathered about him1 curiously4 ,he opened it4 ,on it was that awesome ,clutching ,hand again4 ,kennedy read it4 ,for a moment he stood and studied it1 then slowly crushed it in his hand4 ,just then ,elaine1 pale and shaken from the ordeal she had voluntarily gone through1 burst in upon us from upstairs4 ,without a word she advanced to ,craig and took the letter from him4 ,inside1 as on the envelope1 was that same signature of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,elaine gazed at it wild-eyed1 then at ,craig4 ,craig smilingly reached for the note1 took it1 folded it and unconcernedly thrust it into his pocket4 ,my ,god6 she cried1 clasping her hands convulsively and repeating the words of the letter4 ,,your ,,last ,,warning6 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,vanishing ,,jewels ,banging away at my typewriter1 the next day1 in ,kennedy's laboratory1 ,i was startled by the sudden1 insistent ringing of the telephone near me4 ,hello1 ,i answered1 for ,craig was at work at his table1 trying still to extract some clue from the slender evidence thus far elicited in the ,dodge mystery4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,i heard an excited voice over the wire reply1 my friend1 ,susie ,martin is here4 ,her father has just received a message from that ,clutching ,hand and-- ,just a moment1 ,miss ,dodge1 ,i interrupted4 ,this is ,mr4 ,jameson4 ,oh6 came back the voice1 breathless and disappointed4 ,let me have ,mr4 ,kennedy--quick4 ,i had already passed the telephone to ,craig and was watching him keenly as he listened over it4 ,the anticipation of a message from ,elaine did not fade1 yet his face grew grave as he listened4 ,he motioned to me for a pad and pencil that lay near me4 ,please read the letter again1 slower1 ,miss ,dodge1 he asked1 adding1 ,there isn't time for me to see it--just yet4 ,but ,i want it exactly4 ,you say it is made up of separate words and type cut from newspapers and pasted on note paper8 ,i handed him paper and pencil4 ,all right now1 ,miss ,dodge1 go ahead4 ,as he wrote1 he indicated to me by his eyes that he wanted me to read4 ,i did so3 ,sturtevant ,martin1 ,jeweler1 #gci #a_/b ,fifth ,ave41 ,new ,york ,city4 ,,sir3 ,as you have failed to deliver the #aj1jjj1 ,i shall rob your main diamond case at exactly noon today4 ,thank you1 ,miss ,dodge1 continued ,kennedy1 laying down the pencil4 ,yes1 ,i understand perfectly--signed by that same ,clutching ,hand4 ,let me see1 he pondered1 looking at his watch4 ,it is now just about half past eleven4 ,very well4 ,i shall meet you and ,miss ,martin at ,mr4 ,martin's store directly4 ,it lacked five minutes of noon when ,kennedy and ,i dashed up before ,martin's and dismissed our taxi-cab4 ,a remarkable scene greeted us as we entered the famous jewelry shop4 ,involuntarily ,i drew back4 ,squarely in front of us a man had suddenly raised a revolver and leveled it at us4 ,don't6 cried a familiar voice4 ,that is ,mr4 ,kennedy6 ,just then1 from a little knot of people1 ,elaine ,dodge sprang forward with a cry and seized the gun4 ,kennedy turned to her1 apparently not half so much concerned about the automatic that yawned at him as about the anxiety of the pretty girl who had intervened4 ,the too eager plainclothesman lowered the gun sheepishly4 ,sturtevant ,martin was a typical society business man1 quietly but richly dressed4 ,he was inclined to be pompous and affected a pair of rather distinguished looking side whiskers4 ,in the excitement ,i glanced about hurriedly4 ,there were two or three policemen in the shop and several plainclothesmen1 some armed with formidable looking sawed-off shot guns4 ,directly in front of me was a sign1 tacked up on a pillar1 which read1 ,this store will be closed at noon today4 ,martin ,co4 ,all the customers were gone4 ,in fact the clerks had had some trouble in clearing the shop1 as many of them expressed not only surprise but exasperation at the proceeding4 ,nevertheless the clerks had politely but insistently ushered them out4 ,martin himself was evidently very nervous and very much alarmed4 ,indeed no one could blame him for that4 ,merely to have been singled out by this amazing master criminal was enough to cause panic4 ,already he had engaged detectives1 prepared for whatever might happen1 and they had advised him to leave the diamonds in the counter1 clear the store1 and let the crooks try anything1 if they dared4 ,i fancied that he was somewhat exasperated at his daughter's presence1 too1 but could see that her explanation of ,elaine's and ,perry ,bennett's interest in the ,clutching ,hand had considerably mollified him4 ,he had been talking with ,bennett as we came in and evidently had a high respect for the young lawyer4 ,just back of us1 and around the corner1 as we came in1 we had noticed a limousine which had driven up4 ,three faultlessly attired dandies had entered a doorway down the street1 as we learned afterwards1 apparently going to a fashionable tailor's which occupied the second floor of the old-fashioned building1 the first floor having been renovated and made ready for renting4 ,had we been there a moment sooner we might have seen1 ,i suppose1 that one of them nodded to a taxicab driver who was standing at a public hack stand a few feet up the block4 ,the driver nodded unostentatiously back to the men4 ,in spite of the excitement1 ,kennedy quietly examined the show case1 which was1 indeed1 a veritable treasure store of brilliants4 ,then with a keen scrutinizing glance he looked over the police and detectives gathered around4 ,there was nothing to do now but wait1 as the detectives had advised4 ,i looked at a large antique grandfather's clock which was standing nearby4 ,it now lacked scarcely a minute of twelve4 ,slowly the hands of the clock came nearer together at noon4 ,we all gathered about the show case with its glittering hoard of wealth1 forming a circle at a respectful distance4 ,martin pointed nervously at the clock4 ,in deep-lunged tones the clock played the chords written1 ,i believe1 by ,handel4 ,then it began striking4 ,as it did so1 ,martin involuntarily counted off the strokes1 while one of the plainclothesmen waved his shotgun in unison4 ,martin finished counting4 ,nothing had happened4 ,we all breathed a sigh of relief4 ,well1 it is still there6 exclaimed ,martin1 pointing at the show-case1 with a forced laugh4 ,suddenly came a rending and crashing sound4 ,it seemed as if the very floor on which we stood was giving way4 ,the show-case1 with all its priceless contents1 went smashing down into the cellar below4 ,the flooring beneath the case had been cut through6 ,all crowded forward1 gazing at the black yawning cavern4 ,a moment we hesitated1 then gingerly craned our necks over the edge4 ,down below1 three men1 covered with linen dusters and their faces hidden by masks1 had knocked the props away from the ceiling of the cellar1 which they had sawed almost through at their leisure1 and the show case had landed eight or ten feet below1 shivered into a thousand bits4 ,a volley of shots whizzed past us1 and another4 ,while one crook was hastily stuffing the untold wealth of jewels into a burlap bag1 the others had drawn revolvers and were firing up through the hole in the floor1 desperately4 ,martin1 his detectives1 and the rest of us fell back from the edge of the chasm hastily1 to keep out of range of the hail of bullets4 ,look out6 cried someone behind us1 before we could recover from our first surprise and return the fire4 ,one of the desperadoes had taken a bomb from under his duster1 lighted it1 and thrown it up through the hole in the floor4 ,it sailed up over our heads and landed near our little group on the floor1 the fuse sputtering ominously4 ,quickly we divided and backed away even further4 ,i heard an exclamation of fear from ,elaine4 ,kennedy had pushed his way past us and picked up the deadly infernal machine in his bare hands4 ,i watched him1 fascinated4 ,as near as he dared1 he approached the hole in the floor1 still holding the thing off at arm's length4 ,would he never throw it8 ,he was coolly holding it1 allowing the fuse to burn down closer to the explosion point4 ,it was now within less than an inch sure death4 ,suddenly he raised it and hurled the deadly thing down through the hole4 ,we could hear the imprecations of the crooks as it struck the cellar floor1 near them4 ,they had evidently been still cramming jewelry into the capacious maw of the bag4 ,one of them1 discovering the bomb1 must have advanced toward it1 then retreated when he saw how imminent was the explosion4 ,leave the store--quick6 rang out ,kennedy's voice4 ,we backed away as fast as those behind us would permit4 ,kennedy and ,bennett were the last to leave1 in fact paused at the door4 ,down below the crooks were beating a hasty retreat through a secret entrance which they had effected4 ,the bag6 ,the bag6 we could hear one of them bellow4 ,the bomb--run6 cried another voice gruffly4 ,a second later came an ominous silence4 ,the last of the three must have fled4 ,the explosion that followed lifted us fairly off our feet4 ,a great puff of smoke came belching up through the hole1 followed by the crashing of hundreds of dollars' worth of glass ware in the jewelry shop as fragments of stone1 brick and mortar and huge splinters of wood were flung with tremendous force in every direction from the miniature volcano4 ,as the smoke from the explosion cleared away1 ,kennedy could be seen1 the first to run forward4 ,meanwhile ,martin's detectives had rushed down a flight of back stairs that led into a coal cellar4 ,with coal shovels and bars1 anything they could lay hands on1 they attacked the door that opened forward from the coal cellar into the front basement where the robbers had been4 ,a moment ,kennedy and ,bennett paused on the brink of the abyss which the bomb had made1 waiting for the smoke to decrease4 ,then they began to climb down cautiously over the piled up wreckage4 ,the explosion had set the basement afire1 but the fire had not gained much headway1 by the time they reached the basement4 ,quickly ,kennedy ran to the door into the coal cellar and opened it4 ,from the other side1 ,martin1 followed by the police and the detectives1 burst in4 ,fire6 cried one of the policemen1 leaping back to turn in an alarm from the special apparatus upstairs4 ,all except ,martin began beating out the flames1 using such weapons as they already held in their hands to batter down the door4 ,to ,martin there was one thing paramount--the jewels4 ,in the midst of the confusion1 ,elaine1 closely followed by her friend ,susie1 made her way fearlessly into the stifle of smoke down the stairs4 ,there are your jewels1 ,mr4 ,martin1 cried ,kennedy1 kicking the precious burlap bag with his foot as if it had been so much ordinary merchandise1 and turning toward what was in his mind the most important thing at stake--the direction taken by the agents of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,thank heaven6 ejaculated ,martin1 fairly pouncing on the bag and tearing it open4 ,they didn't get away with them--after all6 he exclaimed1 examining the contents with satisfaction4 ,see--you must have frightened them off at just the right moment when you sent the bomb back at them4 ,elaine and ,susie pressed forward eagerly as he poured forth the sparkling stream of gems1 intact4 ,wasn't he just simply wonderful6 ,i heard ,susie whisper to ,elaine4 ,elaine did not answer4 ,she had eyes or ears for nothing now in the melee but ,kennedy4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,events were moving rapidly4 ,the limousine had been standing innocently enough at the curb near the corner1 with the taxicab close behind it4 ,less than ten minutes after they had entered1 three well-dressed men came out of the vacant shop1 apparently from the tailor's above1 and climbed leisurely into their car4 ,as the last one entered1 he half turned to the taxicab driver1 hiding from passers-by the sign of the ,clutching ,hand which the taxicab driver returned1 in the same manner4 ,then the big car whirled up the avenue4 ,all this we learned later from a street sweeper who was at work nearby4 ,down below1 while the police and detectives were putting out the fire1 ,kennedy was examining the wall of the cellar1 looking for the spot where the crooks had escaped4 ,a secret door6 he exclaimed1 as he paused after tapping along the wall to determine its character4 ,you can see how the force of the explosion has loosened it4 ,sure enough1 when he pointed it out to us1 it was plainly visible4 ,one of the detectives picked up a crowbar and others1 still with the hastily selected implements they had seized to fight the fire1 started in to pry it open4 ,as it yielded1 ,kennedy pushed his way through4 ,elaine1 always utterly fearless1 followed4 ,then the rest of us went through4 ,there seemed to be nothing1 however1 that would help us in the cellar next door1 and ,kennedy mounted the steps of a stairway in the rear4 ,the stairway led to a sort of storeroom1 full of barrels and boxes1 but otherwise characterless4 ,when ,i arrived ,kennedy was gingerly holding up the dusters which the crooks had worn4 ,we're on the right trail1 commented ,elaine as he showed them to her1 but where do you suppose the owners are8 ,craig shrugged his shoulders and gave a quick look about4 ,evidently they came in from and went away by the street1 he observed1 hurrying to the door1 followed by ,elaine4 ,on the sidewalk1 he gazed up the avenue1 then catching sight of the street cleaner1 called to him4 ,yes1 sir1 replied the man1 stolidly looking up from his work4 ,i see three gentlemen come out and get into an automobile4 ,which way did they go8 asked ,kennedy4 ,for answer the man jerked his thumb over his shoulder in the general direction uptown4 ,did you notice the number of the car8 asked ,craig eagerly4 ,the man shrugged his shoulders blankly4 ,with keen glance1 ,kennedy strained his eyes4 ,far up the avenue1 he could descry the car threading its way in and out among the others1 just about disappearing4 ,a moment later ,craig caught sight of the vacant taxicab and crooked his finger at the driver1 who answered promptly by cranking his engine4 ,you saw that limousine standing there8 asked ,craig4 ,yes1 nodded the chauffeur with a show of alertness4 ,well1 follow it1 ordered ,kennedy1 jumping into the cab4 ,yes1 sir4 ,craig was just about to close the door when a slight figure flashed past us and a dainty foot was placed on the step4 ,please1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 pleaded ,elaine1 let me go4 ,they may lead to my father's slayer4 ,she said it so earnestly that ,craig could scarcely have resisted if he had wanted to do so4 ,just as ,elaine and ,kennedy were moving off1 ,i came out of the vacant store1 with ,bennett and the detectives4 ,craig6 ,i called4 ,where are you going8 ,kennedy stuck his head out of the window and ,i am quite sure that he was not altogether displeased that ,i was not with him4 ,chasing that limousine1 he shouted back4 ,follow us in another car4 ,a moment later he and ,elaine were gone4 ,bennett and ,i looked about4 ,there are a couple of cabs--down there1 ,i pointed out at the other end of the block4 ,i'll take one you take the other4 ,followed by a couple of the detectives1 ,i jumped into the first one ,i came to1 excitedly telling the driver to follow ,kennedy's taxi1 directing him with my head out of the window4 ,mr4 ,jameson1 please--can't ,i go with you8 ,i turned4 ,it was ,susie ,martin4 ,one of you fellows1 go in the other car1 ,i asked the detectives4 ,before the man could move1 ,mr4 ,martin himself appeared4 ,no1 ,susan1 ,i--,i won't allow it1 he ordered4 ,but ,elaine went1 she pouted4 ,well1 ,elaine is--ah--,i won't have it1 stormed ,martin4 ,there was no time to waste4 ,with a hasty apology1 ,i drove off4 ,who1 besides ,bennett1 went in the other car1 ,i don't know1 but it made no difference1 for we soon lost them4 ,our driver1 however1 was a really clever fellow4 ,far ahead now we could see the limousine drive around a corner1 making a dangerous swerve4 ,kennedy's cab followed1 skidding dangerously near a pole4 ,but the taxicab was no match for the powerful limousine4 ,on uptown they went1 the only thing preventing the limousine from escaping being the fear of pursuit by traffic police if the driver let out speed4 ,they were content to manage to keep just far enough ahead to be out of danger of having ,kennedy overhaul them4 ,as for us1 we followed as best we could1 on uptown1 past the city line1 and out into the country4 ,there ,kennedy lost sight altogether of the car he was trailing4 ,worse than that1 we lost sight of ,kennedy4 ,still we kept on blindly1 trusting to luck and common sense in picking the road4 ,i was peering ahead over the driver's shoulder1 the window down1 trying to direct him1 when we approached a fork in the road4 ,here was a dilemma which must be decided at once rightly or wrongly4 ,as we neared the crossroad1 ,i gave an involuntary exclamation4 ,beside the road1 almost on it1 lay the figure of a man4 ,our driver pulled up with a jerk and ,i was out of the car in an instant4 ,there lay ,kennedy6 ,someone had blackjacked him4 ,he was groaning and just beginning to show signs of consciousness as ,i bent over4 ,what's the matter1 old man8 ,i asked1 helping him to his feet4 ,he looked about dazed a moment1 then seeing me and comprehending1 he pointed excitedly1 but vaguely4 ,elaine6 he cried4 ,they've kidnapped ,elaine6 ,what had really happened1 as we learned later from ,elaine and others1 was that when the cross roads was reached1 the three crooks in the limousine had stopped long enough to speak to an accomplice stationed there1 according to their plan for a getaway4 ,he was a tough looking individual who might have been hoboing it to the city4 ,when1 a few minutes later1 ,kennedy and ,elaine had approached the fork1 their driver had slowed up1 as if in doubt which way to go4 ,craig had stuck his head out of the window1 as ,i had done1 and1 seeing the crossroads1 had told the chauffeur to stop4 ,there stood the hobo4 ,did a car pass here1 just now--a big car8 called ,craig4 ,the man put his hand to his ear1 as if only half comprehending4 ,which way did the big car go8 repeated ,kennedy4 ,the hobo approached the taxicab sullenly1 as if he had a grudge against cars in general4 ,one question after another elicited little that could be construed as intelligence4 ,if ,craig had only been able to see1 he would have found out that1 with his back toward the taxicab driver1 the hobo held one hand behind him and made the sign of the ,clutching ,hand1 glancing surreptitiously at the driver to catch the answering sign1 while ,craig gazed earnestly up the two roads4 ,at last ,craig gave him up as hopeless4 ,well--go ahead--that way1 he indicated1 picking the most likely road4 ,as the chauffeur was about to start1 he stalled his engine4 ,hurry6 urged ,craig1 exasperated at the delays4 ,the driver got out and tried to crank the engine4 ,again and again he turned it over1 but1 somehow1 it refused to start4 ,then he lifted the hood and began to tinker4 ,what's the matter8 asked ,craig1 impatiently jumping out and bending over the engine1 too4 ,the driver shrugged his shoulders4 ,must be something wrong with the ignition1 ,i guess1 he replied4 ,kennedy looked the car over hastily4 ,i can't see anything wrong1 he frowned4 ,well1 there is1 growled the driver4 ,precious minutes were speeding away1 as they argued4 ,finally with his characteristic energy1 ,kennedy put the taxicab driver aside4 ,let me try it1 he said4 ,miss ,dodge1 will you arrange that spark and throttle8 ,elaine1 equal to anything1 did so1 and ,craig bent down and cranked the engine4 ,it started on the first spin4 ,see6 he exclaimed4 ,there wasn't anything1 after all4 ,he took a step toward the taxicab4 ,say1 objected the driver1 nastily1 interposing himself between ,craig and the wheel which he seemed disposed to take now1 who's running this boat1 anyhow8 ,surprised1 ,kennedy tried to shoulder the fellow out of the way4 ,the driver resisted sullenly4 ,mr4 ,kennedy--look out6 cried ,elaine4 ,craig turned4 ,but it was too late4 ,the rough looking fellow had wakened to life4 ,suddenly he stepped up behind ,kennedy with a blackjack4 ,as the heavy weight descended1 ,craig crumpled up on the ground1 unconscious4 ,with a scream1 ,elaine turned and started to run4 ,but the chauffeur seized her arm4 ,say1 bo1 he asked of the rough fellow1 what does ,clutching ,hand want with her8 ,quick6 ,there's another cab likely to be along in a moment with that fellow ,jameson in it4 ,the rough fellow1 with an oath1 seized her and dragged her into the taxicab4 ,go ahead6 he growled1 indicating the road4 ,and away they sped1 leaving ,kennedy unconscious on the side of the road where we found him4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,what are we to do8 ,i asked helplessly of ,kennedy1 when we had at last got him on his feet4 ,his head still ringing from the force of the blow of the blackjack1 ,craig stooped down1 then knelt in the dust of the road1 then ran ahead a bit where it was somewhat muddy4 ,which way--which way8 he muttered to himself4 ,i thought perhaps the blow had affected him and leaned over to see what he was doing4 ,instead1 he was studying the marks made by the tire of the ,clutching ,hand cab4 ,very decidedly1 there in the road1 the little anti-skid marks on the tread of the tire showed--some worn1 some cut--but with each revolution the same marks reappearing unmistakably4 ,more than that1 it was an unusual make of tire4 ,craig was actually studying the finger prints1 so to speak1 of an automobile6 ,more slowly now and carefully1 we proceeded1 for a mistake meant losing the trail of ,elaine4 ,kennedy absolutely refused to get inside our cab1 but clung tightly to a metal rod outside while he stood on the running board--now straining his eyes along the road to catch any faint glimpse of either taxi or limousine1 or the dust from them1 now gazing intently at the ground following the finger prints of the taxicab that was carrying off ,elaine4 ,all pain was forgotten by him now in the intensity of his anxiety for her4 ,we came to another crossroads and the driver glanced at ,craig4 ,stop6 he ordered4 ,in another instant he was down in the dirt1 examining the road for marks4 ,that way6 he indicated1 leaping back to the running board4 ,we piled back into the car and proceeded under ,kennedy's direction1 as fast as he would permit4 ,so it continued1 perhaps for a couple of hours4 ,at last ,kennedy stopped the cab and slowly directed the driver to veer into an open space that looked peculiarly lonesome4 ,near it stood a one story brick factory building1 closed1 but not abandoned4 ,as ,i looked about at the unattractive scene1 ,kennedy already was down on his knees in the dirt again1 studying the tire tracks4 ,they were all confused1 showing that the taxicab we were following had evidently backed in and turned several times before going on4 ,crossed by another set of tire tracks6 he exclaimed excitedly1 studying closer4 ,that must have been the limousine1 waiting4 ,laboriously he was following the course of the cars in the open space1 when the one word escaped him1 ,footprints6 ,he was up and off in a moment1 before we could imagine what he was after4 ,we had got out of the cab1 and followed him as1 down to the very shore of a sort of cove or bay1 he went4 ,there lay a rusty1 discarded boiler on the beach1 half submerged in the rising tide4 ,at this tank the footprints seemed to go right down the sand and into the waves which were slowly obliterating them4 ,kennedy gazed out as if to make out a possible boat on the horizon1 where the cove widened out4 ,look6 he cried4 ,farther down the shore1 a few feet1 ,i had discovered the same prints1 going in the opposite direction1 back toward the place from which we had just come4 ,i started to follow them1 but soon found myself alone4 ,kennedy had paused beside the old boiler4 ,what is it8 ,i asked1 retracing my steps4 ,he did not answer1 but seemed to be listening4 ,we listened also4 ,there certainly was a most peculiar noise inside that tank4 ,was it a muffled scream8 ,kennedy reached down and picked up a rock1 hitting the tank a resounding blow4 ,as the echo died down1 he listened again4 ,yes1 there was a sound--a scream perhaps--a woman's voice1 faint1 but unmistakable4 ,i looked at his face inquiringly4 ,without a word ,i read in it the confirmation of the thought that had flashed into my mind4 ,elaine ,dodge was inside6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,first had come the limousine1 with its three bandits1 to the spot fixed on as a rendezvous4 ,later had come the taxicab4 ,as it hove into sight1 the three well-dressed crooks had drawn revolvers1 thinking perhaps the plan for getting rid of ,kennedy might possibly have miscarried4 ,but the taxicab driver and the rough-faced fellow had reassured them with the sign of the ,clutching ,hand1 and the revolvers were lowered4 ,as they parleyed hastily1 the rough-neck and the fake chauffeur lifted ,elaine out of the taxi4 ,she was bound and gagged4 ,well1 now we've got her1 what shall we do with her8 asked one4 ,it's got to be quick4 ,there's another cab1 put in the driver4 ,the deuce with that4 ,the deuce with nothing1 he returned4 ,that fellow ,kennedy's a clever one4 ,he may come to4 ,if he does1 he won't miss us4 ,quick1 now6 ,i wish ,i'd broken his skull1 muttered the roughneck4 ,we'd better leave her somewhere here1 remarked one of the better-dressed three4 ,i don't think the chief wants us to kill her--yet1 he added1 with an ominous glance at ,elaine1 who in spite of threats was not cowed1 but was vainly struggling at her bonds4 ,well1 where shall it be8 asked another4 ,they looked about4 ,see1 cried the third4 ,see that old boiler down there at the edge of the water8 ,why not put her in there8 ,no one'll ever think to look in such a place4 ,down by the water's edge1 where he pointed1 lay a big boiler such as is used on stationary engines1 with its end lapped by the waves4 ,with a hasty expression of approval1 the rough-neck picked ,elaine up bodily1 still struggling vainly1 and together they carried her1 bound and gagged1 to the tank4 ,the opening1 which was toward the water1 was small1 but they managed1 roughly1 to thrust her in4 ,a moment later and they had rolled up a huge boulder against the small entrance1 bracing it so that it would be impossible for her to get out from the inside4 ,then they drove off hastily4 ,inside the old boiler lay ,elaine1 still bound and gagged4 ,if she could only scream6 ,someone might hear4 ,she must get help4 ,there was water in the tank4 ,she managed to lean up inside it1 standing as high as the walls would allow her1 trying to keep her head above the water4 ,frantically1 she managed to loosen the gag4 ,she screamed4 ,her voice seemed to be bound around by the iron walls as was she herself4 ,she shuddered1 ,the water was rising--had reached her chest1 and was still rising1 slowly1 inexorably4 ,what should she do8 ,would no one hear her8 ,the water was up to her neck now4 ,she held her head as high as she could and screamed again4 ,what was that8 ,silence8 ,or was someone outside8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,coolly1 in spite of the emergency1 ,kennedy took in the perilous situation4 ,the lower end of the boiler1 which was on a slant on the rapidly shelving beach1 was now completely under water and impossible to get at4 ,besides1 the opening was small1 too small4 ,we pulled away the stone1 but that did no good4 ,no one could hope to get in and then out again that way alive--much less with a helpless girl4 ,yet something must be done4 ,the tank was practically submerged inside1 as ,i estimated quickly4 ,blows had no effect on the huge iron trap which had been built to resist many pounds of pressure4 ,kennedy gazed about frantically and his eye caught the sign on the factory3 ,,oxyacetylene ,,welding ,,co4 ,come1 ,walter1 he cried1 running up the shore4 ,a moment later1 breathless1 we reached the doorway4 ,it was1 of course1 locked4 ,kennedy whipped out his revolver and several well-directed shots through the keyhole smashed the lock4 ,we put our shoulders to it and swung the door open1 entering the factory4 ,there was not a soul about1 not even a watchman4 ,hastily we took in the place1 a forge and a number of odds and ends of metal sheets1 rods1 pipes and angles4 ,beside a workbench stood two long cylinders1 studded with bolts4 ,that's what ,i'm looking for1 exclaimed ,craig4 ,here1 ,walter1 take one4 ,i'll take the other--and the tubes--and-- ,he did not pause to finish1 but seized up a peculiar shaped instrument1 like a huge hook1 with a curved neck and sharp beak4 ,really it was composed of two metal tubes which ran into a cylinder or mixing chamber above the nozzle1 while parallel to them ran another tube with a nozzle of its own4 ,we ran1 for there was no time to lose4 ,as nearly as ,i could estimate it1 the water must now be slowly closing over ,elaine4 ,what is it8 ,i asked as he joined up the tubes from the tanks to the peculiar hook-like apparatus he carried4 ,an oxyacetylene blowpipe1 he muttered back feverishly working4 ,used for welding and cutting1 too1 he added4 ,with a light he touched the nozzle4 ,instantly a hissing1 blinding flame-needle made the steel under it incandescent4 ,the terrific heat from one nozzle made the steel glow4 ,the stream of oxygen from the second completely consumed the hot metal4 ,and the force of the blast carried a fine spray of disintegrated metal before it4 ,it was a brilliant sight4 ,but it was more than that4 ,through the very steel itself1 the flame1 thousands of degrees hot1 seemed to eat its way in a fine line1 as if it were a sharp knife cutting through ordinary cardboard4 ,with tense muscles ,kennedy skillfully guided the terrible instrument that ate cold steel1 wielding the torch as deftly as if it had been1 as indeed it was1 a magic wand of modern science4 ,he was actually cutting out a huge hole in the still exposed surface of the tank--all around1 except for a few inches1 to prevent the heavy piece from falling inward4 ,as ,kennedy carefully bent outward the section of the tank which he had cut1 he quickly reached down and lifted ,elaine1 unconscious1 out of the water4 ,gently he laid her on the sand4 ,it was the work of only a moment to cut the cords that bound her hands4 ,there she lay1 pale and still4 ,was she dead8 ,kennedy worked frantically to revive her4 ,at last1 slowly1 the color seemed to return to her pale lips4 ,her eyelids fluttered4 ,then her great1 deep eyes opened4 ,as she looked up and caught sight of ,craig bending anxiously over her1 she seemed to comprehend4 ,for a moment both were silent4 ,then ,elaine reached up and took his hand4 ,there was much in the look she gave him--admiration1 confidence1--love itself4 ,heroics1 however1 were never part of ,kennedy's frank make-up4 ,the fact was that her admiration1 even though not spoken1 plainly embarrassed him4 ,yet he forgot that as he looked at her lying there1 frail and helpless4 ,he stroked her forehead gently1 laying back the wet ringlets of her hair4 ,craig1 she murmured1 you--you've saved my life6 ,her tone was eloquent4 ,elaine1 he whispered1 still gazing into her wonderful eyes1 the ,clutching ,hand shall pay for this6 ,it is a fight to the finish between us6 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,the ,,frozen ,,safe ,kennedy swung open the door of our taxicab as we pulled up1 safe at last1 before the ,dodge mansion1 after the rescue of ,elaine from the brutal machinations of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,bennett was on the step of the cab in a moment and1 together1 one on each side of ,elaine1 they assisted her out of the car and up the steps to the house4 ,as they mounted the steps1 ,kennedy called back to me1 ,pay the driver1 ,walter1 please4 ,it was the first time ,i had thought of that4 ,as it happened1 ,i had quite a bankroll with me and1 in my hurry1 ,i peeled off a ten dollar bill and tossed it to the fellow1 intending to be generous and tell him to keep the change4 ,say1 he exclaimed1 pointing to the clock1 come across--twenty-three1 sixty4 ,protesting1 ,i peeled off some more bills4 ,having satisfied this veritable anaconda and gorged his dilating appetite for banknotes1 ,i turned to follow the others4 ,jennings had opened the door immediately4 ,whether it was that he retained a grudge against me or whether he did not see me1 he would have closed it before ,i could get up there4 ,i called and took the steps two at a time4 ,elaine's ,aunt ,josephine was waiting for us in the drawing room1 very much worried4 ,the dear old lady was quite scandalized as ,elaine excitedly told of the thrilling events that had just taken place4 ,and to think they--actually--carried you6 she exclaimed1 horrified1 adding1 ,and ,i not-- ,but ,mr4 ,kennedy came along and saved me just in time1 interrupted ,elaine with a smile4 ,i was well chaperoned6 ,aunt ,josephine turned to ,craig gratefully4 ,how can ,i ever thank you enough1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 she said fervently4 ,kennedy was quite embarrassed4 ,with a smile1 ,elaine perceived his discomfiture1 not at all displeased by it4 ,come into the library1 she cried gaily1 taking his arm4 ,i've something to show you4 ,where the old safe which had been burnt through had stood was now a brand new safe of the very latest construction and design--one of those that look and are so formidable4 ,here is the new safe1 she pointed out brightly4 ,it is not only proof against explosives1 but between the plates is a lining that is proof against thermit and even that oxy-acetylene blowpipe by which you rescued me from the old boiler4 ,it has a time lock1 too1 that will prevent its being opened at night1 even if anyone should learn the combination4 ,they stood before the safe a moment and ,kennedy examined it closely with much interest4 ,wonderful6 he admired4 ,i knew you'd approve of it1 cried ,elaine1 much pleased4 ,now ,i have something else to show you4 ,she paused at the desk and from a drawer took out a portfolio of large photographs4 ,they were very handsome photographs of herself4 ,much more wonderful than the safe1 remarked ,craig earnestly4 ,then1 hesitating and a trifle embarrassed1 he added1 ,may ,i--may ,i have one8 ,if you care for it1 she said1 dropping her eyes1 then glancing up at him quickly4 ,care for it8 he repeated4 ,it will be one of the greatest treasures4 ,she slipped the picture quickly into an envelope4 ,come1 she interrupted4 ,aunt ,josephine will be wondering where we are4 ,she--she's a demon chaperone4 ,bennett1 ,aunt ,josephine and myself were talking earnestly as ,elaine and ,craig returned4 ,well1 said ,bennett1 glancing at his watch and rising as he turned to ,elaine1 ,i'm afraid ,i must go1 now4 ,he crossed over to where she stood and shook hands4 ,there was no doubt that ,bennett was very much smitten by his fair client4 ,good-bye1 ,mr4 ,bennett1 she murmured1 and thank you so much for what you have done for me today4 ,but there was something lifeless about the words4 ,she turned quickly to ,craig1 who had remained standing4 ,must you go1 too1 ,mr4 ,kennedy8 she asked1 noticing his position4 ,i'm afraid ,mr4 ,jameson and ,i must be back on the job before this ,clutching ,hand gets busy again1 he replied reluctantly4 ,oh1 ,i hope you--we get him soon6 she exclaimed1 and there was nothing lifeless about the way she gave ,craig her hand1 as ,bennett1 he and ,i left a moment later4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,that morning ,i had noticed ,kennedy fussing some time at the door of our apartment before we went over to the laboratory4 ,as nearly as ,i could make out he had placed something under the rug at the door out into the hallway4 ,when we approached our door1 now1 ,craig paused4 ,by pressing a little concealed button he caused a panel in the wall outside to loosen1 disclosing a small1 boxlike plate in the wall underneath4 ,it was about a foot long and perhaps four inches wide4 ,through it ran a piece of paper which unrolled from one coil and wound up on another1 actuated by clockwork4 ,across the blank white paper ran an ink line traced by a stylographic pen1 such as ,i had seen in mechanical pencils used in offices1 hotels1 banks and such places4 ,kennedy examined the thing with interest4 ,what is it8 ,i asked4 ,a new seismograph1 he replied1 still gazing carefully at the rolled up part of the paper4 ,i have installed it because it registers every footstep on the floor of our apartment4 ,we can't be too careful with this ,clutching ,hand4 ,i want to know whether we have any visitors or not in our absence4 ,this straight line indicates that we have not4 ,wait a moment4 ,craig hastily unlocked the door and entered4 ,inside1 ,i could see him pacing up and down our modest quarters4 ,do you see anything1 ,walter8 he called4 ,i looked at the seismograph4 ,the pen had started to trace its line1 no longer even and straight1 but zigzag1 at different heights across the paper4 ,he came to the door4 ,what do you think of it8 he inquired4 ,splendid idea1 ,i answered enthusiastically4 ,our apartment was1 as ,i have said1 modest1 consisting of a large living room1 two bedrooms1 and bath--an attractive but not ornate place1 which we found very cosy and comfortable4 ,on one side of the room was a big fire place1 before which stood a fire screen4 ,we had collected easy chairs and capacious tables and desks4 ,books were scattered about1 literally overflowing from the crowded shelves4 ,on the walls were our favorite pictures1 while for ornament1 ,i suppose ,i might mention my typewriter and now and then some of ,craig's wonderful scientific apparatus as satisfying our limited desire for the purely aesthetic4 ,we entered and fell to work at the aforementioned typewriter1 on a special ,sunday story that ,i had been forced to neglect4 ,i was not so busy1 however1 that ,i did not notice out of the corner of my eye that ,kennedy had taken from its cover ,elaine ,dodge's picture and was gazing at it ravenously4 ,i put my hand surreptitiously over my mouth and coughed4 ,kennedy wheeled on me and ,i hastily banged a sentence out on the machine1 making at least half a dozen mistakes4 ,i had finished as much of the article as ,i could do then and was smoking and reading it over4 ,kennedy was still gazing at the picture ,miss ,dodge had given him1 then moving from place to place about the room1 evidently wondering where it would look best4 ,i doubt whether he had done another blessed thing since we returned4 ,he tried it on the mantel4 ,that wouldn't do4 ,at last he held it up beside a picture of ,galton1 ,i think1 of finger print and eugenics fame1 who hung on the wall directly opposite the fireplace4 ,hastily he compared the two4 ,elaine's picture was of precisely the same size4 ,next he tore out the picture of the scientist and threw it carelessly into the fireplace4 ,then he placed ,elaine's picture in its place and hung it up again1 standing off to admire it4 ,i watched him gleefully4 ,was this ,craig8 ,purposely ,i moved my elbow suddenly and pushed a book with a bang on the floor4 ,kennedy actually jumped4 ,i picked up the book with a muttered apology4 ,no1 this was not the same old ,craig4 ,perhaps half an hour later1 ,i was still reading4 ,kennedy was now pacing up and down the room1 apparently unable to concentrate his mind on any but one subject4 ,he stopped a moment before the photograph1 looked at it fixedly4 ,then he started his methodical walk again1 hesitated1 and went over to the telephone1 calling a number which ,i recognized4 ,she must have been pretty well done up by her experience1 he said apologetically1 catching my eye4 ,i was wondering if--,hello--oh1 ,miss ,dodge--,i--er--,i--er--just called up to see if you were all right4 ,craig was very much embarrassed1 but also very much in earnest4 ,a musical laugh rippled over the telephone4 ,yes1 ,i'm all right1 thank you1 ,mr4 ,kennedy--and ,i put the package you sent me into the safe1 but-- ,package8 frowned ,craig4 ,why1 ,i sent you no package1 ,miss ,dodge4 ,in the safe8 ,why1 yes1 and the safe is all covered with moisture--and so cold4 ,moisture--cold8 he repeated quickly4 ,yes1 ,i have been wondering if it is all right4 ,in fact1 ,i was going to call you up1 only ,i was afraid you'd think ,i was foolish4 ,i shall be right over1 he answered hastily1 clapping the receiver back on its hook4 ,walter1 he added1 seizing his hat and coat1 come on--hurry6 ,a few minutes later we drove up in a taxi before the ,dodge house and rang the bell4 ,jennings admitted us sleepily4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it could not have been long after we left ,miss ,dodge late in the afternoon that ,susie ,martin1 who had been quite worried over our long absence after the attempt to rob her father1 dropped in on ,elaine4 ,wide-eyed1 she had listened to ,elaine's story of what had happened4 ,and you think this ,clutching ,hand has never recovered the incriminating papers that caused him to murder your father8 asked ,susie4 ,elaine shook her head4 ,no4 ,let me show you the new safe ,i've bought4 ,mr4 ,kennedy thinks it wonderful4 ,i should think you'd be proud of it1 admired ,susie4 ,i must tell father to get one1 too4 ,at that very moment1 if they had known it1 the ,clutching ,hand with his sinister1 masked face1 was peering at the two girls from the other side of the portieres4 ,susie rose to go and ,elaine followed her to the door4 ,no sooner had she gone than the ,clutching ,hand came out from behind the curtains4 ,he gazed about a moment1 then moving over to the safe about which the two girls had been talking1 stealthily examined it4 ,he must have heard someone coming1 for1 with a gesture of hate at the safe itself1 as though he personified it1 he slipped back of the curtains again4 ,elaine had returned and as she sat down at the desk to go over some papers which ,bennett had left relative to settling up the estate1 the masked intruder stealthily and silently withdrew4 ,a package for you1 ,miss ,dodge1 announced ,michael later in the evening as ,elaine1 in her dainty evening gown1 was still engaged in going over the papers4 ,he carried it in his hands rather gingerly4 ,mr4 ,kennedy sent it1 ma'am4 ,he says it contains clues and will you please put it in the new safe for him4 ,elaine took the package eagerly and examined it4 ,then she pulled open the heavy door of the safe4 ,it must be getting cold out1 ,michael1 she remarked4 ,this package is as cold as ice4 ,it is1 ma'am1 answered ,michael1 deferentially with a sidelong glance that did not prevent his watching her intently4 ,she closed the safe and1 with a glance at her watch1 set the time lock and went upstairs to her room4 ,no sooner had ,elaine disappeared than ,michael appeared again1 cat-like1 through the curtains from the drawing room1 and1 after a glance about the dimly lighted library1 discovering that the coast was clear1 motioned to a figure hiding behind the portieres4 ,a moment1 and ,clutching ,hand himself came out4 ,he moved over to the safe and looked it over4 ,then he put out his hand and touched it4 ,good1 ,michael1 he exclaimed with satisfaction4 ,listen6 cautioned ,michael4 ,someone was coming and they hastily slunk behind the protecting portieres4 ,it was ,marie1 ,elaine's maid4 ,she turned up the lights and went over to the desk for a book for which ,elaine had evidently sent her4 ,she paused and appeared to be listening4 ,then she went to the door4 ,jennings6 she beckoned4 ,what is it1 ,marie8 he replied4 ,she said nothing1 but as he came up the hall led him to the center of the room4 ,listen6 ,i heard sighs and groans6 ,jennings looked at her a moment1 puzzled1 then laughed4 ,you girls6 he exclaimed4 ,i suppose you'll always think the library haunted1 now4 ,but1 ,jennings1 listen1 she persisted4 ,jennings did listen4 ,sure enough1 there were sounds1 weird1 uncanny4 ,he gazed about the room4 ,it was eerie4 ,then he took a few steps toward the safe4 ,marie put out her hand to it1 and started back4 ,why1 that safe is all covered with cold sweat6 she cried with bated breath4 ,sure enough the face of the safe was beaded with dampness4 ,jennings put his hand on it and quickly drew it away1 leaving a mark on the dampness4 ,wh-what do you think of that8 he gasped4 ,i'm going to tell ,miss ,dodge1 cried ,marie1 genuinely frightened4 ,a moment later she burst into ,elaine's room4 ,what is the matter1 ,marie8 asked ,elaine1 laying down her book4 ,you look as if you had seen a ghost4 ,ah1 but1 mademoiselle--it ees just like that4 ,the safe--if mademoiselle will come downstairs1 ,i will show it you4 ,puzzled but interested1 ,elaine followed her4 ,in the library ,jennings pointed mutely at the new safe4 ,elaine approached it4 ,as they stood about new beads of perspiration1 as it were1 formed on it4 ,elaine touched it1 and also quickly withdrew her hand4 ,i can't imagine what's the matter1 she said4 ,but--well--,jennings1 you may go--and ,marie1 also4 ,when the servants had gone she still regarded the safe with the same wondering look1 then turning out the light1 she followed4 ,she had scarcely disappeared when1 from the portiered doorway nearby1 the ,clutching ,hand appeared1 and1 after gazing out at them1 took a quick look at the safe4 ,good6 he muttered4 ,noiselessly ,michael of the sinister face moved in and took a position in the center of the room1 as if on guard1 while ,clutching ,hand sat before the safe watching it intently4 ,someone at the door--,jennings is answering the bell1 ,michael whispered hoarsely4 ,confound it6 muttered ,clutching ,hand1 as both moved again behind the heavy velour curtains4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,i'm so glad to see you1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 greeted ,elaine unaffectedly as ,jennings admitted us4 ,she had heard the bell and was coming downstairs as we entered4 ,we three moved toward the library and someone switched on the lights4 ,craig strode over to the safe4 ,the cold sweat on it had now turned to icicles4 ,craig's face clouded with thought as he examined it more closely4 ,there was actually a groaning sound from within4 ,it can't be opened1 he said to himself4 ,the time lock is set for tomorrow morning4 ,outside1 if we had not been so absorbed in the present mystery1 we might have seen ,michael and the ,clutching ,hand listening to us4 ,clutching ,hand looked hastily at his watch4 ,the deuce6 he muttered under his breath1 stifling his suppressed fury4 ,we stood looking at the safe4 ,kennedy was deeply interested1 ,elaine standing close beside him4 ,suddenly he seemed to make up his mind4 ,quick--,elaine6 he cried1 taking her arm4 ,stand back6 ,we all retreated4 ,the safe door1 powerful as it was1 had actually begun to warp and bend4 ,the plates were bulging4 ,a moment later1 with a loud report and concussion the door blew off4 ,a blast of cold air and flakes like snow flew out4 ,papers were scattered on every side4 ,we stood gazing1 aghast1 a second1 then ran forward4 ,kennedy quickly examined the safe4 ,he bent down and from the wreck took up a package1 now covered with white4 ,as quickly he dropped it4 ,that is the package that was sent1 cried ,elaine4 ,taking it in a table cover1 he laid it on the table and opened it4 ,inside was a peculiar shaped flask1 open at the top1 but like a vacuum bottle4 ,a ,dewar flask6 ejaculated ,craig4 ,what is it8 asked ,elaine1 appealing to him4 ,liquid air6 he answered4 ,as it evaporated1 the terrific pressure of expanding air in the safe increased until it blew out the door4 ,that is what caused the cold sweating and the groans4 ,we watched him1 startled4 ,on the other side of the portieres ,michael and ,clutching ,hand waited4 ,then1 in the general confusion1 ,clutching ,hand slowly disappeared1 foiled4 ,where did this package come from8 asked ,kennedy of ,jennings suspiciously4 ,jennings looked blank4 ,why1 put in ,elaine1 ,michael brought it to me4 ,get ,michael1 ordered ,kennedy4 ,yes1 sir1 nodded ,jennings4 ,a moment later he returned4 ,i found him1 going upstairs1 reported ,jennings1 leading ,michael in4 ,where did you get this package8 shot out ,kennedy4 ,it was left at the door1 sir1 by a boy1 sir4 ,question after question could not shake that simple1 stolid sentence4 ,kennedy frowned4 ,you may go1 he said finally1 as if reserving something for ,michael later4 ,a sudden exclamation followed from ,elaine as ,michael passed down the hall again4 ,she had moved over to the desk1 during the questioning1 and was leaning against it4 ,inadvertently she had touched an envelope4 ,it was addressed1 ,craig ,kennedy4 ,craig tore it open1 ,elaine bending anxiously over his shoulder1 frightened4 ,we read3 ,,you ,,have ,,interfered ,,for ,,the ,,last ,,time4 ,,it ,,is ,,the ,,end4 ,beneath it stood the fearsome sign of the ,clutching ,hand6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the warning of the ,clutching ,hand had no other effect on ,kennedy than the redoubling of his precautions for safety4 ,nothing further happened that night1 however1 and the next morning found us early at the laboratory4 ,it was the late forenoon1 when after a hurried trip down to the office1 ,i rejoined ,kennedy at his scientific workshop4 ,we walked down the street when a big limousine shot past4 ,kennedy stopped in the middle of a remark4 ,he had recognized the car1 with a sort of instinct4 ,at the same moment ,i saw a smiling face at the window of the car4 ,it was ,elaine ,dodge4 ,the car stopped in something less than twice its length and then backed toward us4 ,kennedy1 hat off1 was at the window in a moment4 ,there were ,aunt ,josephine1 and ,susie ,martin1 also4 ,where are you boys going8 asked ,elaine1 with interest1 then added with a gaiety that ill concealed her real anxiety1 ,i'm so glad to see you--to see that--er--nothing has happened from that dreadful ,clutching ,hand4 ,why1 we were just going up to our rooms1 replied ,kennedy4 ,can't we drive you around8 ,we climbed in and a moment later were off4 ,the ride was only too short for ,kennedy4 ,we stepped out in front of our apartment and stood chatting for a moment4 ,some day ,i want to show you the laboratory1 ,craig was saying4 ,it must be so--interesting6 exclaimed ,elaine enthusiastically4 ,think of all the bad men you must have caught6 ,i have quite a collection of stuff here at our rooms1 remarked ,craig1 almost a museum4 ,still1 he ventured1 ,i can't promise that the place is in order1 he laughed4 ,elaine hesitated4 ,would you like to see it8 she wheedled of ,aunt ,josephine4 ,aunt ,josephine nodded acquiescence1 and a moment later we all entered the building4 ,you--you are very careful since that last warning8 asked ,elaine as we approached our door4 ,more than ever--now1 replied ,craig4 ,i have made up my mind to win4 ,she seemed to catch at the words as though they had a hidden meaning1 looking first at him and then away1 not displeased4 ,kennedy had started to unlock the door1 when he stopped short4 ,see1 he said1 this is a precaution ,i have just installed4 ,i almost forgot in the excitement4 ,he pressed a panel and disclosed the box-like apparatus4 ,this is my seismograph which tells me whether ,i have had any visitors in my absence4 ,if the pen traces a straight line1 it is1 all right2 but if--hello--,walter1 the line is wavy4 ,we exchanged a significant glance4 ,would you mind--er--standing down the hall just a bit while ,i enter8 asked ,craig4 ,be careful1 cautioned ,elaine4 ,he unlocked the door1 standing off to one side4 ,then he extended his hand across the doorway4 ,still nothing happened4 ,there was not a sound4 ,he looked cautiously into the room4 ,apparently there was nothing4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it had been about the middle of the morning that an express wagon had pulled up sharply before our apartment4 ,mr4 ,kennedy live here8 asked one of the expressmen1 descending with his helper and approaching our janitor1 ,jens ,jensen1 a typical ,swede1 who was coming up out of the basement4 ,jens growled a surly1 ,yes--but ,mr4 ,kannady1 he bane out4 ,too bad--we've got this large cabinet he ordered from ,grand ,rapids4 ,we can't cart it around all day4 ,can't you let us in so we can leave it8 ,jensen muttered4 ,wall--,i guess it bane all right4 ,they took the cabinet off the wagon and carried it upstairs4 ,jensen opened our door1 still grumbling1 and they placed the heavy cabinet in the living room4 ,sign here4 ,you fallers bane a nuisance1 protested ,jens1 signing nevertheless4 ,scarcely had the sound ox their footfalls died away in the outside hallway when the door of the cabinet slowly opened and a masked face protruded1 gazing about the room4 ,it was the ,clutching ,hand6 ,from the cabinet he took a large package wrapped in newspapers4 ,as he held it1 looking keenly about1 his eye rested on ,elaine's picture4 ,a moment he looked at it1 then quickly at the fireplace opposite4 ,an idea seemed to occur to him4 ,he took the package to the fireplace1 removed the screen1 and laid the package over the andirons with one end pointing out into the room4 ,next he took from the cabinet a couple of storage batteries and a coil of wire4 ,deftly and quickly he fixed them on the package4 ,meanwhile1 before an alleyway across the street and further down the long block the express wagon had stopped4 ,the driver and his helper clambered out and for a moment stood talking in low tones1 with covert glances at our apartment4 ,they moved into the alley and the driver drew out a battered pair of opera glasses1 levelling them at our windows4 ,having completed fixing the batteries and wires1 ,clutching ,hand ran the wires along the moulding on the wall overhead1 from the fireplace until he was directly over ,elaine's picture4 ,skillfully1 he managed to fix the wires1 using them in place of the picture wires to support the framed photograph4 ,then he carefully moved the photograph until it hung very noticeably askew on the wall4 ,the last wire joined1 he looked about the room1 then noiselessly moved to the window and raised the shade4 ,quickly he raised his hand and brought the fingers slowly together4 ,it was the sign4 ,off in the alley1 the express driver and his helper were still gazing up through the opera glass4 ,what d'ye see1 ,bill8 he asked1 handing over the glass4 ,the other took it and looked4 ,it's him--the ,hand1 ,jack1 whispered the helper1 handing the glasses back4 ,they jumped into the wagon and away it rattled4 ,jensen was smoking placidly as the wagon pulled up the second time4 ,sorry1 said the driver sheepishly1 but we delivered the cabinet to the wrong ,mr4 ,kennedy4 ,he pulled out the inevitable book to prove it4 ,wall1 you bane fine fallers1 growled ,jensen1 puffing like a furnace1 in his fury4 ,you cannot go up agane4 ,we'll get fired for the mistake1 pleaded the helper4 ,just this once1 urged the driver1 as he rattled some loose change in his pocket4 ,here--there goes a whole day's tips4 ,he handed ,jens a dollar in small change4 ,still grumpy but mollified by the silver ,jens let them go up and opened the door to our rooms again4 ,there stood the cabinet1 as outwardly innocent as when it came in4 ,lugging and tugging they managed to get the heavy piece of furniture out and downstairs again1 loading it on the wagon4 ,then they drove off with it1 accompanied by a parting volley from ,jensen4 ,in an unfrequented street1 perhaps half a mile away1 the wagon stopped4 ,with a keen glance around1 the driver and his helper made sure that no one was about4 ,such a shaking up as you've given me6 growled a voice as the cabinet door opened4 ,but ,i've got him this time6 ,it was the ,clutching ,hand4 ,there1 men1 you can leave me here1 he ordered4 ,he motioned to them to drive off and1 as they did so1 pulled off his masking handkerchief and dived into a narrow street leading up to a thoroughfare4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,craig gazed into our living room cautiously4 ,i can't see anything wrong1 he said to me as ,i stood just beside him4 ,miss ,dodge1 he added1 will you and the rest excuse me if ,i ask you to wait just a moment longer8 ,elaine watched him1 fascinated4 ,he crossed the room1 then went into each of our other rooms4 ,apparently nothing was wrong and a minute later he reappeared at the doorway4 ,i guess it's all right1 he said4 ,perhaps it was only ,jensen1 the janitor4 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,susie ,martin entered4 ,craig placed chairs for them1 but still ,i could see that he was uneasy4 ,from time to time1 while they were admiring one of our treasures after another1 he glanced about suspiciously4 ,finally he moved over to a closet and flung the door open1 ready for anything4 ,no one was in the closet and he closed it hastily4 ,what is the trouble1 do you think8 asked ,elaine wonderingly1 noticing his manner4 ,i--,i can't just say1 answered ,craig1 trying to appear easy4 ,she had risen and with keen interest was looking at the books1 the pictures1 the queer collection of weapons and odds and ends from the underworld that ,craig had amassed in his adventures4 ,at last her eye wandered across the room4 ,she caught sight of her own picture1 occupying a place of honor--but hanging askew4 ,isn't that just like a man6 she exclaimed laughingly4 ,such housekeepers as you are--such carelessness6 ,she had taken a step or two across the room to straighten the picture4 ,miss ,dodge6 almost shouted ,kennedy1 his face fairly blanched1 ,stop6 ,she turned1 her stunning eyes filled with amazement at his suddenness4 ,nevertheless she moved quickly to one side1 as he waved his arms1 unable to speak quickly enough4 ,kennedy stood quite still1 gazing at the picture1 askew1 with suspicion4 ,that wasn't that way when we left1 was it1 ,walter8 he asked4 ,it certainly was not1 ,i answered positively1 ,there was more time spent in getting that picture just right than ,i ever saw you spend on all the rest of the room4 ,craig frowned4 ,as for myself1 ,i did not know what to make of it4 ,i'm afraid ,i shall have to ask you to step into this back room1 said ,craig at length to the ladies4 ,i'm sorry--but we can't be too careful with this intruder1 whoever he was4 ,they rose1 surprised1 but1 as he continued to urge them1 they moved into my room4 ,elaine1 however1 stopped at the door4 ,for a moment ,kennedy appeared to be considering4 ,then his eye fell on a fishing rod that stood in a corner4 ,he took it and moved toward the picture4 ,on his hands and knees1 to one side1 down as close as he could get to the floor1 with the rod extended at arm's length1 he motioned to me to do the same1 behind him4 ,elaine1 unable to repress her interest took a half step forward1 breathless1 from the doorway1 while ,susie ,martin and ,aunt ,josephine stood close behind her4 ,carefully ,kennedy reached out with the pole and straightened the picture4 ,as he did so there was a flash1 a loud1 deafening report1 and a great puff of smoke from the fireplace4 ,the fire screen was riddled and overturned4 ,a charge of buckshot shattered the precious photograph of ,elaine4 ,we had dropped flat on the floor at the report4 ,i looked about4 ,kennedy was unharmed1 and so were the rest4 ,with a bound he was at the fireplace1 followed by ,elaine and the rest of us4 ,there1 in what remained of a package done up roughly in newspaper1 was a shot gun with its barrel sawed off about six inches from the lock1 fastened to a block of wood1 and connected to a series of springs on the trigger1 released by a little electromagnetic arrangement actuated by two batteries and leading by wires up along the moulding to the picture where the slightest touch would complete the circuit4 ,the newspapers which were wrapped about the deadly thing were burning1 and ,kennedy quickly tore them off1 throwing them into the fireplace4 ,a startled cry from ,elaine caused us to turn4 ,she was standing directly before her shattered picture where it hung awry on the wall4 ,the heavy charges of buckshot had knocked away large pieces of paper and plaster under it4 ,craig6 she gasped4 ,he was at her side in a second4 ,she laid one hand on his arm1 as she faced him4 ,with the other she traced an imaginary line in the air from the level of the buckshot to his head and then straight to the infernal thing that had lain in the fireplace4 ,and to think1 she shuddered1 that it was through ,,me that he tried to kill you6 ,never mind1 laughed ,craig easily1 as they gazed into each other's eyes1 drawn together by their mutual peril1 ,clutching ,hand will have to be cleverer than this to get either of us--,elaine6 ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,poisoned ,,room ,elaine and ,craig were much together during the next few days4 ,somehow or other1 it seemed that the chase of the ,clutching ,hand involved long conferences in the ,dodge library and even1 in fact1 extended to excursions into that notoriously crime-infested neighborhood of ,riverside ,drive with its fashionable processions of automobiles and go-carts--as far north1 indeed1 as that desperate haunt known as ,grant's ,tomb4 ,more than that1 these delvings into the underworld involved ,kennedy in the necessity of wearing a frock coat and silk hat in the afternoon1 and ,i found that he was selecting his neckwear with a care that had been utterly foreign to him during all the years previous that ,i had known him4 ,it all looked very suspicious to me4 ,but1 to return to the more serious side of the affair4 ,kennedy and ,elaine had scarcely come out of the house and descended the steps1 one afternoon1 when a sinister face appeared in a basement areaway nearby4 ,the figure was crouched over1 with his back humped up almost as if deformed1 and his left hand had an unmistakable twist4 ,it was the ,clutching ,hand4 ,he wore a telephone inspector's hat and coat and carried a bag slung by a strap over his shoulder4 ,for once he had left off his mask1 but1 in place of it1 his face was covered by a scraggly black beard4 ,in fact1 he seemed to avoid turning his face full1 three-quarters or even profile to anyone1 unless he had to do so4 ,as much as possible he averted it1 but he did so in a clever way that made it seem quite natural4 ,the disguise was effective4 ,he saw ,kennedy and ,miss ,dodge and slunk unobtrusively against a railing1 with his head turned away4 ,laughing and chatting1 they passed4 ,as they walked down the street1 ,clutching ,hand turned and gazed after them4 ,involuntarily the menacing hand clutched in open hatred4 ,then he turned in the other direction and1 going up the steps of the ,dodge house1 rang the bell4 ,telephone inspector1 he said in a loud tone as ,michael1 in ,jennings' place for the afternoon1 opened the door4 ,he accompanied the words with the sign and ,michael1 taking care that the words be heard1 in case anyone was listening1 admitted him4 ,as it happened1 ,aunt ,josephine was upstairs in ,elaine's room4 ,she was fixing flowers in a vase on the dressing table of her idolized niece4 ,meanwhile1 ,rusty1 the collie1 lay1 half blinking1 on the floor4 ,who is this8 she asked1 as ,michael led the bogus telephone inspector into the room4 ,a man from the telephone company1 he answered deferentially4 ,aunt ,josephine1 unsophisticated1 allowed them to enter without a further question4 ,quickly1 like a good workman1 ,clutching ,hand went to the telephone instrument and by dint of keeping his finger on the hook and his back to ,aunt ,josephine succeeded in conveying the illusion that he was examining it4 ,aunt ,josephine moved to the door4 ,not so1 ,rusty4 ,he did not like the looks of the stranger and he had no scruples against letting it be known4 ,as she put her hand on the knob to go out into the hall1 ,rusty uttered a low growl which grew into a full-lunged snarl at the ,clutching ,hand4 ,clutching ,hand kicked at him vigorously1 if surreptitiously4 ,rusty barked4 ,lady1 he disguised his voice1 will yer please ter call off the dog8 ,me and him don't seem to cotton to each other4 ,here1 ,rusty1 she commanded1 down6 ,together ,aunt ,josephine and ,michael removed the still protesting ,rusty4 ,no sooner was the door shut than the ,clutching ,hand moved over swiftly to it4 ,for a few seconds1 he stood gazing at them as they disappeared down-stairs4 ,then he came back into the center of the room4 ,hastily he opened his bag and from it drew a small powder-spraying outfit such as ,i have seen used for spraying bug-powder4 ,he then took out a sort of muzzle with an elastic band on it and slipped it over his head so that the muzzle protected his nose and mouth4 ,he seemed to work a sort of pumping attachment and from the nozzle of the spraying instrument blew out a cloud of powder which he directed at the wall4 ,the wall paper was one of those rich1 fuzzy varieties and it seemed to catch the powder4 ,clutching ,hand appeared to be more than satisfied with the effect4 ,meanwhile1 ,michael1 in the hallway1 on guard to see that no one bothered the ,clutching ,hand at his work1 was overcome by curiosity to see what his master was doing4 ,he opened the door a little bit and gazed stealthily through the crack into the room4 ,clutching ,hand was now spraying the rug close to the dressing table of ,elaine and was standing near the mirror4 ,he stooped down to examine the rug4 ,then1 as he raised his head1 he happened to look into the mirror4 ,in it he could see the full reflection of ,michael behind him1 gazing into the room4 ,the scoundrel6 muttered ,clutching ,hand1 with repressed fury at the discovery4 ,he rose quickly and shut off the spraying instrument1 stuffing it into the bag4 ,he took a step or two toward the door4 ,michael drew back1 fearfully1 pretending now to be on guard4 ,clutching ,hand opened the door and1 still wearing the muzzle1 beckoned to ,michael4 ,michael could scarcely control his fears4 ,but he obeyed1 entering ,elaine's room after the ,clutching ,hand1 who locked the door4 ,were you watching me8 demanded the master criminal1 with rage4 ,michael1 trembling all over1 shook his head4 ,for a moment ,clutching ,hand looked him over disdainfully at the clumsy lie4 ,then he brutally struck ,michael in the face1 knocking him down4 ,an ungovernable1 almost insane fury seemed to possess the man as he stood over the prostrate footman1 cursing4 ,get up6 he ordered4 ,michael obeyed1 thoroughly cowed4 ,take me to the cellar1 now1 he demanded4 ,michael led the way from the room without a protest1 the master criminal following him closely4 ,down into the cellar1 by a back way1 they went1 ,clutching ,hand still wearing his muzzle and ,michael saying not a word4 ,suddenly ,clutching ,hand turned on him and seized him by the collar4 ,now1 go upstairs1 you1 he muttered1 shaking him until his teeth fairly chattered1 and if you watch me again--,i'll kill you6 ,he thrust ,michael away and the footman1 overcome by fear1 hurried upstairs4 ,still trembling and fearful1 ,michael paused ,in the hallway1 looking back resentfully1 for even one who is in the power of a super-criminal is still human and has feelings that may be injured4 ,michael put his hand on his face where the ,clutching ,hand had struck him4 ,there he waited1 muttering to himself4 ,as he thought it over1 anger took the place of fear4 ,he slowly turned in the direction of the cellar4 ,closing both his fists1 ,michael made a threatening gesture at his master in crime4 ,meanwhile1 ,clutching ,hand was standing by the electric meter4 ,he examined it carefully1 feeling where the wires entered and left it starting to trace them out4 ,at last he came to a point where it seemed suitable to make a connection for some purpose he had in mind4 ,quickly he took some wire from his bag and connected it with the electric light wires4 ,next1 he led these wires1 concealed of course1 along the cellar floor1 in the direction of the furnace4 ,the furnace was one of the old hot air heaters and he paused before it as though seeking something4 ,then he bent down beside it and uncovered a little tank4 ,he took off the top on which were cast in the iron the words3 ,this tank must be kept full of water4 ,he thrust his hand gingerly into it1 bringing it out quickly4 ,the tank was nearly full of water and he brought his hand out wet4 ,it was also hot4 ,but he did not seem to mind that1 for he shook his head with a smile of satisfaction4 ,next1 from his capacious bag he took two metal poles1 or electrodes1 and fastened them carefully to the ends of the wires1 placing them at opposite ends of the tank in the water4 ,for several moments he watched4 ,the water inside the tank seemed the same as before1 only on each electrode there appeared bubbles1 on one bubbles of oxygen1 on the other of hydrogen4 ,the water was decomposing under the current by electrolysis4 ,another moment he surveyed his work to see that he had left no loose ends4 ,then he picked up his bag and moved toward the cellar steps4 ,as he did so1 he removed the muzzle from his nose and quietly let himself out of the house4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the next morning1 ,rusty1 who had been ,elaine's constant companion since the trouble had begun1 awakened his mistress by licking her hand as it hung limply over the side of her bed4 ,she awakened with a start and put her hand to her head4 ,she felt ill4 ,poor old fellow1 she murmured1 half dazedly1 for the moment endowing her pet with her own feelings1 as she patted his faithful shaggy head4 ,rusty moved away again1 wagging his tail listlessly4 ,the collie1 too1 felt ill4 ,elaine watched him as he walked1 dejected1 across the room and then lay down4 ,why1 ,miss ,elaine--what ees ze mattair8 ,you are so pale6 exclaimed the maid1 ,marie1 as she entered the room a moment later with the morning's mail on a salver4 ,i don't feel well1 ,marie1 she replied1 trying with her slender white hand to brush the cobwebs from her brain4 ,i--,i wish you'd tell ,aunt ,josephine to telephone ,dr4 ,hayward4 ,yes1 mademoiselle1 answered ,marie1 deftly and sympathetically straightening out the pillows4 ,languidly ,elaine took the letters one by one off the salver4 ,she looked at them1 but seemed not to have energy enough to open them4 ,finally she selected one and slowly tore it open4 ,it had no superscription1 but it at once arrested her attention and transfixed her with terror4 ,it read3 ,,you ,,are ,,sick ,,this ,,morning4 ,,tomorrow ,,you ,,will ,,be ,,worse4 ,,the ,,next ,,day ,,you ,,will ,,die ,,unless ,,you ,,discharge ,,craig ,,kennedy4 ,it was signed by the mystic trademark of the fearsome ,clutching ,hand6 ,elaine drew back into the pillows1 horror stricken4 ,quickly she called to ,marie4 ,go--get ,aunt ,josephine--right away6 ,as ,marie almost flew down the hall1 ,elaine still holding the letter convulsively1 pulled herself together and got up1 trembling4 ,she almost seized the telephone as she called ,kennedy's number4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy1 in his stained laboratory apron1 was at work before his table1 while ,i was watching him with intense interest1 when the telephone rang4 ,without a word he answered the call and ,i could see a look of perturbation cross his face4 ,i knew it was from ,elaine1 but could tell nothing about the nature of the message4 ,an instant later he almost tore off the apron and threw on his hat and coat4 ,i followed him as he dashed out of the laboratory4 ,this is terrible--terrible1 he muttered1 as we hurried across the campus of the ,university to a taxi-cab stand4 ,a few minutes later1 when we arrived at the ,dodge mansion1 we found ,aunt ,josephine and ,marie doing all they could under the circumstances4 ,aunt ,josephine had just given her a glass of water which she drank eagerly4 ,rusty had1 meanwhile1 crawled under the bed1 caring only to be alone and undisturbed4 ,dr4 ,hayward had arrived and had just finished taking her pulse and temperature as our cab pulled up4 ,jennings who had evidently been expecting us let us in without a word and conducted us up to ,elaine's room4 ,we knocked4 ,mr4 ,kennedy and ,mr4 ,jameson1 we could hear ,marie whisper in a subdued voice4 ,tell them to come in1 answered ,elaine eagerly4 ,we entered4 ,there she lay1 beautiful as ever1 but with a whiteness of her fresh cheek that was too etherially unnatural4 ,elaine was quite ill indeed4 ,oh--,i'm so glad to see you1 she breathed1 with an air of relief as ,kennedy advanced4 ,why--what is the matter8 asked ,craig1 anxiously4 ,dr4 ,hayward shook his head dubiously1 but ,kennedy did not notice him1 for1 as he approached ,elaine1 she drew from the covers where she had concealed it a letter and handed it to him4 ,craig took it and read3 ,,you ,,are ,,sick ,,this ,,morning4 ,,tomorrow ,,you ,,will ,,be ,,worse4 ,,the ,,next ,,day ,,you ,,will ,,die ,,unless ,,you ,,discharge ,,craig ,,kennedy4 ,at the signature of the ,clutching ,hand he frowned1 then1 noticing ,dr4 ,hayward1 turned to him and repeated his question1 ,what is the matter8 ,dr4 ,hayward continued shaking his head4 ,i cannot diagnose her symptoms1 he shrugged4 ,as ,i watched ,kennedy's face1 ,i saw his nostrils dilating1 almost as if he were a hound and had scented his quarry4 ,i sniffed1 too4 ,there seemed to be a faint odor1 almost as if of garlic1 in the room4 ,it was unmistakable and ,craig looked about him curiously but said nothing4 ,as he sniffed1 he moved impatiently and his foot touched ,rusty1 under the bed4 ,rusty whined and moved back lazily4 ,craig bent over and looked at him4 ,what's the matter with ,rusty8 he asked4 ,is he sick1 too8 ,why--yes1 answered ,elaine1 following ,craig with her deep eyes4 ,poor ,rusty4 ,he woke me up this morning4 ,he feels as badly as ,i do1 poor old fellow4 ,craig reached down and gently pulled the collie out into the room4 ,rusty crouched down close to the floor4 ,his nose was hot and dry and feverish4 ,he was plainly ill4 ,how long has ,rusty been in the room8 asked ,craig4 ,all night1 answered ,elaine4 ,i wouldn't think of being without him now4 ,kennedy lifted the dog by his front paws4 ,rusty submitted patiently1 but without any spirit4 ,may ,i take ,rusty along with me8 he asked finally4 ,elaine hesitated4 ,surely1 she said at length1 only1 be gentle with him4 ,craig looked at her as though it would be impossible to be otherwise with anything belonging to ,elaine4 ,of course1 he said simply4 ,i thought that ,i might be able to discover the trouble from studying him4 ,we stayed only a few minutes longer1 for ,kennedy seemed to realize the necessity of doing something immediately and even ,dr4 ,hayward was fighting in the dark4 ,as for me1 ,i gave it up1 too4 ,i could find no answer to the mystery of what was the peculiar malady of ,elaine4 ,back in the laboratory1 ,kennedy set to work immediately1 brushing everything else aside4 ,he began by drawing off a little of ,rusty's blood in a tube1 very carefully4 ,here1 ,walter1 he said pointing to the little incision he had made4 ,will you take care of him8 ,i bound up the wounded leg and gave the poor beast a drink of water4 ,rusty looked at me gratefully from his big sad brown eyes4 ,he seemed to appreciate our gentleness and to realize that we were trying to help him4 ,in the meantime1 ,craig had taken a flask with a rubber stopper4 ,through one hole in it was fitted a long funnel2 through another ran a glass tube4 ,the tube connected with a large ,u-shaped drying tube filled with calcium chloride1 which1 in turn1 connected with a long open tube with an upturned end4 ,into the flask1 ,craig dropped some pure granulated zinc4 ,then he covered it with dilute sulphuric acid1 poured in through the funnel tube4 ,that forms hydrogen gas1 he explained to me1 which passes through the drying tube and the ignition tube4 ,wait a moment until all the air is expelled from the tubes4 ,he lighted a match and touched it to the open1 upturned end4 ,the hydrogen1 now escaping freely1 was ignited with a pale blue flame4 ,a few moments later1 having extracted something like a serum from the blood he had drawn off from ,rusty4 ,he added the extract to the mixture in the flask1 pouring it in1 also through the funnel tube4 ,almost immediately the pale1 bluish flame turned to bluish white1 and white fumes were formed4 ,in the ignition tube a sort of metallic deposit appeared4 ,quickly ,craig made one test after another4 ,as he did so1 ,i sniffed4 ,there was an unmistakable odor of garlic in the air which made me think of what ,i had already noticed in ,elaine's room4 ,what is it8 ,i asked1 mystified4 ,arseniuretted hydrogen1 he answered1 still engaged in verifying his tests4 ,this is the ,marsh test for arsenic4 ,i gazed from ,kennedy to the apparatus1 then to ,rusty and a picture of ,elaine1 pale and listless1 flashed before me4 ,arsenic6 ,i repeated in horror4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,i had scarcely recovered from the surprise of ,kennedy's startling revelation when the telephone rang again4 ,kennedy seized the receiver1 thinking evidently that the message might be from or about ,elaine4 ,but from the look on his face and from his manner1 ,i could gather that1 although it was not from ,elaine herself1 it was about something that interested him greatly4 ,as he talked1 he took his little notebook and hastily jotted down something in it4 ,still1 ,i could not make out what the conversation was about4 ,good6 ,i heard him say finally4 ,i shall keep the appointment--absolutely4 ,his face wore a peculiar puzzled look as he hung up the receiver4 ,what was it8 ,i asked eagerly4 ,it was ,elaine's footman1 ,michael1 he replied thoughtfully4 ,as ,i suspected1 he says that he is a confederate of the ,clutching ,hand and if we will protect him he will tell us the trouble with ,elaine4 ,i considered a moment4 ,how's that8 ,i queried4 ,well1 added ,craig1 you see1 ,michael has become infuriated by the treatment he received from the ,clutching ,hand4 ,i believe he cuffed him in the face yesterday4 ,anyway1 he says he has determined to get even and betray him4 ,so1 after hearing how ,elaine was1 he slipped out of the servant's door and looking about carefully to see that he wasn't followed1 he went straight to a drug store and called me up4 ,he seemed extremely nervous and fearful4 ,i did not like the looks of the thing1 and said so4 ,craig1 ,i objected vehemently1 don't go to meet him4 ,it is a trap4 ,kennedy had evidently considered my objection already4 ,it may be a trap1 he replied slowly1 but ,elaine is dying and we've got to see this thing through4 ,as he spoke1 he took an automatic from a drawer of a cabinet and thrust it into his pocket4 ,then he went to another drawer and took out several sections of thin tubing which seemed to be made to fasten together as a fishing pole is fastened1 but were now separate1 as if ready for travelling4 ,well--are you coming1 ,walter8 he asked finally--the only answer to my flood of caution4 ,then he went out4 ,i followed1 still arguing4 ,if ,,you go1 ,i go1 ,i capitulated4 ,that's all there is to it4 ,following the directions that ,michael had given over the telephone ,craig led me into one of the toughest parts of the lower ,west ,side4 ,here's the place1 he announced1 stopping across the street from a dingy ,raines ,law ,hotel4 ,pretty tough1 ,i objected4 ,are you sure8 ,quite1 replied ,kennedy1 consulting his note book again4 ,well1 ,i'll be hanged if ,i'll go in that joint1 ,i persisted4 ,it had no effect on ,kennedy4 ,nonsense1 ,walter1 he replied1 crossing the street4 ,reluctantly ,i followed and we entered the place4 ,i want a room1 asked ,craig as we were accosted by the proprietor1 comfortably clad in a loud checked suit and striped shirt sleeves4 ,i had one here once before--forty-nine1 ,i think4 ,fifty-- ,i began to correct4 ,kennedy trod hard on my toes4 ,yes1 forty-nine1 he repeated4 ,the proprietor called a stout negro porter1 waiter1 and bell-hop all combined in one1 who led us upstairs4 ,fohty-nine1 sah1 he pointed out1 as ,kennedy dropped a dime into his ready palm4 ,the negro left us and as ,craig started to enter1 ,i objected1 ,but1 ,craig1 it was fifty-nine1 not forty-nine4 ,this is the wrong room4 ,i know it1 he replied4 ,i had it written in the book4 ,but ,i want forty-nine--now4 ,just follow me1 ,walter4 ,nervously ,i followed him into the room4 ,don't you understand8 he went on4 ,room forty-nine is probably just the same as fifty-nine1 except perhaps the pictures and furniture1 only it is on the floor below4 ,he gazed about keenly4 ,then he took a few steps to the window and threw it open4 ,as he stood there he took the parts of the rods he had been carrying and fitted them together until he had a pole some eight or ten feet long4 ,at one end was a curious arrangement that seemed to contain lenses and a mirror4 ,at the other end was an eye-piece1 as nearly as ,i could make out4 ,what is that8 ,i asked as he completed his work4 ,that8 ,that is an instrument something on the order of a miniature submarine periscope1 ,craig replied1 still at work4 ,i watched him1 fascinated at his resourcefulness4 ,he stealthily thrust the mirror end of the periscope out of the window and up toward the corresponding window up stairs4 ,then he gazed eagerly through the eye-piece4 ,walter--look6 he exclaimed to me4 ,i did4 ,there1 sure enough1 was ,michael1 pacing up and down the room4 ,he had already preceded us4 ,in his scared and stealthy manner1 he had entered the ,raines ,law hotel which announced ,furnished ,rooms for ,gentlemen ,only4 ,there he had sought a room1 fifty-nine1 as he had said4 ,as he came into the room1 he had looked about1 overcome by the enormity of what he was about to do4 ,he locked the door4 ,still1 he had not been able to avoid gazing about fearfully1 as he was doing now that we saw him4 ,nothing had happened4 ,yet he brushed his hand over his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief4 ,the air seemed to be stifling him and already he had gone to the window and thrown it open4 ,then he had gazed out as though there might be some unknown peril in the very air4 ,he had now drawn back from the window and was considering4 ,he was actually trembling4 ,should he flee8 ,he whistled softly to himself to keep his shaking fears under control4 ,then he started to pace up and down the room in nervous impatience and irresolution4 ,as ,i looked at him nervously walking to and fro1 ,i could not help admitting that things looked safe enough and all right to me4 ,kennedy folded the periscope up and we left our room1 mounting the remaining flight of stairs4 ,in fifty-nine we could hear the measured step of the footman4 ,craig knocked4 ,the footsteps ceased4 ,then the door opened slowly and ,i could see a cold blue automatic4 ,look out6 ,i cried4 ,michael in his fear had drawn a gun4 ,it's all right1 ,michael1 reassured ,craig calmly4 ,all right1 ,walter1 he added to me4 ,the gun dropped back into the footman's pocket4 ,we entered and ,michael again locked the door4 ,not a word had been spoken by him so far4 ,next ,michael moved to the center of the room and1 as ,i realized later1 brought himself in direct lines with the open window4 ,he seemed to be overcome with fear at his betrayal and stood there breathing heavily4 ,professor ,kennedy1 he began1 ,i have been so mistreated that ,i have made up my mind to tell you all ,i know about this ,clutching-- ,suddenly he drew a sharp breath and both his hands clutched at his own breast4 ,he did not stagger and fall in the ordinary manner1 but seemed to bend at the knees and waist and literally crumple down on his face4 ,we ran to him4 ,craig turned him over gently on his back and examined him4 ,he called4 ,no answer4 ,michael was almost pulseless4 ,quickly ,craig tore off his collar and bared his breast1 for the man seemed to be struggling for breath4 ,as he did so1 he drew from ,michael's chest a small1 sharp-pointed dart4 ,what's that8 ,i ejaculated1 horror stricken4 ,a poisoned blow gun dart such as is used by the ,south ,american ,indians on the upper ,orinoco1 he said slowly4 ,he examined it carefully4 ,what is the poison8 ,i asked4 ,curari1 he replied simply4 ,it acts on the respiratory muscles1 paralyzing them1 and causing asphyxiation4 ,the dart seemed to have been made of a quill with a very sharp point1 hollow1 and containing the deadly poison in the sharpened end4 ,look out6 ,i cautioned as he handled it4 ,oh1 that's all right1 he answered casually4 ,if ,i don't scratch myself1 ,i am safe enough4 ,i could swallow the stuff and it wouldn't hurt me--unless ,i had an abrasion of the lips or some internal cut4 ,kennedy continued to examine the dart until suddenly ,i heard a low exclamation of surprise from him4 ,inside the hollow quill was a thin sheet of tissue paper1 tightly rolled4 ,he drew it out and read3 ,to know me is ,,death ,kennedy--,take ,warning6 ,underneath was the inevitable ,clutching ,hand sign4 ,we jumped to our feet4 ,kennedy rushed to the window and slammed it shut1 while ,i seized the key from ,michael's pocket1 opened the door and called for help4 ,a moment before1 on the roof of a building across the street1 one might have seen a bent1 skulking figure4 ,his face was copper colored and on his head was a thick thatch of matted hair4 ,he looked like a ,south ,american ,indian1 in a very dilapidated suit of castoff ,american clothes4 ,he had slipped out through a doorway leading to a flight of steps from the roof to the hallway of the tenement4 ,his fatal dart sent on its unerring mission with a precision born of long years in the ,south ,american jungle1 he concealed the deadly blow-gun in his breast pocket1 with a cruel smile1 and1 like one of his native venomous serpents1 wormed his way down the stairs again4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,my outcry brought a veritable battalion of aid4 ,the hotel proprietor1 the negro waiter1 and several others dashed upstairs1 followed shortly by a portly policeman1 puffing at the exertion4 ,what's the matter1 here8 he panted4 ,ye're all under arrest6 ,kennedy quietly pulled out his card case and taking the policeman aside showed it to him4 ,we had an appointment to meet this man--in that ,clutching ,hand case1 you know4 ,he is ,miss ,dodge's footman1 ,craig explained4 ,then he took the policeman into his confidence1 showing him the dart and explaining about the poison4 ,the officer stared blankly4 ,i must get away1 too1 hurried on ,craig4 ,officer1 ,i will leave you to take charge here4 ,you can depend on me for the inquest4 ,the officer nodded4 ,come on1 ,walter1 whispered ,craig1 eager to get away1 then adding the one word1 ,elaine6 ,i followed hastily1 not slow to understand his fear for her4 ,nor were ,craig's fears groundless4 ,in spite of all that could be done for her1 ,elaine was still in bed1 much weaker now than before4 ,while we had been gone1 ,dr4 ,hayward1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,marie were distracted4 ,more than that1 the ,clutching ,hand had not neglected the opportunity1 either4 ,suddenly1 just before our return1 a stone had come hurtling through the window1 without warning of any kind1 and had landed on ,elaine's bed4 ,below1 as we learned some time afterwards1 a car had drawn up hastily and the evil-faced crook whom the ,clutching ,hand had used to rid himself of the informer1 ,limpy ,red1 had leaped out and hurled the stone through the window1 as quickly leaping back into the car and whisking away4 ,elaine had screamed4 ,all had reached for the stone4 ,but she had been the first to seize it and discover that around it was wrapped a piece of paper on which was the ominous warning1 signed as usual by the ,hand3 ,michael is dead4 ,tomorrow1 you4 ,then ,kennedy4 ,stop before it is too late4 ,elaine had sunk back into her pillows1 paler than ever from this second shock1 while the others1 as they read the note1 were overcome by alarm and despair1 at the suddenness of the thing4 ,it was just then that ,kennedy and ,i arrived and were admitted4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 cried ,elaine1 handing him the note4 ,craig took it and read4 ,miss ,dodge1 he said1 as he held the note out to me1 you are suffering from arsenic poisoning--but ,i don't know yet how it is being administered4 ,he gazed about keenly4 ,meanwhile1 ,i had taken the crumpled note from him and was reading it4 ,somehow1 ,i had leaned against the wall4 ,as ,i turned1 ,craig happened to glance at me4 ,for heaven's sake1 ,walter1 ,i heard him exclaim4 ,what have you been up against8 ,he fairly leaped at me and ,i felt him examining my shoulder where ,i had been leaning on the wall4 ,something on the paper had come off and had left a white mark on my shoulder4 ,craig looked puzzled from me to the wall4 ,arsenic6 he cried4 ,he whipped out a pocket lens and looked at the paper4 ,this heavy fuzzy paper is fairly loaded with it1 powdered1 he reported4 ,i looked1 too4 ,the powdered arsenic was plainly discernible4 ,yes1 here it is1 he continued1 standing absorbed in thought4 ,but why did it work so effectively8 ,he sniffed as he had before4 ,so did ,i4 ,there was still the faint smell of garlic4 ,kennedy paced the room4 ,suddenly1 pausing by the register1 an idea seemed to strike him4 ,walter1 he whispered1 come down cellar with me4 ,oh--be careful1 cried ,elaine1 anxious for him4 ,i will1 he called back4 ,as he flashed his pocket electric bull's-eye about1 his gaze fell on the electric meter4 ,he paused before it4 ,in spite of the fact that it was broad daylight1 it was running4 ,his face puckered4 ,they are using no current at present in the house1 he ruminated4 ,yet the meter is running4 ,he continued to examine the meter4 ,then he began to follow the electric wires along4 ,at last he discovered a place where they had been tampered with and tapped by other wires4 ,the work of the ,clutching ,hand6 he muttered4 ,eagerly he followed the wires to the furnace and around to the back4 ,there they led right into a little water tank4 ,kennedy yanked them out4 ,as he did so he pulled something with them4 ,two electrodes--the villain placed there1 he exclaimed1 holding them up triumphantly for me to see4 ,y-yes1 ,i replied dubiously1 but what does it all mean8 ,why1 don't you see8 ,under the influence of the electric current the water was decomposed and gave off oxygen and hydrogen4 ,the free hydrogen passed up the furnace pipe and combining with the arsenic in the wall paper formed the deadly arseniuretted hydrogen4 ,he cast the whole improvised electrolysis apparatus on the floor and dashed up the cellar steps4 ,i've found it6 he cried1 hurrying into ,elaine's room4 ,it's in this room--a deadly gas--arseniuretted hydrogen4 ,he tore open the windows and threw them all open4 ,have her moved1 he cried to ,aunt ,josephine4 ,then have a vacuum cleaner go over every inch of wall1 carpet and upholstery4 ,standing beside her1 he breathlessly explained his discovery4 ,that wall paper has been loaded down with arsenic1 probably ,paris green or ,schweinfurth green1 which is aceto-arsenite of copper4 ,every minute you are here1 you are breathing arseniuretted hydrogen4 ,the ,clutching ,hand has cleverly contrived to introduce the nascent gas into the room4 ,that acts on the arsenic compounds in the wall paper and hangings and sets free the gas4 ,i thought ,i knew the smell the moment ,i got a whiff of it4 ,you are slowly being poisoned by minute quantities of the deadly gas4 ,this ,clutching ,hand is a diabolical genius4 ,think of it--poisoned wall paper6 ,no one said a word4 ,kennedy reached down and took the two ,clutching ,hand messages ,elaine had received4 ,i shall want to study these notes1 more1 too1 he said1 holding them up to the wall at the head of the bed as he flashed his pocket lens at them4 ,you see1 ,elaine1 ,i may be able to get something from studying the ink1 the paper1 the handwriting-- ,suddenly both leaped back1 with a cry4 ,their faces had been several inches apart4 ,something had whizzed between them and literally impaled the two notes on the wall4 ,down the street1 on the roof of a carriage house1 back of a neighbor's1 might have been seen the uncouth figure of the dilapidated ,south ,american ,indian crouching behind a chimney and gazing intently at the ,dodge house4 ,as ,craig had thrown open ,elaine's window and turned to ,elaine1 the figure had crouched closer to his chimney4 ,then with an uncanny determination he slowly raised the blow-gun to his lips4 ,i jumped forward1 followed by ,dr4 ,hayward1 ,aunt ,josephine1 and ,marie4 ,kennedy had a peculiar look as he pulled out from the wall a blow-gun dart similar in every way to that which had killed ,michael4 ,craig6 gasped ,elaine1 reaching up and laying her soft white hand on his arm in undisguised fear for him1 you--you must give up this chase for the ,clutching ,hand6 ,give up the chase for the ,clutching ,hand8 he repeated in surprise4 ,never6 ,not until either he or ,i is dead6 ,there was both fear and admiration mingled in her look1 as he reached down and patted her dainty shoulder encouragingly4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,vampire ,kennedy went the next day to the ,dodge house1 and1 as usual1 ,perry ,bennett was there in the library with ,elaine1 still going over the ,clutching ,hand case1 in their endeavor to track down the mysterious master criminal4 ,bennett seemed as deeply as ever in love with ,elaine4 ,still1 as ,jennings admitted ,craig1 it was sufficiently evident by the manner in which ,elaine left ,bennett and ran to meet ,craig that she had the highest regard for him4 ,i've brought you a little document that may interest you1 remarked ,kennedy1 reaching into his pocket and pulling out an envelope4 ,elaine tore it open and looked at the paper within4 ,oh1 how thoughtful of you6 she exclaimed in surprise4 ,it was a permit from the police made out in her name allowing her to carry a revolver4 ,a moment later1 ,kennedy reached into his coat pocket and produced a little automatic which he handed to her4 ,thank you1 she cried eagerly4 ,elaine examined the gun with interest1 then1 raising it1 pointed it playfully at ,bennett4 ,oh--no--no6 exclaimed ,kennedy1 taking her arm quickly1 and gently deflecting the weapon away4 ,you mustn't think it is a toy4 ,it explodes at a mere touch of the trigger--when that safety ratchet is turned4 ,bennett had realized the danger and had jumped back1 almost mechanically4 ,as he did so1 he bumped into a suit of medieval armor standing by the wall1 knocking it over with a resounding crash4 ,i beg pardon1 he ejaculated1 ,i'm very sorry4 ,that was very awkward of me4 ,jennings1 who had been busy about the portieres at the doorway1 started to pick up the fallen knight4 ,some of the pieces were broken1 and the three gathered about as the butler tried to fit them together again as best he could4 ,too bad1 too bad1 apologized ,bennett profusely4 ,i really forgot how close ,i was to the thing4 ,oh1 never mind1 returned ,elaine1 a little crestfallen1 ,it is smashed all right--but it was my fault4 ,jennings1 send for someone to repair it4 ,she turned to ,kennedy4 ,but ,i do wish you would teach me how to use this thing1 she added1 touching the automatic gingerly4 ,gladly1 he returned4 ,won't you join us1 ,mr4 ,bennett8 asked ,elaine4 ,no1 the young lawyer smiled1 ,i'm afraid ,i can't4 ,you see1 ,i had an engagement with another client and ,i'm already late4 ,he took his hat and coat and1 with a reluctant farewell1 moved toward the hallway4 ,a moment later ,elaine and ,craig followed1 while ,jennings finished restoring the armor as nearly as possible as it had been4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was late that night that a masked figure succeeded in raising itself to the narrow ornamental ledge under ,elaine's bedroom window4 ,elaine was a light sleeper and1 besides1 ,rusty1 her faithful collie1 now fully recovered from the poison1 was in her room4 ,rusty growled and the sudden noise wakened her4 ,startled1 ,elaine instantly thought of the automatic4 ,she reached under her pillow1 keeping very quiet1 and drew forth the gun that ,craig had given her4 ,stealthily concealing her actions under the covers1 she levelled the automatic at the figure silhouetted in her window and fired three times4 ,the figure fell back4 ,down in the street1 below1 the assistant of the ,clutching ,hand who had waited while ,taylor ,dodge was electrocuted1 was waiting now as his confederate1 ,pitts ,slim--which indicated that he was both wiry in stature and libellous in delegating his nativity--made the attempt4 ,as ,slim came tumbling down1 having fallen back from the window above1 mortally wounded1 the confederate lifted him up and carried him out of sight hurriedly4 ,elaine1 by this time1 had turned on the lights and had run to the window to look out4 ,rusty was barking loudly4 ,in a side street1 nearby1 stood a waiting automobile1 at the wheel of which sat another of the emissaries of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,the driver looked up1 startled1 as he saw his fellow hurry around the corner carrying the wounded ,pitts ,slim4 ,it was the work of just a moment to drop the wounded man1 as comfortably as possible under the circumstances1 in the rear seat1 while his pals started the car off with a jerk in the hurry of escape4 ,jennings1 having hastily slipped his trousers on over his pajamas came running down the hall1 while ,marie1 frightened1 came in the other direction4 ,aunt ,josephine appeared a few seconds later1 adding to the general excitement4 ,what's the matter8 she asked1 anxiously4 ,a burglar1 ,i think1 exclaimed ,elaine1 still holding the gun in her hand4 ,someone tried to get into my window4 ,my gracious1 cried ,aunt ,josephine1 in alarm1 where will this thing end8 ,elaine was doing her best now to quiet the fears of her aunt and the rest of the household4 ,well1 she laughed1 a little nervously1 now that it was all over1 ,i want you all to go to bed and stop worrying about me4 ,don't you see1 ,i'm perfectly able to take care of myself8 ,besides1 there isn't a chance1 now1 of the burglar coming back4 ,why1 ,i shot him4 ,yes1 put in ,aunt ,josephine1 but-- ,elaine laughingly interrupted her and playfully made as though she were driving them out of her room1 although they were all very much concerned over the affair4 ,however1 they went finally1 and she locked the door4 ,rusty6 she called1 ,down there6 ,the intelligent collie seemed to understand4 ,he lay down by the doorway1 his nose close to the bottom of the door and his ears alert4 ,finally ,elaine1 too1 retired again4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile the wounded man was being hurried to one of the hangouts of the mysterious ,clutching ,hand1 an old-fashioned house in the ,westchester suburbs4 ,it was a carefully hidden place1 back from the main road1 surrounded by trees1 with a driveway leading up to it4 ,the car containing the wounded ,pitts ,slim drew up and the other two men leaped out of it4 ,with a hurried glance about1 they unlocked the front door with a pass-key and entered1 carrying the man4 ,indoors was another emissary of the ,clutching ,hand1 a rather studious looking chap4 ,why1 what's the matter8 he exclaimed1 as the crooks entered his room1 supporting their half-fainting1 wounded pal4 ,slim got a couple of pills1 they panted1 as they laid him on a couch4 ,how8 demanded the other4 ,trying to get into the ,dodge house4 ,elaine did it4 ,slim was1 quite evidently1 badly wounded and was bleeding profusely4 ,a glance at him was enough for the studious-looking chap4 ,he went to a secret panel and1 pressing it down1 took out what was apparently a house telephone4 ,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 trusted followers4 ,it was a small room1 lined with books on every conceivable branch of science that might aid him and containing innumerable little odds and ends of paraphernalia that might help in his nefarious criminal career4 ,his telephone rang and he took down the receiver4 ,pitts ,slim's been wounded--badly--,chief1 was all he waited to hear4 ,with scarcely a word1 he hung up the receiver1 then opened a table drawer and took out his masking handkerchief4 ,next he went to a nearby bookcase1 pressed another secret spring1 and a panel opened4 ,he passed through1 the handkerchief adjusted4 ,across1 in the larger1 outside study1 another panel opened and the ,clutching ,hand1 all crouched up1 transformed1 appeared4 ,without a word he advanced to the couch on which the wounded crook lay and examined him4 ,how did it happen8 he asked at length4 ,miss ,dodge shot him1 answered the others1 with an automatic4 ,that ,craig ,kennedy must have given it to her6 he exclaimed with suppressed fury4 ,for a moment the ,clutching ,hand stopped to consider4 ,then he seized the regular telephone4 ,dr4 ,morton8 he asked as he got the number he called4 ,late as it was the doctor1 who was a well-known surgeon in that part of the country1 answered1 apparently from an extension of his telephone near his bed4 ,the call was urgent and apparently from a family which he did not feel that he could neglect4 ,yes1 ,i'll be there--in a few moments1 he yawned1 hanging up the receiver and getting out of bed4 ,dr4 ,morton was a middle-aged man1 one of those medical men in whose judgment one instinctively relies4 ,from the brief description of the hemorrhage which the ,clutching ,hand had cleverly made over the wire1 he knew that a life was at stake4 ,quickly he dressed and went out to his garage1 back of the house to get his little runabout4 ,it was only a matter of minutes before the doctor was speeding over the now deserted suburban roads1 apparently on his errand of mercy4 ,at the address that had been given him1 he drew up to the side of the road1 got out and ran up the steps to the door4 ,a ring at the bell brought a sleepy man to the door1 in his trousers and nightshirt4 ,how's the patient8 asked ,dr4 ,morton1 eagerly4 ,patient8 repeated the man1 rubbing his eyes4 ,there's no one sick here4 ,then what did you telephone for8 asked the doctor peevishly1 ,telephone8 ,i didn't call up anyone1 ,i was asleep4 ,slowly it dawned on the doctor that it was a false alarm and that he must be the victim of some practical joke4 ,well1 that's a great note1 he growled1 as the man shut the door4 ,he descended the steps1 muttering harsh language at some unknown trickster4 ,as he climbed back into his machine and made ready to start1 two men seemed to rise before him1 as if from nowhere4 ,as a matter of fact1 they had been sent there by the ,clutching ,hand and were hiding in a nearby cellar way until their chance came4 ,one man stood on the running board1 on either side of him1 and two guns yawned menacingly at him4 ,drive ahead--that way6 muttered one man1 seating himself in the runabout with his gun close to the doctor's ribs4 ,the other kept his place on the running board1 and on they drove in the direction of the mysterious1 dark house4 ,half a mile1 perhaps1 down the road1 they halted and left the car beside the walk4 ,dr4 ,morton was too surprised to marvel at anything now and he realized that he was in the power of two desperate men4 ,quickly1 they blindfolded him4 ,it seemed an interminable walk1 as they led him about to confuse him1 but at last he could feel that they had taken him into a house and along passageways1 which they were making unnecessarily long in order to destroy all recollection that they could4 ,finally he knew that he was in a room in which others were present4 ,he suppressed a shudder at the low1 menacing voices4 ,a moment later he felt them remove the bandage from his eyes1 and1 blinking at the light1 he could see a hard-faced fellow1 pale and weak1 on a blood-stained couch4 ,over him bent a masked man and another man stood nearby1 endeavoring by improvised bandages to stop the flow of blood4 ,what can you do for this fellow8 asked the masked man4 ,dr4 ,morton1 seeing nothing else to do1 for he was more than outnumbered now1 bent down and examined him4 ,as he rose1 he said1 ,he will be dead from loss of blood by morning1 no matter if he is properly bandaged4 ,is there nothing that can save him8 whispered the ,clutching ,hand hoarsely4 ,blood transfusion might save him1 replied the ,doctor4 ,but so much blood would be needed that whoever gives it would be liable to die himself4 ,clutching ,hand stood silent a moment1 thinking1 as he gazed at the man who had been one of his chief reliances4 ,then1 with a menacing gesture1 he spoke in a low1 bitter tone4 ,,she ,,who ,,shot ,,him ,,shall ,,supply ,,the ,,blood4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,a few quick directions followed to his subordinates1 and as he made ready to go1 he muttered1 ,keep the doctor here4 ,don't let him stir from the room4 ,then1 with the man who had aided him in the murder of ,taylor ,dodge1 he sallied out into the blackness that precedes dawn4 ,it was just before early daybreak when the ,clutching ,hand and his confederate reached the ,dodge ,house in the city and came up to the back door1 over the fences4 ,as they stood there1 the ,clutching ,hand produced a master key and started to open the door4 ,but before he did so1 he took out his watch4 ,let me see1 he ruminated4 ,twenty minutes past four4 ,at exactly half past1 ,i want you to do as ,i told you--see8 ,the other crook nodded4 ,you may go1 ordered the ,clutching ,hand4 ,as the crook slunk away1 ,clutching ,hand stealthily let himself into the house4 ,noiselessly he prowled through the halls until he came to ,elaine's doorway4 ,he gave a hasty look up and down the hall4 ,there was no sound4 ,quickly he took a syringe from his pocket and bent down by the door4 ,inserting the end under it1 he squirted some liquid through which vaporized rapidly in a wide1 fine stream of spray4 ,before he could give an alarm1 ,rusty was overcome by the noxious fumes1 rolled over on his back and lay still4 ,outside1 the other crook was waiting1 looking at his watch4 ,as the hand slowly turned the half hour1 he snapped the watch shut4 ,with a quick glance up and down the deserted street1 he deftly started up the rain pipe that passed near ,elaine's window4 ,this time there was no faithful ,rusty to give warning and the second intruder1 after a glance at ,elaine1 still sleeping1 went quickly to the door1 dragged the insensible dog out of the way1 turned the key and admitted the ,clutching ,hand4 ,as he did so he closed the door4 ,evidently the fumes had not reached ,elaine1 or if they had1 the inrush of fresh air revived her1 for she waked and quickly reached for the gun4 ,in an instant the other crook had leaped at her4 ,holding his hand over her mouth to prevent her screaming he snatched the revolver away before she could fire it4 ,in the meantime the ,clutching ,hand had taken out some chloroform and1 rolling a towel in the form of a cone1 placed it over her face4 ,she struggled1 gasping and gagging1 but the struggles grew weaker and weaker and finally ceased altogether4 ,when ,elaine was completely under the influence of the drug1 they lifted her out of bed1 the chloroform cone still over her face1 and quietly carried her to the door which they opened stealthily4 ,downstairs they carried her until they came to the library with its new safe and there they placed her on a couch4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at an early hour an express wagon stopped before the ,dodge house and ,jennings1 half dressed1 answered the bell4 ,we've come for that broken suit of armor to be repaired1 said a workman4 ,jennings let the men in4 ,the armor was still on the stand and the repairers took armor1 stand1 and all1 laying it on the couch where they wrapped it in the covers they had brought for the purpose4 ,they lifted it up and started to carry it out4 ,be careful1 cautioned the thrifty ,jennings4 ,rusty1 now recovered1 was barking and sniffing at the armor4 ,kick the mutt off1 growled one man4 ,the other did so and ,rusty snarled and snapped at him4 ,jennings took him by the collar and held him as the repairers went out1 loaded the armor on the wagon1 and drove off4 ,scarcely had they gone1 while ,jennings straightened out the disarranged library1 when ,rusty began jumping about1 barking furiously4 ,jennings looked at him in amazement1 as the dog ran to the window and leaped out4 ,he had no time to look after the dog1 though1 for at that very instant he heard a voice calling1 ,jennings6 ,jennings6 ,it was ,marie1 almost speechless4 ,he followed her as she led the way to ,miss ,elaine's room4 ,there ,marie pointed mutely at the bed4 ,elaine was not there4 ,there1 too1 were her clothes1 neatly folded1 as ,marie had hung them for her4 ,something must have happened to her6 wailed ,marie4 ,jennings was now thoroughly alarmed4 ,meanwhile the express wagon outside was driving off1 with ,rusty tearing after it4 ,what's the matter8 cried ,aunt ,josephine coming in where the footman and the maid were arguing what was to be done4 ,she gave one look at the bed1 the clothes1 and the servants4 ,call ,mr4 ,kennedy6 she cried in alarm4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine is gone--no one knows how or where1 announced ,craig as he leaped out of bed that morning to answer the furious ringing of our telephone bell4 ,it was very early1 but ,craig dressed hurriedly and ,i followed as best ,i could1 for he had the start of me1 tieless and collarless4 ,when we arrived at the ,dodge house1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,marie were fully dressed4 ,jennings let us in4 ,what has happened8 demanded ,kennedy breathlessly4 ,while ,aunt ,josephine tried to tell him1 ,craig was busy examining the room4 ,let us see the library1 he said at length4 ,accordingly down to the library we went4 ,kennedy looked about4 ,he seemed to miss something4 ,where is the armor8 he demanded4 ,why1 the men came for it and took it away to repair1 answered ,jennings4 ,kennedy's brow clouded in deep thought4 ,outside we had left our taxi1 waiting4 ,the door was open and a new footman1 ,james1 was sweeping the rug1 when past him flashed a dishevelled hairy streak4 ,we were all standing there still as ,craig questioned ,jennings about the armor4 ,with a yelp ,rusty tore frantically into the room4 ,a moment he stopped and barked4 ,we all looked at him in surprise4 ,then1 as no one moved1 he seemed to single out ,kennedy4 ,he seized ,craig's coat in his teeth and tried to drag him out4 ,here1 ,rusty--down1 sir1 down6 called ,jennings4 ,no1 ,jennings1 no1 interposed ,craig4 ,what's the matter1 old fellow8 ,craig patted ,rusty whose big brown eyes seemed mutely appealing4 ,out of the doorway he went1 barking still4 ,craig and ,i followed while the rest stood in the vestibule4 ,rusty was trying to lead ,kennedy down the street6 ,wait here1 called ,kennedy to ,aunt ,josephine1 as he stepped with me on the running board of the cab4 ,go on1 ,rusty1 good dog6 ,rusty needed no urging4 ,with an eager yelp he started off1 still barking1 ahead of us1 our car following4 ,on we went1 much to the astonishment of those who were on the street at such an early hour4 ,it seemed miles that we went1 but at last we came to a peculiarly deserted looking house4 ,here ,rusty turned in and began scratching at the door4 ,we jumped off the cab and followed4 ,the door was locked when we tried and from inside we could get no answer4 ,we put our shoulders to it and burst it in4 ,rusty gave a leap forward with a joyous bark4 ,we followed1 more cautiously4 ,there were pieces of armor strewn all over the floor4 ,rusty sniffed at them and looked about1 disappointed1 then howled4 ,i looked from the armor to ,kennedy1 in blank amazement4 ,elaine was kidnapped--in the armor1 he cried4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,he was right4 ,meanwhile1 the armor repairers had stopped at last at this apparently deserted house1 a strange sort of repair shop4 ,still keeping it wrapped in blankets1 they had taken the armor out of the wagon and now laid it down on an old broken bed4 ,then they had unwrapped it and taken off the helmet4 ,there was ,elaine6 ,she had been stupefied1 bound and gagged4 ,piece after piece of the armor they removed1 finding her still only half conscious4 ,sh6 ,what's that8 cautioned one of the men4 ,they paused and listened4 ,sure enough1 there was a sound outside4 ,they opened the window cautiously4 ,a dog was scratching on the door1 endeavoring to get in4 ,it was ,rusty4 ,i think it's her dog1 said the man1 turning4 ,we'd better let him in4 ,someone might see him4 ,the other nodded and a moment later the door opened and in ran ,rusty4 ,straight to ,elaine he went1 starting to lick her hand4 ,right--her dog1 exclaimed the other man1 drawing a gun and hastily levelling it at ,rusty4 ,don't6 cautioned the first4 ,it would make too much noise4 ,you'd better choke him6 ,the fellow grabbed for ,rusty4 ,rusty was too quick4 ,he jumped4 ,around the room they ran4 ,rusty saw the wide open window--and his chance4 ,out he went and disappeared1 leaving the man cussing at him4 ,a moment's argument followed1 then they wrapped ,elaine in the blankets alone1 still bound and gagged1 and carried her out4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the secret den1 the ,clutching ,hand was waiting1 gazing now and then at his watch1 and then at the wounded man before him4 ,in a chair his first assistant sat1 watching ,dr4 ,morton4 ,a knock at the door caused them to turn their heads4 ,the crook opened it and in walked the other crooks who had carried off ,elaine in the suit of armor4 ,elaine was now almost conscious1 as they sat her down in a chair and partly loosed her bonds and the gag4 ,she gazed about1 frightened4 ,oh--help6 help6 she screamed as she caught sight of the now familiar mask of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,call all you want--here1 young lady1 he laughed unnaturally4 ,no one can hear4 ,these walls are soundproof6 ,elaine shrank back4 ,now1 doc41 he added harshly to ,dr4 ,morton4 ,it was she who shot him4 ,her blood must save him4 ,dr4 ,morton recoiled at the thought of torturing the beautiful young girl before him4 ,are--you willing--to have your blood transfused8 he parleyed4 ,no--no--no6 she cried in horror1 ,dr4 ,morton turned to the desperate criminal4 ,i cannot do it4 ,the deuce you can't6 ,a cold steel revolver pressed down on ,dr4 ,morton's stomach4 ,in the other hand the master crook held his watch4 ,you have just one minute to make up your mind4 ,dr4 ,morton shrank back4 ,the revolver followed4 ,the pressure of a fly's foot meant eternity for him4 ,i--,i'll try6 ,the other crooks next carried ,elaine1 struggling1 and threw her down beside the wounded man4 ,together they arranged another couch beside him4 ,dr4 ,morton1 still covered by the gun1 bent over the two1 the hardened criminal and the delicate1 beautiful girl4 ,clutching ,hand glared fiendishly1 insanely4 ,from his bag he took a little piece of something that shone like silver4 ,it was in the form of a minute1 hollow cylinder1 with two grooves on it1 a cylinder so tiny that it would scarcely have slipped over the point of a pencil4 ,a cannulla1 he explained1 as he prepared to make an incision in ,elaine's arm and in the arm of the wounded rogue4 ,he cuffed it over the severed end of the artery1 so cleverly that the inner linings of the vein and artery1 the endothelium as it is called1 were in complete contact with each other4 ,clutching ,hand watched eagerly1 as though he had found some new1 scientific engine of death in the little hollow cylinder4 ,a moment and the blood that was1 perhaps1 to save the life of the wounded felon was coursing into his veins from ,elaine4 ,a moment later1 ,dr4 ,morton looked up at the ,clutching ,hand and nodded1 ,well1 it's working6 ,at ,elaine's head1 ,clutching ,hand himself was administering just enough ether to keep her under and prevent a struggle that would wreck all4 ,the wounded man had not been anesthetized and seemed feebly conscious of what was being done to save him4 ,all were now bending over the two4 ,dr4 ,morton bent closest over ,elaine4 ,he looked at her anxiously1 felt her pulse1 watched her breathing1 then pursed up his lips4 ,this is--dangerous1 he ventured1 gazing askance at the grim ,clutching ,hand4 ,can't help it1 came back laconically and relentlessly4 ,the doctor shuddered4 ,the man was a veritable vampire6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,outside the deserted house1 ,kennedy and ,i were looking helplessly about4 ,suddenly ,kennedy dashed back and reappeared a minute later with a couple of pieces of armor4 ,he held them down to ,rusty and the dog sniffed at them4 ,but ,rusty stood still4 ,kennedy pointed to the ground4 ,nothing doing4 ,in leading us where he had been before1 ,rusty had reached the end of his canine ability4 ,everything we could do to make ,rusty understand that we wanted him to follow a trail was unavailing4 ,he simply could not do it4 ,kennedy coaxed and scolded4 ,rusty merely sat up on his hind legs and begged with those irresistible brown eyes4 ,you can't make a bloodhound out of a collie1 despaired ,craig1 looking about again helplessly4 ,then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a police whistle4 ,he blew three sharp blasts4 ,would it bring help8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while we were thus despairing1 the continued absence of ,dr4 ,morton from home had alarmed his family and had set in motion another train of events4 ,when he did not return1 and could not be located at the place to which he was supposed to have gone1 several policemen had been summoned to his house1 and they had come1 finally1 with real bloodhounds from a suburban station4 ,there were the tracks of his car4 ,that the police themselves could follow1 while two men came along holding in leash the pack1 leaders of which were ,searchlight and ,bob4 ,it had not been long before the party came across the deserted runabout beside the road4 ,there they had stopped1 for a moment4 ,it was just then that they heard ,kennedy's call1 and one of them had been detailed to answer it4 ,well1 what do ,,you want8 asked the officer1 eyeing ,kennedy suspiciously as he stood there with the armor4 ,what's them pieces of tin--hey8 ,kennedy quickly flashed his own special badge4 ,i want to trail a girl1 he exclaimed hurriedly4 ,can ,i find a bloodhound about here8 ,a hound8 ,why1 we have a pack--over there4 ,bring them--quick6 ordered ,craig4 ,the policeman1 who was an intelligent fellow1 saw at once that1 as ,kennedy said1 the two trails probably crossed4 ,he shouted and in a few seconds the others1 with the pack1 came4 ,a brief parley resulted in our joining forces4 ,kennedy held the armor down to the dogs4 ,searchlight gave a low whine1 then1 followed by ,bob and the others1 was off1 all with noses close to the ground4 ,we followed4 ,the armor was1 after all1 the missing link4 ,through woods and fields the dogs led us4 ,would we be in time to rescue ,elaine8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the mysterious haunt of the ,clutching ,hand1 all were still standing around ,elaine and the wounded ,pitts ,slim4 ,just then a cry from one of the group startled the rest4 ,one of them1 less hardened than the ,clutching ,hand1 had turned away from the sight1 had gone to the window1 and had been attracted by something outside4 ,look6 he cried4 ,from the absolute stillness of death1 there was now wild excitement among the crooks4 ,police6 ,police6 they shouted to each other as they fled by a doorway to a secret passage4 ,clutching ,hand turned to his first assistant4 ,you--go--too1 he ordered4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the dogs had led us to a strange looking house1 and were now baying and leaping up against the door4 ,we did not stop to knock1 but began to break through1 for inside we could hear faintly sounds of excitement and cries of ,police--police6 ,the door yielded and we rushed into a long hallway4 ,up the passage we went until we came to another door4 ,an instant and we were all against it4 ,it was stout1 but it shook before us4 ,the panels began to yield4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,on the other side of that door from us1 the master crook stood for a moment4 ,dr4 ,morton hesitated1 not knowing quite what to do4 ,just then the wounded ,pitts ,slim lifted his hand feebly4 ,he seemed vaguely to understand that the game was up4 ,he touched the ,clutching ,hand4 ,you did your best1 ,chief1 he murmured thickly4 ,beat it1 if you can4 ,i'm a goner1 anyway4 ,clutching ,hand hesitated by the wounded crook4 ,this was the loyalty of gangland1 worthy a better cause4 ,he could not bring himself to desert his pal4 ,he was undecided1 still4 ,but there was the door1 bulging1 and a panel bursting4 ,he moved over to a panel in the wall and pushed a spring4 ,it slid open and he stepped through4 ,then it closed--not a second too soon4 ,back in his private room1 he quickly stepped to a curtained iron door4 ,pushing back the curtains1 he went through it and disappeared1 the curtains falling back4 ,at the end of the passageway1 he stopped1 in a sort of grotto or cave4 ,as he came out1 he looked back4 ,all was still4 ,no one was about4 ,he was safe here1 at least6 ,off came the mask and he turned down the road a few rods distant beyond some bushes1 as little concerned about the wild happenings as any other passer-by might have been4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at the very moment when we burst in1 ,dr4 ,morton1 seeing his chance1 stopped the blood transfusion1 working frantically to stop the flow of blood4 ,kennedy sprang to ,elaine's side1 horrified by the blood that had spattered over everything4 ,with a mighty effort he checked a blow that he had aimed at ,dr4 ,morton1 as it flashed over him that the surgeon1 now free again1 was doing his best to save the terribly imperilled life of ,elaine4 ,just then the police burst through the secret panel and rushed on1 leaving us alone1 with the unconscious1 scarcely breathing ,elaine4 ,from the sounds we could tell that they had come to the private room of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,it was empty and they were non-plussed4 ,not a window6 called one4 ,what are those curtains8 ,they pulled them back1 disclosing an iron door4 ,they tried it but it was bolted on the other side4 ,blows had no effect4 ,they had to give it up for the instant4 ,a policeman now stood beside ,elaine and the wounded burglar who was muttering deliriously to himself4 ,he was pretty far gone1 as the policeman knelt down and tried to get a statement out of him4 ,who was that man who left you--last--the ,clutching ,hand8 ,not a word came from the crook4 ,the policeman repeated his question4 ,with his last strength1 he looked disdainfully at the officer's pad and pencil4 ,the gangster never squeals1 he snarled1 as he fell back4 ,dr4 ,morton had paid no attention whatever to him1 but was working desperately now over ,elaine1 trying to bring her back to life4 ,is she--going to--die8 gasped ,craig1 frantically4 ,every eye was riveted on ,dr4 ,morton4 ,she is all right1 he muttered4 ,but the man is going to die4 ,at the sound of ,craig's voice ,elaine had feebly opened her eyes4 ,thank heaven1 breathed ,craig1 with a sigh of relief1 as his hand gently stroked ,elaine's unnaturally cold forehead4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,the ,,double ,,trap ,mindful of the sage advice that a time of peace is best employed in preparing for war1 ,i was busily engaged in cleaning my automatic gun one morning as ,kennedy and ,i were seated in our living room4 ,our door buzzer sounded and ,kennedy1 always alert1 jumped up1 pushing aside a great pile of papers which had accumulated in the ,dodge case4 ,two steps took him to the wall where the day before he had installed a peculiar box about four by six inches long connected in some way with a lens-like box of similar size above our bell and speaking tube in the hallway below4 ,he opened it1 disclosing an oblong plate of ground glass4 ,i thought the seismograph arrangement was not quite enough after that spring-gun affair1 he remarked1 so ,i have put in a sort of teleview of my own invention--so that ,i can see down into the vestibule downstairs4 ,well--just look who's here6 ,some new fandangled periscope arrangement1 ,i suppose8 ,i queried moving slowly over toward it4 ,however1 one look was enough to interest me4 ,i can express it only in slang4 ,there1 framed in the little thing1 was a vision of as swell a chicken as ,i have ever seen4 ,i whistled under my breath4 ,um6 ,i exclaimed shamelessly1 ,a peach6 ,who's your friend8 ,i had never said a truer word than in my description of her1 though ,i did not know it at the time4 ,she was indeed known as ,gertie the ,peach in the select circle to which she belonged4 ,gertie was very attractive1 though frightfully over-dressed4 ,but1 then1 no one thinks anything of that now1 in ,new ,york4 ,kennedy had opened the lower door and our fair visitor was coming upstairs4 ,meanwhile he was deeply in thought before the teleview4 ,he made up his mind quickly1 however4 ,go in there1 ,walter1 he said1 seizing me quickly and pushing me into my room4 ,i want you to wait there and watch her carefully4 ,i slipped the gun into my pocket and went1 just as a knock at the door told me she was outside4 ,kennedy opened the door1 disclosing a very excited young woman4 ,oh1 ,professor ,kennedy1 she cried1 all in one breath1 with much emotion1 ,i'm so glad ,i found you in4 ,i can't tell you4 ,oh--my jewels6 ,they have been stolen--and my husband must not know of it4 ,help me to recover them--please6 ,she had not paused1 but had gone on in a wild1 voluble explanation4 ,just a moment1 my dear young lady1 interrupted ,craig1 finding at last a chance to get a word in edgewise4 ,do you see that table--and all those papers8 ,really1 ,i can't take your case4 ,i am too busy as it is even to take the cases of many of my own clients4 ,but1 please1 ,professor ,kennedy--please6 she begged4 ,help me4 ,it means--oh1 ,i can't tell you how much it means to me6 ,she had come close to him and had laid her warm1 little soft hand on his1 in ardent entreaty4 ,from my hiding place in my room1 ,i could not help seeing that she was using every charm of her sex and personality to lure him on1 as she clung confidingly to him4 ,craig was very much embarrassed1 and ,i could not help a smile at his discomfiture4 ,seriously1 ,i should have hated to have been in his position4 ,gertie had thrown her arms about ,kennedy1 as if in wildest devotion4 ,i wondered what ,elaine would have thought1 if she had a picture of that6 ,oh1 she begged him1 please--please1 help me6 ,still ,kennedy seemed utterly unaffected by her passionate embrace4 ,carefully he loosened her fingers from about his neck and removed the plump1 enticing arms4 ,gertie sank into a chair1 weeping1 while ,kennedy stood before her a moment in deep abstraction4 ,finally he seemed to make up his mind to something4 ,his manner toward her changed4 ,he took a step to her side4 ,i ,,will help you1 he said1 laying his hand on her shoulder4 ,if it is possible ,i will recover your jewels4 ,where do you live8 ,at ,hazlehurst1 she replied1 gratefully4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 how can ,i ever thank you8 ,she seemed overcome with gratitude and took his hand1 pressed it1 even kissed it4 ,just a minute1 he added1 carefully extricating his hand4 ,i'll be ready in just a minute4 ,kennedy entered the room where ,i was listening4 ,what's it all about1 ,craig8 ,i whispered1 mystified4 ,for a moment he stood thinking1 apparently reconsidering what he had just done4 ,then his second thought seemed to approve it4 ,this is a trap of the ,clutching ,hand1 ,walter1 he whispered1 adding tensely1 and we're going to walk right into it4 ,i looked at him in amazement4 ,but1 ,craig1 ,i demurred1 that's foolhardy4 ,have her trailed--anything--but--- ,he shook his head and with a mere motion of his hand brushed aside my objections as he went to a cabinet across the room4 ,from one shelf he took out a small metal box and from another a test tube1 placing the test tube in his waistcoat pocket1 and the small box in his coatpocket1 with excessive care4 ,then he turned and motioned to me to follow him out into the other room4 ,i did so1 stuffing my gatt into my pocket4 ,let me introduce my friend1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 said ,craig1 presenting me to the pretty crook4 ,the introduction quickly over1 we three went out to get ,craig's car which he kept at a nearby garage4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,that forenoon1 ,perry ,bennett was reading up a case4 ,in the outer office ,milton ,schofield1 his office boy1 was industriously chewing gum and admiring his feet cocked up on the desk before him4 ,the door to the waiting room opened and an attractive woman of perhaps thirty1 dressed in extreme mourning1 entered with a boy4 ,milton cast a glance of scorn at the little dude4 ,he was in reality about fourteen years old but was dressed to look much younger4 ,milton took his feet down in deference to the lady1 but snickered openly at the boy4 ,a fight seemed imminent4 ,did you wish to see ,mr4 ,bennett8 asked the precocious ,milton politely on one hand while on the other he made a wry grimace4 ,yes--here is my card1 replied the woman4 ,it was deeply bordered in black4 ,even ,milton was startled at reading it3 ,mrs4 ,taylor ,dodge4 ,he looked at the woman in open-mouthed astonishment4 ,even he knew that ,elaine's mother had been dead for years4 ,the woman1 however1 true to her name in the artistic coterie in which she was leader1 had sunk into a chair and was sobbing convulsively1 as only ,weepy ,mary could4 ,it was so effective that even ,milton was visibly moved4 ,he took the card in1 excitedly1 to ,bennett4 ,there's a woman outside--says she is ,mrs4 ,dodge6 he cried4 ,if ,milton had had an ,x-ray eye he could have seen her take a cigarette from her handbag and light it nonchalantly the moment he was gone4 ,as for ,bennett1 ,milton1 who was watching him closely1 thought he was about to discharge him on the spot for bothering him4 ,he took the card1 and his face expressed the most extreme surprise1 then anger4 ,he thought a moment4 ,tell that woman to state her business in writing1 he thundered curtly at ,milton4 ,as the boy turned to go back to the waiting room1 ,weepy ,mary1 hearing him coming1 hastily shoved the cigarette into her son's hand4 ,mr4 ,bennett says for you to write out what it is you want to see him about1 reported ,milton1 indicating the table before which she was sitting4 ,mary had automatically taken up sobbing1 with the release of the cigarette4 ,she looked at the table on which were letter paper1 pens and ink4 ,i may write here8 she asked4 ,surely1 ma'am1 replied ,milton1 still very much overwhelmed by her sorrow4 ,weepy ,mary sat there1 writing and sobbing4 ,in the midst of his sympathy1 however1 ,milton sniffed4 ,there was an unmistakable odor of tobacco smoke about the room4 ,he looked sharply at the son and discovered the still smoking cigarette4 ,it was too much for ,milton's outraged dignity4 ,bennett did not allow him that coveted privilege4 ,this upstart could not usurp it4 ,he reached over and seized the boy by the arm and swung him around till he faced a sign in the corner on the wall4 ,see8 he demanded4 ,the sign read courteously3 ,no ,smoking in ,this ,office--,please4 ,,perry ,,bennett4 ,leggo my arm1 snarled the son1 putting the offending cigarette defiantly into his mouth4 ,milton coolly and deliberately reached over and1 with an exaggerated politeness swiftly and effectively removed it1 dropping it on the floor and stamping defiantly on it4 ,son raised his fists pugnaciously1 for he didn't care much for the role he was playing1 anyhow4 ,milton did the same4 ,there was every element of a gaudy mix-up1 when the outer door of the office suddenly swung open and ,elaine ,dodge entered4 ,gallantry was ,milton's middle name and he sprang forward to hold the door1 and then opened ,bennett's door1 as he ushered in ,elaine4 ,as she passed ,weepy ,mary1 who was still writing at the table and crying bitterly1 ,elaine hesitated and looked at her curiously4 ,even after ,milton had opened ,bennett's door1 she could not resist another glance4 ,instinctively ,elaine seemed to scent trouble4 ,bennett was still studying the black-bordered card1 when she greeted him4 ,who is that woman8 she asked1 still wondering about the identity of the ,niobe outside4 ,at first he said nothing4 ,but finally1 seeing that she had noticed it1 he handed ,elaine the card1 reluctantly4 ,elaine read it with a gasp4 ,the look of surprise that crossed her face was terrible4 ,before she could say anything1 however1 ,milton had returned with the sheet of paper on which ,weepy ,mary had written and handed it to ,bennett4 ,bennett read it with uncontrolled astonishment4 ,what is it8 demanded ,elaine4 ,he handed it to her and she read3 ,as the lawful wife and widow of ,taylor ,dodge1 ,i demand my son's rights and my own4 ,,mrs4 ,,taylor ,,dodge4 ,elaine gasped at it4 ,she--my father's wife6 she exclaimed1 ,what effrontery6 ,what does she mean8 ,bennett hesitated4 ,tell me1 ,elaine cried1 ,is there--can there be anything in it8 ,no--no--there isn't6 ,bennett spoke in a low tone4 ,i have heard a whisper of some scandal or other connected with your father--but-- ,he paused4 ,elaine was first shocked1 then indignant4 ,why--such a thing is absurd4 ,show the woman in6 ,no--please--,miss ,dodge4 ,let me deal with her4 ,by this time ,elaine was furious4 ,yes--,i ,,will see her4 ,she pressed the button on ,bennett's desk and ,milton responded4 ,milton1 show the--the woman in1 she ordered1 and that boy1 too4 ,as ,milton turned to crook his finger at ,weepy ,mary1 she nodded surreptitiously and dug her fingers sharply into son's ribs4 ,yell--you little fool1--yell1 she whispered4 ,obedient to his mother's commands1 and much to ,milton's disgust1 the boy started to cry in close imitation of his elder4 ,elaine was still holding the paper in her hands when they entered4 ,what does all this mean8 she demanded4 ,weepy ,mary1 between sobs1 managed to blurt out1 ,you are ,miss ,elaine ,dodge1 aren't you8 ,well1 it means that your father married me when ,i was only seventeen and this boy is his son--your half brother4 ,no--never1 cried ,elaine vehemently1 unable to restrain her disgust4 ,he never married again4 ,he was too devoted to the memory of my mother4 ,weepy ,mary smiled cynically4 ,come with me and ,i will show you the church records and the minister who married us4 ,you will8 repeated ,elaine defiantly4 ,well1 ,i'll just do as you ask4 ,mr4 ,bennett shall go with me4 ,no1 no1 ,miss ,dodge--don't go4 ,leave the matter to me1 urged ,bennett4 ,i will take care of ,,her4 ,besides1 ,i must be in court in twenty minutes4 ,elaine paused1 but she was thoroughly aroused4 ,then ,i will go with her myself1 she cried defiantly4 ,in spite of every objection that ,bennett made1 ,weepy ,mary1 her son1 and ,elaine went out to call a taxicab to take them to the railroad station where they could catch a train to the little town where the woman asserted she had been married4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 before a little country church in the town1 a closed automobile had drawn up4 ,as the door opened1 a figure1 humped up and masked1 alighted4 ,it was the ,clutching ,hand4 ,the car had scarcely pulled away1 when he gave a long rap1 followed by two short taps1 at the door of the vestry1 a secret code1 evidently4 ,inside the vestry room a well-dressed man but with a very sinister face heard the knock and a second later opened the door4 ,what--not ready yet8 growled the ,clutching ,hand4 ,quick--now--get on those clothes4 ,i heard the train whistle as ,i came in the car4 ,in which closet does the minister keep them8 ,the crook1 without a word1 went to a closet and took out a suit of clothes of ministerial cut4 ,then he hastily put them on1 adding some side-whiskers1 which he had brought with him4 ,at about the same time1 ,elaine1 accompanied by ,weepy ,mary and her son1 had arrived at the little tumble-down station and had taken the only vehicle in sight1 a very ancient carriage4 ,it ambled along until1 at last1 it pulled up before the vestry room door of the church1 just as the bogus minister was finishing his transformation from a frank crook4 ,clutching ,hand was giving him final instructions4 ,elaine and the others alighted and approached the church1 while the ancient vehicle rattled away4 ,they're coming1 whispered the crook1 peering cautiously out of the window4 ,clutching ,hand moved silently and snake-like into the closet and shut the door4 ,how do you do1 ,dr4 ,carton8 greeted ,weepy ,mary4 ,i guess you don't remember me4 ,the clerical gentleman looked at her fixedly a moment4 ,remember you8 he repeated4 ,of course1 my dear4 ,i remember everyone ,i marry4 ,and you remember to whom you married me8 ,perfectly4 ,to an older man--a ,taylor ,dodge4 ,elaine was overcome4 ,won't you step in8 he asked suavely4 ,your friend here doesn't seem well4 ,they all entered4 ,and you--you say--you married this--this woman to ,taylor ,dodge8 queried ,elaine1 tensely4 ,the bogus minister seemed to be very fatherly4 ,yes1 he assented1 ,i certainly did so4 ,have you the record8 asked ,elaine1 fighting to the last4 ,why1 yes4 ,i can show you the record4 ,he moved over to the closet4 ,come over here1 he asked4 ,he opened the door4 ,elaine screamed and drew back4 ,there stood her arch enemy1 the ,clutching ,hand himself4 ,as he stepped forth1 she turned1 wildly1 to run--anywhere4 ,but strong arms seized her and forced her into a chair4 ,she looked at the woman and the minister4 ,it was a plot6 ,a moment ,clutching ,hand looked ,elaine over4 ,put the others out1 he ordered the other crook4 ,quickly the man obeyed1 leading ,weepy ,mary and her son to the door1 and waving them away as he locked it4 ,they left1 quite as much in the dark about the master criminal's identity as ,elaine4 ,now1 my pretty dear1 began the ,clutching ,hand as the lock turned in the vestry door1 we shall be joined shortly by your friend1 ,craig ,kennedy1 and1 he added with a leer1 ,i think your rather insistent search for a certain person will cease4 ,elaine drew back in the chair1 horrified1 at the implied threat4 ,clutching ,hand laughed1 diabolically4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while these astounding events were transpiring in the little church1 ,kennedy and ,i had been tearing across the country in his big car1 following the directions of our fair friend4 ,we stopped at last before a prosperous1 attractive-looking house and entered a very prettily furnished but small parlor4 ,heavy portieres hung over the doorway into the hall1 over another into a back room and over the bay windows4 ,won't you sit down a moment8 coaxed ,gertie4 ,i'm quite blown to pieces after that ride4 ,my1 how you drive6 ,as she pulled aside the hall portieres1 three men with guns thrust their hands out4 ,i turned4 ,two others had stepped from the back room and two more from the bay window4 ,we were surrounded4 ,seven guns were aimed at us with deadly precision4 ,no--no--,walter--it's no use1 shouted ,kennedy calmly restraining my hand which ,i had clapped on my own gun4 ,at the same time1 with his other hand1 he took from his pocket the small can which ,i had seen him place there1 and held it aloft4 ,gentlemen1 he said quietly4 ,i suspected some such thing4 ,i have here a small box of fulminate of mercury4 ,if ,i drop it1 this building and the entire vicinity will be blown to atoms4 ,go ahead--shoot6 he added1 nonchalantly4 ,the seven of them drew back1 rather hurriedly4 ,kennedy was a dangerous prisoner4 ,he calmly sat down in an arm chair1 leaning back as he carefully balanced the deadly little box of fulminate of mercury on his knee4 ,he placed his finger tips together and smiled at the seven crooks1 who had gathered together1 staring breathlessly at this man who toyed with death4 ,gertie ran from the room4 ,for a moment they looked at each other1 undecided1 then one by one1 they stepped away from ,kennedy toward the door4 ,the leader was the last to go4 ,he had scarcely taken a step4 ,stop6 ordered ,kennedy4 ,the crook did so4 ,as ,craig moved toward him1 he waited1 cold sweat breaking out on his face4 ,say1 he whined1 you let me be6 ,it was ineffectual4 ,kennedy1 still smiling confidently1 came closer1 still holding the deadly little box1 balanced between two fingers4 ,he took the crook's gun and dropped it into his pocket4 ,sit down6 ordered ,craig4 ,outside1 the other six parleyed in hoarse whispers4 ,one raised a gun1 but the woman and the others restrained him and fled4 ,take me to your master6 demanded ,kennedy4 ,the crook remained silent4 ,where is he8 repeated ,craig4 ,tell me6 ,still the man remained silent4 ,craig looked the fellow over again4 ,then1 still with that confident smile1 he reached into his inside pocket and drew forth the tube ,i had seen him place there4 ,no matter how much ,,you accuse me1 added ,craig casually1 no one will ever take the word of a crook that a reputable scientist like me would do what ,i am about to do4 ,he had taken out his penknife and opened it4 ,then he beckoned to me4 ,bare his arm and hold his wrist1 ,walter1 he said4 ,craig bent down with the knife and the tube1 then paused a moment and turned the tube so that we could see it4 ,on the label were the ominous words3 ,germ culture #fbdh;,a ,bacillus ,leprae 7,leprosy7 ,calmly he took the knife and proceeded to make an incision in the man's arm4 ,the crook's feelings underwent a terrific struggle4 ,no--no--no--don't1 he implored4 ,i will take you to the ,clutching ,hand--even if it kills me6 ,kennedy stepped back1 replacing the tube in his pocket4 ,very well1 go ahead6 he agreed4 ,we followed the crook1 ,craig still holding the deadly box of fulminate of mercury carefully balanced so that if anyone shot him from a hiding place it would drop4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,no sooner had we gone than ,gertie hurried to the nearest telephone to inform the ,clutching ,hand of our escape4 ,elaine had sunk back into the chair1 as the telephone rang4 ,clutching ,hand answered it4 ,a moment later1 in uncontrollable fury he hurled the instrument to the floor4 ,here--we've got to act quickly--that devil has escaped again1 he hissed4 ,we must get her away4 ,you keep her here4 ,i'll be back--right away--with a car4 ,he dashed madly from the church1 pulling off his mask as he gained the street4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy had forced the crook ahead of us into the car which was waiting and ,i followed1 taking the wheel this time4 ,which way1 now--quick6 demanded ,craig1 ,and if you get me in wrong--,i've got that tube yet--you remember4 ,our crook started off with a whole burst of directions that rivalled the motor guide--through the town1 following trolley tracks1 jog right1 jog left under the ,r4 ,r4 bridge1 leaving trolley tracks2 at cemetery turn left1 stopping at the old stone church4 ,is this it8 asked ,craig incredulously4 ,yes--as ,i live1 swore the crook in a cowed voice4 ,he had gone to pieces4 ,kennedy jumped from the machine4 ,here1 take this gun1 ,walter1 he said to me4 ,don't take your eyes off the fellow--keep him covered4 ,craig walked around the church1 out of sight1 until he came to a small vestry window and looked in4 ,there was ,elaine1 sitting in a chair1 and near her stood an elderly looking man in clerical garb1 which to ,craig's trained eye was quite evidently a disguise4 ,elaine happened just then to glance at the window and her eyes grew wide with astonishment at the sight of ,craig4 ,he made a hasty motion to her to make a dash for the door4 ,she nodded quietly4 ,with a glance at her guardian1 she suddenly made a rush4 ,he was at her in a moment1 pouncing on her1 cat-like4 ,kennedy had seized an iron bar that lay beside the window where some workmen had been repairing the stone pavement1 and1 with a blow shattered the glass and the sash4 ,at the sound of the smashing glass the crook turned and with a mighty effort threw ,elaine aside1 drawing his revolver4 ,as he raised it1 ,elaine sprang at him and frantically seized his wrist4 ,utterly merciless1 the man brought the butt of the gun down with full force on ,elaine's head4 ,only her hat and hair saved her1 but she sank unconscious4 ,then he turned at ,craig and fired twice4 ,one shot grazed ,craig's hat1 but the other struck him in the shoulder and ,kennedy reeled4 ,with a desperate effort he pulled himself together and leaped forward again1 closing with the fellow and wrenching the gun from him before he could fire again4 ,it fell to the floor with a clang4 ,just then the man broke away and made a dash for the door leading back into the church itself1 with ,kennedy after him4 ,at the foot of a flight of stairs1 he turned long enough to pick up a chair4 ,as ,kennedy came on1 he deliberately smashed it over ,craig's head4 ,kennedy warded off the blow as best he could1 then1 still undaunted1 started up the stairs after the fellow4 ,up they went1 into the choir loft and then into the belfry itself4 ,there they came to sheer hand to hand struggle4 ,kennedy tripped on a loose board and would have fallen backwards1 if he had not been able to recover himself just in time4 ,the crook1 desperate1 leaped for the ladder leading further up into the steeple4 ,kennedy followed4 ,elaine had recovered consciousness almost immediately and1 hearing the commotion1 stirred and started to rise and look about4 ,from the church she could hear sounds of the struggle4 ,she paused just long enough to seize the crook's revolver lying on the floor4 ,she hurried into the church and up into the belfry1 thence up the ladder1 whence the sounds came4 ,the crook by this time had gained the outside of the steeple through an opening4 ,kennedy was in close pursuit4 ,on the top of the steeple was a great gilded cross1 considerably larger than a man4 ,as the crook clambered outside1 he scaled the steeple1 using a lightning rod and some projecting points to pull himself up1 desperately4 ,kennedy followed unhesitatingly4 ,there they were1 struggling in deadly combat1 clinging to the gilded cross4 ,the first ,i knew of it was a horrified gasp from my own crook4 ,i looked up carefully1 fearing it was a stall to get me off my guard4 ,there were ,kennedy and the other crook1 struggling1 swaying back and forth1 between life and death4 ,i looked at my man4 ,what should ,i do8 ,should ,i leave him and go to ,craig8 ,if ,i did1 might he not pick us both off1 from a safe vantage point1 by some sharp-shooting skill8 ,there was nothing ,i could do4 ,kennedy was clinging to a lightning rod on the cross4 ,it broke4 ,i gasped as ,craig reeled back4 ,but he managed to catch hold of the rod further down and cling to it4 ,the crook seemed to exult diabolically4 ,holding with both hands to the cross1 he let himself out to his full length and stamped on ,kennedy's fingers1 trying every way to dislodge him4 ,it was all ,kennedy could do to keep his hold4 ,i cried out in agony at the sight1 for he had dislodged one of ,craig's hands4 ,the other could not hold on much longer4 ,he was about to fall4 ,just then ,i saw a face at the little window opening out from the ladder to the outside of the steeple--a woman's face1 tense with horror4 ,it was ,elaine6 ,quickly a hand followed and in it was a revolver4 ,just as the crook was about to dislodge ,kennedy's other hand1 ,i saw a flash and a puff of smoke and a second later1 heard a report--and another--and another4 ,horrors6 ,the crook who had taken refuge seemed to stagger back1 wildly1 taking a couple of steps in the thin air4 ,kennedy regained his hold4 ,with a sickening thud1 the body of the crook landed on the ground around the corner of the church from me4 ,come--you6 ,i ground out1 covering my own crook with the pistol1 and if you attempt a getaway1 ,i'll kill you1 too6 ,he followed1 trembling1 unnerved4 ,we bent over the man4 ,it seemed that every bone in his body must be broken4 ,he groaned1 and before ,i could even attempt anything for him1 he was dead4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,as ,kennedy let himself slowly and painfully down the lightning rod1 ,elaine seized him and1 with all her strength1 pulled him in through the window4 ,he was quite weak now from loss of blood4 ,are you--all right8 she gasped1 as they reached the foot of the ladder in the belfry4 ,craig looked down at his torn and soiled clothes4 ,then1 in spite of the smarting pain of his wounds1 he smiled1 ,yes--all right6 ,thank heaven6 she murmured fervently1 trying to staunch the flow of blood4 ,craig gazed at her eagerly4 ,the great look of relief in her face seemed to take away all the pain from his own face4 ,in its place came a look of wonder--and hope4 ,he could not resist4 ,this time--it was you--saved me6 he cried1 ,elaine6 ,involuntarily his arms sought hers--and he held her a moment1 looking deep into her wonderful eyes4 ,then their faces came slowly together in their first kiss4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,,the ,,hidden ,,voice ,jameson--wake up6 ,the strain of the ,dodge case was beginning to tell on me1 for it was keeping us at work at all kinds of hours to circumvent the ,clutching ,hand1 by far the cleverest criminal with whom ,kennedy had ever had anything to do4 ,i had slept later than usual that morning and1 in a half doze1 ,i heard a voice calling me1 strangely like ,kennedy's and yet unlike it4 ,i leaped out of bed1 still in my pajamas1 and stood for a moment staring about4 ,then ,i ran into the living room4 ,i looked about1 rubbing my eyes1 startled4 ,no one was there4 ,hey--,jameson--wake up6 ,it was spooky4 ,i ran back into ,craig's room4 ,he was gone4 ,there was no one in any of our rooms4 ,the surprise had now thoroughly awakened me4 ,where--the deuce--are you8 ,i demanded4 ,suddenly ,i heard the voice again--no doubt about it1 either4 ,here ,i am--over on the couch6 ,i scratched my head1 puzzled4 ,there was certainly no one on that couch4 ,a laugh greeted me4 ,plainly1 though1 it came from the couch4 ,i went over to it and1 ridiculous as it seemed1 began to throw aside the pillows4 ,there lay nothing but a little oblong oaken box1 perhaps eight or ten inches long and three or four inches square at the ends4 ,in the face were two peculiar square holes and from the top projected a black disc1 about the size of a watch1 fastened on a swinging metal arm4 ,in the face of the disc were several perforated holes4 ,i picked up the strange looking thing in wonder and from that magic oak box actually came a burst of laughter4 ,come over to the laboratory1 right away1 pealed forth a merry voice4 ,i've something to show you4 ,well1 ,i gasped1 what do you know about that8 ,very early that morning ,craig had got up1 leaving me snoring4 ,cases never wearied him4 ,he thrived on excitement4 ,he had gone over to the laboratory and set to work in a corner over another of those peculiar boxes1 exactly like that which he had already left in our rooms4 ,in the face of each of these boxes1 as ,i have said1 were two square holes4 ,the sides of these holes converged inward into the box1 in the manner of a four sided pyramid1 ending at the apex in a little circle of black1 perhaps half an inch across4 ,satisfied at last with his work1 ,craig had stood back from the weird apparatus and shouted my name4 ,he had enjoyed my surprise to the fullest extent1 then had asked me to join him4 ,half an hour afterward ,i walked into the laboratory1 feeling a little sheepish over the practical joke1 but none the less curious to find out all about it4 ,what is it8 ,i asked indicating the apparatus4 ,a vocaphone1 he replied1 still laughing1 the loud speaking telephone1 the little box that hears and talks4 ,it talks right out in meeting1 too--no transmitter to hold to the mouth1 no receiver to hold to the ear4 ,you see1 this transmitter is so sensitive that it picks up even a whisper1 and the receiver is placed back of those two megaphone-like pyramids4 ,he was standing at a table1 carefully packing up one of the vocaphones and a lot of wire4 ,i believe the ,clutching ,hand has been shadowing the ,dodge house1 he continued thoughtfully4 ,as long as we watch the place1 too1 he will do nothing4 ,but if we should seem1 ostentatiously1 not to be watching1 perhaps he may try something1 and we may be able to get a clue to his identity over this vocaphone4 ,see8 ,i nodded4 ,we've got to run him down somehow1 ,i agreed4 ,yes1 he said1 taking his coat and hat4 ,i am going to connect up one of these things in ,miss ,dodge's library and arrange with the telephone company for a clear wire so that we can listen in here1 where that fellow will never suspect4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at about the same time that ,craig and ,i sallied forth on this new mission1 ,elaine was arranging some flowers on a stand near the corner of the ,dodge library where the secret panel was in which her father had hidden the papers for the possession of which the ,clutching ,hand had murdered him4 ,they did not disclose his identity1 we knew1 but they did give directions to at least one of his hang-outs and were therefore very important4 ,she had moved away from the table1 but1 as she did so1 her dress caught in something in the woodwork4 ,she tried to loosen it and in so doing touched the little metallic spring on which her dress had caught4 ,instantly1 to her utter surprise1 the panel moved4 ,it slid open1 disclosing a strong box4 ,elaine took it amazed1 looked at it a moment1 then carried it to a table and started to pry it open4 ,it was one of those tin dispatch boxes which1 as far as ,i have ever been able to determine1 are chiefly valuable for allowing one to place a lot of stuff in a receptacle which is very convenient for a criminal4 ,she had no trouble in opening it4 ,inside were some papers1 sealed in an envelope and marked ,limpy ,red ,correspondence4 ,they must be the ,clutching ,hand papers6 she exclaimed to herself1 hesitating a moment in doubt what to do4 ,the fatal documents seemed almost uncanny4 ,their very presence frightened her4 ,what should she do8 ,she seized the telephone and eagerly called ,kennedy's number4 ,hello1 answered a voice4 ,is that you1 ,craig8 she asked excitedly4 ,no1 this is ,mr4 ,jameson4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 ,i've discovered the ,clutching ,hand papers1 she began1 more and more excited4 ,have you read them8 came back the voice quickly4 ,no--shall ,i8 ,then don't unseal them1 cautioned the voice4 ,put them back exactly as you found them and ,i'll tell ,mr4 ,kennedy the moment ,i can get hold of him4 ,all right1 nodded ,elaine4 ,i'll do that4 ,and please get him--as soon as you possibly can4 ,i will4 ,i'm going out shopping now1 she returned1 suddenly4 ,but1 tell him ,i'll be back--right away4 ,very well4 ,hanging up the receiver1 ,elaine dutifully replaced the papers in the box and returned the box to its secret hiding place1 pressing the spring and sliding the panel shut4 ,a few minutes later she left the house in the ,dodge car4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,outside our laboratory1 leaning up against a railing1 ,dan the ,dude1 an emissary of the ,clutching ,hand1 whose dress now greatly belied his underworld monniker1 had been shadowing us1 watching to see when we left4 ,the moment we disappeared1 he raised his hand carefully above his head and made the sign of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,far down the street1 in a closed car1 the ,clutching ,hand himself1 his face masked1 gave an answering sign4 ,a moment later he left the car1 gazing about stealthily4 ,not a soul was in sight and he managed to make his way to the door of our laboratory without being observed4 ,then he opened it with a pass key which he must have obtained in some way by working the janitor or the university officials4 ,probably he thought that the papers might be at the laboratory1 for he had repeatedly failed to locate them at the ,dodge house4 ,at any rate he was busily engaged in ransacking drawers and cabinets in the laboratory1 when the telephone suddenly rang4 ,he did not want to answer it1 but if it kept on ringing someone outside might come in4 ,an instant he hesitated4 ,then1 disguising his voice as much as he could to imitate mine1 he took off the receiver4 ,hello6 he answered4 ,his face was a study in all that was dark as he realized that it was ,elaine calling4 ,he clenched his crooked hand even more viciously4 ,have you read them8 he asked1 curbing his impatience as she unsuspectingly poured forth her story1 supposedly to me4 ,then don't unseal them1 he hastened to reply4 ,put them back4 ,then there can be no question about them4 ,you can open them before witnesses4 ,for a moment he paused1 then added1 ,put them back and tell no one of their discovery4 ,i will tell ,mr4 ,kennedy the moment ,i can get him4 ,a smile spread over his sinister face as ,elaine confided in him her intention to go shopping4 ,a rather expensive expedition for you1 young lady1 he muttered to himself as he returned the receiver to the hook4 ,clutching ,hand lost no further time at the laboratory4 ,he had thus1 luckily for him1 found out what he wanted4 ,the papers were not there after all1 but at the ,dodge house4 ,suppose she should really be gone on only a short shopping trip and should return to find that she had been fooled over the wire8 ,quickly1 he went to the telephone again4 ,hello1 ,dan1 he called when he got his number4 ,miss ,dodge is going shopping4 ,i want you and the other ,falsers to follow her--delay her all you can4 ,use your own judgment4 ,it was what had come to be known in his organization as the ,brotherhood of ,falsers4 ,there1 in the back room of a low dive1 were ,dan the ,dude1 the emissary who had been loitering about the laboratory1 a gunman1 ,dago ,mike1 a couple of women1 slatterns1 one known as ,kitty the ,hawk1 and a boy of eight or ten1 whom they called ,billy4 ,before them stood large schooners of beer1 while the precocious youngster grumbled over milk4 ,all right1 ,chief1 shouted back ,dan1 their leader as he hung up the telephone after noting carefully the hasty instructions4 ,we'll do it--trust us4 ,the others1 knowing that a job was to lighten the monotony of existence1 gathered about him4 ,they listened intently as he detailed to them the orders of the ,clutching ,hand1 hastily planning out the campaign like a division commander disposing his forces in battle and assigning each his part4 ,with alacrity the ,brotherhood went their separate ways4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine had not been gone long from the house when ,craig and ,i arrived there4 ,she had followed the telephone instructions of the ,clutching ,hand and had told no one4 ,too bad1 greeted ,jennings1 but ,miss ,elaine has just gone shopping and ,i don't know when she'll be back4 ,shopping being an uncertain element as far as time was concerned1 ,kennedy asked if anyone else was at home4 ,mrs4 ,dodge is in the library reading1 sir1 replied ,jennings1 taking it for granted that we would see her4 ,aunt ,josephine greeted us cordially and ,craig set down the vocaphone package he was carrying4 ,she nodded to ,jennings to leave us and he withdrew4 ,i'm not going to let anything happen here to ,miss ,elaine again if ,i can help it1 remarked ,craig in a low tone1 a moment later1 gazing about the library4 ,what are you thinking of doing8 asked ,aunt ,josephine keenly4 ,i'm going to put in a vocaphone1 he returned unwrapping it4 ,what's that8 she asked4 ,a loud speaking telephone--connected with my laboratory1 he explained1 repeating what he had already told me1 while she listened almost awe-struck at the latest scientific wonder4 ,he was looking about1 trying to figure out just where it could be placed to best advantage1 when he approached the suit of armor4 ,i see you have brought it back and had it repaired1 he remarked to ,aunt ,josephine4 ,suddenly his face lighted up4 ,ah--an idea6 he exclaimed4 ,no one will ever think to look ,,inside that4 ,it was indeed an inspiration4 ,kennedy worked quickly now1 placing the little box inside the breast plate of the ancient armourer with the top of the instrument projecting right up into the helmet4 ,it was a strange combination--the medieval and the ultra-modern4 ,now1 ,mrs4 ,dodge1 he said finally1 as he had completed installing the thing and hiding the wire under carpets and rugs until it ran out to the connection which he made with the telephone1 don't breathe a word of it--to anyone4 ,we don't know who to trust or suspect4 ,i shall not1 she answered1 by this time thoroughly educated in the value of silence4 ,kennedy looked at his watch4 ,i've got an engagement with the telephone company1 now1 he said rather briskly1 although ,i knew that if ,elaine had been there the company and everything could have gone hang for the present4 ,sorry not to have seen ,miss ,elaine1 he added as we bowed ourselves out1 but ,i think we've got her protected now4 ,i hope so1 sighed her aunt4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine's car had stopped finally at a shop on ,fifth ,avenue4 ,she stepped out and entered1 leaving her chauffeur to wait4 ,as she did so1 ,dan and ,billy sidled along the crowded sidewalk4 ,there she is1 ,billy1 pointed out ,dan as ,elaine disappeared through the swinging doors of the shop4 ,now1 you wait right here1 he instructed stealthily1 and when she comes out--you know what to do4 ,only1 be careful4 ,dan the ,dude left ,billy1 and ,billy surreptitiously drew from under his coat a dirty half loaf of bread4 ,with a glance about1 he dropped it into the gutter close to the entrance to ,elaine's car4 ,then he withdrew a little distance4 ,when ,elaine came out and approached her car1 ,billy1 looking as cold and forlorn as could be1 shot forward4 ,pretending to spy the dirty piece of bread in the gutter1 he made a dive for it1 just as ,elaine was about to step into the car4 ,elaine1 surprised1 drew back4 ,billy picked up the piece of bread and1 with all the actions of having discovered a treasure1 began to gnaw at it voraciously4 ,shocked at the disgusting sight1 she tried to take the bread away from him4 ,i know it's dirty1 ,miss1 whimpered ,billy1 but it's the first food ,i've seen for four days4 ,instantly ,elaine was full of sympathy4 ,she had taken the food away4 ,that would not suffice4 ,what's your name1 little boy8 she asked4 ,billy1 he replied1 blubbering4 ,where do you live8 ,with me mother and father--they're sick--nothing to eat-- ,he was whimpering an address far over on the ,east ,side4 ,get into the car1 ,elaine directed4 ,gee--but this is swell1 he cried1 with no fake1 this time4 ,on they went1 through the tenement canyons1 dodging children and pushcarts1 stopping first at a grocer's1 then at a butcher's and a delicatessen4 ,finally the car stopped where ,billy directed4 ,billy hobbled out1 followed by ,elaine and her chauffeur1 his arms piled high with provisions4 ,she was indeed a lovely ,lady ,bountiful as a crowd of kids quickly surrounded the car4 ,in the meantime ,dago ,mike and ,kitty the ,hawk had gone to a wretched flat1 before which ,billy stopped4 ,kitty sat on the bed1 putting dark circles under her eyes with a blackened cork4 ,she was very thin and emaciated1 but it was dissipation that had done it4 ,dago ,mike was correspondingly poorly dressed4 ,he had paused beside the window to look out4 ,she's coming1 he announced finally4 ,kitty hastily jumped into the rickety bed1 while ,mike took up a crutch that was standing idly in a corner4 ,she coughed resignedly and he limped about1 forlorn4 ,they had assumed their parts which were almost to the burlesque of poverty1 when the door was pushed open and ,billy burst in followed by ,elaine and the chauffeur4 ,oh1 ma--oh1 pa1 he cried running forward and kissing his pseudo-parents1 as ,elaine1 overcome with sympathy1 directed the chauffeur to lay the things on a shaky table4 ,god bless you1 lady1 for a benevolent angel6 muttered the pair1 to which ,elaine responded by moving over to the wretched bed and bending down to stroke the forehead of the sick woman4 ,billy and ,mike exchanged a sly wink4 ,just then the door opened again4 ,all were genuinely surprised this time1 for a prim1 spick and span1 middle-aged woman entered4 ,i am ,miss ,statistix1 of the organized charities1 she announced1 looking around sharply4 ,i saw your car standing outside1 ,miss1 and the children below told me you were up here4 ,i came up to see whether you were aiding really ,,deserving poor4 ,she laid a marked emphasis on the word1 pursing up her lips4 ,there was no mistaking the apprehension that these fine birds of prey had of her1 either4 ,miss ,statistix took a step forward1 looking in a very superior manner from ,elaine to the packages of food and then at these prize members of the ,brotherhood4 ,she snorted contemptuously4 ,why--wh-what's the matter8 asked ,elaine1 fidgeting uncomfortably1 as if she were herself guilty1 in the icy atmosphere that now seemed to envelope all things4 ,this man is a gunman1 that woman is a bad woman1 the boy is ,billy the ,bread-,snatcher1 she answered precisely1 drawing out a card on which to record something1 and you1 ,miss1 are a fool6 ,ya6 snarled the two precious falsers1 get out o' here6 ,there was no combating ,miss ,statistix4 ,she overwhelmed all arguments by the very exactness of her personality4 ,,you get out6 she countered4 ,kitty and ,mike1 accompanied by ,billy1 sneaked out4 ,elaine1 now very much embarrassed1 looked about1 wondering at the rapid-fire change4 ,miss ,statistix smiled pityingly4 ,such innocence6 she murmured sadly shaking her head as she lead ,elaine to the door4 ,don't you know better than to try to help anybody without ,,investigating8 ,elaine departed1 speechless1 properly squelched1 followed by her chauffeur4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 a closed car1 such as had stood across from the laboratory1 had drawn up not far from the ,dodge house4 ,near it was a man in rather shabby clothes and a visored cap on which were the words in dull gold lettering1 ,metropolitan ,window ,cleaning ,co4 ,he carried a bucket and a small extension ladder4 ,in the darkened recesses of the car was the ,clutching ,hand himself1 masked as usual4 ,he had his watch in his hand and was giving most minute instructions to the window cleaner about something4 ,as the latter turned to go1 a sharp observer would have noted that it was ,dan the ,dude1 still further disguised4 ,a few moments later1 ,dan appeared at the servants' entrance of the ,dodge house and rang the bell4 ,jennings1 who happened to be down there1 came to the door4 ,man to clean the windows1 saluted the bogus cleaner1 touching his hat in a way quietly to call attention to the words on it and drawing from his pocket a faked written order4 ,all right1 nodded ,jennings examining the order and finding it apparently all right4 ,dan followed him in1 taking the ladder and bucket upstairs1 where ,aunt ,josephine was still reading4 ,the man to clean the windows1 ma'am1 apologized ,jennings4 ,oh1 very well1 she nodded1 taking up her book1 to go4 ,then1 recalling the frequent injunctions of ,kennedy1 she paused long enough to speak quietly to ,jennings4 ,stay here and watch him1 she whispered as she went out4 ,jennings nodded1 while ,dan opened a window and set to work4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine had scarcely started again in her car down the crowded narrow street4 ,from her position she could not possibly have seen ,johnnie1 another of the ,brotherhood1 watching her eagerly up the street4 ,but as her car approached1 ,johnnie1 with great determination1 pulled himself together and ran forward across the street4 ,she saw that4 ,oh6 she screamed1 her heart almost stopping4 ,he had fallen directly in front of the wheels of the car1 apparently1 and although the chauffeur stopped with a jolt1 it seemed that the boy had been run over4 ,they jumped out4 ,there he was1 sure enough1 under the very wheels4 ,people came running now in all directions and lifted him up1 groaning piteously4 ,he seemed literally twisted into a knot which looked as if every bone in his body was broken or dislocated4 ,elaine was overcome4 ,for1 following their natural instincts the crowd began pushing in with cries of ,lynch the driver6 ,it would have gone hard with him1 too1 if she had not interfered4 ,here6 cried ,elaine1 stepping in4 ,it wasn't his fault4 ,the boy ran across the street right in front of the car4 ,now--we're just going to rush this boy to the hospital--right away6 ,she lifted ,johnnie gently into the car herself and they drove off1 to a very vigorous blowing of the horn4 ,a few moments later they pulled up before the ambulance entrance to the hospital4 ,quick6 beckoned ,elaine to the attendants1 who ran out and carried ,johnnie1 still a complicated knot of broken bones1 inside4 ,in the reception room were a couple of nurses and a young medical student1 when ,johnnie was carried in and laid on the bed4 ,the student1 more interested in ,elaine than the boy1 examined him4 ,his face wore a puzzled look and there was every reason to believe that ,johnnie was seriously injured4 ,at that moment the door opened and an elderly1 gray-bearded house physician entered4 ,the others stepped back from the bed respectfully4 ,he advanced and examined ,johnnie4 ,the doctor looked at the boy a moment1 then at ,elaine4 ,i will now effect a miraculous cure by the laying on of hands1 he announced1 adding quickly1 --and of feet6 ,to the utter surprise of all he seized the boy by the coat collar1 lifting him up and actually bouncing him on the floor4 ,then he picked him up1 shook him and ran him out of the room1 delivering one last kick as he went through the door4 ,by the way ,johnnie went1 it was quite evident that he was no more injured than the chauffeur4 ,elaine did not know whether to be angry or to laugh1 but finally joined in the general laugh4 ,that was ,double-,jointed ,johnnie1 puffed the doctor1 as he returned to them1 one of the greatest accident fakers in the city4 ,elaine1 having had two unfortunate experiences during the day1 now decided to go home and the doctor politely escorted her to her car4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,from his closed car1 the ,clutching ,hand gazed intently at the ,dodge house4 ,he could see ,dan on the ladder1 now washing the library window1 his back toward him4 ,dan turned slowly and made the sign of the hand4 ,turning to his chauffeur1 the master criminal spoke a few words in a low tone and the driver hurried off4 ,a few minutes later the driver might have been seen entering a near-by drug store and going into the telephone booth4 ,without a moment's hesitation he called up the ,dodge house and ,marie1 ,elaine's maid1 answered4 ,is ,jennings there8 he asked4 ,tell him a friend wants to speak to him4 ,wait a minute1 she answered4 ,i'll get him4 ,marie went toward the library1 leaving the telephone off the hook4 ,dan was washing the windows1 half inside1 half outside the house1 while ,jennings was trying to be very busy1 although it was apparent that he was watching ,dan closely4 ,a friend of yours wants to speak to you over the telephone1 ,jennings1 said ,marie1 as she came into the library4 ,the butler responded slowly1 with a covert glance at ,dan4 ,no sooner had they gone1 however1 than ,dan climbed all the way into the room1 ran to the door and looked after them4 ,then he ran to the window4 ,across and down the street1 the ,clutching ,hand was gazing at the house4 ,he had seen ,dan disappear and suspected that the time had come4 ,sure enough1 there was the sign of the hand4 ,he hastily got out of the car and hurried up the street4 ,all this time the chauffeur was keeping ,jennings busy over the telephone with some trumped-up story4 ,as the master criminal came in by the ladder through the open window1 ,dan was on guard1 listening down the hallway4 ,a signal from ,dan1 and ,clutching ,hand slid back of the portieres4 ,jennings was returning4 ,i've finished these windows1 announced ,dan as the butler reappeared4 ,now1 ,i'll clean the hall windows4 ,jennings followed like a shadow1 taking the bucket4 ,no sooner had they gone than ,clutching ,hand stealthily came from behind the portieres4 ,one of the maids was sweeping in the hall as ,dan went toward the window1 about to wash it4 ,i wonder whether ,i locked these windows8 muttered ,jennings1 pausing in the hallway4 ,i guess ,i'd better make sure4 ,he had taken only a step toward the library again1 when ,dan watchfully caught sight of him4 ,it would never do to have ,jennings snooping around there now4 ,quick action was necessary4 ,dan knocked over a costly ,sevres vase4 ,there--clumsy--see what you've done6 berated ,jennings1 starting to pick up the pieces4 ,dan had acted his part well and promptly4 ,in the library1 ,clutching ,hand was busily engaged at that moment beside the secret panel searching for the spring that released it4 ,he ran his finger along the woodwork1 pausing here and there without succeeding4 ,confound it6 he muttered1 searching feverishly4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy1 having made the arrangements with the telephone company by which he had a clear wire from the ,dodge house to his laboratory1 had rejoined me there and was putting on the finishing touches to his installation of the vocaphone4 ,every now and then he would switch it on1 and we would listen in as he demonstrated the wonderful little instrument to me4 ,he had heard the window cleaner and ,jennings1 but thought nothing of it at the time4 ,once1 however1 ,craig paused and ,i saw him listening more intently than usual4 ,they've gone out1 he muttered1 but surely there is someone in the ,dodge library4 ,i listened2 too4 ,the thing was so sensitive that even a whisper could be magnified and ,i certainly did hear something4 ,kennedy frowned4 ,what was that scratching noise8 ,could it be ,jennings8 ,perhaps it was ,rusty4 ,just then we could distinguish a sound as though someone had moved about4 ,no--that's not ,jennings1 cried ,craig4 ,he went out4 ,he looked at me a moment4 ,the same stealthy noise was repeated4 ,it's the ,clutching ,hand6 he exclaimed excitedly4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,a moment later1 ,dan hurried into the ,dodge library4 ,for heaven's sake1 ,chief1 hurry6 he whispered hoarsely4 ,the falsers must have fallen down4 ,the girl herself is coming6 ,dan himself had no time to waste4 ,he retreated into the hallway just as ,jennings was opening the door for ,elaine4 ,marie took her wraps and left her1 while ,elaine handed her numerous packages to ,jennings4 ,dan watched every motion4 ,put them away1 ,jennings1 she said softly4 ,jennings had obeyed and gone upstairs4 ,elaine moved toward the library4 ,dan took a quiet step or two behind her1 in the same direction4 ,in the library1 ,clutching ,hand was now frantically searching for the spring4 ,he heard ,elaine coming and dodged behind the curtains again just as she entered4 ,with a hasty look about1 she saw no one4 ,then she went quickly to the panel1 found the spring1 and pressed it4 ,so many queer things had happened to her since she went out that she had begun to worry over the safety of the papers4 ,the panel opened4 ,they were there1 all right4 ,she opened the box and took them out1 hesitating to break the seal before ,kennedy arrived4 ,stealthy and tiger-like the ,clutching ,hand crept up behind her4 ,as he did so1 ,dan gazed in through the portieres from the hall4 ,with a spring1 ,clutching ,hand leaped at ,elaine1 snatching at the papers4 ,elaine clung to them tenaciously in spite of the surprise1 and they struggled for them1 ,clutching ,hand holding one hand over her mouth to prevent her screaming4 ,instantly ,dan was there1 aiding his chief4 ,choke her6 ,strangle her6 ,don't let her scream6 he ground out4 ,they fought viciously4 ,would they succeed8 ,it was two desperate1 unscrupulous men against one frail girl4 ,suddenly1 from the man in armor in the corner1 as if by a miracle came a deep1 loud voice4 ,help6 ,help6 ,murder6 ,police6 ,they are strangling me6 ,the effect was terrific4 ,clutching ,hand and ,dan1 hardened in crime as they were1 fell back1 dazed1 overcome for the moment at the startling effect4 ,they looked about4 ,not a soul4 ,then to their utter consternation1 from the vizor of the helmet again came the deep1 vibrating warning4 ,help6 ,murder6 ,police6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy and ,i had been listening over the vocaphone1 for the moment non-plussed at the fellow's daring4 ,then we heard from the uncanny instrument1 ,for ,heaven's sake1 ,chief1 hurry6 ,the falsers have fallen down4 ,the girl herself is coming6 ,what it meant we did not know4 ,but ,craig was almost beside himself1 as he ordered me to try to get the police by telephone1 if there was any way to block them4 ,only instant action would count1 however4 ,what to do8 ,he could hear the master criminal plainly fumbling1 now4 ,yes1 that's the ,clutching ,hand1 he repeated4 ,wait1 ,i cautioned1 someone else is coming6 ,by a sort of instinct he seemed to recognize the sounds4 ,elaine6 he exclaimed1 paling4 ,instantly followed1 in less time than ,i can tell it1 the sounds of a suppressed scuffle4 ,he has seized her--gagged her1 ,i cried in an agony of suspense4 ,we could now hear everything that was going on in the library4 ,craig was wildly excited4 ,as for me1 ,i was speechless4 ,here was the vocaphone we had installed4 ,it had warned us4 ,but what could we do8 ,i looked blankly at ,kennedy4 ,he was equal to the emergency4 ,he calmly turned a switch4 ,then1 at the top of his lungs1 he shouted1 ,help6 ,help6 ,police6 ,they are strangling me6 ,i looked at him in amazement4 ,what did he think he could do--blocks away8 ,it works both ways1 he muttered4 ,help6 ,murder6 ,police6 ,we could hear the astounded cursing of the two men4 ,also1 down the hall1 now1 we could hear footsteps approaching in answer to his call for help--,aunt ,josephine1 ,jennings1 ,marie1 and others1 all shouting out that there were cries in the library4 ,the deuce6 ,what is it8 muttered a gruff voice4 ,the man in armor6 hissed ,clutching ,hand4 ,here they come1 too1 ,chief6 ,there was a parting scuffle4 ,there--take that6 ,a loud metallic ringing came from the vocaphone4 ,then1 silence6 ,what had happened 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the library1 recovered from their first shock of surprise1 ,dan cried out to the ,clutching ,hand1 ,the deuce4 ,what is it8 ,then1 looking about1 ,clutching ,hand quickly took in the situation4 ,the man in armor6 he pointed out4 ,dan was almost dead with fright at the weird thing4 ,here they come1 too1 ,chief1 he gasped1 as1 down the hall he could hear the family shouting out that someone was in the library4 ,with a parting thrust1 ,clutching ,hand sent ,elaine reeling4 ,she held on to only a corner of the papers4 ,he had the greater part of them4 ,they were torn and destroyed1 anyway4 ,finally1 with all the venomousness of which he was capable1 ,clutching ,hand rushed at the armor suit1 drew back his gloved fist1 and let it shoot out squarely in a vicious solar plexus blow4 ,there--take that6 he roared4 ,the suit rattled1 furiously4 ,out of it spilled the vocaphone with a bang on the floor4 ,an instant later those in the hall rushed in4 ,but the ,clutching ,hand and ,dan were gone out of the window1 the criminal carrying the greater part of the precious papers4 ,some ran to ,elaine1 others to the window4 ,the ladder had been kicked away and the criminals were gone4 ,leaping into the waiting car1 they had been whisked away4 ,hello6 ,hello6 ,hello6 called a voice1 apparently from nowhere4 ,what is that8 cried ,elaine1 still blankly wondering4 ,she had risen by this time and was gazing about1 wondering at the strange voice4 ,suddenly her eye fell on the armor scattered all over the floor4 ,she spied the little oak box4 ,elaine6 ,apparently the voice came from that4 ,besides1 it had a familiar ring to her ears4 ,yes--,craig6 she cried4 ,this is my vocaphone--the little box that hears and talks1 came back to her4 ,are you all right8 ,yes--all right1--thanks to the vocaphone4 ,she had understood in an instant4 ,she seized the helmet and breastplate to which the vocaphone still was attached and was holding them close to herself4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy had been calling and listening intently over the machine1 wondering whether it had been put out of business in some way4 ,it works--yet6 he cried excitedly to me4 ,elaine6 ,yes1 ,craig1 came back over the faithful little instrument4 ,are you all right8 ,yes--all right4 ,thank heaven6 breathed ,craig1 pushing me aside4 ,literally he kissed that vocaphone as if it had been human6 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,the ,,death ,,ray ,kennedy was reading a scientific treatise one morning1 while ,i was banging on the typewriter1 when a knock at the laboratory door disturbed us4 ,by some intuition1 ,craig seemed to know who it was4 ,he sprang to open the door1 and there stood ,elaine ,dodge and her lawyer1 ,perry ,bennett4 ,instantly1 ,craig read from the startled look on ,elaine's face that something dreadful had happened4 ,why--what's the matter8 he asked1 solicitously4 ,a--another letter--from the ,clutching ,hand6 she exclaimed breathlessly4 ,mr4 ,bennett was calling on me1 when this note was brought in4 ,we both thought we'd better see you at once about it and he was kind enough to drive me here right away in his car4 ,craig took the letter and we both read1 with amazement3 ,are you an enemy of society8 ,if not1 order ,craig ,kennedy to leave the country by nine o'clock to-morrow morning4 ,otherwise1 a pedestrian will drop dead outside his laboratory every hour until he leaves4 ,the note was signed by the now familiar sinister hand1 and had1 added1 a postscript1 which read3 ,as a token of his leaving1 have him place a vase of flowers on his laboratory window to-day4 ,what shall we do8 queried ,bennett1 evidently very much alarmed at the threat4 ,do8 replied ,kennedy1 laughing contemptuously at the apparently futile threat1 why1 nothing4 ,just wait4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the day proved uneventful and ,i paid no further attention to the warning letter4 ,it seemed too preposterous to amount to anything4 ,kennedy1 however1 with his characteristic foresight1 as ,i learned afterwards1 had not been entirely unprepared1 though he had affected to treat the thing with contempt4 ,his laboratory1 ,i may say1 was at the very edge of the ,university buildings1 with the campus back of it1 but opening on the other side on a street that was ordinarily not overcrowded4 ,we got up as usual the next day and1 quite early1 went over to the laboratory4 ,kennedy1 as was his custom1 plunged straightway into his work and appeared absorbed by it1 while ,i wrote4 ,there ,,is something queer going on1 ,walter1 he remarked4 ,this thing registers some kind of wireless rays--infra-red1 ,i think1--something like those that they say that ,italian scientist1 ,ulivi1 claims he has discovered and called the ',f-rays4' ,how do you know8 ,i asked1 looking up from my work4 ,what's that instrument you are using8 ,a bolometer1 invented by the late ,professor ,langley1 he replied1 his attention riveted on it4 ,some time previously1 ,kennedy had had installed on the window ledge one of those mirror-like arrangements1 known as a busybody1 which show those in a room what is going on on the street4 ,as ,i moved over to look at the bolometer1 ,i happened to glance into the busybody and saw that a crowd was rapidly collecting on the sidewalk4 ,look1 ,craig6 ,i called hastily4 ,he hurried over to me and looked4 ,we could both see in the busybody mirror a group of excited passersby bending over a man lying prostrate on the sidewalk4 ,he had evidently been standing on the curbstone outside the laboratory and had suddenly put his hand to his forehead4 ,then he had literally crumpled up into a heap1 as he sank to the ground4 ,the excited crowd lifted him up and bore him away1 and ,i turned in surprise to ,craig4 ,he was looking at his watch4 ,it was now only a few moments past nine o'clock6 ,not quarter of an hour later1 our door was excitedly flung open and ,elaine and ,perry ,bennett arrived4 ,i've just heard of the accident1 she cried1 fearfully4 ,isn't it terrible4 ,what had we better do8 ,for a few moments no one said a word4 ,then ,kennedy began carefully examining the bolometer and some other recording instruments he had1 while the rest of us watched1 fascinated4 ,somehow that busybody seemed to attract me4 ,i could not resist looking into it from time to time as ,kennedy worked4 ,i was scarcely able to control my excitement when1 again1 ,i saw the same scene enacted on the sidewalk before the laboratory4 ,hurriedly ,i looked at my watch4 ,it was ten o'clock6 ,craig6 ,i cried4 ,another6 ,instantly he was at my side1 gazing eagerly4 ,there was a second innocent pedestrian lying on the sidewalk while a crowd1 almost panic-stricken1 gathered about him4 ,we watched1 almost stunned by the suddenness of the thing1 until finally1 without a word1 ,kennedy turned away1 his face set in tense lines4 ,it's no use1 he muttered1 as we gathered about him4 ,we're beaten4 ,i can't stand this sort of thing4 ,i will leave to-morrow for ,south ,america4 ,i thought ,elaine ,dodge would faint at the shock of his words coming so soon after the terrible occurrence outside4 ,she looked at him1 speechless4 ,it happened that ,kennedy had some artificial flowers on a stand1 which he had been using long before in the study of synthetic coloring materials4 ,before ,elaine could recover her tongue1 he seized them and stuck them into a tall beaker1 like a vase4 ,then he deliberately walked to the window and placed the beaker on the ledge in a most prominent position4 ,elaine and ,bennett1 to say nothing of myself1 gazed at him1 awe-struck4 ,is--is there no other way but to surrender8 she asked4 ,kennedy mournfully shook his head4 ,i'm afraid not1 he answered slowly4 ,there's no telling how far a fellow who has this marvellous power might go4 ,i think ,i'd better leave to save you4 ,he may not content himself with innocent outsiders always4 ,nothing that any of us could say1 not even the pleadings of ,elaine herself could move him4 ,the thought that at eleven o'clock a third innocent passerby might lie stricken on the street seemed to move him powerfully4 ,when1 at eleven1 nothing happened as it had at the other two hours1 he was even more confirmed in his purpose4 ,entreaties had no effect1 and late in the morning1 he succeeded in convincing us all that his purpose was irrevocable4 ,as we stood at the door1 mournfully bidding our visitors farewell until the morrow1 when he had decided to sail1 ,i could see that he was eager to be alone4 ,he had been looking now and then at the peculiar instrument which he had been studying earlier in the day and ,i could see on his face a sort of subtle intentness4 ,i'm so sorry--,craig1 murmured ,elaine1 choking back her emotion1 and finding it impossible to go on4 ,so am ,i1 ,elaine1 he answered1 tensely4 ,but--perhaps--when this trouble blows over-- ,he paused1 unable to speak1 turned1 and shook his head4 ,then with a forced gaiety he bade ,elaine and ,perry ,bennett adieu1 saying that perhaps a trip might do him good4 ,they had scarcely gone out and ,kennedy closed the door carefully1 when he turned and went directly to the instrument which ,i had seen him observing so interestedly4 ,plainly1 ,i could see that it was registering something4 ,what's the matter8 ,i asked1 non-plussed4 ,just a moment1 ,walter1 he replied evasively1 as if not quite sure of himself4 ,he walked fairly close to the window this time1 keeping well out of the direct line of it1 however1 and there stood gazing out into the street4 ,a glint1 as if of the sun shining on a pair of opera glasses could be seen from a window across the way4 ,we are being watched1 he said slowly1 turning and looking at me fixedly1 but ,i don't dare investigate lest it cost the lives of more unfortunates4 ,he stood for a moment in deep thought4 ,then he pulled out a suitcase and began silently to pack it4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,although we had not dared to investigate1 we knew that from a building1 across the street1 emissaries of the ,clutching ,hand were watching for our signal of surrender4 ,the fact was1 as we found out later1 that in a poorly furnished room1 much after the fashion of that which1 with the help of the authorities1 we had once raided in the suburbs1 there were at that moment two crooks4 ,one of them was the famous1 or rather the infamous1 ,professor ,le,croix1 with whom in a disguise as a doctor we had already had some experience when he stole from the ,hillside ,sanitarium the twilight sleep drugs4 ,the other was the young secretary of the ,clutching ,hand who had given the warning at the suburban headquarters at the time when they were endeavoring to transfuse ,elaine ,dodge's blood to save the life of the crook whom she had shot4 ,this was the new headquarters of the master criminal1 very carefully guarded4 ,look6 cried ,le,croix1 very much elated at the effect that had been produced by his infra-red rays1 ,there is the sign--the vase of flowers4 ,we have got him this time6 ,le,croix gleefully patted a peculiar instrument beside him4 ,apparently it was a combination of powerful electric arcs1 the rays of which were shot through a funnel-like arrangement into a converter or1 rather1 a sort of concentration apparatus from which the dread power could be released through a tube-like affair at one end4 ,it was his infra-red heat wave1 ,f-ray1 engine4 ,i told you--it would work6 cried ,le,croix4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,i did not argue any further with ,craig about his sudden resolution to go away4 ,but it is a very solemn proceeding to pack up and admit defeat after such a brilliant succession of cases as had been his until we met this master criminal4 ,he was unshakeable1 however1 and the next morning we closed the laboratory and loaded our baggage1 which was considerable1 on a taxicab4 ,neither of us said much1 but ,i saw a quick look of appreciation on ,craig's face as we pulled up at the wharf and saw that the ,dodge car was already there4 ,he seemed deeply moved that ,elaine should come at such an early hour to have a last word4 ,our cab stopped and ,kennedy moved over toward her car1 directing two porters1 whom ,i noticed that he chose with care1 to wait at one side4 ,one of them was an old ,irishman with a slight limp2 the other a wiry ,frenchman with a pointed beard4 ,in spite of her pleadings1 however1 ,kennedy held to his purpose and1 as we shook hands for the last time1 ,i thought that ,elaine would almost break down4 ,here1 you fellows1 now1 directed ,craig1 turning brusquely to the porters1 hustle that baggage right aboard4 ,can't we go on the ship1 too8 asked ,elaine1 appealingly4 ,i'm sorry--,i'm afraid there isn't time1 apologized ,craig4 ,we finally tore ourselves away1 followed by the porters carrying as much as they could4 ,bon voyage6 cried ,elaine1 bravely keeping back a choke in her voice4 ,near the gangplank1 in the crowd1 ,i noticed a couple of sinister faces watching the ship's officers and the passengers going aboard4 ,kennedy's quick eye spotted them1 too1 but he did not show in any way that he noticed anything as1 followed by our two porters1 we quickly climbed the gangplank4 ,a moment ,craig paused by the rail and waved to ,elaine and ,bennett who returned the salute feelingly4 ,i paused at the rail1 too1 speculating how we were to get the rest of our baggage aboard in time1 for we had taken several minutes saying good-bye4 ,in there1 pointed ,kennedy quickly to the porters1 indicating our stateroom which was an outside room4 ,come1 ,walter4 ,i followed him in with a heavy heart4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,outside could be seen the two sinister faces in the crowd watching intently1 with eyes fixed on the stateroom4 ,finally one of the crooks boarded the ship hastily1 while the other watched the two porters come out of the stateroom and pause at the window1 speaking back into the room as though answering commands4 ,then the porters quickly ran along the deck and down the plank1 to get the rest of the luggage4 ,as they approached the ,dodge car1 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,perry ,bennett were straining their eyes to catch a last glimpse of us4 ,the porters took a small but very heavy box and1 lugging and tugging1 hastened toward the boat with it4 ,but they were too late4 ,the gang plank was being hauled in4 ,they shouted1 but the ship's officers waved them back4 ,too late6 one of the deckhands shouted1 a little pleased to see that someone would be inconvenienced for tardiness4 ,the porters argued4 ,but it was no use4 ,all they could do was to carry the box back to the ,dodge car4 ,miss ,dodge was just getting in as they returned4 ,what shall we do with this and the other stuff8 asked the ,irish porter4 ,she looked at the rest of the tagged luggage and the box which was marked3 ,scientific ,instruments ,valuable ,handle with care4 ,here--pile them in here1 she said indicating the taxicab4 ,i'll take charge of them4 ,meanwhile one of our sinister faced friends had just had time to regain the shore after following us aboard ship and strolling past the window of our stateroom4 ,he paused long enough to observe one of the occupants studying a map1 while the other was opening a bag4 ,they're gone6 he said to the other as he rejoined him on the dock1 giving a nod of his head and a jerk of his thumb at the ship4 ,yes1 added the other crook1 and lost most of their baggage1 too4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,slowly the ,dodge car proceeded through the streets up from the river front1 followed by the taxicab1 until at last the ,dodge mansion1 was reached4 ,there ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine got out and ,bennett stood talking with them a moment4 ,finally he excused himself reluctantly for it was now late1 even for a lawyer1 to get to his office4 ,as he hurried over to the subway1 ,elaine nodded to the porters in the taxicab1 ,take that stuff in the house4 ,we'll have to send it by the next boat4 ,then she followed ,aunt ,josephine while the porters unloaded the boxes and bags4 ,elaine sighed moodily as she walked slowly in4 ,here1 ,marie1 she cried petulantly to her maid1 take these wraps of mine4 ,marie ventured no remark1 but1 like a good servant1 took them4 ,a moment later ,aunt ,josephine left her and ,elaine went into the library and over to a table4 ,she stood there an instant1 then sank down into a chair1 taking up ,kennedy's picture and gazing at it with eyes filled by tears4 ,just then ,jennings came into the room1 ushering the two porters laden with the boxes and bags4 ,where shall ,i have them put these things1 ,miss ,elaine8 he inquired4 ,oh--anywhere1 she answered hurriedly1 replacing the picture4 ,jennings paused4 ,as he did so1 one of the porters limped forward4 ,i've a message for you1 ,miss1 he said in a rich ,irish brogue1 with a look at ,jennings1 to be delivered in private4 ,elaine glanced at him surprised4 ,then she nodded to ,jennings who disappeared4 ,as he did so1 the ,irishman limped to the door and drew together the portieres4 ,then he came back closer to ,elaine4 ,a moment she looked at him1 not quite knowing from his strange actions whether to call for help or not4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at a motion from ,kennedy1 as he pulled off his wig1 ,i pulled off the little false beard4 ,elaine looked at us1 transformed1 startled4 ,wh--what-- she stammered4 ,oh--,i'm--so--glad4 ,how-- ,kennedy said nothing4 ,he was thoroughly enjoying her face4 ,don't you understand8 ,i explained1 laughing merrily4 ,i admit that ,i didn't until that last minute in the stateroom on the boat when we didn't come back to wave a last good-bye4 ,but all the care that ,craig took in selecting the porters was the result of work he did yesterday1 and the insistence with which he chose our travelling clothes had a deep-laid purpose4 ,she said nothing1 and ,i continued4 ,the change was made quickly in the stateroom4 ,kennedy's man threw on the coat and hat he wore1 while ,craig donned the rough clothes of the porter and added a limp and a wig4 ,the same sort of exchange of clothes was made by me and ,craig clapped a ,van ,dyck beard on my chin4 ,i--,i'm so glad1 she repeated4 ,i didn't think you'd-- ,she cut the sentence short1 remembering her eyes and the photograph as we entered1 and a deep blush crimsoned her face4 ,mum's the word1 cautioned ,kennedy1 ,you must smuggle us out of the house1 some way4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy lost no time in confirming the suspicions of his bolometer as to the cause of the death of the two innocent victims of the machinations of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,both of them1 he had learned1 had been removed to a nearby undertaking shop1 awaiting the verdict of the coroner4 ,we sought out the shop and prevailed on the undertaker to let us see the bodies4 ,as ,kennedy pulled down the shroud from the face of the first victim1 he disclosed on his forehead a round dark spot about the size of a small coin4 ,quickly1 he moved to the next coffin and1 uncovering the face1 disclosed a similar mark4 ,what is it8 ,i asked1 awestruck4 ,why1 he said1 ,i've heard of a certain ,viennese1 one ,le,croix ,i believe1 who has discovered or perfected an infra-red ray instrument which shoots its power a great distance with extreme accuracy and leaves a mark like these4 ,is he in ,new ,york8 ,i inquired anxiously4 ,yes1 ,i believe he is4 ,kennedy seemed indisposed to answer more until he knew more1 and ,i saw that he would prefer not being questioned for the present4 ,we thanked the undertaker for his courtesy and went out4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile ,elaine had called up ,perry ,bennett4 ,mr4 ,bennett1 she exclaimed over the wire1 just guess who called on me8 ,who8 he answered1 ,i give it up4 ,mr4 ,kennedy and ,mr4 ,jameson1 she called back4 ,is that so8 he returned4 ,isn't that fine8 ,i didn't think he was the kind to run away like that4 ,how did it happen8 ,elaine quickly told the story as ,i had told her4 ,had she known it1 however1 ,bennett's valet1 ,thomas1 was at that very moment listening at the door1 intensely interested4 ,as ,bennett hung up the receiver1 ,thomas entered the room4 ,if anyone calls me1 ordered ,bennett1 take the message1 particularly if it is from ,miss ,dodge4 ,i must get downtown--and tell her after ,i finish my court work for the day ,i shall be right up4 ,yes sir1 nodded the valet with a covert glance at his master4 ,then1 as ,bennett left1 he followed him to the door1 paused1 thought a moment1 then1 as though coming to a sudden decision1 went out by an opposite door4 ,it was not long afterward that a knock sounded at the door of the new headquarters of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,le,croix and the secretary were there1 as well as a couple of others4 ,the ,chief6 exclaimed one4 ,the secretary opened the door1 and1 sure enough1 the ,clutching ,hand entered4 ,well1 how did your infra-red rays work8 he asked ,le,croix4 ,fine4 ,and they're gone8 ,yes4 ,the flowers were in the window yesterday4 ,two of our men saw them on the boat4 ,there came another knock4 ,this time1 as the door opened1 it was ,thomas1 ,bennett's faithless valet1 who entered4 ,say1 blurted out the informer1 do you know ,kennedy and ,jameson are back8 ,back8 cried the crooks4 ,yes1--they didn't go4 ,changed clothes with the porters4 ,i just heard ,miss ,dodge telling ,mr4 ,bennett4 ,clutching ,hand eyed him keenly1 then seemed to burst into an ungovernable fury4 ,quickly he began volleying orders at the valet and the others4 ,then1 with the secretary and two of the other crooks he left by another door from that by which he had sent the valet forth4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,leaving the undertaker's1 ,kennedy and ,i made our way1 keeping off thoroughfares1 to police headquarters1 where1 after making ourselves known1 ,craig made arrangements for a raid on the house across the street from the laboratory where we had seen the opera glass reflection4 ,then1 as secretly as we had come1 we went out again1 letting ourselves into the laboratory1 stealthily looking up and down the street4 ,we entered by a basement door1 which ,kennedy carefully locked again4 ,no sooner had we disappeared than one of the ,clutching ,hand's spies who had been watching behind a barrel of rubbish gave the signal of the hand down the street to a confederate and1 going to the door1 entered by means of a skeleton key4 ,we entered our laboratory which ,kennedy had closed the day before4 ,with shades drawn1 it now looked deserted enough4 ,i dropped into a chair and lighted a cigarette with a sigh of relief1 for really ,i had thought1 until the boat sailed1 that ,kennedy actually contemplated going away4 ,kennedy went over to a cabinet and1 from it1 took out a notebook and a small box4 ,opening the notebook on the laboratory table1 he rapidly turned the pages4 ,here1 ,walter1 he remarked4 ,this will answer your questions about the mysterious deadly ray4 ,i moved over to the table1 eager to satisfy my curiosity and read the notes which he indicated with his finger4 ,,infra-,,red ,,ray ,,notes ,the infra-red ray which has been developed by ,le,croix from the experiments of the ,italian scientist ,ulivi causes1 when concentrated by an apparatus perfected by ,le,croix1 an instantaneous combustion of nonreflecting surfaces4 ,it is particularly deadly in its effect on the brain centers4 ,it can be diverted1 it is said however1 by a shield composed of platinum backed by asbestos4 ,next ,kennedy opened the case which he had taken out of the cabinet and from it he took out the platinum-asbestos mirror1 which was something of his own invention4 ,he held it up and in pantomime showed me just how it would cut off the deadly rays4 ,he had not finished even that1 when a peculiar noise in the laboratory itself disturbed him and he hastily thrust the asbestos platinum shield into his pocket4 ,though we had not realized it1 our return had been anticipated4 ,suddenly1 from a closet projected a magazine gun and before we could move1 the ,clutching ,hand himself slowly appeared1 behind us4 ,ah6 he exclaimed with mock politeness1 so1 you thought you'd fool me1 did you8 ,well6 ,just then1 two other crooks1 who had let themselves in by the skeleton key through the basement jumped into the room through that door covering us4 ,we started to our feet1 but in an instant found ourselves both sprawling on the floor4 ,in the cabinet1 beneath the laboratory table1 another crook had been hidden and he tackled us with all the skill of an old football player against whom we had no defence4 ,four of them were upon us instantly4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at the same time1 ,thomas1 the faithless valet of ,bennett1 had been dispatched by the ,clutching ,hand to commandeer his master's roadster in his absence1 and1 carrying out the instructions1 he had driven up before ,elaine's house at the very moment when she was going out for a walk4 ,thomas jumped out of the car and touched his hat deferentially4 ,a message from ,mr4 ,bennett1 ma'am1 he explained4 ,mr4 ,kennedy and ,mr4 ,bennett have sent me to ask you to come over to the laboratory4 ,unsuspecting1 ,elaine stepped into the car and drove off4 ,instead1 however1 of turning and pulling up on the laboratory side of the street1 ,thomas stopped opposite it4 ,he got out and ,elaine1 thinking that perhaps it was to save time that he had not turned the car around1 followed4 ,but when the valet1 instead of crossing the street1 went up to a door of a house and rang the bell1 she began to suspect that all was not as it should be4 ,what are you going here for1 ,thomas8 she asked4 ,there's the laboratory--over there4 ,but1 ,miss ,dodge1 he apologized1 ,mr4 ,kennedy and ,mr4 ,bennett are here4 ,they told me they'd be here4 ,the door was opened quickly by a lookout of the ,clutching ,hand and the valet asked if ,craig and ,elaine's lawyer were in4 ,of course the lookout replied that they were and1 before ,elaine knew it1 she was jostled into the dark hallway and the door was banged shut4 ,resistance was useless now and she was hurried along until another door was opened4 ,there she saw ,le,croix and the other crooks4 ,and1 as the door slammed1 she caught sight of the fearsome ,clutching ,hand himself4 ,she drew back1 but was too frightened even to scream4 ,with a harsh1 cruel laugh1 the super-criminal beckoned to her to follow him and look down through a small trap door4 ,unable now to resist1 she looked4 ,there she saw us4 ,to that extent the valet had told the truth4 ,kennedy was standing in deep thought1 while ,i sat on an old box1 smoking a cigarette--very miserable4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,was this to be the sole outcome of ,kennedy's clever ruse1 ,i was wondering4 ,were we only to be shipwrecked in sight of port8 ,watching his chance1 when the street was deserted1 the ,clutching ,hand and his followers had hustled us over to the new hangout across from the laboratory4 ,there they had met more crooks and had thrust us into this vile hole4 ,as the various ineffectual schemes for escape surged through my head1 ,i happened to look up and caught a glance of horror on ,craig's face4 ,i followed his eyes4 ,there1 above us1 was ,elaine6 ,i saw her look from us to the ,clutching ,hand in terror4 ,but none of us uttered a word4 ,i will now show you1 my dear young lady1 almost hissed the ,clutching ,hand at length1 as pretty a game of hide and seek as you have ever seen4 ,as he said it1 another trap door near the infra-red ray machine was opened and a beam of light burst through4 ,i knew it was not that which we had to fear1 but the invisible rays that accompanied it1 the rays that had affected the bolometer4 ,just then a spot of light showed near my foot1 moving about the cement floor until it fell on my shoe4 ,instantly1 the leather charred1 even before ,i could move4 ,kennedy and ,i leaped to our feet and drew back4 ,the beam followed us4 ,we retreated further4 ,still it followed1 inexorably4 ,clutching ,hand was now holding ,elaine near the door where she could not help seeing1 laughing diabolically while he directed ,le,croix and the rest to work the infra-red ray apparatus through the trap4 ,as we dodged from corner to corner1 endeavoring to keep the red ray from touching us1 the crooks seemed in no hurry1 but rather to enjoy prolonging the torture as does a cat with a mouse4 ,please--oh1 please--stop6 begged ,elaine4 ,clutching ,hand only laughed with fiendish delight and urged his men on4 ,the thing was getting closer and closer4 ,suddenly we heard a strange voice ring out above us4 ,police6 ,where8 growled the ,clutching ,hand in fury4 ,outside--a raid6 ,run6 ,he's told them6 ,already we could hear the hammers and axes of the police whom ,kennedy had called upon before1 as they battered at the outside door4 ,at that door a moment before1 the lookout suddenly had given a startled stare and a suppressed cry4 ,glancing down the street he had seen a police patrol in which were a score or more of the strongarm squad4 ,they had jumped out1 some carrying sledgehammers1 others axes4 ,almost before he could cry out and retreat to give a warning1 they had reached the door and the first resounding blows had been struck4 ,the lookout quickly had fled and drawn the bolts of a strong inner door1 and the police began battering that impediment4 ,instantly1 ,clutching ,hand turned to ,le,croix at the ,f-ray machine4 ,finish them6 he shouted4 ,we were now backed up against a small ell in the wall of the cellar4 ,it was barely large enough to hold us1 but by crowding we were able to keep out of the reach of the ray4 ,the ray shot past the ell and struck a wall a couple of inches from us4 ,i looked4 ,the cement began to crumble under the intense heat4 ,meanwhile1 the police were having great difficulty with the steelbolt-studded door into the room4 ,still1 it was yielding a bit4 ,hurry6 shouted ,clutching ,hand to ,le,croix4 ,kennedy had voluntarily placed himself in front of me in the ell4 ,carefully1 to avoid the ray1 he took the asbestos-platinum shield from his pocket and slid it forward as best he could over the wall to the spot where the ray struck4 ,it deflected the ray4 ,but so powerful was it that even that part of the ray which was deflected could be seen to strike the ceiling in the corner which was of wood4 ,instantly1 before ,kennedy could even move the shield1 the wood burst into flames4 ,above us now smoke was pouring into the room where the deflected ray struck the floor and flames broke out4 ,confound him6 ground out ,clutching ,hand1 as they saw it4 ,the other crooks backed away and stood1 hesitating1 not knowing quite what to do4 ,the police had by this time finished battering in the door and had rushed into the outer passage4 ,while the flames leaped up1 the crooks closed the last door into the room4 ,run6 shouted ,clutching ,hand1 as they opened a secret gate disclosing a spiral flight of iron steps4 ,a moment later all had disappeared except ,clutching ,hand himself4 ,the last door would hold only a few seconds1 but ,clutching ,hand was waiting to take advantage of even that4 ,with a last frantic effort he sought to direct the terrific ray at us4 ,elaine acted instantly4 ,with all her strength she rushed forward1 overturning the machine4 ,clutching ,hand uttered a growl and slowly raised his gun1 taking aim with the butt for a well-directed blow at her head4 ,just then the door yielded and a policeman stuck his head and shoulders through4 ,his revolver rang out and ,clutching ,hand's automatic flew out of his grasp1 giving him just enough time to dodge through and slam the secret door in the faces of the squad as they rushed in4 ,back of the house1 ,clutching ,hand and the other crooks were now passing through a bricked passage4 ,the fire had got so far beyond control by this time that it drove the police back from their efforts to open the secret door4 ,thus the ,clutching ,hand had made good his escape through the passage which led out1 as we later discovered1 to the railroad tracks along the river4 ,down there--,mr4 ,kennedy--and ,mr4 ,jameson1 cried ,elaine1 pointing at the trap which was hidden in the stifle4 ,the fire had gained terrific headway1 but the police seized a ladder and stuck it down into the basement4 ,choking and sputtering1 half suffocated1 we staggered up4 ,are you hurt8 asked ,elaine anxiously1 taking ,craig's arm4 ,not a bit--thanks to you6 he replied1 forgetting all in meeting the eager questioning of her wonderful eyes4 ,,chapter ,x ,,the ,,life ,,current ,assignments were being given out on the ,star one afternoon1 and ,i was standing talking with several other reporter in the busy hum of typewriters and clicking telegraphs4 ,what do you think of that8 asked one of the fellows4 ,you're something of a scientific detective1 aren't you8 ,without laying claim to such a distinction1 ,i took the paper and read3 ,,the ,,poisoned ,,kiss ,,again ,three ,more ,new ,york ,women ,report ,being ,kissed by ,mysterious ,stranger--,later ,fell into ,deep ,unconsciousness4 ,what ,is ,it8 ,i had scarcely finished1 when one of the copy boys1 dashing past me1 called1 ,you're wanted on the wire1 ,mr4 ,jameson4 ,i hurried over to the telephone and answered4 ,a musical voice responded to my hurried hello1 and ,i hastened to adopt my most polite tone4 ,is this ,mr4 ,jameson8 asked the voice4 ,yes1 ,i replied1 not recognizing it4 ,well1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 ,i've heard of you on the ,star and ,i've just had a very strange experience4 ,i've had the poisoned kiss4 ,the woman did not pause to catch my exclamation of astonishment1 but went on1 ,it was like this4 ,a man ran up to me on the street and kissed me--and--,i don't know how it was--but ,i became unconscious--and ,i didn't come to for an hour--in a hospital--fortunately4 ,i don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been that someone came to my assistance and the man fled4 ,i thought the ,star would be interested4 ,we are1 ,i hastened to reply4 ,will you give me your name8 ,why1 ,i am ,mrs4 ,florence ,leigh of number #bj ,prospect ,avenue1 returned the voice4 ,really1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 something ought to be done about these cases4 ,it surely had1 ,i assented1 with much interest1 writing her name eagerly down on a card4 ,i'll be out to interview you1 directly4 ,the woman thanked me and ,i hung up the receiver4 ,say1 ,i exclaimed1 hurrying over to the editor's desk1 here's another woman on the wire who says she has received the poisoned kiss4 ,suppose you take that assignment1 the editor answered1 sensing a possible story4 ,i took it with alacrity1 figuring out the quickest way by elevated and surface car to reach the address4 ,the conductor of the trolley indicated ,prospect ,avenue and ,i hurried up the street until ,i came to the house1 a neat1 unpretentious place4 ,looking at the address on the card first to make sure1 ,i rang the bell4 ,i must say that ,i could scarcely criticize the poisoned kisser's taste1 for the woman who had opened the door certainly was extraordinarily attractive4 ,and you really were--put out by a kiss8 ,i queried1 as she led me into a neat sitting room4 ,absolutely--as much as if it had been by one of these poisoned needles you read about1 she replied confidently1 hastening on to describe the affair volubly4 ,it was beyond me4 ,may ,i use your telephone8 ,i asked4 ,surely1 she answered4 ,i called the laboratory4 ,is that you1 ,craig8 ,i inquired4 ,yes1 ,walter1 he answered1 recognizing my voice4 ,say1 ,craig1 ,i asked breathlessly1 what sort of kiss would suffocate a person4 ,my only answer was an uproarious laugh from him at the idea4 ,i know1 ,i persisted1 but ,i've got the assignment from the ,star--and ,i'm out here interviewing a woman about it4 ,it's all right to laugh--but here ,i am4 ,i've found a case--names1 dates and places4 ,i wish you'd explain the thing1 then4 ,oh1 all right1 ,walter1 he replied indulgently4 ,i'll meet you as soon as ,i can and help you out4 ,i hung up the receiver with an air of satisfaction4 ,at least now ,i would get an explanation of the woman's queer story4 ,i'll clear this thing up1 ,i said confidently4 ,my friend1 ,craig ,kennedy1 the scientific detective is coming out here4 ,good6 ,that fellow who attacked me ought to be shown up4 ,all women may not be as fortunate as ,i4 ,we waited patiently4 ,her story certainly was remarkable4 ,she remembered every detail up to a certain point--and then1 as she said1 all was blankness4 ,the bell rang and the woman hastened to the door admitting ,kennedy4 ,hello1 ,walter1 he greeted4 ,this is certainly a most remarkable case1 ,craig1 ,i said1 introducing him1 and telling briefly what ,i had learned4 ,and you actually mean to say that a kiss had the effect-- ,just then the telephone interrupted4 ,yes1 she reasserted quickly4 ,excuse me a second4 ,she answered the call4 ,oh--why--yes1 he's here4 ,do you want to speak to him8 ,mr4 ,jameson1 it's the ,star4 ,confound it6 ,i exclaimed1 isn't that like the old man--dragging me off this story before it's half finished in order to get another4 ,i'll have to go4 ,i'll get this story from you1 ,craig4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the day before1 in the suburban house1 the ,clutching ,hand had been talking to two of his emissaries1 an attractive young woman and a man4 ,they were ,flirty ,florrie and ,dan the ,dude4 ,now1 ,i want you to get ,kennedy1 he said4 ,the way to do it is to separate ,kennedy and ,elaine--see8 ,all right1 ,chief1 we'll do it1 they replied4 ,i've rigged it so that you'll reach him through ,jameson1 understand8 ,they nodded eagerly as he told them the subtle plan4 ,clutching ,hand had scarcely left when ,flirty ,florrie began by getting published in the papers the story which ,i had seen4 ,the next day she called me up from the suburban house4 ,having got me to promise to see her1 she had scarcely turned from the telephone when ,dan the ,dude walked in from the next room4 ,he's coming1 she said4 ,dan was carrying a huge stag head with a beautifully branched pair of antlers4 ,under his arm was a coil of wire which he had connected to the inside of the head4 ,fine6 he exclaimed4 ,then1 pointing to the head1 he added1 ,it's all ready4 ,see how ,i fixed it8 ,that ought to please the ,chief4 ,dan moved quickly to the mantle and mounted a stepladder there by which he had taken down the head1 and started to replace the head above the mantle4 ,he hooked the head on a nail4 ,there1 he said1 unscrewing one of the beautiful brown glass eyes of the stag4 ,back of it could be seen a camera shutter4 ,dan worked the shutter several times to see whether it was all right4 ,one of those new quick shutter cameras1 he explained4 ,then he ran a couple of wires along the moulding1 around the room and into a closet1 where he made the connection with a sort of switchboard on which a button was marked1 ,,shutter and the switch1 ,,wind ,,film4 ,now1 ,flirty1 he said1 coming out of the closet and pulling up the shade which let a flood of sunlight into the room1 you see1 ,i want you to stand here--then1 do your little trick4 ,get me8 ,i get you ,steve1 she laughed4 ,just then the bell rang4 ,that must be ,jameson1 she cried4 ,now--get to your corner4 ,with a last look ,dan went into the closet and shut the door4 ,perhaps half an hour later1 ,clutching ,hand himself called me up on the telephone4 ,it was he--not the ,star--as ,i learned only too late4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,i had scarcely got out of the house1 as ,craig told me afterwards1 when ,flirty ,florrie told all over again the embroidered tale that had caught my ear4 ,kennedy said nothing1 but listened intently1 perhaps betraying in his face the scepticism he felt4 ,you see1 she said1 still voluble and eager to convince him1 ,i was only walking on the street4 ,here1--let me show you4 ,it was just like this4 ,she took his arm and before he knew it1 led him to the spot on the floor near the window which ,dan had indicated4 ,meanwhile ,dan was listening attentively in his closet4 ,now--stand there4 ,you are just as ,i was--only ,i didn't expect anything4 ,she was pantomiming someone approaching stealthily while ,kennedy watched her with interest1 tinged with doubt4 ,behind ,craig1 in his closet1 ,dan was reaching for the switchboard button4 ,you see1 she said advancing quickly and acting her words1 he placed his hands on my shoulders--so--then threw his arms about my neck--so4 ,she said no more1 but imprinted a deep1 passionate kiss on ,kennedy's mouth1 clinging closely to him4 ,before ,kennedy could draw away1 ,dan1 in the closet1 had pressed the button and the switch several times in rapid succession4 ,th-that's very realistic1 gasped ,craig1 a good deal taken aback by the sudden osculatory assault4 ,he frowned4 ,i--,i'll look into the case1 he said1 backing away4 ,there may be some scientific explanation--but--er-- ,he was plainly embarrassed and hastened to make his adieux4 ,kennedy had no more than shut the door before ,dan1 with a gleeful laugh1 burst out of the closet and flung his own arms about ,florrie in an embrace that might have been poisoned1 it is true1 but was none the less real for that4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,how little impression the thing made on ,kennedy can be easily seen from the fact that on the way downtown that afternoon he stopped at ,martin's1 on ,fifth ,avenue1 and bought a ring--a very handsome solitaire1 the finest ,martin had in the shop4 ,it must have been about the time that he decided to stop at ,martin's that the ,dodge butler1 ,jennings1 admitted a young lady who presented a card on which was engraved the name ,miss ,,florence ,,leigh #bj ,prospect ,avenue4 ,as he handed ,elaine the card1 she looked up from the book she was reading and took it4 ,i don't know her1 she said puckering her pretty brow4 ,do you8 ,what does she look like8 ,i never saw her before1 ,miss ,elaine1 ,jennings shrugged4 ,but she is very well dressed4 ,all right1 show her in1 ,jennings4 ,i'll see her4 ,elaine moved into the drawing room1 ,jennings springing forward to part the portieres for her and passing through the room quickly where ,flirty ,florrie sat waiting4 ,flirty ,florrie rose and stood gazing at ,elaine1 apparently very much embarrassed1 even after ,jennings had gone4 ,there was a short pause4 ,the woman was the first to speak4 ,it ,,is embarrassing1 she said finally1 but1 ,miss ,dodge1 ,i have come to you to beg for my love4 ,elaine looked at her non-plussed4 ,yes1 she continued1 you do not know it1 but ,craig ,kennedy is infatuated with you4 ,she paused again1 then added1 ,but he is engaged to me4 ,elaine stared at the woman4 ,she was dazed4 ,she could not believe it4 ,there is the ring1 ,flirty ,florrie added indicating a very impressive paste diamond4 ,elaine frowned but said nothing4 ,her head was in a whirl4 ,she could not believe4 ,although ,florrie was very much embarrassed1 she was quite as evidently very much wrought up4 ,quickly she reached into her bag and drew out two photographs1 without a word1 handing them to ,elaine4 ,elaine took them reluctantly4 ,there's the proof1 ,florrie said simply1 choking a sob4 ,elaine looked with a start4 ,sure enough1 there was the neat living room in the house on ,prospect ,avenue4 ,in one picture ,florrie had her arms over ,kennedy's shoulders4 ,in the other1 apparently1 they were passionately kissing4 ,elaine slowly laid the photographs on the table4 ,please--please1 ,miss ,dodge--give me back my lost love4 ,you are rich and beautiful--,i am poor4 ,i have only my good looks4 ,but--,i--,i love him--and he--loves me--and has promised to marry me4 ,filled with wonder1 and misgivings now1 and quite as much embarrassed at the woman's pleadings as the woman herself had acted a moment before1 ,elaine tried to wave her off4 ,really--,i--,i don't know anything about all this4 ,it--it doesn't concern me4 ,please--go4 ,florrie had broken down completely and was weeping softly into a lace handkerchief4 ,she moved toward the door4 ,elaine followed her4 ,jennings--please see the lady to the door4 ,back in the drawing room1 ,elaine almost seized the photographs and hurried into the library where she could be alone4 ,there she stood gazing at them--doubt1 wonder1 and fear battling on her plastic features4 ,just then she heard the bell and ,jennings in the hall4 ,she shoved the photographs away from her on the table4 ,it was ,kennedy himself1 close upon the announcement of the butler4 ,he was in a particularly joyous and happy mood1 for he had stopped at ,martin's4 ,how are you this afternoon8 he greeted ,elaine gaily4 ,elaine had been too overcome by what had just happened to throw it off so easily1 and received him with a quickly studied coolness4 ,still1 ,craig1 man-like1 did not notice it at once4 ,in fact he was too busy gazing about to see that neither ,jennings1 ,marie1 nor the duenna ,aunt ,josephine were visible4 ,they were not and he quickly took the ring from his pocket4 ,without waiting1 he showed it to ,elaine4 ,in fact1 so sure had he been that everything was plain sailing1 that he seemed to take it almost for granted4 ,under other circumstances1 he would have been right4 ,but not tonight4 ,elaine very coolly admired the ring1 as ,craig might have eyed a specimen on a microscope slide4 ,still1 he did not notice4 ,he took the ring1 about to put it on her finger4 ,elaine drew away4 ,concealment was not in her frank nature4 ,she picked up the two photographs4 ,what have you to say about those8 she asked cuttingly4 ,kennedy1 quite surprised1 took them and looked at them4 ,then he let them fall carelessly on the table and dropped into a chair1 his head back in a burst of laughter4 ,why--that was what they put over on ,walter1 he said4 ,he called me up early this afternoon--told me he had discovered one of these poisoned kiss cases you have read about in the papers4 ,think of it--all that to pull a concealed camera6 ,such an elaborate business--just to get me where they could fake this thing4 ,i suppose they've put some one up to saying she's engaged8 ,elaine was not so lightly affected4 ,but1 she said severely1 repressing her emotion1 ,i don't understand1 ,,mr4 ,kennedy1 how scientific inquiry into 'the poisoned kiss' could necessitate this sort of thing4 ,she pointed at the photographs accusingly4 ,but1 he began1 trying to explain4 ,no buts1 she interrupted4 ,then you believe that ,i-- ,how can you1 as a scientist1 ask me to doubt the camera1 she insinuated1 very coldly turning away4 ,kennedy rapidly began to see that it was far more serious than he had at first thought4 ,very well1 he said with a touch of impatience1 if my word is not to be taken--,i--,i'll-- ,he had seized his hat and stick4 ,elaine did not deign to answer4 ,then1 without a word he stalked out of the door4 ,as he did so1 ,elaine hastily turned and took a few steps after him1 as if to recall her words1 then stopped1 and her pride got the better of her4 ,she walked slowly back to the chair by the table--the chair he had been sitting in--sank down into it and cried4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy was moping in the laboratory the next day when ,i came in4 ,just what the trouble was1 ,i did not know1 but ,i had decided that it was up to me to try to cheer him up4 ,say1 ,craig1 ,i began1 trying to overcome his fit of blues4 ,kennedy1 filled with his own thoughts1 paid no attention to me4 ,still1 ,i kept on4 ,finally he got up and1 before ,i knew it1 he took me by the ear and marched me into the next room4 ,i saw that what he needed chiefly was to be let alone1 and he went back to his chair1 dropping down into it and banging his fists on the table4 ,under his breath he loosed a small volley of bitter expletives4 ,then he jumped up4 ,by ,george--,i ,,will1 he muttered4 ,i poked my head out of the door in time to see him grab up his hat and coat and dash from the room1 putting his coat on as he went4 ,he's a nut today1 ,i exclaimed to myself4 ,though ,i did not know1 yet1 of the quarrel1 ,kennedy had really struggled with himself until he was willing to put his pride in his pocket and had made up his mind to call on ,elaine again4 ,as he entered1 he saw that it was really of no use1 for only ,aunt ,josephine was in the library4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 she said innocently enough1 ,i'm so sorry she isn't here4 ,there's been something troubling her and she won't tell me what it is4 ,but she's gone to call on a young woman1 a ,florence ,leigh1 ,i think4 ,florence ,leigh6 exclaimed ,craig with a start and a frown4 ,let me use your telephone4 ,i had turned my attention in the laboratory to a story ,i was writing1 when ,i heard the telephone ring4 ,it was ,craig4 ,without a word of apology for his rudeness1 which ,i knew had been purely absent-minded1 ,i heard him saying1 ,walter--meet me in half an hour outside that ,florence ,leigh's house4 ,he was gone in a minute1 giving me scarcely time to call back that ,i would4 ,then1 with a hasty apology for his abruptness1 he excused himself1 leaving ,aunt ,josephine wondering at his strange actions4 ,at about the same time that ,craig had left the laboratory1 at the ,dodge house ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine had been in the hall near the library4 ,elaine was in her street dress4 ,i'm going out1 ,auntie1 she said with an attempted gaiety4 ,and1 she added1 if anyone should ask for me1 ,i'll be there4 ,she had showed her a card on which was engraved1 the name and address of ,florence ,leigh4 ,all right1 dear1 answered ,aunt ,josephine1 not quite clear in her mind what subtle change there was in ,elaine4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,half an hour later ,i was waiting near the house in the suburbs to which ,i had been directed by the strange telephone call the day before4 ,i noticed that it was apparently deserted4 ,the blinds were closed and a ,to ,let sign was on the side of the house4 ,hello1 ,walter1 cried ,craig at last1 bustling along4 ,he stopped a moment to look at the house4 ,then1 together1 we went up the steps and we rang the bell1 gazing about4 ,strange1 muttered ,craig4 ,the house looks deserted4 ,he pointed out the sign and the generally unoccupied look of the place4 ,nor was there any answer to our ring4 ,kennedy paused only a second1 in thought4 ,come on1 ,walter1 he said with a sudden decision4 ,we've got to get in here somehow4 ,he led the way around the side of the house to a window1 and with a powerful grasp1 wrenched open the closed shutters4 ,he had just smashed the window viciously with his foot when a policeman appeared4 ,hey1 you fellows--what are you doing there8 he shouted4 ,craig paused a second1 then pulled his card from his pocket4 ,just the man ,i want1 he parried1 much to the policeman's surprise1 ,there's something crooked going on here4 ,follow us in4 ,we climbed into the window4 ,there was the same living room we had seen the day before4 ,but it was now bare and deserted4 ,everything was gone except an old broken chair4 ,craig and ,i were frankly amazed at the complete and sudden change and ,i think the policeman was a little surprised1 for he had thought the place occupied4 ,come on1 cried ,kennedy1 beckoning us on4 ,quickly he rushed through the house4 ,there was not a thing in it to change the deserted appearance of the first floor4 ,at last it occurred to ,craig to grope his way down cellar4 ,there was nothing there1 either1 except a bin1 as innocent of coal as ,mother ,hubbard's cupboard was of food4 ,for several minutes we hunted about without discovering a thing4 ,kennedy had been carefully going over the place and was at the other side of the cellar from ourselves when ,i saw him stop and gaze at the floor4 ,he was not looking1 apparently1 so much as listening4 ,i strained my ears1 but could make out nothing4 ,before ,i could say anything1 he raised his hand for silence4 ,apparently he had heard something4 ,hide1 he whispered suddenly to us4 ,without another word1 though for the life of me ,i could make nothing out of it1 ,i pulled the policeman into a little angle of the wall nearby1 while ,craig slipped into a similar angle4 ,we waited a moment4 ,nothing happened4 ,had he been seeing things or hearing things1 ,i wondered8 ,from our hidden vantage we could now see a square piece in the floor1 perhaps five feet in diameter1 slowly open up as though on a pivot4 ,beneath it we could make out a tube-like hole1 perhaps three feet across1 with a covered top4 ,it slowly opened4 ,a weird and sinister figure of a man appeared4 ,over his head he wore a peculiar helmet with hideous glass pieces over the eyes1 and tubes that connected with a tank which he carried buckled to his back4 ,as he slowly dragged himself out1 ,i could wonder only at the outlandish headgear4 ,quickly he closed down the cover of the tube1 but not before a vile effluvium seemed to escape1 and penetrate even to us in our hiding places4 ,as he moved forward1 ,kennedy gave a flying leap at him1 and we followed with a regular football interference4 ,it was the work of only a moment for us to subdue and hold him1 while ,craig ripped off the helmet4 ,it was ,dan the ,dude4 ,what's that thing8 ,i puffed1 as ,i helped ,craig with the headgear4 ,an oxygen helmet1 he replied4 ,there must be air down the tube that cannot be breathed4 ,he went over to the tube4 ,carefully he opened the top and gazed down1 starting back a second later1 with his face puckered up at the noxious odor4 ,sewer gas1 he ejaculated1 as he slammed the cover down4 ,then he added to the policeman1 ,where do you suppose it comes from8 ,why1 replied the officer1 the ,st4 ,james ,drain--an old sewer--is somewhere about these parts4 ,kennedy puckered his face as he gazed at our prisoner4 ,he reached down quickly and lifted something off the man's coat4 ,golden hair1 he muttered4 ,elaine's6 ,a moment later he seized the man and shook him roughly4 ,where is she--tell me8 he demanded4 ,the man snarled some kind of reply1 refusing to say a word about her4 ,tell me1 repeated ,kennedy4 ,humph6 snorted the prisoner1 more close-mouthed than ever4 ,kennedy was furious4 ,as he sent the man reeling away from him1 he seized the oxygen helmet and began putting it on4 ,there was only one thing to do--to follow the clue of the golden strands of hair4 ,down into the pest hole he went1 his head protected by the oxygen helmet4 ,as he cautiously took one step after another down a series of iron rungs inside the hole1 he found that the water was up to his chest4 ,at the bottom of the perpendicular pit was a narrow low passage way1 leading off4 ,it was just about big enough to get through1 but he managed to grope along it4 ,he came at last to the main drain1 an old stone-walled sewer1 as murky a place as could well be imagined1 filled with the foulest sewer gas4 ,he was hardly able to keep his feet in the swirling1 bubbling water that swept past1 almost up to his neck4 ,the minutes passed as the policeman and ,i watched our prisoner in the cellar1 by the tube4 ,i looked anxiously at my watch4 ,craig6 ,i shouted at last1 unable to control my fears for him4 ,no answer4 ,to go down after him seemed out of the question4 ,by this time1 ,craig had come to a small open chamber into which the sewer widened4 ,on the wall he found another series of iron rungs up which he climbed4 ,the gas was terrible4 ,as he neared the top of the ladder1 he came to a shelf-like aperture in the sewer chamber1 and gazed about4 ,it was horribly dark4 ,he reached out and felt a piece of cloth4 ,anxiously he pulled on it4 ,then he reached further into the darkness4 ,there was ,elaine1 unconscious1 apparently dead4 ,he shook her1 endeavoring to wake her up4 ,but it was no use4 ,in desperation ,craig carried her down the ladder4 ,with our prisoner1 we could only look helplessly around4 ,again and again ,i looked at my watch as the minutes lengthened4 ,suppose the oxygen gave out8 ,by ,george1 ,i'm going down after him1 ,i cried in desperation4 ,don't do it1 advised the policeman4 ,you'll never get out4 ,one whiff of the horrible gas told me that he was right4 ,i should not have been able to go fifty feet in it4 ,i looked at him in despair4 ,it was impossible4 ,listen1 said the policeman1 straining his ears4 ,there was indeed a faint noise from the black depths below us4 ,a rope alongside the rough ladder began to move1 as though someone was pulling it taut4 ,we gazed down4 ,craig6 ,craig6 ,i called4 ,is that you8 ,no answer4 ,but the rope still moved4 ,perhaps the helmet made it impossible for him to hear4 ,he had struggled back in the swirling current almost exhausted by his helpless burden4 ,holding ,elaine's head above the surface of the water and pulling on the rope to attract my attention1 for he could neither hear nor shout1 he had taken a turn of the rope about ,elaine4 ,i tried pulling on it4 ,there was something heavy on the other end and ,i kept on pulling4 ,at last ,i could make out ,kennedy dimly mounting the ladder4 ,the weight was the unconscious body of ,elaine which he steadied as he mounted4 ,i tugged harder and he slowly came up4 ,together1 at last1 the policeman and ,i reached down and pulled them out4 ,we placed ,elaine on the cellar floor1 as comfortably as was possible1 and the policeman began his first-aid motions for resuscitation4 ,no--no1 cried ,kennedy1 ,not here--take her up where the air is fresher4 ,with his revolver still drawn to overawe the prisoner1 the policeman forced him to aid us in carrying her up the rickety flight of cellar steps4 ,kennedy followed quickly1 unscrewing the oxygen helmet as he went4 ,in the deserted living room we deposited our senseless burden1 while ,kennedy1 the helmet off now1 bent over her4 ,quick--quick6 he cried to the officer1 ,an ambulance6 ,but the prisoner1 the policeman indicated4 ,hurry--hurry--,i'll take care of him1 urged ,craig1 seizing the policeman's pistol and thrusting it into his pocket4 ,walter--help me4 ,he was trying the ordinary methods of resuscitation4 ,meanwhile the officer had hurried out1 seeking the nearest telephone1 while we worked madly to bring ,elaine back4 ,again and again ,kennedy bent and outstretched her arms1 trying to induce respiration4 ,so busy was ,i that for the moment ,i forgot our prisoner4 ,but ,dan had seen his chance4 ,noiselessly he picked up the old chair in the room and with it raised was approaching ,kennedy to knock him out4 ,before ,i knew it myself1 ,kennedy had heard him4 ,with a half instinctive motion1 he drew the revolver from his pocket and1 almost before ,i could see it1 had shot the man4 ,without a word he returned the gun to his pocket and again bent over ,elaine1 without so much as a look at the crook who sank to the floor1 dropping the chair from his nerveless hands4 ,already the policeman had got an ambulance which was now tearing along to us4 ,frantically ,kennedy was working4 ,a moment he paused and looked at me--hopeless4 ,just then1 outside1 we could hear the ambulance1 and a doctor and two attendants hurried up to the door4 ,without a word the doctor seemed to appreciate the gravity of the case4 ,he finished his examination and shook his head4 ,there is no hope--no hope1 he said slowly4 ,kennedy merely stared at him4 ,but the rest of us instinctively removed our hats4 ,kennedy gazed at ,elaine1 overcome4 ,was this the end8 ,it was not many minutes later that ,kennedy had ,elaine in the little sitting room off the laboratory1 having taken her there in the ambulance1 with the doctor and two attendants4 ,elaine's body had been placed on a couch1 covered by a blanket1 and the shades were drawn4 ,the light fell on her pale face4 ,there was something incongruous about death and the vast collection of scientific apparatus1 a ghastly mocking of humanity4 ,how futile was it all in the presence of the great destroyer8 ,aunt ,josephine had arrived1 stunned1 and a moment later1 ,perry ,bennett4 ,as ,i looked at the sorrowful party1 ,aunt ,josephine rose slowly from her position on her knees where she had been weeping silently beside ,elaine1 and pressed her hands over her eyes1 with every indication of faintness4 ,before any of us could do anything1 she had staggered into the laboratory itself1 ,bennett and ,i following quickly4 ,there ,i was busy for some time getting restoratives4 ,meanwhile ,kennedy1 beside the couch1 with an air of desperate determination1 turned away and opened a cabinet4 ,from it he took a large coil and attached it to a storage battery1 dragging the peculiar apparatus near ,elaine's couch4 ,to an electric light socket1 ,craig attached wires4 ,the doctor watched him in silent wonder4 ,doctor1 he asked slowly as he worked1 do you know of ,professor ,leduc of the ,nantes ,ecole de ,medicin8 ,why--yes1 answered the doctor1 but what of him8 ,then you know of his method of electrical resuscitation4 ,yes--but-- ,he paused1 looking apprehensively at ,kennedy4 ,craig paid no attention to his fears1 but approaching the couch on which ,elaine lay1 applied the electrodes4 ,you see1 he explained1 with forced calmness1 ,i apply the anode here--the cathode there4 ,the ambulance surgeon looked on excitedly1 as ,craig turned on the current1 applying it to the back of the neck and to the spine4 ,for some minutes the machine worked4 ,then the young doctor's eyes began to bulge4 ,my heavens6 he cried under his breath4 ,look6 ,elaine's chest had slowly risen and fallen4 ,kennedy1 his attention riveted on his work1 applied himself with redoubled efforts4 ,the young doctor looked on with increased wonder4 ,look6 ,the color in her face6 ,see her lips6 he cried4 ,at last her eyes slowly fluttered open--then closed4 ,would the machine succeed8 ,or was it just the galvanic effect of the current8 ,the doctor noticed it and quickly placed his ear to her heart4 ,his face was a study in astonishment4 ,the minutes sped fast4 ,to us outside1 who had no idea what was transpiring in the other room1 the minutes were leaden-feeted4 ,aunt ,josephine1 weak but now herself again1 was sitting nervously4 ,just then the door opened4 ,i shall never forget the look on the young ambulance surgeon's face1 as he murmured under his breath1 ,come here--the age of miracles is not passed--look6 ,raising his finger to indicate that we were to make no noise1 he led us into the other room4 ,kennedy was bending over the couch4 ,elaine1 her eyes open1 now1 was gazing up at him1 and a wan smile flitted over her beautiful face4 ,kennedy had taken her hand1 and as he heard us enter1 turned half way to us1 while we stared in blank wonder from ,elaine to the weird and complicated electrical apparatus4 ,it is the life-current1 he said simply1 patting the ,leduc apparatus with his other hand4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,the ,,hour ,,of ,,three ,with the ominous forefinger of his ,clutching ,hand extended1 the master criminal emphasized his instructions to his minions4 ,perry ,bennett1 her lawyer1 is in favor again with ,elaine ,dodge1 he was saying4 ,she and ,kennedy are on the outs even yet4 ,but they may become reconciled4 ,then she'll have that fellow on our trail again4 ,before that happens1 we must 'get' her--see8 ,it was in the latest headquarters to which ,craig had chased the criminal1 in one of the toughest parts of the old ,greenwich village1 on the west side of ,new ,york1 not far from the river front4 ,they were all seated in a fairly large but dingy old room1 in which were several chairs1 a rickety table and1 against the wall1 a roll-top desk on the top of which was a telephone4 ,several crooks of the gang were sitting about1 smoking4 ,now1 went on ,clutching ,hand1 ,i want you1 ,spike1 to follow them4 ,see what they do--where they go4 ,it's her birthday4 ,something's bound to occur that will give you a lead4 ,all you've got to do is to use your head4 ,get me8 ,spike rose1 nodded1 picked up his hat and coat and squirmed out on his mission1 like the snake that he was4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was1 as ,clutching ,hand had said1 ,elaine's birthday4 ,she had received many callers and congratulations1 innumerable costly and beautiful tokens of remembrance from her countless friends and admirers4 ,in the conservatory of the ,dodge house ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine1 and ,susie ,martin were sitting discussing not only the happy occasion1 but1 more1 the many strange events of the past few weeks4 ,well1 cried a familiar voice behind them4 ,what would a certain blonde young lady accept as a birthday present from her family lawyer8 ,all three turned in surprise4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,bennett1 cried ,elaine4 ,how you startled us6 ,he laughed and repeated his question1 adopting the tone that he had once used in the days when he had been more in favor with the pretty heiress1 before the advent of ,kennedy4 ,elaine hesitated4 ,she was thinking not so much of his words as of ,kennedy4 ,to them all1 however1 it seemed that she was unable to make up her mind what1 in the wealth of her luxury1 she would like4 ,susie ,martin had been wondering whether1 now that ,bennett was here1 she were not de trop1 and she looked at her wrist watch mechanically4 ,as she did so1 an idea occurred to her4 ,why not one of these8 she cried impulsively1 indicating the watch4 ,father has some beauties at the shop4 ,oh1 good1 exclaimed ,elaine1 how sweet6 ,she welcomed the suggestion1 for she had been thinking that perhaps ,bennett might be hinting too seriously at a solitaire4 ,so that strikes your fancy8 he asked4 ,then let's all go to the shop4 ,miss ,martin will personally conduct the tour1 and we shall have our pick of the finest stock4 ,a moment later the three young people went out and were quickly whirled off down the ,avenue in the ,dodge town car4 ,it was too gay a party to notice a sinister figure following them in a cab4 ,but as they entered the fashionable jewelry shop1 ,spike1 who had alighted1 walked slowly down the street4 ,chatting with animation1 the three moved over to the watch counter1 while the crook1 with a determination not to risk missing anything1 entered the shop door1 too4 ,mr4 ,thomas1 asked ,susie as her father's clerk bowed to them1 please show ,miss ,dodge the wrist watches father was telling about4 ,with another deferential bow1 the clerk hastened to display a case of watches and they bent over them4 ,as each new watch was pointed out1 ,elaine was delighted4 ,unobserved1 the crook walked over near enough to hear what was going on4 ,at last1 with much banter and yet care1 ,elaine selected one that was indeed a beauty and was about to snap it on her dainty wrist1 when the clerk interrupted4 ,i beg pardon1 he suggested1 but ,i'd advise you to leave it to be regulated1 if you please4 ,yes1 indeed1 chimed in ,susie4 ,father always advises that4 ,reluctantly1 ,elaine handed it over to the clerk4 ,oh1 thank you1 ever so much1 ,mr4 ,bennett1 she said as he unobtrusively paid for the watch and gave the address to which it was to be sent when ready4 ,a moment later they went out and entered the car again4 ,as they did so1 ,spike1 who had been looking various things in the next case over as if undecided1 came up to the watch counter4 ,i'm making a present1 he remarked confidentially to the clerk4 ,how about those bracelet watches8 ,the clerk pulled out some of the cheaper ones4 ,no1 he said thoughtfully1 pointing out a tray in the show case1 something like those4 ,he ended by picking out one identically like that which ,elaine had selected1 and started to pay for it4 ,better have it regulated1 repeated the clerk4 ,no1 he objected hastily1 shaking his head and paying the money quickly4 ,it's a present--and ,i want it tonight4 ,he took the watch and left the store hurriedly4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the laboratory1 ,kennedy was working over an oblong oak box1 perhaps eighteen inches in length and half as high4 ,in the box ,i could see1 besides other apparatus1 two good sized spools of fine wire4 ,what's all that8 ,i asked inquisitively4 ,another of the new instruments that scientific detectives use1 he responded1 scarcely looking up1 a little magnetic wizard1 the telegraphone4 ,which is8 ,i prompted4 ,something we detectives might use to take down and 'can' telephone and other conversations4 ,when it is attached properly to a telephone1 it records everything that is said over the wire4 ,how does it work8 ,i asked1 much mystified4 ,well1 it is based on an entirely new principle1 in every way different from the phonograph1 he explained4 ,as you can see there are no discs or cylinders1 but these spools of extremely fine steel wire4 ,the record is not made mechanically on a cylinder1 but electromagnetically on this wire4 ,how8 ,i asked1 almost incredulously4 ,to put it briefly1 he went on1 small portions of magnetism1 as it were1 are imparted to fractions of the steel wire as it passes between two carbon electric magnets4 ,each impression represents a sound wave4 ,there is no apparent difference in the wire1 yet each particle of steel undergoes an electromagnetic transformation by which the sound is indelibly imprinted on it4 ,then you scrape the wire1 just as you shave records to use it over again8 ,i suggested4 ,no1 he replied4 ,you pass a magnet over it and the magnet automatically erases the record4 ,rust has no effect4 ,the record lasts as long as steel lasts4 ,craig continued to tinker tantalizingly with the machine which had been invented by a ,dane1 ,valdemar ,poulsen4 ,he had scarcely finished testing out the telegraphone1 when the laboratory door opened and a clean-cut young man entered4 ,kennedy1 ,i knew1 had found that the routine work of the ,clutching ,hand case was beyond his limited time and had retained this young man1 ,raymond ,chase1 to attend to that4 ,chase was a young detective whom ,craig had employed on shadowing jobs and as a stool pigeon on other cases1 and we had all the confidence in the world in him4 ,just now what worried ,craig was the situation with ,elaine1 and ,i fancied that he had given ,chase some commission in connection with that4 ,i've got it1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 greeted ,chase with quiet modesty4 ,good1 responded ,craig heartily4 ,i knew you would4 ,got what8 ,i asked a moment later4 ,kennedy nodded for ,chase to answer4 ,i've located the new residence of ,flirty ,florrie1 he replied4 ,i saw what ,kennedy was after at once4 ,flirty ,florrie and ,dan the ,dude had caused the quarrel between himself and ,elaine4 ,dan the ,dude was dead4 ,but ,flirty ,florrie might be forced to explain it4 ,that's fine1 he added1 exultingly4 ,now1 ,i'll clear that thing up4 ,he took a hasty step to the telephone1 put his hand on the receiver and was about to take it off the hook4 ,then he paused1 and ,i saw his face working4 ,the wound ,elaine had given his feelings was deep4 ,it had not yet quite healed4 ,finally1 his pride1 for ,kennedy's was a highly sensitive nature1 got the better of him4 ,no1 he said1 half to himself1 not--yet4 ,elaine had returned home4 ,alone1 her thoughts naturally went back to what had happened recently to interrupt a friendship which had been the sweetest in her life4 ,there ,,must be some mistake1 she murmured pensively to herself1 thinking of the photograph ,flirty had given her4 ,oh1 why did ,i send him away8 ,why didn't ,i believe him8 ,then she thought of what had happened1 of how she had been seized by ,dan the ,dude in the deserted house1 of how the noxious gas had overcome her4 ,they had told her of how ,craig had risked his life to save her1 how she had been brought home1 still only half alive1 after his almost miraculous work with the new electric machine4 ,there was his picture4 ,she had not taken that away4 ,as she looked at it1 a wave of feeling came over her4 ,mechanically1 she put out her hand to the telephone4 ,she was about to take off the receiver1 when something seemed to stay her hand4 ,she wanted him to come to her4 ,and1 if either of them had called the other just then1 they would have probably crossed wires4 ,of such stuff are the quarrels of lovers4 ,craig's eye fell on the telegraphone1 and an idea seemed to occur to him4 ,walter1 you and ,chase bring that thing along1 he said a moment later4 ,he paused long enough to take a badge from the drawer of a cabinet1 and went out4 ,we followed him1 lugging the telegraphone4 ,at last we came to the apartment house at which ,chase had located the woman4 ,there it is1 he pointed out1 as ,i gave a groan of relief1 for the telegraphone was getting like lead4 ,kennedy nodded and drew from his pocket the badge ,i had seen him take from the cabinet4 ,now1 ,chase1 he directed1 you needn't go in with us4 ,walter and ,i can manage this1 now4 ,but don't get out of touch with me4 ,i shall need you any moment--certainly tomorrow4 ,i saw that the badge read1 ,telephone ,inspector4 ,walter1 he smiled1 you're elected my helper4 ,we entered the apartment house hall and found a ,negro boy in charge of the switchboard4 ,it took ,craig only a moment to convince the boy that he was from the company and that complaints had been made by some anonymous tenant4 ,you look over that switchboard1 ,kelly1 he winked at me1 while ,i test out the connections back here4 ,there must be something wrong with the wires or there wouldn't be so many complaints4 ,he had gone back of the switchboard and the ,negro1 still unsuspicious1 watched without understanding what it was all about4 ,i don't know1 ,craig muttered finally for the benefit of the boy1 but ,i think ,i'll have to leave that tester after all4 ,say1 if ,i put it here1 you'll have to be careful not to let anyone meddle with it4 ,if you do1 there'll be the deuce to pay4 ,see8 ,kennedy had already started to fasten the telegraphone to the wires he had selected from the tangle4 ,at last he finished and stood up4 ,don't disturb it and don't let anyone else touch it1 he ordered4 ,better not tell anyone--that's the best way4 ,i'll be back for it tomorrow probably4 ,yas sah1 nodded the boy1 with a bow1 as we went out4 ,we returned to the laboratory1 where there seemed to be nothing we could do now except wait for something to happen4 ,kennedy1 however1 employed the time by plunging into work1 most of the time experimenting with a peculiar little coil to which ran the wires of an ordinary electric bell4 ,back in the new hang-out1 the ,clutching ,hand was laying down the law to his lieutenants and heelers1 when ,spike at last entered4 ,huh6 growled the master criminal1 covering the fact that he was considerably relieved to see him at last1 where have ,,you been8 ,i've been off on a little job myself and got back4 ,spike apologized profusely4 ,he had succeeded so easily that he had thought to take a little time to meet up with an old pal whom he ran across1 just out of prison4 ,yes sir1 he replied hastily1 well1 ,i went over to the ,dodge house1 and ,i saw them finally4 ,followed them into a jewelry shop4 ,that lawyer bought her a wrist watch4 ,so ,i bought one just like it4 ,i thought perhaps we could-- ,give it to me1 growled ,clutching ,hand1 seizing it the moment ,slim displayed it4 ,and don't butt in--see8 ,from the capacious desk1 the master criminal pulled a set of small drills1 vices1 and other jeweler's tools and placed them on the table4 ,all right1 he relented4 ,now1 do you see what ,i have just thought of--no8 ,this is just the chance4 ,look at me4 ,the heelers gathered around him1 peering curiously at their master as he worked at the bracelet watch4 ,carefully he plied his hands to the job1 regardless of time4 ,there1 he exclaimed at last1 holding the watch up where they could all see it4 ,see6 ,he pulled out the stem to set the hands and slowly twisted it between his thumb and finger4 ,he turned the hands until they were almost at the point of three o'clock4 ,then he held the watch out where all could see it4 ,they bent closer and strained their eyes at the little second hand ticking away merrily4 ,as the minute hand touched three1 from the back of the case1 as if from the casing itself1 a little needle1 perhaps a quarter of an inch1 jumped out4 ,it seemed to come from what looked like merely a small inset in the decorations4 ,you see what will happen at the hour of three8 he asked4 ,no one said a word1 as he held up a vial which he had drawn from his pocket4 ,on it they could read the label1 ,ricinus4 ,one of the most powerful poisons in the world6 he exclaimed4 ,enough here to kill a regiment6 ,they fairly gasped and looked at it with horror1 exchanging glances4 ,then they looked at him in awe4 ,there was no wonder that ,clutching ,hand kept them in line1 once he had a crook in his power4 ,opening the vial carefully1 he dipped in a thin piece of glass and placed a tiny drop in a receptacle back of the needle and on the needle itself4 ,altogether it savored of the ancient days of the ,borgias with their weird poisoned rings4 ,then he dropped the vial back into his pocket1 pressed a spring1 and the needle went back into its unsuspected hiding place4 ,i've set my invention to go off at three o'clock1 he concluded4 ,tomorrow forenoon1 it will have to be delivered early--and ,i don't believe we shall be troubled any longer by ,miss ,elaine ,dodge1 he added venomously4 ,even the crooks1 hardened as they were1 could only gasp4 ,calmly he wrapped up the apparently innocent engine of destruction and handed it to ,spike4 ,see that she gets it in time1 he said merely4 ,i will1 sir1 answered ,spike1 taking it gingerly4 ,flirty ,florrie had returned that afternoon1 late1 from some expedition on which she had been sent4 ,rankling in her heart yet was the death of her lover1 ,dan the ,dude4 ,for1 although in her sphere of crookdom they are neither married nor given in marriage1 still there is a brand of loyalty that higher circles might well copy4 ,sacred to the memory of the dead1 however1 she had one desire--revenge4 ,thus when she arrived home1 she went to the telephone to report and called a number1 #ddid ,greenwich4 ,hello1 ,chief1 she repeated4 ,this is ,flirty4 ,have you done anything yet in the little matter we talked about8 ,say--be careful of names--over the wire1 came a growl4 ,you know--what ,i mean4 ,yes4 ,the trick will be pulled off at three o'clock4 ,good6 she exclaimed4 ,good-bye and thank you4 ,with his well-known caution ,clutching ,hand did not even betray names over the telephone if he could help it4 ,flirty hung up the receiver with satisfaction4 ,the manes of the departed ,dan might soon rest in peace6 ,the next day1 early in the forenoon1 a young man with a small package carefully done up came to the ,dodge house4 ,from ,martin's1 the jeweler's1 for ,miss ,dodge1 he said to ,jennings at the door4 ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine were sitting in the library when ,jennings announced him4 ,oh1 it's my watch1 cried ,elaine4 ,show him in4 ,jennings bowed and did so4 ,spike entered1 and handed the package to ,elaine1 who signed her name excitedly and opened it4 ,just look1 ,auntie1 she exclaimed4 ,isn't it stunning8 ,very pretty1 commented ,aunt ,josephine4 ,elaine put the watch on her wrist and admired it4 ,is it all right8 asked ,spike4 ,yes1 yes1 answered ,elaine4 ,you may go4 ,he went out1 while ,elaine gazed rapturously at the new trinket while it ticked off the minutes--this devilish instrument4 ,early the same morning ,kennedy went around again to the apartment house and1 cautious not to be seen by ,flirty1 recovered the telegraphone4 ,together we carried it to the laboratory4 ,there he set up a little instrument that looked like a wedge sitting up on end1 in the face of which was a dial4 ,through it he began to run the wire from the spools1 and1 taking an earpiece1 put another on my head over my ears4 ,you see1 he explained1 the principle on which this is based is that a mass of tempered steel may be impressed with and will retain magnetic fluxes varying in density and in sign in adjacent portions of itself--little deposits of magnetic impulse4 ,when the telegraphone is attached to the telephone wire1 the currents that affect the receiver also affect the coils of the telegraphone and the disturbance set up causes a deposit of magnetic impulse on the steel wire4 ,when the wire is again run past these coils with a receiver such as ,i have here in circuit with the coils1 a light vibration is set up in the receiver diaphragm which reproduces the sound of speech4 ,he turned a switch and we listened eagerly4 ,there was no grating and thumping1 as he controlled the running off of the wire4 ,we were listening to everything that had been said over the telephone during the time since we left the machine4 ,first came several calls from people with bills and she put them off most adroitly4 ,then we heard a call that caused ,kennedy to look at me quickly1 stop the machine and start at that point over again4 ,that's what ,i wanted1 he said as we listened in3 ,give me #ddid ,greenwich4 ,hello4 ,hello1 ,chief4 ,this is ,flirty4 ,have you done anything yet in the little matter we talked about8 ,say--be careful of names--over the wire4 ,you know--what ,i mean4 ,yes1 the trick will be pulled off at three o'clock4 ,good6 ,good-bye and thank you6 ,good-bye4 ,kennedy stopped the machine and ,i looked at him blankly4 ,she called ,greenwich #ddid and was told that the trick would be pulled off at three o'clock today1 he ruminated4 ,what trick8 ,i asked4 ,he shook his head4 ,i don't know4 ,that is what we must find out4 ,i hadn't expected a tip like that4 ,what ,i wanted was to find out how to get at the ,clutching ,hand4 ,he paused and considered a minute1 then moved to the telephone4 ,there's only one thing to do and that's to follow out my original scheme1 he said energetically4 ,information1 please4 ,where is ,greenwich #ddid8 he asked a moment later4 ,the minutes passed4 ,thank you1 he cried1 writing down on a pad an address over on the west side near the river front4 ,then turning to me he explained1 ,walter1 we've got him at last6 ,craig rose and put on his hat and coat1 thrusting a pair of opera glasses into his pocket1 in case we should want to observe the place at a distance4 ,i followed him excitedly4 ,the trail was hot4 ,kennedy and ,i came at last to the place on the ,west ,side where the crooked streets curved off4 ,instead of keeping on until he came to the place we sought1 he turned and quickly slipped behind the shelter of a fence4 ,there was a broken board in the fence and he bent down1 gazing through with the opera glasses4 ,across the lot was the new headquarters1 a somewhat dilapidated old-fashioned brick house of several generations back4 ,through the glass we could see an evil-countenanced crook slinking along4 ,he mounted the steps and rang the bell1 turning as he waited4 ,from a small aperture in the doorway looked out another face1 equally evil4 ,under cover1 the crook made the sign of the clutching hand twice and was admitted4 ,that's the place1 all right1 whispered ,kennedy with satisfaction4 ,he hurried to a telephone booth where he called several numbers4 ,then we returned to the laboratory1 while ,kennedy quickly figured out a plan of action4 ,i knew ,chase was expected there soon4 ,from the table he picked up the small coil over which ,i had seen him working1 and attached it to the bell and some batteries4 ,he replaced it on the table1 while ,i watched curiously4 ,a selenium cell1 he explained4 ,only when light falls on it does it become a good conductor of electricity4 ,then the bell will ring4 ,just before making the connection he placed his hat over the cell4 ,then he lifted the hat4 ,the light fell on it and the bell rang4 ,he replaced the hat and the bell stopped4 ,it was evidently a very peculiar property of the substance1 selenium4 ,just then there came a knock at the door4 ,i opened it4 ,hello1 ,chase1 greeted ,kennedy4 ,well1 ,i've found the new headquarters all right1--over on the west side4 ,kennedy picked up the selenium cell and a long coil of fine wire which he placed in a bag4 ,then he took another bag already packed and1 shifting them between us1 we hurried down town4 ,near the vacant lot1 back of the new headquarters1 was an old broken down house4 ,through the rear of it we entered4 ,i started back in astonishment as we found eight or ten policemen already there4 ,kennedy had ordered them to be ready for a raid and they had dropped in one at a time without attracting attention4 ,well1 men1 he greeted them1 ,i see you found the place all right4 ,now1 in a little while ,jameson will return with two wires4 ,attach them to the bell which ,i will leave here4 ,when it rings1 raid the house4 ,jameson will lead you to it4 ,come1 ,walter1 he added1 picking up the bags4 ,ten minutes later1 outside the new headquarters1 a crouched up figure1 carrying a small package1 his face hidden under his soft hat and up-turned collar1 could have been seen slinking along until he came to the steps4 ,he went up and peered through the aperture of the doorway4 ,then he rang the bell4 ,twice he raised his hand and clenched it in the now familiar clutch4 ,a crook inside saw it through the aperture and opened the door4 ,the figure entered and almost before the door was shut tied the masking handkerchief over his face1 which hid his identity from even the most trusted lieutenants4 ,the crook bowed to the chief1 who1 with a growl as though of recognition1 moved down the hall4 ,as he came to the room from which ,spike had been sent on his mission1 the same group was seated in the thick tobacco smoke4 ,you fellows clear out1 he growled4 ,i want to be alone4 ,the old man is peeved1 muttered one1 outside1 as they left4 ,the weird figure gazed about the room to be sure that he was alone4 ,when ,craig and ,i left the police he had given me most minute instructions which ,i was now following out to the letter4 ,i want you to hide there1 he said1 indicating a barrel back of the house next to the hang-out4 ,when you see a wire come down from the headquarters1 take it and carry it across the lot to the old house4 ,attach it to the bell2 then wait4 ,when it rings1 raid the ,clutching ,hand joint4 ,i waited what seemed to be an interminable time back of the barrel and it is no joke hiding back of a barrel4 ,finally1 however1 ,i saw a coil of fine wire drop rapidly to the ground from a window somewhere above4 ,i made a dash for it1 as though ,i were trying to rush the trenches1 seized my prize and without looking back to see where it came from1 beat a hasty retreat4 ,around the lot ,i skirted1 until at last ,i reached the place where the police were waiting4 ,quickly we fastened the wire to the bell4 ,we waited4 ,not a sound from the bell4 ,up in the room in the joint1 the hunched up figure stood by the table4 ,he had taken his hat off and placed it carefully on the table1 and was now waiting4 ,suddenly a noise at the door startled him4 ,he listened4 ,then he backed away from the door and drew a revolver4 ,as the door slowly opened there entered another figure1 hat over his eyes1 collar up1 a handkerchief over his face1 the exact counterpart of the first6 ,for a moment each glared at the other4 ,hands up6 shouted the first figure1 hoarsely1 moving the gun and closing the door1 with his foot4 ,the newcomer slowly raised his crooked hand over his head1 as the blue steel revolver gaped menacingly4 ,with a quick movement of the other hand1 the first sinister figure removed the handkerchief from his face and straightened up4 ,it was ,kennedy6 ,come over to the center of the room1 ordered ,kennedy4 ,clutching ,hand obeyed1 eyeing his captor closely4 ,now lay your weapons on the table4 ,he tossed down a revolver4 ,the two still faced each other4 ,take off that handkerchief6 ,it was a tense moment4 ,slowly ,clutching ,hand started to obey4 ,then he stopped4 ,kennedy was just about to thunder1 ,go on1 when the criminal calmly remarked1 ,you've got ,,me all right1 ,kennedy1 but in twenty minutes ,elaine ,dodge will be dead6 ,he said it with a nonchalance that might have deceived anyone less astute than ,kennedy4 ,suddenly there flashed over ,craig the words3 ,,the ,,trick ,,will ,,be ,,pulled ,,off ,,at ,,three ,o',,clock6 ,there was no fake about that4 ,kennedy frowned4 ,if he killed ,clutching ,hand1 ,elaine would die4 ,if he fought1 he must either kill or be killed4 ,if he handed ,clutching ,hand over1 all he had to do was to keep quiet4 ,he looked at his watch4 ,it was twenty-five minutes of three4 ,what a situation6 ,he had caught a prisoner he dared not molest--yet4 ,what do you mean--tell me8 demanded ,kennedy with forced calm4 ,yesterday ,mr4 ,bennett bought a wrist watch for ,elaine1 the ,clutching ,hand said quietly4 ,they left it to be regulated4 ,one of my men bought one just like it4 ,mine was delivered to her today4 ,a likely story6 doubted ,kennedy4 ,for answer1 the ,clutching ,hand pointed to the telephone4 ,kennedy reached for it4 ,one thing1 interrupted the ,clutching ,hand4 ,you are a man of honor4 ,yes--yes4 ,go on4 ,if ,i tell you what to do1 you must promise to give me a fighting chance4 ,yes1 yes4 ,call up ,aunt ,josephine1 then4 ,do just as ,i say4 ,covering ,clutching ,hand1 ,kennedy called a number4 ,this is ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,mrs4 ,dodge4 ,did ,elaine receive a present of a wrist watch from ,mr4 ,bennett8 ,yes1 she replied1 for her birthday4 ,it came this forenoon4 ,kennedy hung up the receiver and faced ,clutching ,hand puzzled as the latter said1 ,call up ,martin1 the jeweler4 ,again ,kennedy obeyed4 ,has the watch purchased for ,miss ,elaine ,dodge been delivered8 he asked the clerk4 ,no1 came back the reply1 the watch ,mr4 ,bennett bought is still here being regulated4 ,kennedy hung up the receiver4 ,he was stunned4 ,the watch will cause her death at three o'clock1 said the ,clutching ,hand4 ,swear to leave here without discovering my identity and ,i will tell you how4 ,you can save her6 ,a moment ,kennedy thought4 ,here was a quandary4 ,no1 he shouted1 seizing the telephone4 ,before ,kennedy could move1 ,clutching ,hand had pulled the telephone wires with almost superhuman strength from the junction box4 ,in that watch1 he hissed1 ,i have set a poisoned needle in a spring that will be released and will plunge it into her arm at exactly three o'clock4 ,on the needle is ricinus6 ,craig advanced1 furious4 ,as he did so1 ,clutching ,hand pointed calmly to the clock4 ,it was twenty minutes of three6 ,with a mental struggle1 ,kennedy controlled his loathing of the creature before him4 ,all right--but you'll hear from me--sooner than you suspect1 he shouted1 starting for the door4 ,then he came back and lifted his hat1 hiding as much as possible the selenium cell1 letting the light fall on it4 ,only ,elaine's life has saved you4 ,with a last threat he dashed out4 ,he hailed a cab1 returning from some steamship wharves not far away4 ,quick6 he ordered1 giving the ,dodge address on ,fifth ,avenue4 ,minute after minute the police and ,i waited4 ,was anything wrong8 ,where was ,craig8 ,just then a tremor grew into a tinkle1 then came the strong burr of the bell4 ,kennedy needed us4 ,with a shout of encouragement to the men ,i dashed out and over to the old house4 ,meanwhile ,clutching ,hand himself had approached the table to recover his weapon and had noticed the queer little selenium cell4 ,he picked it up and for the first time saw the wire leading out4 ,the deuce6 he cried4 ,he's planned to get me anyhow6 ,clutching ,hand rushed to the door--then stopped short4 ,outside he could hear the police and myself4 ,we had shot the lock on the outside and were already inside4 ,clutching ,hand slammed shut his door and pulled down over it a heavy wooden bar4 ,a few steps took him to the window4 ,there were police in the back yard1 too4 ,he was surrounded4 ,but he did not hurry4 ,he knew what to do with every second4 ,at the desk he paused and took out a piece of cardboard4 ,then with a heavy black marking pencil1 he calmly printed on it1 while we battered at the barricaded door1 a few short feet away4 ,he laid the sign on the desk1 then on another piece of cardboard1 drew crudely a hand with the index finger1 pointing4 ,this he placed on a chair1 indicating the desk4 ,just as the swaying and bulging door gave way1 ,clutching ,hand gave the desk a pull4 ,it opened up--his getaway4 ,he closed it with a sardonic smile in our direction1 just before the door crashed in4 ,we looked about4 ,there was not a soul in the room1 nothing but the selenium cell1 the chairs1 the desk4 ,look6 ,i cried catching sight of the index finger1 and going over to the desk4 ,we rolled back the top4 ,there on the flat top was a sign3 ,dear ,blockheads3 ,kennedy and ,i couldn't wait4 ,yours as ever1 ,then came that mysterious sign of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,we hunted over the rooms1 but could find nothing that showed a clue4 ,where was ,clutching ,hand8 ,where was ,kennedy8 ,in the next house ,clutching ,hand had literally come out of an upright piano into the room corresponding to that he had left4 ,hastily he threw off his handkerchief1 slouch hat1 old coat and trousers4 ,a neat striped pair of trousers replaced the old1 frayed and baggy pair4 ,a new shirt1 then a sporty vest and a frock coat followed4 ,as he put the finishing touches on1 he looked for all the world like a bewhiskered foreigner4 ,with a silk hat and stick1 he surveyed himself1 straightening his tie4 ,at the door of the new headquarters1 a few seconds later1 ,i stood with the police4 ,not a sign of him anywhere1 growled one of the officers4 ,nor was there4 ,down the street we could see only a straight well-dressed1 distinguished looking man who had evidently walked down to the docks to see a friend off1 perhaps4 ,elaine was sitting in the library reading when ,aunt ,josephine turned to her4 ,what time is it1 dear8 she asked4 ,elaine glanced at her pretty new trinket4 ,nearly three1 ,auntie--a couple of minutes1 she said4 ,just then there came the sound of feet running madly down the hall way4 ,they jumped up1 startled4 ,kennedy1 his coat flying1 and hat jammed over his eyes1 had almost bowled over poor ,jennings in his mad race down the hall4 ,well1 demanded ,elaine haughtily1 what's-- ,before she knew what was going on1 ,craig hurried up to her and literally ripped the watch off her wrist1 breaking the beautiful bracelet4 ,he held it up1 gingerly4 ,elaine was speechless4 ,was this ,kennedy8 ,was he possessed by such an inordinate jealousy of ,bennett8 ,as he held the watch up1 the second hand ticked around and the minute hand passed the meridian of the hour4 ,a viciously sharp little needle gleamed out--then sprang back into the filigree work again4 ,well1 she gasped again1 what's the occasion of ,,this8 ,craig gazed at ,elaine in silence4 ,should he defend his rudeness1 if she did not understand8 ,she stamped her foot1 and repeated the question a third time4 ,what do you mean1 sir1 by such conduct8 ,slowly he bowed4 ,i just don't like the kind of birthday presents you receive1 he said1 turning on his heel4 ,good afternoon4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,the ,,blood ,,crystals ,on your right is the residence of ,miss ,elaine ,dodge1 the heiress1 who is pursuing the famous master criminal known as the ,clutching ,hand4 ,the barker had been grandiloquently pointing out the residences of noted ,new ,yorkers as the big sightseeing car lumbered along through the streets4 ,the car was filled with people and he plied his megaphone as though he were on intimate terms with all the city's notables4 ,no one paid any attention to the unobtrusive ,chinaman who sat inconspicuously in the middle of the car4 ,he was ,mr4 ,long ,sin1 but no one saw anything particularly mysterious about an oriental visitor more or less viewing ,new ,york ,city4 ,long was of the mandarin type1 with drooping mustache1 well dressed in ,american clothes1 and conforming to the new customs of an occidentalized ,china4 ,anyone1 however1 who had been watching ,long ,sin would have seen that he showed much interest whenever any of the wealthy residents of the city were mentioned4 ,the name of ,elaine ,dodge seemed particularly to strike him4 ,he listened with subtle interest to what the barker said and looked keenly at the ,dodge house4 ,the sight-seeing car had passed the house1 when he rose slowly and motioned that he wanted to be let off4 ,the car stopped1 he alighted and slowly rambled away1 evidently marvelling greatly at the strange customs of these uncouth westerners4 ,elaine was going out1 when she met ,perry ,bennett almost on the steps of the house4 ,i've brought you the watch1 remarked ,bennett2 thought ,i'd like to give it to you myself4 ,he displayed the watch which he himself had bought a couple of days before for her birthday4 ,he had called for it himself at the jeweller's where it had now been regulated4 ,oh1 thank you1 exclaimed ,elaine4 ,won't you come in8 ,they had scarcely greeted each other1 when ,long ,sin strolled along4 ,neither of them1 however1 had time to notice the quiet ,chinaman who passed the house1 looking at ,elaine sharply out of the corner of his eye4 ,they entered and ,long disappeared down the street4 ,isn't it a beauty8 cried ,elaine1 holding it out from her1 as they entered the library and examining it with great appreciation4 ,and1 oh1 do you know1 the strangest thing happened yesterday8 ,sometimes ,mr4 ,kennedy acts too queerly for anything4 ,she related how ,craig had burst in on her and ,aunt ,josephine and had almost torn the other watch off her wrist4 ,another watch8 repeated ,bennett1 amazed4 ,it must have been a mistake4 ,kennedy is crazy4 ,i don't understand it1 myself1 murmured ,elaine4 ,long ,sin had continued his placid way1 revolving some dark and devious plan beneath his impassive ,oriental countenance4 ,he was no ordinary personage4 ,in fact he was astute enough to have no record4 ,he left that to his tools4 ,this remarkable criminal had established himself in a hired apartment downtown4 ,it was furnished in rather elegant ,american style1 but he had added to it some most valuable ,oriental curios which gave it a fascinating appearance4 ,long ,sin1 now in rich ,oriental costume1 was reclining on a divan smoking a strange looking pipe and playing with two pet white rats4 ,each white rat had a gold band around his leg1 to which was connected a gold chain about a foot in length1 and the chains ended in rings which were slipped over ,long's little fingers4 ,ordinarily1 he carried the pets up the capacious sleeve of each arm4 ,a servant1 also in native costume1 entered and bowed deferentially4 ,a ,miss ,mary ,carson1 she lisped in soft ,english4 ,let the lady enter1 waved ,long ,sin1 with a smile of subtle satisfaction4 ,the girl bowed again and silently left the room1 returning with a handsome1 very well dressed white woman4 ,it would be difficult to analyze just what the fascination was that ,long ,sin exercised over ,mary ,carson4 ,but as the servant left the room1 ,mary bowed almost as deferentially as the little ,chinese girl4 ,long merely nodded in reply4 ,after a moment1 he slowly rose and took from a drawer a newspaper clipping4 ,without a word1 he handed it to ,mary4 ,she looked at it with interest1 as one woman always does at the picture of another pretty woman4 ,it was a newspaper cut of ,elaine1 under which was3 ,,elaine ,,dodge1 ,,the ,,heiress1 ,,whose ,,battle ,,with ,,the ,,clutching ,,hand ,,is ,,creating ,,world ,,wide ,,interest4 ,now1 he began1 at last1 breaking the silence1 ,i'll show you just what ,i want you to do4 ,he went over to the wall and took down a curious long ,chinese knife from a scabbard which hung there conspicuously4 ,see that8 he added1 holding it up4 ,before she could say a word1 he had plunged the knife1 apparently1 into his own breast4 ,oh6 cried ,mary1 startled4 ,she expected to see him fall4 ,but nothing happened4 ,long ,sin laughed4 ,it was an ,oriental trick knife in which the blade telescoped into the handle4 ,look at it1 he added1 handing it to her4 ,long ,sin took a bladder of water from a table nearby and concealed it under his coat4 ,now1 you stab me1 he directed4 ,mary hesitated4 ,but he repeated the command and she plunged the knife gingerly at him4 ,it telescoped4 ,he made her try it over and she stabbed more resolutely4 ,the water from the bladder poured out4 ,good6 cried ,long ,sin1 much pleased4 ,now1 he added1 seating himself beside her1 ,i want you to lure ,elaine here4 ,mary looked at him inquiringly as he returned the knife to its scabbard on the wall4 ,remember where it is1 he continued4 ,now1 if you will come into the other room ,i will show you how to get her4 ,i had been amusing myself by rigging up a contrivance by which ,i could make it possible to see through or rather over1 a door4 ,the idea had been suggested to me by the cystoscope which physicians use in order to look down one's throat1 and ,i had calculated that by using three mirrors placed at proper angles1 ,i could easily reflect rays down to the level of my eye4 ,kennedy1 who had been busy in the other end of the laboratory1 happened to look over in my direction4 ,what's the big idea1 ,walter8 he asked4 ,it was1 ,i admit1 a rather cumbersome and clumsy affair4 ,well1 you see1 ,craig1 ,i explained1 you put the top mirror through the transom of a door and-- ,kennedy interrupted with a hearty burst of laughter4 ,but suppose the door has no transom8 he asked1 pointing to our own door4 ,i scratched my head1 thoughtfully4 ,i had assumed that the door would have a transom4 ,a moment later1 ,craig went to the cabinet and drew out a tube about as big around as a putty blower and as long4 ,now1 here's what ,i call my detectascope1 he remarked4 ,none of your mirrors for me4 ,i know1 ,i said somewhat nettled1 but what can you see through that putty blower8 ,a key hole is just as good4 ,do you realize how little you can really see through a key hole8 he replied confidently4 ,try it over there4 ,i did and to tell the truth ,i could see merely a little part of the hall4 ,then ,kennedy inserted the detectascope4 ,look through that1 he directed4 ,i put my eye to the eye-piece and gazed through the bulging lens of the other end4 ,i could see almost the whole hall4 ,that1 he explained1 is what is known as a fish-eye lens--a lens that looks through an angle of some #ahj degrees1 almost twice that of the widest angle lens ,i know of4 ,i said nothing1 but tossed my own crude invention into the corner1 while ,craig went back to work4 ,elaine was playing with ,rusty when ,jennings brought in a card on which was engraved the name1 ,miss ,mary ,carson1 and underneath1 in pencil1 was written ,belgian ,relief ,committee4 ,how interesting1 commented ,elaine1 rising and accompanying ,jennings back into the drawing room4 ,i wonder what she wants4 ,very pleased to meet you1 ,miss ,carson1 she greeted her visitor4 ,you see1 ,miss ,dodge1 began ,mary1 we're getting up this movement to help the ,belgians and we have splendid backing4 ,just let me show you some of the names on our committee4 ,she handed ,elaine a list which read3 ,,belgian ,,relief ,,committee ,mrs4 ,warburton ,fish ,mrs4 ,hamilton ,beekman ,mrs4 ,c4 ,august ,iselm ,mrs4 ,belmont ,rivington ,mrs4 ,rupert ,solvay4 ,i've just been sent to see if ,i cannot persuade you to join the committee and attend a meeting at ,mrs4 ,rivington's1 she went on4 ,why1 er1 considered ,elaine thoughtfully1 er--yes4 ,it must be all right with such people in it4 ,can you go with me now8 ,just as well as later1 agreed ,elaine4 ,they went out together1 and1 as they were leaving the house a man who had been loitering outside looked at ,elaine1 then fixedly at her companion4 ,no sooner had they gone than he sped off to a car waiting around the corner4 ,in the dark depths was a sinister figure1 the master criminal himself4 ,the watcher had been an emissary of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,chief1 he whispered eagerly1 ,you know ,adventuress ,mary8 ,well1 she's got ,elaine ,dodge in tow6 ,the deuce6 cried ,clutching ,hand4 ,then we must teach ,mary ,carson1 or whoever she is working for1 a lesson4 ,no one shall interfere with our affairs4 ,follow them6 ,elaine and ,mary had gone downtown1 talking animatedly1 and walked down the avenue toward ,mrs4 ,rivington's apartment4 ,meanwhile1 ,long ,sin1 still in his ,chinese costume1 was explaining to the servant just what he wished done1 pointing out the dagger on the wall and replacing the bladder under his jacket4 ,a box of opium was on the table1 and he was giving most explicit directions4 ,it was into such a web that ,elaine was being unwittingly led by ,mary4 ,entering the hallway of the apartment1 ,mary rang the bell4 ,long heard it4 ,answer it1 he directed the servant who hastened to do so1 while ,long glided like a serpent into a back room4 ,the servant opened the door and ,elaine and ,mary entered4 ,he closed the door and almost before they knew locked it and was gone into the back room4 ,elaine gazed about in trepidation4 ,but before she could say anything1 ,mary1 with a great show of surprise1 exclaimed1 ,why1 ,i must have made a mistake4 ,this isn't ,mrs4 ,rivington's apartment4 ,how stupid of me4 ,they looked at each other a moment4 ,then each laughed nervously1 as together they started to go out of the door4 ,it was locked6 ,quickly they ran to another door4 ,it was locked1 also4 ,then they went to the windows4 ,behind the curtains they were barred and looked out on a blank brick wall in a little court4 ,oh1 cried ,mary wringing her hands1 stricken in mock panic1 oh1 ,i'm so frightened4 ,this may be the den of ,chinese white slavers6 ,she had picked up some ,chinese articles on a table1 including the box that ,long had left there4 ,it had a peculiar odor4 ,opium6 she whispered1 showing it to ,elaine4 ,the two looked at each other1 ,elaine genuinely worried now4 ,just then1 the ,chinaman entered and stood a moment gazing at them4 ,they turned and ,elaine recoiled from him4 ,long bowed4 ,oh sir1 cried ,mary1 ,we've made a mistake4 ,can't you tell us how to get out8 ,long's only answer was to spread out his hands in polite deprecation and shrug his suave shoulders4 ,no speke ,englis1 he said1 gliding out again from the room and closing the door4 ,elaine and ,mary looked about in despair4 ,what shall we do8 asked ,elaine4 ,mary said nothing1 but with a hasty glance discovered on the wall the knife which ,long had already told her about4 ,she took it from its scabbard4 ,as she did so the ,chinaman returned with a tray on which were queer drinks and glasses4 ,at the sight of ,mary with the knife he scowled blackly1 laid the tray down1 and took a few steps in her direction4 ,she brandished the knife threateningly1 then1 as if her nerve failed her1 fainted letting the knife fall carefully on the floor so that it struck on the handle and not on the blade4 ,long quickly caught her as she fainted and carried her out of the room1 banging shut the door4 ,elaine followed in a moment1 loyally1 to protect her supposed friend1 but found that the door had a snap lock on the other side4 ,she looked about wildly and in a moment ,long reappeared4 ,as he advanced slowly and insinuatingly1 she drew back1 pleading4 ,but her words fell on seemingly deaf ears4 ,she had picked up the knife which ,mary had dropped and when at last ,long maneuvred to get her cornered and was about to seize her1 she nerved herself up and stabbed him resolutely4 ,long staggered back--and fell4 ,as he did so1 he pressed the bladder which he had already placed under his coat4 ,a dark red fluid1 like blood1 oozed out all over him and ran in a pool on the floor4 ,elaine1 too horror-stricken at what had happened even to scream1 dropped the knife and bent over him4 ,he did not move4 ,she staggered back and ran through the now open door4 ,as she did so1 ,long seemed suddenly to come to life4 ,he raised himself and looked after her1 then with a subtle smile sank back into his former assumed posture on the floor4 ,when ,elaine reached the other room1 she found ,mary there with the ,chinese servant who was giving her a glass of water4 ,at the sight of her1 the servant paused1 then withdrew into another room further back4 ,mary1 now apparently recovering from her faintness1 smiled wanly at ,elaine4 ,it's all right1 she murmured4 ,he is a ,chinese prince who thought we were callers4 ,at the reassuring nod of ,mary toward the front room1 ,elaine was overcome4 ,i--,i killed him6 she managed to gasp4 ,what8 cried ,mary1 starting up and trembling violently4 ,you killed him8 ,yes1 sobbed ,elaine1 he came at me--,i had the knife--,i struck at him-- ,the two girls ran into the other room4 ,there ,mary looked at the motionless body on the floor and recoiled1 horrified4 ,elaine noticing some spots on her hands and seeing that they were stained by the blood of ,long ,sin1 wiped the spots off on her hankerchief1 dropping it on the floor4 ,ugh6 exclaimed a guttural voice behind them4 ,it was the servant who had come in4 ,even his ordinarily impassive ,oriental face could not conceal the horror and fear at the sight of his master lying on the floor in a pool of gore4 ,elaine was now more frightened than ever1 if that were possible4 ,you--kill him--with knife8 insinuated the ,chinese4 ,elaine was dumb4 ,the servant did not wait for an answer1 but hastily opened the hall door4 ,to ,elaine it seemed that something must be done quickly4 ,a moment and all the house would be in uproar4 ,instead1 he placed his finger on his lips4 ,quick--no word1 he said1 leading the way to the hall door1 and--you must not leave that--it will be a clue1 he added1 picking up the bloody handkerchief and pressing it into ,elaine's hand4 ,they quickly ran out into the hall4 ,go--quick6 he urged again1 and hide the handkerchief in the bag4 ,let no one see it6 ,he shut the door4 ,as they hurried away1 ,elaine breathed a sigh of relief4 ,why did he let us go1 though8 she whispered1 her head in a whirl4 ,i don't know1 panted ,mary1 but anyhow1 thank heaven1 we are out of it4 ,come1 she added1 taking ,elaine's arm1 not a soul has seen us except the servant4 ,let us get away as quietly as we can4 ,they had reached the street4 ,afraid to run1 they hurried as fast as they could until they turned the first corner4 ,elaine looked back4 ,no one was pursuing4 ,we must separate1 added ,mary4 ,let us go different ways4 ,i will see you later4 ,perhaps they will think some enemy has murdered him4 ,they pressed each other's hands and parted4 ,meanwhile in the front room1 ,long ,sin was on his feet again brushing himself off and mopping up the blood4 ,it worked very well1 ,sam1 he said to the servant4 ,they were conversing eagerly and laughing and did not hear a noise in the back room4 ,a sinister figure had made its way by means of a fire-escape to a rear window that was not barred1 and silently he had stolen in on them4 ,cat-like1 he advanced1 but instead of striking at them1 he quietly took a seat in a chair close behind them1 a magazine revolver in his hand4 ,they turned at a slight noise and saw him4 ,genuine fright was now on their faces as they looked at him1 open mouthed4 ,what's all this8 he growled4 ,i am known as the ,clutching ,hand4 ,i allow no interferences with my affairs4 ,tell me what you are doing here with ,elaine ,dodge4 ,their beady almond eyes flashed fear4 ,clutching ,hand moved menacingly4 ,there was nothing for the astute ,long ,sin to do but to submit4 ,cowed by the well-known power of the master criminal1 he took ,clutching ,hand into his confidence4 ,with a low bow1 ,long ,sin spread out his hands in surrender and submission4 ,i will tell you1 honorable sir1 he said at length4 ,go on6 growled the criminal4 ,quickly ,long rehearsed what had happened1 from the moment the idea of blackmail had entered his head4 ,how about ,mary ,carson8 asked ,clutching ,hand4 ,i saw her here4 ,long gave a glance of almost superstitious dread at the man1 as if he had an evil eye4 ,she will be back--is here now1 he added1 opening the door at a knock and admitting her4 ,adventuress ,mary had hurried back to see that all was right4 ,this time ,mary was genuinely scared at the forbidding figure of which she had heard4 ,it is all right1 pacified ,long4 ,henceforth we work with the honorable ,clutching ,hand4 ,clutching ,hand continued to emphasize his demands on them1 punctuating his sentences by flourishes of the gun as he gave them the signs and passwords which would enable them to work with his own emissaries4 ,it was a strange initiation4 ,at home at last1 ,elaine sank down into a deep library chair and stared straight ahead4 ,she saw visions of arrest and trial1 of the terrible electric chair with herself in it1 bound1 and of the giving of the fatal signal for turning on the current4 ,were such things as these going to happen to her1 without ,kennedy's help8 ,why had they quarreled8 ,she buried her face in her hands and wept4 ,then she could stand it no longer4 ,she had not taken off her street clothes4 ,she rose and almost fled from the house4 ,kennedy and ,i were still in the laboratory when a knock sounded at the door4 ,i went to the door and opened it4 ,there stood ,elaine ,dodge4 ,it was a complete surprise to ,craig4 ,there was silence between them for a moment and they merely looked at each other4 ,elaine was pale and woebegone4 ,at last ,kennedy took a quick step toward her and led her to a chair4 ,still he felt a sort of constraint4 ,what ,,is the matter8 he asked at length4 ,she hesitated1 then suddenly burst out1 ,craig--,i--,i am--a murderess6 ,i have never seen such a look on ,craig's face4 ,i know he wanted to laugh and say1 ,,you--a murderess8 yet he would not have offended even her self accusation for the world4 ,he managed to do the right thing and say nothing4 ,then she poured forth the story substantially as ,i have set it down1 but without the explanation which at that time was not known to any of us4 ,oh1 expostulated ,craig1 there must be some mistake4 ,it's impossible--impossible4 ,no1 she asserted4 ,look--here's my handkerchief all spotted with blood4 ,she opened the bag and displayed the blood-spotted handkerchief4 ,he took it and examined it carefully4 ,elaine1 he said earnestly1 not at all displeased1 ,i could see that something had come up that might blot out the past unfortunate misunderstanding1 there simply must be something wrong here4 ,leave this handkerchief with me4 ,i'll do my best4 ,there was still a little restraint between them4 ,she was almost ready to beg his pardon1 for all the coolness there had been between them1 yet still hesitated4 ,thank you1 she said simply as she left the laboratory4 ,craig went to work abruptly without a word4 ,on the laboratory table he placed his splendid microscope and several cases of slides as well as innumerable micro-photographs4 ,he had been working for some time when he looked up4 ,ever hear of ,dr4 ,edward ,reichert of the ,university of ,pennsylvania and his wonderful discoveries of how blood crystals vary in different species8 he asked4 ,i had not1 but did not admit it4 ,well1 he went on1 there is a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by the finger prints1 so to speak1 of his blood crystals4 ,the hemoglobin or red coloring matter forms crystals and the variations of these crystals both in form and molecular construction are such that they set apart every species of animal from every other1 and even the races of men--perhaps may even set apart individuals4 ,here1 ,walter1 we have sample of human blood crystals4 ,i looked through the microscope as he directed4 ,there ,i could see the crystals sharply defined4 ,and here1 he added1 are the crystals of the blood on ,elaine's handkerchief4 ,i looked again as he changed the slides4 ,there was a marked difference and ,i looked up at him quickly4 ,it is dog's blood--not human blood1 he said simply4 ,i looked again at the two sets of slides4 ,there could be no doubt that there was a plain difference4 ,wonderful6 ,i exclaimed4 ,yes--wonderful1 he agreed1 but what's the game back of all this--that's the main question now4 ,long after ,clutching ,hand had left1 ,long ,sin was giving instructions to his servant and ,adventuress ,mary just how he had had to change his plans as a result of the unexpected visit4 ,very well1 nodded ,mary as she left him1 ,i will do as you say--trust me4 ,it was not much later1 then1 that ,elaine received a second visit from ,mary4 ,show her in1 ,jennings1 she said to the butler nervously4 ,indeed1 she felt that every eye must be upon her4 ,even ,jennings would know of her guilt soon4 ,anxiously1 therefore1 ,elaine looked at her visitor4 ,do you know why the servant allowed us to leave the apartment8 whispered ,mary with a glance about fearfully1 as if the walls had ears4 ,no--why8 inquired ,elaine anxiously4 ,he's a tong man who has been chosen to do away with the ,prince4 ,he followed me1 and says you have done his work for him4 ,if you will give him ten thousand dollars for expenses1 he will attend to hiding the body4 ,here at least was a way out4 ,but do you think that is all right8 ,can he do it8 asked ,elaine eagerly4 ,do it8 ,why those tong men can do anything for money4 ,only one must be careful not to offend them4 ,mary was very convincing4 ,yes1 ,i suppose you are right1 agreed ,elaine1 finally4 ,i had better do as you say4 ,it is the safest way out of the trouble4 ,yes1 ,i'll do it4 ,i'll stop at the bank now and get the money4 ,they rose and ,mary preceded her1 eager to get away from the house4 ,at the door1 however1 ,elaine asked her to wait while she ran back on some pretext4 ,in the library she took off the receiver of the telephone and quickly called a number4 ,our telephone rang in the middle of our conversation on blood crystals and ,kennedy himself answered it4 ,it was ,elaine asking ,craig's advice4 ,they have offered to hush the thing up for ten thousand dollars1 she said1 in a muffled voice4 ,she seemed bent on doing it and no amount of argument from him could stop her4 ,she simply refused to accept the evidence of the blood crystals as better than what her own eyes told her she had seen and done4 ,then wait for half an hour1 he answered1 without arguing further4 ,you can do that without exciting suspicion4 ,go with her to her hotel and hand her over the money4 ,all right--,i'll do it1 she agreed4 ,what is the hotel8 ,craig wrote on a slip of paper what she told him--,room #eji1 ,hotel ,la ,coste4 ,good--,i'm glad you called me4 ,count on me1 he finished as he hung up the receiver4 ,hastily he threw on his street coat4 ,go into the back room and get me that brace and bit1 ,walter1 he asked4 ,i did so4 ,when ,i returned1 ,i saw that he had placed the detectascope and some other stuff in a bag4 ,he shoved in the brace and bit also4 ,come on--hurry6 he urged4 ,we must have made record time in getting to the ,coste4 ,it was an ornate place1 where merely to breathe was expensive4 ,we entered and by some excuse ,kennedy contrived to get past the vigilant bellhops4 ,we passed the telephone switchboard and entered the elevator1 getting off at the fifth floor4 ,with a hasty glance up and down the corridor1 to make sure no one was about1 ,kennedy came to room #eji1 then passed to the next1 #eaa1 opening the door with a skeleton key4 ,we entered and ,craig locked the door behind us4 ,it was an ordinary hotel room1 but well-furnished4 ,fortunately it was unoccupied4 ,quietly ,craig went to the door which led to the next room4 ,it was1 of course1 locked also4 ,he listened a moment carefully4 ,not a sound4 ,quickly1 with an exclamation of satisfaction1 he opened that door also and went into #eji4 ,this room was much like that in which we had already been4 ,he opened the hall door4 ,watch here1 ,walter1 he directed1 ,let me know at the slightest alarm4 ,craig had already taken the brace and bit from the bag and started to bore through the wall into room #eaa1 selecting a spot behind a picture of a ,spanish dancer--a spot directly back of her snapping black eyes4 ,he finished quickly and inserted the detectascope so that the lens fitted as an eye in the picture4 ,the eye piece was in ,room #eaa4 ,then he started to brush up the pieces of plaster on the floor4 ,craig1 ,i whispered hastily as ,i heard an elevator door1 someone's coming6 ,he hurried to the door and looked4 ,there they are1 he said1 as we saw ,elaine and ,mary rounding the corner of the hall4 ,across the hall1 although we did not know it at the time1 in room #edj1 already1 ,long ,sin had taken up his station1 just to be handy4 ,there he had been with his servant1 playing with his two trained white rats4 ,long placed them up his capacious sleeves and carefully opened the door to look out4 ,unfortunately he1 was just in time to see the door of #eji open and disclose us4 ,his subtle glance detected our presence without our knowing it4 ,hastily picking up the brace and bit and the rest of the debris1 and with a last look at the detectascope1 which was hardly noticeable1 even if one already knew it was there1 we hurried into #eaa and shut the door4 ,kennedy mounted a chair and applied his eye to the detectascope4 ,just then ,mary and ,elaine entered the next room1 ,mary opening the door with a regular key4 ,won't you step in8 she asked4 ,elaine did so and ,mary hesitated in the hall4 ,long ,sin had slipped out on noiseless feet and taken refuge behind some curtains4 ,as he saw her alone1 he beckoned to ,mary4 ,there's a stranger in the next room1 he whispered4 ,i don't like him4 ,take the money and as quickly as possible get out and go to my apartment4 ,at the news that there was a suspicious stranger about1 ,mary showed great alarm4 ,everything was so rapid1 now1 that the slightest hesitation meant disaster4 ,perhaps1 by quickness1 even a suspicious stranger could be fooled1 she reasoned4 ,at any rate1 ,long ,sin was resourceful4 ,she had better trust him4 ,mary followed ,elaine into the room1 where she had seated herself already1 and locked the door4 ,have you the money there8 she asked4 ,yes1 nodded ,elaine1 taking out the package of bills which she had got from the bank during the half hour delay4 ,all this we could see by gazing alternately through the detectascope4 ,elaine handed ,mary the money4 ,mary counted it slowly4 ,at last she looked up4 ,it's all right1 she said4 ,now1 ,i'll take this to that tong leader--he's in a room only just across the hall4 ,she went out4 ,kennedy at the detectascope was very excited as this went on4 ,he now jumped off the chair on which he had been standing and rushed to the door to head her off4 ,to our surprise1 in spite of the fact that we could turn the key in the lock1 it was impossible to open it6 ,it was only a moment that ,craig paused at the door4 ,the next moment he burst into #eji1 followed closely by me4 ,with a scream1 ,elaine was on her feet in an instant4 ,there was no time for explanations1 however4 ,he rushed to the door to go out1 but it was locked--somehow1 on the outside4 ,the skeleton key would not work1 at any rate4 ,he shot the lock1 and dashed out1 calling back1 ,walter1 stay there--with ,elaine4 ,mary had just succeeded in getting on the elevator as ,kennedy hurried down the hall4 ,the door was closed and the car descended4 ,he rang the push bell furiously1 but there was no answer4 ,had he got so far in the chase1 only to be outwitted8 ,he dashed back to the room1 with us1 and jerked down the telephone receiver4 ,hello--hello--hello6 he called4 ,no answer4 ,there seemed to be no way to get a connection4 ,what was the matter8 ,he hurried down the hall again4 ,no sooner had ,elaine and ,mary actually gone into the room1 than ,long and his servant stole out of #edj1 across the hall4 ,somewhere they had obtained a strong but thin rope4 ,quickly and silently ,long tied the handle of the door #eaa in which we were to the handle of #edj which he was vacating4 ,as both doors opened inward and were opposite1 they were virtually locked4 ,then ,long and his servant hurried down the hallway to the elevator4 ,down in the hotel lobby1 with his followers1 the ,chinaman paused before the telephone switchboard where two girls were at work4 ,you may go1 ordered ,long1 and1 as his man left1 he moved over closer to the switchboard4 ,he was listening eagerly and also watching an indicator that told the numbers of the rooms which called1 as they flashed into view4 ,just as a call from #eji flashed up1 ,long slipped the rings off his little fingers and loosened the white rats on the telephone switchboard itself4 ,with a shriek1 the telephone system of the ,coste went temporarily out of business4 ,the operators fled to the nearest chairs1 drawing their skirts about them4 ,there was the greatest excitement among all the women in the corridor4 ,such a display of hosiery was never contemplated by even the most daring costumers4 ,shouts from the bellboys who sought to catch the rats who scampered hither and thither in frightened abandon mingled with the shrieks of the ladies4 ,kennedy had succeeded in finding the alcove of the floor clerk in charge of the fifth floor4 ,there on his desk was an instrument having a stylus on the end of two arms1 connected to a system of magnets4 ,it was a telautograph4 ,unceremoniously1 ,craig pushed the clerk out of his seat and sat down himself4 ,it was a last chance1 now that the telephone was out of commission4 ,downstairs1 in the hotel office1 where the excitement had not spread to everyone1 was the other end of the electric long distance writer4 ,it started to write1 as ,kennedy wrote1 upstairs3 ,,house ,,detective--,,quick--,,hold ,,woman ,,with ,,blue ,,chatelaine ,,bag1 ,,getting ,,out ,,of ,,elevator4 ,the clerks downstairs saw it and shouted above the din of the rat-baiting4 ,mc,cann--,mc,cann6 ,the clerk had torn off the message from the telautograph register1 and handed it to the house man who pushed his way to the desk4 ,quickly the detective called to the bell-hops4 ,together they hurried after the well-dressed woman who had just swept out of the elevator4 ,mary had already passed through the excited lobby and out1 and was about to cross the street--safe4 ,mc,cann and the bell-hops were now in full cry after her4 ,flight was useless4 ,she took refuge in indignation and threats4 ,but ,mc,cann was obdurate4 ,she passed quickly to tears and pleadings4 ,it had no effect4 ,they insisted on leading her back4 ,the game was up4 ,even an offer of money failed to move their adamantine hearts4 ,nothing would do but that she must face her accusers4 ,in the meantime ,long ,sin had recovered his precious and useful pets4 ,life in the ,coste had assumed something of its normal aspect1 and ,craig had succeeded in getting an elevator4 ,it was just as ,mary was led in threatening and pleading by turns that he stepped off in the lobby4 ,there was1 however1 still just enough excitement to cover a little pantomime4 ,long ,sin had been about to slip out of a side door1 thinking all was well1 when he caught sight of ,mary being led back4 ,she had also seen him1 and began to struggle again4 ,quickly he shook his head1 indicating for her to stop4 ,then slowly he secretly made the sign of the ,clutching ,hand at her4 ,it meant that she must not snitch4 ,she obeyed instantly1 and he quietly disappeared4 ,here1 cried ,kennedy1 take her up in the elevator4 ,i'll prove the case4 ,with the house detective and ,kennedy1 ,mary was hustled into the elevator and whisked back as she had escaped4 ,in the meantime ,i had gathered up what stuff we had in the room we had entered and had returned with ,kennedy's bag4 ,wh--what's it all about8 inquired ,elaine excitedly4 ,i tried to explain4 ,just then1 out in the hall we could hear loud voices1 and that of ,mary above the rest4 ,kennedy1 a man who looked like a detective1 and some bell-boys were leading her toward us4 ,now--not a word of who she is in the papers1 ,mc,cann1 ,kennedy was saying1 evidently about ,elaine4 ,you know it wouldn't sound well for ,la ,coste4 ,as for that woman--well1 ,i've got the money back4 ,you can take her off--make the charge4 ,as the house man left with ,mary1 ,i handed ,craig his bag4 ,we moved toward the door1 and as we stood there a moment with ,elaine1 he quietly handed over to her the big roll of bills4 ,she took it1 with surprise still written in her big blue eyes4 ,oh--thank you--,i might have known it was only a blackmail scheme1 she cried eagerly4 ,craig held out his hand and she took it quickly1 gazing into his eyes4 ,craig bowed politely1 not quite knowing what to do under the circumstances4 ,if he had been less of a scientist1 he might have understood the look on her face1 but1 with a nod to me1 he turned1 and went4 ,as she looked first at him1 then at the paltry ten thousand in her hand1 ,elaine stamped her little foot in vexation4 ,i'm glad ,i ,,didn',t say anything more1 she cried4 ,no--no--he shall beg my pardon first--there6 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,the ,,devil ,,worshippers ,elaine was seated in the drawing room with ,aunt ,josephine one afternoon1 when her lawyer1 ,perry ,bennett1 dropped in unexpectedly4 ,he had hardly greeted them when the butler1 ,jennings1 in his usual impassive manner announced that ,aunt ,josephine was wanted on the telephone4 ,no sooner were ,elaine and ,bennett alone1 than ,elaine1 turning to him1 exclaimed impulsively1 ,i'm so glad you have come4 ,i have been longing to see you and to tell you about a strange dream ,i have had4 ,what was it8 he asked1 with instant interest4 ,leaning back in her chair and gazing before her tremulously1 ,elaine continued1 ,last night1 ,i dreamed that father came to me and told me that if ,i would give up ,kennedy and put my trust in you1 ,i would find the ,clutching ,hand4 ,i don't know what to think of it4 ,bennett1 who had been listening intently1 remained silent for a few moments4 ,then1 putting down his tea cup1 he moved over nearer to ,elaine and bent over her4 ,elaine1 he said in a low tone1 his remarkable eyes looking straight into her own1 you must know that ,i love you4 ,then give me the right to protect you4 ,it was your father's dearest wish1 ,i believe1 that we should marry4 ,let me share your dangers and ,i swear that sooner or later there will be an end to the ,clutching ,hand4 ,give me your answer1 ,elaine1 he urged1 and make me the happiest man in all the world4 ,elaine listened1 and not unsympathetically1 as ,bennett continued to plead for her answer4 ,wait a little while--until to-morrow1 she replied finally1 as if overcome by the recollections of her weird dream and the unexpected sequel of his proposal4 ,let it be as you wish1 then1 agreed ,bennett quietly4 ,he took her hand and kissed it passionately4 ,an instant later ,aunt ,josephine returned4 ,elaine1 unstrung by what had happened1 excused herself and went into the library4 ,she sank into one of the capacious arm chairs1 and passing her hand wearily over her throbbing forehead1 closed her eyes in deep thought4 ,involuntarily1 her mind travelled back over the rapid succession of events of the past few weeks and the part that she had thought1 at least1 ,kennedy had come to play in her life4 ,then she thought of their recent misunderstanding4 ,might there not be some simple explanation of it1 after all1 which she had missed8 ,what should she do8 ,she solved the problem by taking up the telephone and asking for ,kennedy's number4 ,i was chatting with ,craig in his laboratory1 and1 at the same time1 was watching him in his experimental work4 ,just as a call came on the telephone1 he was pouring some nitro-hydrochloric acid into a test tube to complete a reaction4 ,the telephone tinkled and he laid down the bottle of acid on his desk1 while he moved a few steps to answer the call4 ,whoever the speaker was1 ,craig seemed deeply interested1 and1 not knowing who was talking on the wire1 ,i was eager to learn whether it was anyone connected with the case of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,yes1 this is ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,i heard ,craig say4 ,i moved over toward him and whispered eagerly1 ,is there anything new8 ,a little impatient at being interrupted1 ,kennedy waved me off4 ,it occurred to me that he might need a pad and pencil to make a note of some information and ,i reached over the desk for them4 ,as ,i did so my arm inadvertently struck the bottle of acid1 knocking it over on the top of the desk4 ,its contents streamed out saturating the telephone wires before ,i could prevent it4 ,in trying to right the bottle my hand came in contact with the acid which burned like liquid fire1 and ,i cried out in pain4 ,craig hastily laid down the receiver1 seized me and rushed me to the back of the laboratory where he drenched my hand with a neutralizing liquid4 ,he bound up the wounds caused by the acid1 which proved to be slight1 after all1 and then returned to the telephone4 ,to his evident annoyance1 he discovered that the acid had burned through the wires and cut off all connection4 ,though ,i did not know it1 my hand was1 in a sense at least1 the hand of fate4 ,at the other end of the line1 ,elaine was listening impatiently for a response to her first eager words of inquiry4 ,she was astounded to find1 at last1 that ,kennedy had apparently left the telephone without any explanation or apology4 ,why--he rang off1 she exclaimed angrily to herself1 as she hung up the receiver and left the room4 ,she rejoined her ,aunt ,josephine and ,bennett who had been chatting together in the drawing room1 still wondering at the queer rebuff she had1 seemingly1 experienced4 ,bennett rose to go1 and1 as he parted from ,elaine1 found an opportunity to whisper a few words reminding her of her promised reply on the morrow4 ,piqued1 at ,kennedy1 she flashed ,bennett a meaning glance which gave him to understand that his suit was not hopeless4 ,in the center of a devious and winding way1 quite unknown to all except those who knew the innermost secrets of the ,chinese quarter and even unknown to the police1 there was a dingy tenement house1 apparently inhabited by hardworking ,chinamen1 but in reality the headquarters of the notorious devil worshippers1 a sect of ,satanists1 banned even in the ,celestial ,empire4 ,the followers of the cult comprised some of the most dangerous ,chinese criminals1 thugs1 and assassins1 besides a number of dangerous characters who belonged to various ,chinese secret societies4 ,at the head of this formidable organization was ,long ,sin1 the high priest of the ,devil ,god1 and ,long ,sin had1 as we knew1 already joined forces with the notorious ,clutching ,hand4 ,the room in which the uncanny rites of the devil worshippers were conducted was a large apartment decorated in ,chinese style1 with highly colored portraits of some of the devil deities and costly silken hangings4 ,beside a large dais depended a huge ,chinese gong4 ,on the dais itself stood1 or rather sat1 an ugly looking figure covered with some sort of metallic plating4 ,it almost seemed to be the mummy of a ,chinaman covered with gold leaf4 ,it was thin and shrunken1 entirely nude4 ,into this room came ,long ,sin attired in an elaborate silken robe4 ,he advanced and kowtowed before the dais with its strange figure1 and laid down an offering before it1 consisting of punk sticks1 little dishes of ,chinese cakes1 rice1 a jar of oil1 and some cooked chicken and pork4 ,then he bowed and kowtowed again4 ,this performance was witnessed by twenty or thirty ,chinamen who knelt in the rear of the room4 ,as ,long ,sin finished his devotions they filed past the dais1 bowing and scraping with every sign of abject reverence both for the devil deity and his high priest4 ,at the same time an aged ,chinaman carrying a prayer wheel entered the place and after prostrating himself devoutedly placed the machine on a sort of low stool or tabourette and began turning it slowly1 muttering4 ,each revolution of this curious wheel was supposed to offer a prayer to the god of the netherworld4 ,a few moments later1 ,long ,sin1 who had been bowing before the metallic figure in deepest reverence1 suddenly sprang to his feet4 ,his glazed eye and excited manner indicated that he had received a message from the lips of the strange idol4 ,the worshippers who had prostrated themselves in awe at the sight of their high priest in the unholy frenzy1 all rose to their feet and crowded forward4 ,at the same time ,long ,sin advanced a step to meet them1 holding his arms outstretched as if to compel silence while he delivered his message4 ,long ,sin struck several blows on the resounding gong and then raised his voice in solemn tones4 ,ksing ,chau1 the ,terrible1 demands a consort4 ,she is to be foreign--fair of face and with golden hair4 ,amazed at this unexpected message1 the ,chinamen prostrated themselves again and their unhallowed devotions terminated a few moments later amid suppressed excitement as they filed out4 ,at the same time1 in a room of the adjoining house1 the ,clutching ,hand himself was busily engaged making the most elaborate preparations for some nefarious scheme which his fertile mind had evolved4 ,the room had been fitted up as a medium's seance parlor1 with black hangings on the walls1 while at one side there was a square cabinet of black cloth1 with a guitar lying before it4 ,two of the ,clutching ,hand's most trusted confederates and a hard-faced woman of middle age1 dressed in plain black1 were putting the finishing touches to this apartment1 when their ,chief entered4 ,clutching ,hand gazed about the room1 now and then giving an order or two to make more effective the setting for the purpose which he had in mind4 ,finally he nodded in approval and stepped over to the fire place where logs were burning brightly in a grate4 ,pressing a spring in the mantelpiece1 the master criminal effected an instant transformation4 ,the logs in the fireplace1 still burning1 disappeared immediately through the side of the brick tiling and a metal sheet covered them4 ,an aperture opened at the back1 as if by magic4 ,through this opening ,clutching ,hand made his way quickly and disappeared4 ,emerging on the other side of the peculiar fireplace1 ,clutching ,hand pushed aside a curtain which barred the way and looked into the ,chinese temple1 taking up a position behind the metallic figure on the dais4 ,the ,chinamen had by this time finished their devotions1 if such they might be called1 and the last one was leaving1 while ,long ,sin stood alone on the dais4 ,the noise of the departing ,satanists had scarcely died away when ,clutching ,hand stepped out4 ,follow me1 he ordered hoarsely seizing ,long ,sin by the arm and leading him away4 ,they passed through the passageway of the fireplace and1 having entered the seance room1 ,clutching ,hand began briefly explaining the purpose of the preparations that had been made4 ,long ,sin wagged his head in voluble approval4 ,as ,clutching ,hand finished1 the ,chinaman turned to the hard-faced woman who was to act the part of medium and added some directions to those ,clutching ,hand had already given4 ,the medium nodded acquiescence1 and a moment later1 left the room to carry out some ingenious plot framed by the master mind of the criminal world4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine was standing in the library gazing sadly at ,kennedy's portrait1 thinking over recent events and above all the rebuff over the telephone which she supposed she had received4 ,it all seemed so unreal to her4 ,surely1 she felt in her heart1 she could not have been so mistaken in the man4 ,yet the facts seemed to speak for themselves4 ,in spite of it all1 she was almost about to kiss the portrait when something seemed to stay her hands4 ,instead she laid the picture down1 with a sigh4 ,a moment later1 ,jennings entered with a card on a salver4 ,elaine took it and saw with surprise the name of her caller3 ,,madame ,,savetsky1 ,,medium ,beneath the engraved name were the words written in ink1 ,i have a message from the spirit of your father4 ,yes1 ,i will see her1 cried ,elaine eagerly1 in response to the butler's inquiry4 ,she followed ,jennings into the adjoining room and there found herself face to face with the hard-featured woman who had only a few moments before left the ,clutching ,hand4 ,elaine looked rather than spoke her inquiry4 ,your father1 my dear1 purred the medium with a great pretence of suppressed excitement1 appeared to me1 the other night1 from the spirit world4 ,i was in a trance and he asked me to deliver a message to you4 ,what was the message8 asked ,elaine breathlessly1 now aroused to intense interest4 ,i must go into a trance again to get it1 replied the insinuating ,savetsky1 and if you like ,i can try it at once1 provided we can be left alone long enough4 ,please--don't wait1 urged ,elaine1 pulling the portieres of the doors closer1 as if that might insure privacy4 ,seated in her chair1 the medium muttered wildly for a few moments1 rolled her eyes and with some convulsive movements pretended to go into a trance4 ,savetsky seemed about to speak and ,elaine1 in the highest state of nervous tension1 listened1 trying to make something of the gibberish mutterings4 ,suddenly the curtains were pushed aside and ,aunt ,josephine and ,bennett1 who had just come in1 entered4 ,i can do nothing here1 exclaimed ,savetsky1 starting up and looking about severely4 ,you must come to my seance chamber where we shall not be interrupted4 ,i will1 cried ,elaine1 vexed at the intrusion at that moment4 ,i must have that message--,i must4 ,what's all this1 ,elaine8 demanded ,aunt ,josephine4 ,hurriedly1 ,elaine poured forth to her aunt and ,bennett the story of the medium's visit and the promised message from her father in the other world4 ,aunt ,josephine1 who was not one easily to be imposed on1 strongly objected to ,elaine's proposal to accompany ,savetsky to the seance chamber1 but ,elaine would not be denied4 ,she pleaded with her aunt1 urging that she be allowed to go4 ,it might be safe for ,elaine to go1 ,bennett finally suggested to ,aunt ,josephine1 if you and ,i accompanied her4 ,all this time the medium was listening closely to the conversation4 ,elaine looked at her inquiringly4 ,with a shrug1 she indicated that she had no objection to having ,elaine escorted to the parlor by her friends4 ,at last ,aunt ,josephine1 influenced by ,elaine's pleadings and ,bennett's suggestion1 gave in and agreed to join in the visit4 ,a few moments later1 in the ,dodge car1 ,elaine1 the medium1 and her two escorts started for the ,chinese quarter4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at the house1 the medium opened the door with her key and ushered in her three visitors4 ,long ,sin who had been watching for their arrival from the window now hastily withdrew from the seance room and disappeared behind the black curtains4 ,entering the room the medium at once prepared for the seance by pulling down the window shades4 ,then she seated herself in a chair beside the cabinet1 and appeared to fall off slowly into a trance4 ,her strange proceedings were watched with the greatest curiosity by ,elaine as well as ,aunt ,josephine and ,bennett1 who had taken seats placed at one side of the room4 ,the room itself was dimly lighted1 and the curtains of the cabinet seemed1 in the obscurity1 to sway back and forth as if stirred by some ghostly breeze4 ,all of them were now quite on edge with excitement4 ,suddenly an indistinct face was seen to be peering through the black curtains1 as it were4 ,the guitar1 as if lifted by an invisible hand1 left the cabinet1 floated about close to the ceiling1 and returned again4 ,it was eerie4 ,at last a voice1 deep1 sepulchral1 was heard in slow and solemn tones4 ,i am ,eeko--the spirit of ,taylor ,dodge4 ,i will give no message until one named ,josephine leaves the room4 ,no sooner had the words been uttered than the medium came writhing out of her trance4 ,what happened8 she asked1 looking at ,elaine4 ,elaine reported the spirit's words4 ,we can get nothing if your ,aunt stays here1 ,savetsky added1 insisting that ,aunt ,josephine must go4 ,your father cannot speak while she is present4 ,aunt ,josephine1 annoyed by what she had heard1 indignantly refused to go and was deaf to all ,elaine's pleadings4 ,i think it will be all right1 finally acquiesced ,bennett1 seeing how bent ,elaine was on securing the message4 ,i'll stay and protect her4 ,aunt ,josephine finally agreed4 ,very well1 then1 she protested1 marching out of the room in a high state of indignation4 ,she had scarcely left the house1 however1 when she began to suspect that all was not as it ought to be4 ,in fact1 the idea had no sooner occurred to her than she decided to call on ,kennedy and she ordered the chauffeur to take her as quickly as possible to the laboratory4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy had not been in the laboratory all the day1 after my experience with the acid and ,i was impatiently awaiting his arrival4 ,at last there came a knock at the door and ,i opened it hurriedly4 ,there was a messenger boy who handed me a note4 ,i tore it open4 ,it was from ,kennedy and read1 ,i shall probably be away for two or three days4 ,call up ,elaine and tell her to beware of a certain ,madame ,savetsky4 ,i was still puzzling over the note and was just about to call up ,elaine when the speaking tube was blown and to my surprise ,i found it was ,aunt ,josephine who had called4 ,where is ,mr4 ,kennedy8 she asked1 greatly agitated4 ,he has gone away for a few days1 ,i replied blankly4 ,is there anything ,i can do8 ,she was very excited and hastily related what had happened at the parlor of the medium4 ,what was her name8 ,i asked anxiously4 ,madame ,savetsky1 she replied1 to my surprise4 ,astounded1 ,i picked up ,craig's note from the desk and handed it to her without a word4 ,she read it with breathless eagerness4 ,come back there with me1 please1 she begged1 almost frantic with fear now4 ,something terrible may have happened4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,aunt ,josephine had hardly left ,savetsky when the trance was resumed and1 in a few minutes1 there came all sorts of supernatural manifestations4 ,the table beside ,elaine began to turn and articles on it dropped to the floor4 ,violent rappings followed in various parts of the room4 ,both ,elaine and ,bennett who sat together in silence were much impressed by the marvellous phenomena--not being able to see1 in the darkness1 the concealed wires that made them possible4 ,suddenly1 from the mysterious shadows of the cabinet1 there appeared the spirit of ,long ,sin1 whose death ,elaine still believed she had caused when ,adventuress ,mary had lured her to the apartment4 ,elaine was trembling with fear at the apparition4 ,as before1 a strange voice sounded in the depths of the cabinet and again a message was heard1 in low1 solemn tones4 ,i am ,keka1 and ,i have with me ,long ,sin4 ,his blood cries for vengeance4 ,elaine was overcome with horror at the words4 ,from the cabinet ran a thick stream of red1 like blood1 from which she recoiled1 shuddering4 ,then a dim1 ghostly figure1 apparently that of ,long ,sin1 appeared4 ,the face was horribly distorted4 ,it seemed to breathe the very odor of the grave4 ,with arms outstretched1 the figure glided from the cabinet and approached ,elaine4 ,she shrank back further in fright1 too horrified even to scream4 ,at the same moment1 the medium drew a vapor pistol from her dress1 and1 as the ghost of ,long ,sin leaped at ,elaine1 ,savetsky darted forward and shot a stream of vapor full in ,bennett's face4 ,bennett dropped unconscious1 the lights in the darkened room flashed up1 and several of the men of the ,clutching ,hand rushed in4 ,quickly the fireplace was turned on its cleverly constructed hinges1 revealing the hidden passage4 ,before any effective resistance could be made1 ,elaine and ,bennett were hustled through the passage1 securely bound1 and placed on a divan in a curtained chamber back of the altar of the devil worshippers4 ,there they lay when ,long ,sin1 now in his priestly robes1 entered4 ,he looked at them a moment4 ,then he left the room with a sinister laugh4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was at that moment that ,i1 little dreaming of what had been taking place1 arrived with ,aunt ,josephine at the house of the medium4 ,she answered my ring and admitted us4 ,to our surprise1 the seance room was empty4 ,where is the young lady who was here8 ,i asked4 ,miss ,dodge and the gentleman just left a few minutes ago1 the medium explained1 as we looked about4 ,she seemed eager to satisfy us that ,elaine was not there4 ,apparently there was no excuse for disputing her word1 but1 as we turned to leave1 ,i happened to notice a torn handkerchief lying on the floor near the fireplace4 ,it flashed over me that perhaps it might afford a clue4 ,as ,i passed it1 ,i purposely dropped my soft hat over it and picked up the hat1 securing the handkerchief without attracting ,savetsky's attention4 ,aunt ,josephine was keen now for returning home to find out whether ,elaine was there or not4 ,no sooner had she entered the car and driven off1 than ,i examined the handkerchief4 ,it was torn1 as if it had been crushed in the hand during a struggle and wrenched away4 ,i looked closer4 ,in the corner was the initial1 ,e4 ,that was enough4 ,without losing another precious moment ,i hurried around to the nearest police station1 where ,i happened to be known1 having had several assignments for the ,star in that part of the city1 and gave an alarm4 ,the sergeant detailed several roundsmen1 and a man in plainclothes1 and together we returned to the house1 laying a careful plan to surround it secretly1 while the plainclothesman and ,i obtained admittance4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 the ,chinese devil worshippers had again gathered in their cursed temple and ,long ,sin1 in his priestly robe1 appeared on the dais4 ,the worshippers kowtowed reverently to him1 while at the back again stood the aged ,chinaman patiently turning his prayer wheel4 ,two braziers1 or smoke pots1 had been placed on the dais1 one of which ,long ,sin touched with a stick causing it to burst out into dense fumes4 ,standing before them1 he chanted in nasal tones1 ,the white consort of the great ,ksing ,chau has been found4 ,it is his will that she now be made his4 ,as he finished intoning the message1 ,long ,sin signaled to two young ,chinamen to go into the anteroom4 ,a moment later they returned with ,elaine4 ,frightened though she was1 ,elaine made no attempt to struggle1 even when they had cut her bonds4 ,she was busily engaged in seeking some method of escape4 ,her eyes travelled ever the place quickly4 ,apparently1 there was no means of exit that was not guarded4 ,long ,sin saw her look1 and smiled quietly4 ,they had carried her up to the dais1 and now ,long ,sin faced her and sternly ordered her to kowtow to the gruesome metallic figure4 ,she refused1 but instantly the ,chinamen seized her arm and twisted it1 until they had compelled her to fall to her knees4 ,having forced her to kowtow1 ,long ,sin turned to the assembled devil dancers4 ,with magic and rare drugs1 he chanted1 she shall be made to pass beyond and her body encased in precious gold shall be the consort of ,ksing ,chau--forever and ever4 ,he made another sign and several pots and braziers were brought out and placed on the dais beside ,elaine4 ,she was1 by this time1 completely overcome by the horror of the situation4 ,there was apparently no escape4 ,with callous deviltry1 the oriental satanists had made every arrangement for embalming and preserving the body of ,elaine4 ,pots filled with sticky black material were slowly heated1 amid weird incantations1 while other ,chinamen laid out innumerable sheets of gold leaf4 ,at last all seemed to be in readiness to proceed4 ,hold her1 ordered ,long ,sin in guttural ,chinese to the two attendants1 as he approached her4 ,long ,sin held in his hand a small1 profusely decorated pot from which smoke was escaping4 ,as he approached he passed this receptacle under her nose once1 twice1 three times4 ,gradually ,elaine fell into unconsciousness4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while ,elaine was facing death in the power of the devil worshippers1 ,i had reached the house of ,savetsky next door with the police1 and the place had been quietly surrounded4 ,with the plainclothesman1 a daring and intelligent fellow1 ,i went to the door and rang the bell4 ,what can ,i do for you8 asked the medium1 admitting us4 ,my friend1 here1 ,i parleyed1 is in great business trouble4 ,can your controlling spirit give him advice8 ,we had managed to gain the interior of the seance room1 and ,i suppose there was nothing else for her to say1 under the circumstances1 but1 ,why--yes1--if the conditions are good1 the control can probably tell us just what he wants to know4 ,savetsky set to work preparing the room for a seance4 ,as she moved over to the window to pull down the shades1 she must have caught sight of one or two of the policemen who had incautiously exposed themselves from the hiding places in which ,i had disposed them before we entered4 ,at any rate1 ,savetsky did not lose a jot of her remarkable composure4 ,i'm sorry1 she remarked merely1 but ,i'm afraid my control is weak and cannot work today4 ,she took a step toward the door1 motioning us to leave4 ,neither of us paid any attention to that hint1 but remained seated as we had been before4 ,go6 she exclaimed at length1 for the first time showing a trace of nervousness4 ,evidently her suspicions had been fully confirmed by our actions4 ,we tried to argue with her to gain time4 ,but it was of no use4 ,almost before ,i knew what she was doing1 she made a dash for something in the corner of the room4 ,it was time for open action1 and ,i seized her quickly4 ,my detective was on his feet in an instant4 ,i'll take care of her1 he ground out1 seizing her wrists in his vice-like grasp4 ,you give the signal4 ,i rushed to the window1 threw up the shade and opened the sash1 waving our preconcerted sign1 turning again toward the room4 ,with a sudden accession of desperate strength1 ,savetsky broke away from the plainclothesman and again attempted to get at something concealed on the wall4 ,i had turned just in time to fling myself between her and whatever object she had in mind4 ,as the detective took her again and twisted her arm until she cried out in pain1 ,i hastily investigated the wall4 ,she had evidently been attempting to press a button that rang a concealed bell4 ,what did it all mean8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine1 now completely unconscious1 was being held by the ,chinamen1 while her arm was smeared with sticky black material from the cauldron by ,long ,sin4 ,as the high priest of ,satan worked1 the devil worshippers kowtowed obediently4 ,suddenly the aged ,chinaman with the prayer wheel stopped his incessant1 impious turning1 and rising1 held up his hand as if to command attention4 ,amid a general exclamation of wonder1 he walked to the dais and mounted it1 turning and facing the worshippers4 ,this is nonsense1 he cried in a loud tone4 ,why should our great ,ksing ,chau desire a white devil8 ,i1 a great grandfather1 demand to know4 ,the effect on the worshippers was electric4 ,they paused in their obeisance and stared at the speaker1 then at their high priest4 ,shaking with rage1 ,long ,sin ordered the intruder off the dais4 ,but the aged devotee refused to go4 ,throw him out1 he ordered his attendants4 ,for answer1 as the two young ,chinamen approached1 the old ,chinaman threw them down to the floor with a quick jiu-jitsu movement4 ,his strength seemed miraculous for so aged a man4 ,furious now beyond expression1 ,long ,sin stepped forward himself4 ,he seized the beard and queue of the intruder4 ,to his utter amazement1 they came off6 ,it was ,kennedy6 ,with his automatic drawn1 before the astounded devil dancers could recover themselves1 ,craig stood at bay4 ,long ,sin leaped behind the big gong4 ,as the ,chinamen rushed forward to seize him1 ,kennedy shot the leader of ,long ,sin's attendants and struck down the other with a blow4 ,the rush was checked for the moment4 ,but the odds were fearful4 ,kennedy seized ,elaine's yielding body and1 pushing back the curtains to the anteroom1 succeeded in gaining it1 and locking the door into the main temple4 ,bennett was still lying on the floor tightly bound4 ,with a few deft cuts by a ,chinese knife which he had picked up1 ,kennedy released him4 ,at the same time1 ,chinamen were trying to batter down the door1 ,kennedy's last bulwark4 ,it was swaying under their repeated blows4 ,kennedy rushed to the door and fired through it at random to check the attack for a few moments4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while ,kennedy was thus besieged by the devil worshippers in the anteroom1 several policemen and detectives gathered in the seance room with us1 next door1 where ,savetsky was held a defiant and mute prisoner4 ,i had discovered the bell1 and1 taking that as a guide1 ,i started to trace the course of a wire which ran alongside the wall1 feeling certain that it would give me a clue to some adjoining room to which ,elaine might possibly have been taken4 ,to the fireplace ,i traced the bell1 and1 in pulling on the wire1 ,i luckily pressed a secret spring4 ,to my amazement1 the whole fireplace swung out of sight and disclosed a secret passageway4 ,i looked through it4 ,it was almost at that precise instant that the door of the anteroom burst open and the ,chinamen swarmed in1 urged on by the insane exhortations of ,long ,sin4 ,to my utter amazement1 ,i recognized ,kennedy's voice4 ,in the first onslaught1 ,craig shot one ,chinaman dead1 then closed with the others1 slashing right and left with the ,chinese knife he had picked up4 ,bennett came to his aid1 but was immediately overcome by two ,chinamen1 who evidently had been detailed for that purpose4 ,meanwhile1 ,kennedy and the others were engaged in a terrible life and death struggle4 ,they fought all over the room1 dismantling it1 and even tearing the hangings from the wall4 ,it was just as the ,chinese was about to overpower him that ,i led the police and detectives through the passageway of the fireplace4 ,it was a glorious fight that followed4 ,long ,sin and his ,chinamen were no match for the police and were soon completely routed1 the police striking furiously in all directions and clearing the room4 ,instantly1 ,kennedy thought of the fair object of all this melee4 ,he rushed to the divan on which he had placed ,elaine4 ,she was slowly returning to consciousness4 ,as she opened her eyes1 for an instant1 she gazed at ,craig1 then at ,bennett4 ,still not comprehending just what had happened1 she gave her hand to ,bennett4 ,bennett lifted her to her feet and slowly assisted her as she tried to walk away4 ,kennedy watched them1 more stupefied than if he had been struck over the head by ,long ,sin4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,police and detectives were now taking the captured ,chinamen away1 as ,bennett1 his arm about ,elaine1 led her gently out4 ,a young detective had slipped the bracelets over ,long ,sin's wrist1 and ,i was standing beside him4 ,kennedy1 in a daze at the sight of ,elaine and ,bennett1 passed us1 scarcely noticing who we were4 ,as ,craig collected his scattered forces1 ,long ,sin motioned to him1 as if he had a message to deliver4 ,kennedy frowned suspiciously4 ,he was about to turn away1 when the ,chinaman began pleading earnestly for a chance to say a few words4 ,step aside for a moment1 you fellows1 won't you please1 ,craig asked4 ,i will hear what you have to say1 ,long ,sin4 ,long ,sin looked about craftily4 ,what is it8 prompted ,craig1 seeing that at last they were all alone4 ,long ,sin again looked around4 ,swear that ,i will go free and not suffer1 ,long ,sin whispered1 and ,i will betray the great ,clutching ,hand4 ,kennedy studied the ,chinaman keenly for a moment4 ,then1 seemingly satisfied with the scrutiny1 he nodded slowly assent4 ,as ,craig did so1 ,i saw ,long ,sin lean over and whisper into ,kennedy's ear4 ,craig started back in horror and surprise4 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,the ,,reckoning ,pacing up and down his den in the heart of ,chinatown1 ,long ,sin was thinking over his bargain with ,kennedy to betray the infamous ,clutching ,hand4 ,it was a small room in a small and unpretentious house1 but it adequately expressed the character of the subtle ,oriental4 ,the den was lavishly furnished1 while the guileful ,long ,sin himself wore a richly figured lounging gown of the finest and costliest silk1 chosen for the express purpose of harmonizing with the luxurious ,far ,eastern hangings and furniture so as to impress his followers and those whom he might choose as visitors4 ,at length he seated himself at a teakwood table1 still deliberating over the promise he had been forced to make to ,kennedy4 ,he sat for some moments1 deeply absorbed in thought4 ,suddenly an idea seemed to strike him4 ,lifting a little hammer1 he struck a ,chinese gong on the table at his side4 ,at the same time1 he leaned over and turned a knob at the side of a large roll-top desk4 ,a few seconds later a sort of hatchway1 covered by a rug on the floor1 in one corner of the room1 was slowly lifted and ,long ,sin's secretary1 a sallow1 cadaverous ,chinaman1 appeared from below4 ,he stepped noiselessly into the room and shuffled across to ,long ,sin4 ,long ,sin scowled1 as though something had interfered with his own plans1 but tore open the envelope without a word1 spreading out on his lap the sheet of paper it contained4 ,the letter bore a typewritten message1 all in capitals1 which read3 ,,be ,,at ,,headquarters ,,at #ab4 ,,destroy ,,this ,,immediately4 ,at the bottom of the note appeared the sinister signature of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,as soon as he had finished reading the note1 the ,chinaman turned to his obsequious secretary1 who stood motionless1 with folded arms and head meekly bent4 ,very well1 he said with an imperious wave of his hand4 ,you may go4 ,bowing low again1 the secretary shuffled across and down again through the hatchway1 closing the door as he descended4 ,long ,sin read the note once more1 while his inscrutable face assumed an expression of malicious cunning4 ,then he glanced at his heavy gold watch4 ,with an air of deliberation1 he reached for a match and struck it4 ,he had just placed the paper in the flame when suddenly he seemed to change his mind4 ,he hastily blew out the match which had destroyed only a corner of the paper1 then folded the note carefully and placed it in his pocket4 ,a few moments later1 with a malignant chuckle1 ,long ,sin rose slowly and left the room4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 the master criminal was busily engaged in putting the finishing touches to a final scheme of fiendish ingenuity for the absolute destruction of ,craig ,kennedy4 ,he had been at work in a small room1 fitted up as a sort of laboratory1 in the mysterious house which now served as his headquarters4 ,on all sides were shelves filled with bottles of deadly liquids and scientific apparatus for crime4 ,jars of picric acid1 nitric acid1 carboys of other chemicals1 packages labelled gunpowder1 gun cotton and nitroglycerine1 as well as carefully stoppered bottles of prussic acid1 and the cyanides1 arsenic and other poisons made the place bear the look of a veritable devil's workshop4 ,clutching ,hand1 at a bench in one corner1 had just completed an infernal machine of diabolical cunning1 and was wrapping it carefully in paper to make an innocent package4 ,he was interrupted by a knock at the door4 ,laying down the bomb he went to answer the summons with a stealthy movement4 ,there stood ,long ,sin1 who had disguised himself as a ,chinese laundryman4 ,on time--good6 growled ,clutching ,hand surlily as he closed the door with equal care4 ,no time was wasted in useless formalities4 ,this is a bomb1 he went on1 pointing to the package4 ,carry it carefully4 ,on no account let it slip1 or you are a dead man4 ,it must be in ,kennedy's laboratory before night4 ,understand8 ,can you arrange it8 ,long ,sin looked the dangerous package over1 then with an impassive look1 replied1 ,have no fear4 ,i can do it4 ,it will be in the laboratory within an hour4 ,trust me4 ,long ,sin nodded sagely1 while ,clutching ,hand growled his approval as he opened the door and let out the ,chinaman4 ,long ,sin departed as stealthily as he had come1 the frightful engine of destruction hugged up carefully under his wide-sleeved coolie shirt4 ,for a moment ,clutching ,hand gave himself up to the exquisite contemplation of what he had just done1 then turned to clean up his workshop4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in ,kennedy's laboratory ,i was watching ,craig make some experiments with a new ,x-ray apparatus which had just arrived1 occasionally looking through the fluoroscope when he was examining some unusually interesting object4 ,we were oblivious to the passage of time1 and only a call over our speaking tube diverted our attention4 ,i opened the door and a few seconds later ,long ,sin himself entered4 ,kennedy looked up inquiringly as the ,chinaman approached1 holding out a package which he carried4 ,a bomb1 he said1 in the most matter of fact way4 ,i promised to have it placed in your laboratory before night4 ,the placid air with which the grotesque looking ,chinaman imparted this astounding information was in itself preposterous4 ,his actions and words as he laid the package down gingerly on the laboratory table indicated that he was telling the truth4 ,kennedy and ,i stared at each other in blank amazement for a moment4 ,then the humor of the thing struck us both and we laughed outright4 ,clutching ,hand had told him to deliver it--and he had done so6 ,hastily ,i filled a pail with water and brought it to ,kennedy4 ,if it is really a bomb1 ,i remarked1 why not put the thing out of commission8 ,no1 no1 ,walter1 he cried quickly1 shaking his head4 ,if it's a chemical bomb1 the water might be just the thing to make the chemicals run together and set it off4 ,no1 let us see what the new ,x-ray machine can tell us1 first4 ,he took the bomb and carefully placed it under the wonderful rays1 then with the fluoroscope over his eyes studied the shadow cast by the rays on its sensitive screen4 ,for several minutes he continued safely studying it from every angle1 until he thoroughly understood it4 ,it's a bomb1 sure enough1 ,craig exclaimed1 looking up from it at last to me4 ,it's timed by an ingenious and noiseless little piece of clockwork1 in there1 too4 ,and it's powerful enough to blow us all1 the laboratory included1 to kingdom come4 ,as he spoke1 and before ,i could remonstrate with him1 he took the infernal machine and placed it on a table where he set to work on the most delicate and dangerous piece of dissection of which ,i have ever heard4 ,carefully unwrapping the bomb and unscrewing one part while he held another firm1 he finally took out of it a bottle of liquid and some powder4 ,then he placed a few grains of the powder on a dish and dropped on it a drop or two of the liquid4 ,there was a bright flash1 as the powder ignited instantly4 ,just what ,i expected1 commented ,kennedy with a nod1 as he examined the clever workmanship of the bomb4 ,one thing that interested him was that part of the contents had been wrapped in paper to keep them in place4 ,this paper he was now carefully examining with a hand lens4 ,as nearly as ,i could make it out1 the paper contained part of a typewritten chemical formula1 which read3 ,,tincture ,,of ,,iodine ,,three ,,parts ,,of--- ,he looked up from his study of the microscope to ,long ,sin4 ,tell me just how it happened that you got this bomb1 he asked4 ,without hesitation1 the ,chinaman recited the circumstances1 beginning with the note by which he had been summoned4 ,a note8 repeated ,kennedy1 eagerly4 ,was it typewritten8 ,long ,sin reached into his pocket and produced the note itself1 which he had not burned4 ,as ,craig studied the typewritten message from the ,clutching ,hand ,i could see that he was growing more and more excited4 ,at last he has given us something typewritten1 he exclaimed4 ,to most people1 ,i suppose1 it seems that typewriting is the best way to conceal identity4 ,but there are a thousand and one ways of identifying typewriting4 ,clutching ,hand knew that4 ,that was why he was so careful to order this note destroyed4 ,as for the bomb1 he figured that it would destroy itself4 ,he was placing one piece of typewriting after another under the lens1 scrutinizing each letter closely4 ,look1 ,walter1 he remarked at length1 taking a fine tipped pencil and pointing at the distinguishing marks as he talked1 ,you will notice that all the ',t's' in this note are battered and faint as well as just a trifle out of alignment4 ,now ,i will place the paper from the bomb under the lens and you will also see that the ',t's' in the scrap of formula have exactly the same appearance4 ,that indicated1 without the possibility of a doubt1 taken in connection with a score of other peculiarities in the letters which ,i could pick out that both were written on the same typewriter4 ,i have selected the ',t' because it is the most marked4 ,i strained my eyes to look4 ,sure enough1 ,kennedy was right4 ,there was that unmistakable identity between the ,t's in the formula and the note4 ,kennedy had been gazing at the floor1 his face puckered in thought as ,i looked4 ,suddenly he slapped his hands together1 as if he had made a great discovery4 ,i've struck it6 he exclaimed1 jumping up4 ,i was wondering where ,i had seen typewriting that reminds me of this4 ,walter1 get on your coat and hat4 ,we are on the right trail at last4 ,with ,long ,sin we hurried out of the laboratory1 leaving him at the nearest taxicab stand1 where we jumped into a waiting car4 ,it is the clue of the battered ',t's1' ,craig muttered4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,aunt ,josephine was in the library knitting when the butler1 ,jennings1 announced us4 ,we were admitted at once1 for ,aunt ,josephine had never quite understood what was the trouble between ,elaine and ,craig1 and had a high regard for him4 ,where is--,miss ,dodge8 inquired ,kennedy1 with suppressed excitement as we entered4 ,i think she's out shopping and ,i don't know just when she will be back1 answered ,aunt ,josephine1 with some surprise4 ,why8 ,is it anything important--any news8 ,very important1 returned ,kennedy excitedly4 ,i think ,i have the best clue yet4 ,only--it will be necessary to look through some of the household correspondence immediately to see whether there are certain letters4 ,i wouldn't be surprised if she had some--perhaps not very personal--but ,i ,,must see them4 ,aunt ,josephine seemed nonplussed at first4 ,i thought she was going to refuse to allow ,craig to proceed4 ,but finally she assented4 ,kennedy lost no time4 ,he went to a desk where ,elaine generally sat1 and quickly took out several typewritten letters4 ,he examined them closely1 rejecting one after another1 until finally he came to one that seemed to interest him4 ,he separated it from the rest and fell to studying it1 comparing it with the paper from the bomb and the note which ,long ,sin had received from the ,clutching ,hand4 ,then he folded the letter so that both the signature and the address could not be read by us4 ,a portion of the letter1 ,i recall1 read something like this3 ,this is his contention3 whereas ,,truth is the only goal and ,,matter is non-existent-- ,look at this1 ,walter1 remarked ,craig1 with difficulty restraining himself1 ,what do you make of it8 ,a glance at the typewriting was sufficient to show me that ,kennedy had indeed made an important discovery4 ,the writing of the letter which he had just found in ,elaine's desk corresponded in every respect with that in the ,clutching ,hand note and that on the bomb formula4 ,in each instance there were the same faintness1 the same crooked alignment1 the same battered appearance of all the letter ,t's4 ,we stared at each other almost too dazed to speak4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at that moment we were startled by the sudden appearance of ,elaine herself1 who had come in unexpectedly from her shopping expedition4 ,she entered the room carrying in her arms a huge bunch of roses which she had evidently just received4 ,her face was half buried in the fragrant blossoms1 but was fairer than even they in their selected elegance4 ,the moment she saw ,craig1 however1 she stopped short with a look of great surprise4 ,kennedy1 on his part1 who was seated at the desk still tracing out the similarities of the letters1 stood up1 half hesitating what to say4 ,he bowed and she returned his salutation with a very cool nod4 ,her keen eye had not missed the fact that several of her letters lay scattered over the top of the desk4 ,what are you doing with my letters1 ,mr4 ,kennedy8 she asked1 in an astonished tone1 evidently resenting the unceremoniousness with which he had apparently been overhauling her correspondence4 ,as guardedly as possible1 ,kennedy met her inquiry1 which ,i could not myself blame her for making4 ,i beg pardon1 ,miss ,dodge1 he said1 but a matter has just come up which necessitated merely a cursory examination of some purely formal letters which might have an important bearing on the discovery of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,your ,aunt had no idea where you were1 nor of when you might return1 and the absolute necessity for haste in such an important matter is my only excuse for examining a few minor letters without first obtaining your permission4 ,she said nothing4 ,at another time1 such an explanation would have been instantly accepted4 ,now1 however1 it was different4 ,kennedy read the look on her face1 and an instant later turned to ,aunt ,josephine and myself4 ,i would very much appreciate a chance to say a few words to ,miss ,dodge alone1 he intimated4 ,i have had no such opportunity for some time4 ,if you would be so kind as to leave us in the library--for a few minutes-- ,he did not finish the sentence4 ,aunt ,josephine had already begun to withdraw and ,i followed4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,for a moment or two1 ,craig and ,elaine looked at each other1 neither saying a word1 each wondering just what was in the other's mind4 ,kennedy was wondering if there was any ,x-ray that might read a woman's heart1 as he was accustomed to read others of nature's secrets4 ,he cleared his throat1 the obvious manner of covering up his emotion4 ,elaine1 he said at length1 dropping the recent return to ,miss ,dodge1 for the moment1 ,elaine1 is there any truth in this morning's newspaper report of--of you8 ,she had dropped her eyes4 ,but he persisted1 taking a newspaper clipping from his pocket and handing it to her4 ,her hand trembled as she glanced over the item3 ,,society ,,notes ,dame ,rumor is connecting the name of ,miss ,elaine ,dodge1 the heiress1 with that of ,perry ,bennett1 the famous young lawyer4 ,the announcement of an engagement between them at any time would not surprise-- ,elaine read no further4 ,she handed back the clipping to ,kennedy4 ,as her eyes met his1 she noticed his expression of deep concern1 and hesitated with the reply she had evidently been just about to make4 ,still1 as she lowered her head1 it seemed to give silent confirmation to the truth of the newspaper report4 ,kennedy said nothing4 ,but his eyes continued to study her face1 even when it was averted4 ,he suppressed his feelings with a great effort1 then1 without a word1 bowed and left the room4 ,walter1 he exclaimed as he rejoined us in the drawing room1 where ,i was chatting with ,aunt ,josephine1 we must be off again4 ,the trail follows still further4 ,i rose and much to the increased mystification of ,aunt ,josephine1 left the house4 ,an hour or so later1 ,elaine1 whose mind was now in a whirl from what had happened1 decided to call on ,perry ,bennett4 ,two or three clerks were in the outer office when she arrived1 but the office boy1 laying down a dime novel1 rose to meet her and informed her that ,mr4 ,bennett was alone4 ,as ,elaine entered his private office1 ,bennett rose to greet her effusively and they exchanged a few words4 ,i mustn't forget to thank you for those lovely roses you sent me1 she exclaimed at length4 ,they were beautiful and ,i appreciated them ever so much4 ,bennett acknowledged her thanks with a smile1 she sat down familiarly on his desk1 and they plunged into a vein of social gossip4 ,a moment later1 ,bennett led the conversation around until he found an opportunity to make a tactful allusion to the report of their engagement in the morning papers4 ,he had leaned over and now attempted to take her hand4 ,she withdrew it1 however4 ,there was something about his touch which1 try as she might1 she could not like4 ,was it mere prejudice1 or was it her keen woman's intuition8 ,bennett looked at her a moment1 suppressing a momentary flash of anger that had reddened his face1 and controlled himself as if by a superhuman effort4 ,i believe you really love that man ,kennedy1 he exclaimed1 in a tone that was almost a hiss4 ,but ,i tell you1 ,elaine1 he is all bluff4 ,why1 he has been after that ,clutching ,hand now for three months--and what has he accomplished8 ,nothing6 ,he paused4 ,through ,elaine's mind there flashed the contrast with ,kennedy's even temper and deferential manner4 ,in spite of their quarrel and the coolness1 she found herself resenting the remark4 ,still she said nothing1 though her expressive face showed much4 ,bennett1 by another effort1 seemed to grip his temper again4 ,he paced up and down the room4 ,then he changed the subject abruptly1 and the conversation was resumed with some constraint4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while ,elaine and ,bennett were talking1 ,kennedy and ,i had entered the office4 ,craig stopped the boy who was about to announce us and asked for ,bennett's secretary instead1 much to my astonishment4 ,the boy merely indicated the door of one of the other private offices1 and we entered4 ,we found the secretary1 hard at work at the typewriter1 copying a legal document4 ,without a word1 ,kennedy at once locked the door4 ,the secretary rose in surprise1 but ,craig paid no attention to him4 ,instead he calmly walked over to the machine and began to examine it4 ,might ,i ask-- began the secretary4 ,you keep quiet1 ordered ,kennedy1 with a nod to me to watch the fellow4 ,you are under arrest--and the less you say1 the better for you4 ,i shall never forget the look that crossed the secretary's face4 ,was it the surprise of an innocent man8 ,taking the man's place at the machine1 ,kennedy removed the legal paper that was in it and put in a new sheet4 ,then he tapped out1 as we watched3 ,,be ,,at ,,headquarters ,,at #ab4 ,,destroy ,,this ,,immediately ,,tincture ,,of ,,iodine ,,three ,,parts ,,of---- ,this is his contention3--whereas ,,truth is the only goal and ,,matter is non-existent-- ,t ,t ,t ,t ,look1 ,walter1 he exclaimed as he drew out the paper from the machine4 ,i bent over and together we compared the ,t's with those in the ,clutching ,hand letter1 the paper from the bomb and the letter which ,craig had taken from ,elaine's desk4 ,as ,craig pointed out the resemblances with a pencil1 my amazement gradually changed into comprehension and comprehension into conviction4 ,the meaning of it all began to dawn on me4 ,the writing was identical4 ,there were no differences6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while we were locked in the secretary's office1 ,bennett and ,elaine were continuing their chat on various social topics4 ,suddenly1 however1 with a glance at the clock1 ,bennett told ,elaine that he had an important letter to dictate1 and that it must go off at once4 ,she said that she would excuse him a few minutes and he pressed a button to call his secretary4 ,of course the secretary did not appear4 ,bennett left his office1 with some annoyance1 and went into the adjoining room the door to which ,kennedy had not locked4 ,he hesitated a moment1 then opened the door quietly4 ,to his astonishment1 he saw ,kennedy1 the secretary1 and myself apparently making a close examination of the typewriter4 ,gliding rather than walking back into his own office1 he closed the door and locked it4 ,almost instantly1 fear and fury at the presence of his hated rival1 ,kennedy1 turned ,bennett1 as it were1 from the ,jekyll of a polished lawyer and lover of ,elaine into an insanely jealous and revengeful ,mr4 ,hyde4 ,the strain was more than his warped mind could bear4 ,with a look of intense horror and loathing1 ,elaine watched him slowly change from the composed1 calm1 intellectual ,bennett she knew and respected into a repulsive1 mad figure of a man4 ,his stature even seemed to be altered4 ,he seemed to shrivel up and become deformed4 ,his face was terribly distorted4 ,and his long1 sinewy hand slowly twisted and bent until he became the personal embodiment of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,as ,elaine1 transfixed with terror1 watched ,bennett's astounding metamorphosis1 he ran to the door leading to the outer office and hastily locked that1 also4 ,then1 with his eyes gleaming with rage and his hands working in murderous frenzy1 he crouched1 nearer and nearer1 towards ,elaine4 ,she shrank back1 screaming again and again in terror4 ,he ,,was the ,clutching ,hand6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in spite of closed doors1 we could now plainly hear ,elaine's shrieks4 ,craig1 the secretary and myself made a rush for the door to ,bennett's private office4 ,finding it locked1 we began to batter it4 ,by this time1 however1 ,bennett had hurled himself upon ,elaine and was slowly choking her4 ,kennedy quickly found that it was impossible to batter down the door in time by any ordinary means4 ,quickly he seized the typewriter and hurled it through the panels4 ,then he thrust his hand through the opening and turned the catch4 ,as we flung ourselves into the room1 ,bennett rushed into a closet in a corner1 slamming the door behind him4 ,it was composed of sheet iron and effectually prevented anyone from breaking through4 ,kennedy and ,i tried vainly1 however1 to pry it open4 ,while we were thus endeavoring to force an entrance1 ,bennett1 in a sort of closet1 had put on the coat1 hat and mask which he invariably wore in the character of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,then he cautiously opened a secret door in the back of the closet and slowly made an exit4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 the secretary had been doing his best to revive ,elaine1 who was lying in a chair1 hysterical and half unconscious from the terrible shock she had experienced4 ,intent on discovering ,bennett's whereabouts1 ,kennedy and ,i examined the wall of the office1 thinking there might possibly be some button or secret spring which would open the closet door4 ,while we were doing so1 the door of a large safe in the secretary's office gradually opened and the ,clutching ,hand emerged from it1 stepping carefully towards the door leading to the outer office1 intent on escaping in that direction4 ,at that moment1 ,i caught sight of him1 and leaping into the secretary's office1 ,i drew my revolver and ordered him to throw up his hands4 ,he obeyed4 ,holding up both hands1 he slowly drew near the door to his private office4 ,suddenly he dropped one hand and pressed a hidden spring in the wall4 ,instantly a heavy iron door shot out and closed over the wooden door4 ,entrance to the private office was absolutely cut off4 ,with an angry snarl1 the ,clutching ,hand leaped at me4 ,as he did so1 ,i fired twice4 ,he staggered back4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the shots were heard by ,kennedy and ,elaine1 as well as the secretary1 and at the same instant they discovered the iron door which barred the entrance to the secretary's office4 ,rushing into the outer office1 they found the clerks excitedly attempting to open the door of the secretary's office which was locked4 ,kennedy drew a revolver and shot through the lock1 bursting open the door4 ,they rushed into the room4 ,clutching ,hand was apparently seated in a chair at a desk1 his face buried in his arms1 while ,i was apparently disappearing through the door4 ,kennedy and the clerks pounced upon the figure in the chair and tore off his mask4 ,to their astonishment1 they discovered that it was myself6 ,my shots had missed and ,clutching ,hand had leaped on me with maddened fury4 ,dressed in my coat and hat1 which he had deftly removed after overpowering me and substituting his own clothes1 ,clutching ,hand had by this time climbed through the window of the outer office and was making his way down the fire escape to the street4 ,he reached the foot of the iron steps leaped off and ran quickly away4 ,shouting a few directions to the secretary1 the clerks and ,elaine1 ,kennedy climbed through the window and darted down the fire escape in swift pursuit4 ,the ,clutching ,hand1 however1 managed to elude capture again4 ,turning the street corner he leaped into a taxi which happened to be standing there1 and1 hastily giving the driver directions1 was driven rapidly away4 ,by the time ,kennedy reached the street ,clutching ,hand had disappeared4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while these exciting events were occurring in ,bennett's office some queer doings were in progress in the heart of ,chinatown4 ,deep underground1 in one of the catacombs known only to the innermost members of the ,chinese secret societies1 was ,long ,sin's servant1 ,tong ,wah1 popularly known as the hider1 engaged in some mysterious work4 ,a sinister-looking ,chinaman1 dressed in coolie costume1 he was standing at a table in a dim and musty1 high-ceilinged chamber1 faced with stone and brick4 ,before him were several odd shaped ,chinese vials1 and from these he was carefully measuring certain proportions1 as if concocting some powerful potion4 ,he stepped back and looked around suspiciously as he suddenly heard footsteps above4 ,the next moment ,long ,sin1 who had entered through a trap door1 climbed down a long ladder and walked into the room4 ,approaching ,tong ,wah1 he asked3 ,when will the death-drink be ready8 ,it is now prepared1 was the reply4 ,long ,sin took the bowl in which the liquor had been mixed1 and1 having examined it1 he gave a nod and a grunt of satisfaction4 ,then he mounted the ladder again and disappeared4 ,as soon as he had gone ,tong ,wah1 picking up several of the vials1 went out through an iron door at the end of the room4 ,a few minutes later the ,clutching ,hand drove up to ,long ,sin's house in the taxicab and1 after paying the chauffeur1 went to the door and knocked sharply4 ,in response to his knocking ,long ,sin appeared on the threshold and motioned to ,bennett to come in1 evidently astonished to see him4 ,as he entered1 ,bennett made a secret sign and said3 ,i am the ,clutching ,hand4 ,kennedy is close on my trail1 and ,i have come to be hidden4 ,in a tone which betrayed alarm and fear the ,chinaman intimated that he had no place in which ,bennett could be concealed with any degree of safety4 ,for a moment ,bennett glared savagely at ,long ,sin4 ,i possess hidden plunder worth seven million dollars1 he pleaded quickly1 and if by your aid ,i can make a getaway1 a seventh is yours4 ,the ,chinaman's cupidity was clearly excited by ,bennett's offer1 while the bare mention of the amount at stake was sufficient to overcome all his scruples4 ,after exchanging a few words he finally agreed to all the ,clutching ,hand said4 ,opening a trap door in the floor of the room in which they were standing1 he led ,bennett down a step-ladder into the subterranean chamber in which ,tong ,wah had so recently been preparing his mysterious potion4 ,as ,bennett sank into a chair and passed his hands over his brow in utter weariness1 ,long ,sin poured into a cup some of the liquor of death which ,tong ,wah had mixed4 ,he handed it to ,bennett1 who drank it eagerly4 ,how do you propose to help me to escape8 asked ,bennett huskily4 ,without a word ,long ,sin went to the wall1 and1 grasping one of the stones1 pressed it back1 opening a large receptacle1 in which there were two glass coffins apparently containing two dead ,chinamen4 ,pulling out the coffins1 he pushed them before ,bennett1 who rose to his feet and gazed upon them with wonder4 ,long ,sin broke the silence3 ,these men1 he said1 are not dead2 but they have been in this condition for many months4 ,it is what is called in your language suspended animation4 ,is that what you intend to do with me8 asked ,bennett1 shrinking back in terror4 ,the ,chinaman nodded in affirmation as he pushed back the coffins4 ,overcome by the horror of the idea ,bennett1 with a groan1 sank back into the chair1 shaking his head as if to indicate that the plan was far too terrible to carry out4 ,with a sinister smile and a shrug of his shoulders ,long ,sin pointed to the cup from which ,bennett had drunk4 ,but1 dear master1 he remarked suavely1 you have already drunk a full dose of the potion which causes insensibility1 and it is overcoming you4 ,even now1 he added1 you are too weak to rise4 ,bennett made frantic efforts to move from his seat1 but the potion was already taking effect1 and through sheer weakness he found he was unable to get on his feet in spite of all his struggles4 ,with a malicious chuckle ,long ,sin moved closer to his victim and spoke again4 ,divulge where your seven million dollars are hidden1 he suggested craftily1 and ,i will give you an antidote4 ,by this time ,bennett1 who was becoming more rigid each moment1 was unable to speak1 but by a movement of his head and an expression in his eyes he indicated that he was ready to agree to the ,chinaman's proposal4 ,where have you hidden the seven million dollars8 repeated ,long ,sin4 ,slowly1 and after a desperate struggle1 ,bennett managed to raise one hand and pointed to his breast pocket4 ,the ,chinaman instantly thrust in his hand and drew out a map4 ,for some moments ,long ,sin examined the map intently1 and1 with a grin of satisfaction1 he placed it in his own pocket4 ,then he mixed what he declared was a sure antidote1 and1 pouring some of the liquor into a cup1 he held it to ,bennett's lips4 ,as ,bennett opened his mouth to drink it1 ,long ,sin with a laugh slowly pulled the cup away and poured its contents on the floor4 ,bennett's body had now become still more rigid4 ,every sign of intelligence had left his face1 and although his eyes did not close1 a blank stare came over his countenance1 indicating plainly that the drug had destroyed all consciousness4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,by this time1 ,i was slowly recovering my senses in the secretary's office1 where ,bennett had left me in the disguise of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,elaine1 the secretary1 and the clerks were gathered round me1 doing all they could to revive me4 ,meanwhile1 ,kennedy had enlisted the aid of two detectives and was scouring the city for a trace of ,bennett or the taxicab in which he had fled4 ,somehow1 ,kennedy suspected1 instinctively1 that ,long ,sin might give a clue to ,bennett's whereabouts1 and a few moments later1 we were all on our way in a car to ,long ,sin's house4 ,though we did not know it1 ,long ,sin1 at the moment when ,kennedy knocked at his door1 was feeling in his inside pocket to see that the map he had taken from ,bennett was perfectly safe4 ,finding that he had it1 he smiled with his peculiar oriental guile4 ,then he opened the door1 and stood for a moment1 silent4 ,where is ,bennett8 demanded ,kennedy4 ,long ,sin eyed us all1 then with a placid smile1 said1 ,follow me4 ,i will show you4 ,he opened a trap door1 and we climbed down after ,craig1 entering a subterranean chamber1 led by ,long ,sin4 ,there was ,bennett seated rigidly in the chair beside the table from which the vials and cups1 about which we then knew nothing1 had been removed4 ,how did it happen8 asked ,kennedy4 ,he came here1 replied ,long ,sin1 with a wave of his hand1 and before ,i could stop him he did away with himself4 ,in dumb show1 the ,chinaman indicated that ,bennett had taken poison4 ,well1 we've got him1 mused ,kennedy1 shaking his head sadly1 adding1 after a pause1 but he is dead4 ,elaine1 who had followed us down1 covered her eyes with her hands1 and was sobbing convulsively4 ,i thought she would faint1 but ,kennedy led her gently away into an upper room4 ,as he placed her in an easy chair1 he bent over her1 soothingly4 ,did you--did you--really--love him8 he asked in a low tone1 nodding in the direction from which he had led her4 ,still shuddering1 and with an eager look at ,kennedy1 ,elaine shook her beautiful head4 ,then1 slowly rising to her feet1 she looked at ,craig appealingly4 ,for a moment he looked down into her two great lakes of eyes4 ,forgive me1 murmured ,elaine1 holding out her hand4 ,then she added in a voice tense with emotion1 ,thank you for saving me4 ,kennedy took her hand4 ,for a moment he held it4 ,then he drew her towards him1 unresisting4 ,,the ,,end