PAGE SEVEN , CAPE MAT STAB AKB WAV E FEBRUARY 20 1915 _ ' - -

The Exploits of Elaine A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama 3 V By ARTHUR B. REEVE I] II The Well-Kn can Noedl.t end lAe I H Cuaior of the Craig Kennedy ' ' Slorici j Presented in Collaboration With the Pathe Players and tbe Eclectic Film Company Copyright, Wit. by tbe Star Company. All Foreign Right* Reserved.

SYNOPSIS. The New York police are mystified by a principal clue to the murderer is the warning letter which Ts sent the victims signed with a "clutcphng hand." The latest victim of the mysterious assassin Is Taylor Dodge, the Insurance president. His daughter. Elaine, employs Craig Kennedy, the famous scientific detective, to try to unravel the mystery- What Kennedy accomplishes is told by . his friend, Jameson, a newspaper man. Kennedy frustrates a daring attempt to rob a Jewelry store and rpscues Elaine from a boiler where she Bad been Imprisoned by the thugs. FOURTH EPISODE The Frozen Safe. Kennedy swung open tbe door of oar taxi cab as we pulled up. safe at last, before the Dodge mansion, after ale rescue of Elaine from the brutal machinations of the Clutching Hand. Behnett was on the step of the cab' in a 'moment, and together, one on each side of Elaine, they assisted her .«mt of the car and up the steps to the bouse. Elaine's Aunt Josephine was waiting for -us in the drawing-room, very much worried. The dear old lady was i quite scandalized as Elaine excitedly told of the thrilling events that had Inst taken place. "And to think they — actually — car- i tied you!" she exclaimed, horrified. 1 adding, "And 1 not — " 1 "But Mr. Kennedy came along and i aaved me Just in time," interrupted 1 Elaine with a smile. "I was well ' ' chaperoned!" i Aunt Josephine turned to Craig, gratefully. "How can I ever thank you 1 enough, Mr. Kennedy," she said fer- £ vegtly. f I Kennedy was quite embarrassed. 1 With a smile. Elaine perceived his ' ^.discomfiture, hot at all displeased by it. 1 ^"Come into the library!" she cried 1 gayiy. taking his arm. "I've something 1 to ahow you." Where the old safe, which had been * burnt through, hsd stood, was now f a brand-new Bafe of the very latest j ' construction and design — one of those ' * globular safes that look and are so i formidable. ™ . . .... . It

> is the new safe," she pointed ont brightly. "It Is not only - proof i against explosives, but between the plates is a lining that is proof against thermit and even that oxyacetylene blowpipe by which you rescued me from tbe old boiler. It has a time clock, too, that will prevent its being opened at night, even if any one should learn the combination." They stood before the safe a moand Kennedy examined it closely with much interest. ■ ■ "Wonderful!" he admired. "I knew you'd approve of it," cried Elaine, much pleased. "Now I have something else to show you." She paused at the desk, and from a drawer took out a portfolio of large photographs. They were very handsome photographs of herself. "Much more wonderful than the safe," remarked Craig earnestly Then, heeitating and a trifle embarrassed, he added, "May I— may I have one?" "If you care for It." she said, dropping her eyes, then glancing up at him quickly. "Care for It?" he repeated. "It will j be one of tbe greatest treasures—" She slipped the picture quickly into ! an envelope. "Come," she interrupted. I "Aunt Josephine will be wondering , where we are. She — she's a demon chaperon." Bennett, Aunt Josephine and myself were talking earnestly as Elaine and Craig returned. That morping 1 had noticed Ken- ; nedy fussing some time at the door of our apartment before we went over . to tbe laboratory. As nearly as I could make out he had placed some- 1 thing under the rug at the door out Into the hallway. "Well." said Bennett, glancing at his watch and rising as he turned to Elaine. "I'm afraid 1 must go now." He crossed overdo where she stood and shook hands. • TITO^, was no doubt that Bennett -was very much sniitteu by his fair client. • "Good-by. Mr. Bennett," she murmured, "and 1 thank you so much for what you have done for me today." But there was something lifeless abou{ the words. She turned quickly to Craig, who had remained standing. "Must you go too. Mr. Kennedy?" she asked, noticing his pos.tion. "I'm afraid Sir. Jameson and 1 must get back on the job before this Clutching Hand gets busy again." he replied reluctantly. "Oh. 1 hope you — we get them soon!" she exclaimed, and there was nothing lifeless about the way she gave Craig her hand, as Bennett, he and 1 left a moment later. When we approached our door, now, Craig paused By pressing a little concealed button he caused a panel in the wall outside to loosen, disclosing a small, boxlike .plate in the wall, underneat. . ' It was about a foot long and perhaps , four Inches wide Through It ran a piece of paper which unrolled' from one coil and wound up on another, actu-

ated by clockw-ork. Across the blank white paper ntn an ink line traced by a etylographfc pen, used as I had seen in mechanical pencils used in offices, hotels, banks and such places. Kennedy examined tbe thing with interest "What is it?" I asked. "A new kinograph." be replied, still gazing carefully at the rolledup part of the paper. "I ^have installed it because it registers every footstep on the floor of our apartment. We can't be too careful with this Clutching Hand. I want to know whether we have had any visitors or not in our absence. This straight line Indicates tha" we have not. Wait a Craig hastily unlocked the door and entered. Inside L could see him pacing up and down our modest quarters. "Do you see anything. Walter?" be called. I looked at the The pen had started to trace its line, no longer even and straight, but zigzag, at different heights across the paper. He came to the coor. "What do you think of it?" he inquired. "Some idea," 1 answered enthusiastically. We entered and I fell to work on a special Sunday story that I had been forced to neglect. I was not so busy, that I did not notice out of the corner of my eye that Kennedy taken from its cover Elaine Dodge's picture and was gazing at it ravenously. I had finished as much of the article I could do then and was smoking and reading It over. Kennedy was still gazing at the picture Miss Dodge had given him, then moving from place to place about the room, evidently wondering where it would look best. I doubt whether he bad done another . blessed thing since we returned. He tried it on the mantel. That wouldn't do. At last he held it up beside a picture of Galton, 1 think, of finger print and eugenics fame, who | hung on the wall directly opposite the fireplace. Hastily _he compared the two. Elaine's picture was precisely the sump slip I the same

. ! - Next he tore out the picture of the _ scientist 'and threw It carelessly Into j the fireplace. Then he placed Elaine's ; picture lu its place and hung it up again, standing off to admire it. , 1 watched him gleefully. Was this j Craig? Purposely 1 moved my elbow I suddenly and pushed a book with a bang on the floor. Kennedy actually jumped. I picked up the book with a muttered apology. No, this was not the same old Craig. Perhaps half an hour later I was still reading. Kennedy was now' pacing up and down the room, apparently unable ! to concentrate his mind on any but one subject. "w. He stopped a moment before the ' photograph, looked at It fixedly. Then he started his methodical walk again, hesitated, and went over to the telephone, calling a number which I rec ognized. "She must have been pretty well done up by her experience." he said apologetically, catching my eye. "I I was wondering if — hello! — oh. Miss I Dodge — 1 — er— I— er— just called up to see If you were pll right.". { j Craig was very much embarrassed. | but also very much in earnest. ' A musical laugh rippled over tbe telephone. "Yes. I'm all right, thank j you, Mr. Kennedy— and I put the packI age you sent me into the sate, bui— " j "Package?" frowned Craig. "Why. I | sent you no package. Miss Dodge. In i the safe?" , j "Why, yes. and the safe is all cov- , ' ered with moisture — and so cold." .. "Moisture — cold?" he repeated hastily. "Yes. 1 have been wondering if it Is | all right. In fact. I was going to call 1 you up. only I was afraid you'd think I was foolish." "I shall be right over." h^answered hastily, clapping the receiver back ou , Its hook. "Walter," he added, seizing his hat and coat, "come on — hurry!" | A few- minutes later we drove up in a taxi before- the Dodge house and rang^ the bell. i Jennings admitted us sleepily. It could not have been long after we ! left Miss Dodge, late in the afternoon, that Susie Martin, who had been quite . worried over our long absence after the attempt to rob her father, dropped in on Elaine. Wide-eyed, she had listened to Elaine's story of what had happened. "And you think this Clutching Hand has never recovered the incriminating papers that caused him to murder your father?" asked Susie. 1 Elaine shook her head. "No. Let me 1 show you the new- safe I've bought Mr. Kennedy thinks it wonderful." 1 "I should think you'd be proud of it," ' admired Scale. "I must tell father to--1 get one. too." , 4 ■ ! At tha^jery jncupent, ,if they had : ; known it, "the Clutching Hand, -with ' 1 ! hlB sinister, masked face, was peering I 1 at the two girls from the other side j 1 of the portieres.

8u8ie rose to go and Elaine followed I her to the door. No sooner had ehe gone than the Clutching Hand came out from behind tbe curtains. He gazed about a moment, then, moving over to tbe safe about which the two girls bad been talking, stealthily examined it i | He must have heard someone coming, for with a gesture of hate at the safe itself, as though be personified it, he slipped back of the curtains again. 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 estate the masked intruder stealthily and silently withdrew. "A package for you. Miss Dodge." l5 announced Michael later in the evey ning. as Elaine, in her dainty evening d gown, was still engaged in going over n the papers. He carried it in his hands 3. rather gingerly. h "Mr. Kennedy sent It, ma'am. He Bays It contains clues, and will you please put it in the new safe for him." I, Elaine took the package eagerly and |. examined it. Then she pulled open i- the little round door of the globular y safe. U "It must be getting cold out, Mi8 chael," she remarked. "This package v is as cold as ice." r "It is, n.a'sm," answered Michael. e She closed the safe, and, with a a glance at her watch, set the time lock and west upstairs to her room. 3 No sooner bad Elaine disappeared ;- than Michael appeared again, catlike. '• through the curtains from the drawingroom. and. after a glance about the .. . .dimly lighted library, discovering that b the coast was clear, motioned to a fig- > ure hiding behind the portieres. ■ A moment and Clutching Hand himself came out. 1 1 He moved over to the safe and looked it over. Then he put out his hand and touched it. "Listen!" cautioned Michael. 1 Someone was coming, and they 1 hastily 6lunk behind the protecting • portieres. It was Marie. Elaine's maid. [ She turned up the lights and went \ over to the desk for a book for which ' Elaine had evidently sent her. She paused and appeared to be listening , Then she went to the door. \ "Jennings!" she beckoned. | "What is it, Marie?" he replied. , She said nothing, but as he came up the hall led him to the center of the "Listen! I heard sighs and groans!" Jennings looked at her a moment, puzzled, then laughed. "You girls!" he exclaimed. "I suppose you'll always think the library haunted now." 1 "But, Jennings, listen," she per- , slsted. Jennings did listen. Sure enough. I there were sounds, weird, uncanny. Hwj gazed about tbe room. It was eerie.

Then he took a few steps toward the ; safe. Marie put out her hand to it and , started back. 3 "Why, that safe is all covered with , cold sweat!" she cried with bated breath. , Sure enough, the face of the safe , was beaded with dampness. Jennings i put his hand on it and quickly drew it , away, leaving a mark on the damp- , ness. | I "W-wh^t do you think of that?" he gasped. I "I'm going to tell Miss Dodge." cried j Marie, genuinely frightened. , A moment later she burst into [ Elgjne's room. "What is the matter, Marie?" asked ; # Elaine, laying down her book. "You I | look as if you had seen a ghost." | "Ah. but mademoiselle — it ees just like that. The safe — if mademoiselle

18Bh# mm • « haSS a&gsScv t ' "A Package for You. Miss Dodge."

will come down stairs. 1 will show It ! you." Puzzled, but interested. Elaine fol- , lowed her. In the library Jennings pointed mutely at the new safe. Elaine approached it. As they stood about, new brads of perspiration, as It -were, forme J on it. Elaine touched it and also quickly withdrew her band. "I can't imagine what's the matter," she said. "But — well — Jennings, you go— and Marie, also." When the servants had gone she still - regarded the safe with the same won- i dering look, then turning out the i ...light, she followed. i •j- She had scarcely disappeared when, from thR.fpnl_e.rod floor way near by, I the Clutching Hand appeared, and, after gazing out at them, took a quick . at tbe safe. I "Good!" he muttered. | Noiselessly Michael of the sinister

0 face moved In _nd took a position in e the center of the room, as if on guard, e while Clutching Hand sat before the d safe -watching It Intently. 0 "Someone at the door— Jennings is d answering the bell." Michael whispered hoarsely. i- "Confound it!" muttered Clutching e Hand, as both moved again behind the t, heavy velour curtains. • - • • • v* • • it "I'm so glad to see you. Mr. Keni- nedy." greeted Elaine unaTectedly aa e Jennings admitted us. d She had heard the bell and w as com ). Ing Jownstairs as we entered. We three moved toward the library and " someone switched on the lights ?- Craig strode over to the safe. The g cold sweat on It hod now turned to r icicles. Craig's face clouded with s thought as he examined it more closely. There was actually a groaning e sound from within, u "It can't be opened." he said to himself. "The time lock is set for tomord row morning." \ „ Outside, if we had not been so abr sorted in the present mystery- we might have seen Michael and the j. Clutching Hand listening to us e Clutching Hand looked hastily at his watch. "The dence!" he muttered under his t breath, stifling his suppressed fury. ( We stood looking at the safe. Kennedy was deeply interested. Elaine j standing close beside him. Suddenly he seemed to make up his mind. "Quick — Elaine!" he cried, taking her arm. "Stand back!" " We all retreated. The safe door, powerful aa it was. had actually begun to warp and bend. The plates were bulging. A moment later, with a loud report and concussion, the door blew off. 1 A blast of cold air and flakes like 1 snow flew out. Papers were scattered on every side. We stood gazing, aghast, a seconds then ran forward. Kennedy quickly examined the safe. He tent down and from the wreck took up a package, : now covered with white, i As qnickly he dropped it. - "That ia the package that was sqnt," cried Elaine. Taking' it In a table cover, he laid It on the table and opened it. Inside was a peculiar shipe flask, open at the , top. but like a vacuum bottle. ( "A Dewar flask!" ejaculated Craig. 1 "What is it?" asked Elaine, appeal- i ing to him. '] "Liquid air!" he answered. "As It evaporated, the terrific pressure of 1 expanding air in the safe increased ! until It blew out the door. That is | what caused the cold sweating and the J groans." U We watched him, startled. On the other side of the portieree J I Michael and Clutching Hand waited. Then, in the general confusion. Clutch- ; I TT J J, - ... . 1

j Hand slowly disappeared, foiled. "Where did this package come from?" asked Kennedy of Jennings 1 suspiciously. ' Jennings looked blank. I "Why," put in Elaine, "Michael s brought It to me." 1 "Get Michael," ordered Kennedy. ! 1 A moment later he returned. "1 - found him, going upstairs," reported 1 Jennings, leading Michael In. s "Where did you get this package?" ' shot out Kennedy. I "It was left at the door, sir, by a boy, sir." > Question after question could not ! shake that simple, stolid sentence. 1 I ] Kennedy frowned, i "You may go," he said finally, as !! reserving something for Michael later, t A sudden exclamation followed from ; Elaine as Michael passed down the hall again. She had moved over to the desk, during the questioning, and , was leaning against it. I Inadvertently she had touched an ' envelope. It was addressed, "Craig Kennedy." i Craig tore it open. Elaine bending , anxiously over his shoulder, frightened. ] "YOr HAVE INTERFERE! FOR ' j THE LAST TIME. !T IS THE END." Benea'h 11 stcd 'be fearsome sign ! of the Clutching Hand! ■ The warning of the clutching Hand Jiad no other effect on Kennedv -ban ; the redoubling of Ills precautions for safety. Nothing further hain-ened that nlglit. however, and the next morning found us earh at the laboratory. It" was the late forenoon. after a hurried tri» down to the offie" I rejoined Kennedy at hi-- s«intiic We walked down the s're'-t when a big limousine Kennedy instinct At the s-uv- mnr-i-ri I -aw e smiling fare at tl.e window , ' the car. It The ear stopped in s.-metbiti-- less than twice its length and then l ucked j Kennedy, hat of was at the window In a moment. Th' r<-- we-e Aunt Josephine and Susie Martin, also, "Where are you h-.ys going?" asked Elaine, with interest then added with a gayety that ill concealed her real 1 ' set* 'hr.t — er — nothing has happened ; from the dreadful Clutching Hand." I "Why. we were lust going up to our ] rooms." replied Kennedy. "Can't we drive you around?" We climbed in and a moment later j were off. The ride was only too short for Kennedy. We stepped out in front ] of our apartment and stood chatting . for a moment. "Some day I want to show you the ; laboratory." Craig was saying. j | "It must be so — interesting!" ex- • j claimed Elaine very enthusiastically. ^ "Think of all the bad men you must j caught!" Elaine hesitated. "Wonld yon like

> to see it?" she wheedled of Aunt Jose- . pblne. ? Aunt Josephjne cpdded acquiescence, and s moment la (& we'all entered tbe i building. "You — you are very careful since that last warning?" asked Elaine as 5 we approached our door i "More than ever — now," replied Craig. "I have made up my mind '.o win." Kennedy bad started to unlock tbe i door, when he stopped short. • "See." he said, "this is a precaution I have just Installed I \lmost forgot s In the excitement." I He pressed a panel and disclosed the boxlike apparatus. "This is my kinograph. which tells i me whether I have had any visitors in i my absence. If the pen traces a ■ straight line, it Is all right; but If-*- ; hello— Walter, the line is wavy." We exchanged a significant glance. "Would you miud — er — standing i down the hall just a bit while I enter?" asked Craig. , "Be careful." cautioned Elaine. He unlocked the door, standing off" i i to one side. Then he extended his hand across the doorway. Still noth-

It Was the Clutching Hand.

happened. There was not a sound. [He looked cautiously into the room. r apparently there was nothing. « • • • t ! It had been about the middle of the ' morning that an express wagon had ' nulled tin nhnrnlv hefnre rmr anort. E apart-

e ment. , rl "Mr. Kenpedy live here?" asked one of the expressmen, descending with his helper and approaching our janitor, j Jens Jensen, a typical Swede, whp was coming up out of the basemepL . | Jens growled a surly, "Yes — but Mr. I Kannady, he bane out." ..u« _ ' | j "Too bad — we've got this large .cabinet he ordered from Grand Rapids. , We can't cart It around all day. Can't , you let us In so we can leave it?" ! 1 Jensen muttered: "Well — I guess It bane all right." I I They took the cabinet off the wagon ' and carried it upstairs. Jensen opened ; our door, still grumbling, and they ; I placed the heavy cabinet in the living jj "Sign here." , "You falters bane a nuisance." protested Jens, signing nevertheless. I Scarcely had the sound of their footfalls died away in the outside hall- , way when the door of the cabinet ' wly opened and e masked face protruded. gazing about the room. . ) It was the Clutching Hand! From the cabinet he took a large | package wrapped in newspapers. As ; ' he held it. looking keenly about, his ' eye rested on Elaine's picture. A moi ment he looked at it. then quickly at the fireplace opposite. An idea seemed to occur to Ititn. I He took the package to t^e firoplr.ee. ! removed tbe screen and laid the pack- , age over the andirons with one end I pointing out into the room. Next he took from the cabinet a couple of storage batteries and a coil of wire, neftly an.! quickly he fixed Meanwhile before tin alleyway across the street r«d further down the long block tb-- express wacrn had teries and wires, dot. -trine Han-' ran Ml lie was directly over vtain,.,, Mire. Skillfully he mane d >o fix ihe wires, using them in place of i'h- pie- ' askew on Hie wall. The last wire 'oim d. he i„„t | ; about the room, th n noiselessly mo- rd ! : to the felndnw and raised the sba-le. Quickly lie raised his hand and ! brought the fingers slowly together. It was the sfcn. Off in the alley, the express driver j ! and his helper jumped into the wagon and away it rattled. 1 I Jensen was smoking placidly as the | i - wagon pulled up the second time. 1 j "Sorry." said the driver sheepishly, ; ' "but we delivered the cabinet to the ' ; wrong Mr. Kennedy." He pulled out tbe inevitable hook to j 1 i prove it. . Ij "Wall, you bane fin^ fallers." I | growled Jensen, puffing like a furnace. ' t in his fury. "You cannot go up : t jxagane." j * | "Well get fired for the mistake," « pleaded the helper. "Just this once," urged the driver, as

be rattled ro.ne loose change in ktt pocket. "Here— there goes a whole day's tips " He handed Jens a dollar in small change. Still gHiiiip.v. but mollified by tbe silver. Jens let them go up and opened the door to our rooms again. There stood the cr'i'net, as outwardly innocent as when it came in. Legging and tugging tbey managed to get the heavy piece of furniture out and downstairs again, loading it on th. m-agon Then thpy drove off with it. accompanied by a parting volley , from Jonren. In an unfrequented street, perhaps half n mile away, the wagon stopped. W 'h a keen glance around, the driver and his helper made sure that no one ■ "Such a shaking up as you've given me!" growled a voice as the cabinet door opened. "But I've got him this time!" It was the Clutching Hand. Craig gazed into our living room cantfously "1 can't *ee an ethics wrong," he said to m as T stood just beside him. "Mist Dodge." he added, "will you and the rest excuse me if I ask you to wait just a moment longer?" Elaine watched blm. fascinated. He crossed the room, then went into each of our other rooms. Apparently nothing was wrong and a minute later he reappeared at the doorway. "I guess it's aH right," he said. "Perhaps it was only Jensen, tbe janltor." Eir.lne, Aunt Josephine and Susie Martin entered. Craig placed chairs for them, but still I could see that .he was uneasy. From time to time, wftile they were admiring nue of our treasures after another, he glanced about suspiciously. "-What is the trouble, do you think-?" asked Elaine wonderingly. noticing his manner. "1 — I can't just sav." answered Craig, trying to appear easy. She had risen and with keen Interest was looking at the books, the pictures. the queer collection of weapons and odds and ends from the underworld that Craig had araasse.' in his adventures. At last her eye wandered across the room. She caught sight of her own picture, occupying a place of honor — but hanging askew. "Isn't that just like a man!" she ex- . claimed. "Such housekeepers as yon are — such carelessness!" She bad taken a stop or two serosa the room to straighten the picture. "Miss Dodge!" almost shouted Kennedy, his face fhirly blanched. "Stop!" She turned, her stunning eyes filled with amazement gt his suddenness. she moved quickly to one side, as he waved his arms, unable to I ne waved nis unable to

. speak quickly enough. Kennedy stood quite still, gazing at , the picture, askew, with suspicion. I "That wasn't that way when we left, , was it, Walter?" he asked, t "It certainly was not," I answered positively. "There was more tlms . spent in getting that picture just ^ right than I ever saw you spend on tb« Craig frowned. As for myself I did not know what to make of it. "I'm afraid I shall have to ask yom to step into this back room," said Craig i at length to the ladies. "I'm sorry — but we can't be too careful with this ' : intruder, whoever he was." f Elaine, however, stopped at the door. I For a moment Kennedy appeared to ' be considering. Then his eye fell on a fishing rod that stood in * corner. I lie took it and moved toward the ptci On his hands and knees, to one side, down as close as he could get to the floor, with the red exteuued -at arm's length, he motioned to me to do the same, behind bin:. Carefully Kennedy reai-hed out with - the pole and straightened the picture. As he did so there was a flash, a loud, deafening report, and a great . puff of smoke from the fireplace. The lire screen was riddled and overturned. A charge of buckshot shattered the precious photograph of Elaine. ^ We had dropped flat on .lie fioor £t the report. I Iboked about. Ken; ;y was unharmed and so were the re: t p followed by Elaine and the -Mt of us. There, in what remained 1 a package done up -o-ghly in nev i a sawed off about s x inches fron- :.ie magnetic arrangement actuated bv two batteries and leading by win :;> along the melding to the picture wl • re he slightest touch would complete ths ; A startled cry from Elaine caused us to turn. i She was standing directly be.'on •!; r hattereu picture wl:, re It hung r.r.ry i ou the wall. The heavy charge of buckshot had knocked away large . pieces of paper and plaster under it. "Craig!'' she gasped, , He was at her side in a second. She laid one hand on his arm, as she faced him. With the other -she traced I imaginary line in the air from. the j of the buckshot to his head and then straight tpt the infernal thing that i lain in the fireplace. And to think," she shuddered, "that . was through me that he tried to kill you!" ! "Never mind," laughed Craig easily, they gazed into each other's eyes, drawn together by their mutual peril, I "Clutching • Hand will have to be cleverer than this to get either of us — Elaine!" (TO BK CONTINUED.)