pw» SEVrfv I'APE MAT STAR AXD rsrg ' SATfRDAV, MARCH 13, 191>. : „ a .

I The Exploits of Elaine f £ A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drarxa By ARTHUR B. REEVE B The Well -Known Novelist and the Creator of the "Craig Kennedy" Stories Presented in Collaboration With the Psthe' Players and $j | the Eclectic Film Company -jj

SYNOPSIS. iMiIii-f. ar. mystified by The , a',i a / Is ' I J'n1 prln.lpal c'^ |° '' Y^jjjjj^n nil ' " ' Lai•"gned with it "• lu«vnlniTJj|Ujns'_ . it Taylor I '.-If, it.- ',i,sorai.reJ%Ilia daiiBlit. r. Elaine, . ri.pl"> WAi. tit. , Kennedy, tl.- f "..-u> M-i.-nt.tw t Ke.mc dv°» «""mpl Li .! ■>" '• 'id ' tflK '. Ka'^"'< ha!'i« r"uf th" 'ato"!" tells "i a 'n- w plot against ti.«-tr live un.l of Hi- way tile «!••;.' .! live • all his adcltl to death. SEVENTH EPISODE The Double Trap. Mtnd.':il of the sage advice that n

time of peace is best employed in proparing for war. I was busily engaged i in cleaning my automatic gun one morning as Kennedy and 1 were seat- i ed id our living room. Our door. buzzer sounded, and Kennedy. always alert, jumped up. pushing aside a grea^pii'.e of papers which i had accumulated in the Dodge case. ' Two steps took him to the halt, where the day before he had installed a peculiar box about four by six inches. 1 connected in some way with a lenslike box of similar size above our bell and speaking tube in the hallway below it. He opened it. disclosing an oblong plate of ground glass. . "1 thought the seismograph arrangement was not quite enough after that spring-gun affair," he remarked, -so I have put in a sort of teleview of my own invention — so that I can ce down into the vestibule downstair* Well— just look who's here:" "Some new-fangled periscope ar j rangement, I suppose?" 1 queried, nov- 1 log slowly over toward it. However, one look was enough to : Interest me. I Jean express it only j In slang. There, framed fn the little i thing, was a vision of as swell a "chicken" as I have ever seen. j 1 whistled under my breath. "Urn!" 1 exclaimed .shamelessly. "A peach" Who's your friend?" "j I had never said a truer word than In my description of her. though I did not know it at the time. She was in- | deed known as "Gertie the .Pearl) ' in the select circle where she belonged. Kennedy had opened the lower door and our fair visitor was coming upstairs. "Go in there. Walter." he said, seizing me quickly and pushing me into my room. "I w-ant you lo wait iherd and watch her carefully Kennedy opened the door. <11 se losing a very excited young woman. "Oh. Professor Kennedy." she cried, ail in one breath, with much emotion. "I'm so glad i found you in. I can't : tell you. Oh— my jewels! They have been stolen— and m* husband must not know of it. Help me to -"recover them— please!" "Just a moment, my dear young lady." interrupted Craig, finding at , t

last a chance to get a word in edge- j ways. "Do you see that table— and all ' (. those papers? Really. I can't take your case. I am too btfsy. as it is. even n to take the cases of many of my own a clients." t "But please. -Professor Kennedyplease!" she begged ."Help me. It F means — oh I can't tell you how much r it means to me!" 4 She had come close lo him and had laid her warm little soft hand on his. in ardent entreaty , From my hiding place in my room. f 1 could not help seeirg hat she waa using every charm of her sex and per- , sonality 1 6 lure him on. as she clung confidingly to him. , Gertie had "thrown her arms about , Kennedy, as if in wildest devotion. 1 1 , wondered what Elaine would have | thought if sheMiad a picture of that! I , "Oh," she begged him. please— • please help me!" Still Kennedy seemed utterly unaffected by her passionate embrace. , Carefully he. loosened her fingers from about his neck and removed the plump, enticing arms. Gertie sank into a chair, weeping, while Kennedy stood before her a mo mcnt in deep abstraction. Finally he seemed to make up his mind to something. His mannet toward her changed. He took a step to her side. "I will help you." he said. laying his hand on her shoulder. "If it is pos Bible 1 will recover your Jewels. Where do you live?" "At Hazlehurst." she replied, grate Awfully "Oh. Air. Kennedy, now can 1 ever thayk vou'.'' She seemed ovtrchme with cratitude. and took his hand, pressed it, , even kissed it. Just a minute." ne added, carefully extricating nis hand. I'll be ready in hist a minute." * Kennedy entered the room where 1 'was listening "What's it all about, Craig?" I whispered. mystified. For a moment he stood thinking, apparently reconsidering what he had

just done. Then bis second thought 1 seemed to approve it. "This is a trap of the Clutching ; Hand, Walter." he whispered, adding ' tensely, "and we're going to walk right | Into it." "But. Craig," I demurred, "tha^s foolhardy. Have her traiied--jsny-thing— but — " [ J He shook his head, and with a mere ' . "***»-, ' his baud brushed aside my a*-"-" he went to a cabinet screjLtbe room. . From one shelf he - ' oul a sma» metal- bpx and from aii„ , t^*;t tube, placing the test lubel 18 waistcoat pocket and the smal box in bis coat pocket with excessivy- care. Then lie turned and motioned to me 1 did so. stufliug my j&att" into my "Let me introduce/my friend. Mr.

lo the pretty crook. A ,d, The introduction quickly over, we which he kept at a nearby garage. st That forenoon Ferry Bennett was reading up a case. In the outer oflice Milton Srholioid. his office boy. was industriously chewing gum and w admiring his feet, cocked up on the desk before him. n The door to the waiting room „ opened and an attractive woman of (j perhaps thirty, dressed in extreme mourning, entered with a boy. ^ Milton 'east a glance of scorn at the "little dude." He was in reality about „ fourteen years old. "but was dressed to look much younger. a "Did you wish to see Mf. Bennett?" j. asked the precocious Milton, politely, on one hand, while on the other he made a wry grimace. "Yes — here is ray card;" replied the It "was deeply bordered in black, j Even Milton was s farmed at reading ! it: "Mrs. Taylor Dodge." He looked at the woman in open- ' mouthed astonishment. Even he knew | that Elaine's mother had been dead j The woman, however, true to her 1 I name in the artistic coterie in which j she was leader, had sunk into a chair 1 . and was sobbing convulsively, as only • "Weepy Mary" could. ' It was so effective that even Milton 1 ; was visibly moved. He took the card in, excitedly, to Bennett. r "There's a woman outside — says she 1 is Mrs. Taylor Dodge!" he cried. If Milton had had ati X-ray eye he could have seen her take a- cigarette ® from her. handbag and light it non- ' chalantly the moment he was gone. As for Bennett* Milton, who was watching him closely, thought he was about to discharge him ou the spot I for b»thering hiin. He took the card, '• i and his face expressed the most ex- * | treme surprise, then auger He 9 I thought a moment. 1 j "Tell i hat woman to state her busir j ness in writing." he thundered curily I at Milton. 8 As the bov turned to go back to t ! ... .... ... >. -

the waiting room. Mary ing him coming, hastily shoved the r cigarette into her "son's" hand. * "Mr. Bennett says for you to write I out wliaj it is you want to see him about " reported Milton, indicating the l table before which she was sitting Mary had automatically taken, up • sobbing with the release of the ciga- t rette. She looked at the table on < which were letter paper, pens and ink. "I may write here?" she asked. I '.'Surely, ma'am." replied Milton, I still very much overwhelmed by ber 1 "Weenv Mary" sat. there, writing , and s -fcbing. . i In the midst of his sympathy, how- , ever. Milton sniffed. There was an unmistakable odor of tobacco smoke , about th* room. He looked sharply' at the "sop.* and discovered the still , ] amoking cigarette. ' It was too much for Milton's out- . raced dignity. Bennett did not allow ; him that coveted privilege. This upstart couldtiot usurp it He reached over and seized the boy by the arm. and swung him around till he faced a sign in the corner on the wall. "See?" he demanded. The sign read, courteously: "Mo Smoking ip This Office— Please. "PERRY BENNETT." "Leggo my arm." snarled the "son." puttinc the offensive cigarette defi- '. antly into his mouth. There was every element of a gaudy niixup. when the outer door of the ofuce suddenly swung open and Elaine Dodge entered. I Gallantry was Milton's middle name. and he sprang forward to held the • door, and then opercd Bennett's door, , as he ushered in Elaine. As she pas«ed "Weepy Mary," who ' was still writing at the tab'e and cryi ing bitterly. Elaine hesitated and looked* at her ceriouslv. Even after I Milton had opened Bennett's door, she could not rerist another glance. In- - stincUvely, Elaine seemed to scent trouble. ► Bennett was still studying the black 1 bordered card when she greeted him.

"Who js that woman?" she as Red, | ! still wondering about the identity of i i the niobe outside. ! At first he said nothing. But finally. ; seeing that she had noticed it he | handed Elaine the card, reluctantly. I Elaine read it with a gasp. The look ■ of surprise' that crossed her face was ; terribie. , 1 Before she could say anything, however, Milton had returned with the | sheet of paper on which "Weepy '• Mary" had written and handed it to ' I Bennett. Bennett read it with unctyitrolled < - astonishment. ' ' w "What is it?" demanded Elaine. He handed it to her, and she read: ! As the lawful wife and widow 1 6f Taylor Dodge I demand my son's rights and my own. MRS. TAYLOR DODGE. ' Elaine gasped at it. ; "She— mv father's wife!" she ex- ' claimed. "What effrontery! What Bennett hesitated. ' "Tell me." Elaine cried. "Is there — can there be anything in it? No — no— 1 there isn't." ■ ' Bennett " 6pf>kc in a low tone. i 1 have heard a whisper of some scandal or'othcr connected with your fatli er— but — " He -paused. Elaine was first shocked, then india- - sTicn' « 'hing is absurd. Show the uoii.au in!" "No— please— Miss Dodge. Let m- . ' df-al with her." By this time Elaine was furious. 1 -Yes— 1 will see her."

She pressed the* button on Bennett's desk, and Milton responded. "Milton, show the- the woman in." ordered, "and that boy. too." 1 As Milton turned to crook his finger at "Weejfr Mary,'" she nodded surrep- ' titfciusly and dug her fingers sharply into "son's" ribs. "Yell— you little fool— yell," she 1 whispered. Obedient to his" "mother's" commands. and much to Milton's disgust, boy started to cry in close imitation of his elder. Elaine was stiil holding the paper in hands when they entered. "What does all this mean?" she demanded. "tveepy Mary." between sobs, managed to blurt out. "You are Miss Elaine Dodge, aren't you? Well. It

means that your father married me j 8 'when' I was only seventeen and this j a is our son— your half-brother." | J "No — never." cried Elaine vehem- j entlv. unable to restrain her disgust. "Weepy ' Mary" smiled cynically, i "Come with me and I will 'show you I . the chutvh records and the minister, ( who married us." r "You will?" repeated Elaine defiant- , "Weil. I'll just do as you ask. Mr. ( shall go with me." "No. no. Miss Dodge — don't go. . the matter to rae." urged Ben- , nett. "I u-111 take care of her. Be- , sides. I must be in court in twenty ( minutes." " , Elaine paused, but she was thor- , oughly aroused. "Then I will go with her myself." , she cried defiantly | In spite of every objection that Ben- ( nett made. "Weepy Mary." her son and Elaine went out to call a taxicab to take them to the railroad station , where they could catch a train to tho f little t£yaf where the woman asserted MeVpwhile. before a little country ohuVgje'in the town, a closed automobile had drawn up. As tlie door opened a figure, humped tip and masked, alighted. It was the Clutching Hand. The car had scarcely pulled away 1 when he gave a long rap. followed by •two short taps.' at the door of the ' vestry, a secret code, evidently. _Aqside the vestry- room a man well > drcssbd. but wills a very sinister face, heard the knock and a second later ■ opened the door. 1 "What— not ready yet?" growled the ■ Clutching Hand. "Ot-iek — now — get on those clothes. I heard the train wliis1 'tie -as I came in the car. In which closet does the" jninistor keep them?" 1 The crook, without a word, went to r a closet and took out a suit of clothes s of ministerial cut. Then he hastily ' put them on. adding some side-whisk- ' ers. which he hail brought with him. .At about the same time Elaine, accompanied by "Weepy Mary" and her

"sen," had arrived at the little tumbledown station and had taken the only vehicle in sight, a very ancient carriage. It ambled along until, at last, it pulled up before the vestry' room door of the church, just as the hogus.:ninister was finishing his' transformation from a frank crook. Clutching Hand was giving him his -final instructions. Elaine and the others alighted and approached the church, while the an- ; cient vehicle rattled away. 1 "They're coming!" whispered t5e i crook, peering cautiously out rt the window. ] Clutching Hand moved siL-ntly and snakelike into the closet pad shut the "How do you do. poctor Carton?" greeted "Weepy Mary." I guess you < don't remember me-" ' The clerical gentleman looked at ] fixedly a moment- , "Remember you?" he repeated. "O? j course, my dear. I remember every"And you remember to whom you "Perfectly. To an older man — a TayDodge." "WorfT^you step in?" he said suavely. "Your friend here doesu't ■ seem well " They all catered "Ami vol-; — you say— you married tlii- this v/oman to Taylor Dodge?" » u fried Elrine. tensely. " •; bogus minister seemed to bo very fa%»riy. "Yes." h< asserted. "I ' certain!, id so." "Have -mi the record?" asked

Elaine, f: ing to the last. "Why. s. I can show -vou therecord." . He mo\ over to the closet. "Come ov. r here x he asked. He ope l-d the door. Elaine screamed and drewBiack. There stood her arch em-niy. ife Clutching Hand himself. As he stepped forth, she turned wildly. to run — anywhere. But strong arms seized her and forced her into She looked at the woman and the minister. It was a plot! "A moment Clutching Hand looked Elaine over. "Put the others out," he ordered .the other crook. "Now. my pretty dear." began the Clutching Hand as the lock turned in the vestry door, "we shall be joined SS? i

ffnlE .-'iCEv ~ 1 There Stood Her Arch Enemy, the Clutching Hand.

| shortly uv your triend. Craig Kennedy, 4 land." lie added with a deer. "I tV.nk your rather insistent search for a . ! certain person w ill cease." , i Elaine drew back in the chair, horrl- t tied at the implied threat. j i Clutching Hand laughed diabolically. • 1 ■ While these astounding events were , transpiring in the little church. Ken- , r.edy and ! had been tearing across ( <he country in his big car following the directions of our fair friend , We stopped at last betore a pros- , reus, attractive-looking house and *' entered a very prettily furnished but , small parlor. Heavy portieres hung over tile doorway into' the hail, over , another into a hack room and -oier the bay windows. coaxed Geriie "I'm quite blown <o pieces after that ride. My. how you drive'" As she pulled aside the hull portieres. three men with guns thrust their duhuls out. 1 Jurned. Two others ha-.l st.-pped from the back room and two more from the bay windowwere aimed jis us v.ith deadly preci"Geiitlemen." he sa'd quietly. "1 hp re a small box of lulinlnate of mercury. If 1 dr..,. it. this building ami the entire vicinity will be blown to atoms Go ahead— shoot!" be added., nonchalantly. Tile seven of thi m drew back rathKennedy was a dangerous prisoner. He calmly sat down in an arm chair, leaning back as In carefully balanced the deadly little box of fulminate of mercury on his knee. Gertie ran front the room. For a moment they looked at each other, undecided. Then, one by one, ihc-y stepped away from Kennedy toward the door. The leader was the last to go. He had scarcely taken a step. "Stop!" ordered Kennedy. The crook did so. As Craig moved

- - toward hinuwe wa'ted. coW sweat f breaking out V his lace. 1 "Say. " he wL^ - vou let me be!' . It was ineffectual.' Kennedy, smiling confidently. tameVloser, still hold- £ ing the deadly little box. balanced be- f tween two fingers. ' 1 He took the crook's gun and dropped It into his pocket. cJ^lL^fsd^rleyed in i whispers. One raised a gun. the woman and the. others re- ' strained him and fled. "Take me to your master!" demanded Kennedy. The crook remained silent. "Where is ha?" repeated Craig. "Tell me!" . Still the man remained silent. Craig looked the fellow over again. still with that confident smile, reached into his inside pocket and drew forth the tube 1 had seen him place there. "No matter how much you accuse me." added Craig casually, "no one will ever take the word of a crook that a reputable scientist like mo would do what 1 am about to do." He had taken out his penknife and opened it. Then he beckoned to me. "Bare his arm and hold his wrist, Walter." he said. Craig bent down with the knife and the tube, then paused a moment, and turned lo tube so that we could see it. On the label were the ominous words : Germ Culture 6248A Bacillus Leprae (Leprosy) Calmly be took the knife and pro- ' ceeded to make an incision, in the

man's arm. The crook's feelings uns" dqrwent a terrific struggle. "No — no — no — don't." he implored. ® "I will take you to the Clutching Hand— even if he kills pie!" ' Kennedy stepped back, replacing 1 the tube in his pocket. "Very well, go ahead!" he agreed. We followed the crook. Craig still ? holding the deadly box of fulminate of mercury' carefully balanced so that if anyone shot him from a hiding place 6 it would drop. No sooner had we gone than Gertie hurried to the nearest telephone to 9 infofm the Cluching Hand of our escape. 0 Elaine had sunk back into* the chair . jj as the telephone rang. Clutching Hand answered iL. A moment later, in uncontrollable | fury he hurled the instrument to the j j "Here — we've got to act quickly — | . that devil has escaped again," he ' hissed. "We must get her away. You ] keep her here. I'll be back — right i away — with a car." I He dashed madly from the church, j pulling off his mask as be gained the ' street. j. Kennedy had forced the crook ahead I j , of us into the caf which was waiting, 1 and 1 followed, taking the wheel, this i time. j < "Which way. now — quick!" defnand- ! I j ed Craig. "And if you get me in! i wrong — I've got that tube yet — you re- i < ! member." . ' 1 Our crook started off with a whole ' 1 burst of directions that rivaled the : - motor guide — "through the town, fol- ' ; lowing trolley tracks, jog right, jog left under the railroad bridge, leaving trolley tracks: at the cemetery turn 1 left, stopping at the old stone church." 1 j "Is this it?" asked Craig incredulously. "Yes— as I live, swore the crook 1 in a cowed voice. He bud gone to pieces. Kennedy < Jun.:«-d 'ron i the machine. Here take this gun. Walter.' lie said to no lien i take your eyes oft the fellow keep k m covered. ol sight.- unlit |„. came to a small

There was Eh m>. •- Hing in a c hair, ' and near het s. ou . elderly looking trained eye was evidently a dis at lilt window L:. i uei eyes g"ew wide witli asioiUM.oe tit at the sight 01 (n,lg.'d I tilt' make a dash lorTlie door She nodded ' \\::h a j. lancet i hfff guardian sl.e | He was at her Jh a moment, po inc- ' Kennedy had seiA-i! an noli bar that lay beside th** . .vinw where some workme n had beer • --i-airiin: the stone pavement, and with a blow shattered the glass and Hie sash At the sound of Hi. smashing glass the crook I uracil and with a tirrl'i ■' effort threw Elaine aside, drawing Ii s revolver As he raised it. Ela ::••• sprung at htm and frainicaiiy seizvt his wrist. rttcrly merciless th • ma . broug it again, cl-.siiig with tin- lelioi^ -and Just then the M..u broke awav and made a dash for the door leading back into the church itself, with Kennedy 1 after him. Up he went into the choir loft and then into the belfry itself. There they came to sheer hand-to-hand struggle. 1 Kennedy tripped on a loose board, and would have fallen backwards if he had not bqen able to recover himself just In time. The crook," desperate, leaped

tlie ladder leading farther up into the steeple. • Kennedy followed. Elaine bad recovered consciousness almost immediately, and. nesring the (commotion, stirred and started to rise And look about. From' the church she could hear sounds struggle. She paused ,ust Tong enough to seize the crook s revolver lying on the floor. She hurried into the church and up the belfry, thence up the ladder, w-hfcnce the sounds came. The crook by this lime had gained the outside of the steeple through an Opening. Kennedy was in close pursuit. On the top of the steeple was a great gilded cross, considerably larger than d man. As the crook clambered outside, he scaled the steeple, using a lightning rod and some projecting points to pull himsell up. desperately. Kennedy followed unhesitatingly. There they were, struggling in deadly combat, clinging to the gilded cross. The first 1 knew of it was a norrified gasp from mv'-own crook. I looked up

Then I Saw a Woman's Face 1 Tense With Horror: It Was Elaine.

I carefully, fearing it was a stall to get | off my guard. j There were Kennedy and the other : crook, struggling, swaying back and forth, between life and death. There was .nothing I could do. Kennedy was clinging to a lightning rod on the cross. K it broke. 1 gasped as Craig reeled back. But managed to catch hold of the rod farther down and cling to it The crook began to exult diabolically. Holding with both hands to the cross he let himself out to his full length and stamped on Kennedy's fingers, trying every way to dislodge him. It was all Kennedy could do to keep his bold. i cried out in agony at the sight, for lie had dislodged one ol riatg s hands. Ike other could n«- hold much longer.

uus fac.- k i^t < if terrorIt was Elaine! The crook v.)-,.- • ».»'« n refuge couple of su ps ■. thin an Willi a sc... loin T ill llu bodv of the crook UMh'-d on fn- ground arouu't the cornel i. • or.n from ins He ic'lowd. :rciiit-i g uiiu. r\.c biok'-n ii- .i ln.-l.. re I was dead *tll«J . 1..I Ik. ■•"Ii t • ,ur ■ .. r • Thank II- avi n. . . murmured tervently, trying to smock the flow of bloodThis time — it was you — saved me!" he cried. "Elaine!" Involuntarily his arms sought hers — and be held her a moment, IooRing deep into her wonderful eyes. Then their faces came slowly to gether in their first kiss. (TO BE CONTINUED.)