Newspapers / The Asheville Times (Asheville, … / Feb. 3, 1915, edition 1 / Page 2
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7 READ It Here Now- -Then SEE All in Moving Pictures A DETECTIVE NOVEL AND A l 4 MOTION PICTURE DRAMA 0 3 It Presented by this Newspaper in Collaboration ' - -At- ' 4.1U. -v lTnvt1 O "D wV. A D 1 VAMC Willi IX lV, . - All. UUi3 A Ulllb A M. v5 The Well-Known Novelist and the Creator of the "CRAIG KENNEDY" Stories Dramatized Into a Photo Play by Chas. Goddard Author of "The Perils of Pauline Intro ducing Cast of Leadi-. i Characters in Miss'P ture Reproduction by the Popular Pathe Players ELAINE DODGE . . ; . V CRAIG KENNEDY . , . ... . . . Mr. Arnold Daly PERRY BENNETT . . . . . . . . Mr. Sheldon Lewis Everything you read here to-day you can see in fasci nating Pathe Motion Pictures at the Motion Picture Theatres this week. Next Sunday another chapter of "The Exploits of Elaine" and new Pathe reels. Qirnnvinic! nf Dpairinno Prion ore OyilVplS 01 XreVlOUS lldpteifc. r I - "cw Trl P0"" re mystmea ay a I series of murders of prominent men. The principal clue to the murderer is the warning letter which is eent the victims signed with a "clutching hand.". The latest tfictim of the mysterious assassin is Taylcr Oodge, the insurance president. His daugM- ler, Elaine, employs Craig Kennedy, the fa- mous scientific detective, to try to unravel the mystery. What Kennedy accomplishes is told by his friend Jameson, a newspaper man. One of the criminals steals Into Elaine's room at night, puts her under the influence of the twiligbc sleep drug and forces her to write a letter dismissing Kennedy. This trick fails. Kennedy learns of a daring rob bery planned by the conspirators. In an effort to trap them. Elaine is captured and sealed up in a tank where cieath by drown ing seems Inevitable. CHAPTER IV. K'NXEDY bwuiik onen the di or of our taxieab us vo puiled tip, safe at last, before the Dodse mansion, after the rescue of Elaine from the 'brutal machina tions of the Clutching Hand. Kennett was on the ste;i of the cab in a moment, and together, oi,u on each cole of Elaine, they assisted her out of the car find up the steps to tae house. Elaine's Aunt Josephine was waiting for us In the drawing room, very much worried. The dear old lady was ouitc scandalized as Elaine excitedly told of the thrilling events that had just taken place. "And tx think the v actually carried you'! lie exclaimed, horrined, adding, "And not'' "Rut Mr, Kennedy came along and saved me Just In time," interrupted Elaine with a smile. "I was well chaperoned!" "Come into the library!'' sl.e cried gaily, taking his arm. "I've something to show you." Where the old safe, which had been burnt through, had stood, was now a hrand-new safe of the very latest construction and de- sign one of those globular safes that look and are so formidable. "Here Is the new safe," she pointed o t brightly. It Is not only proof against xplo- slves, hut between the plates is a linlna that IS proor agiiinst inerma hum even turn o.. - acetylene blowpipe by which you rescued me from Ihe old boiler. It bus a time lock, too, that m ill prevent Its ' eln n- I at night, even If any on should lesrn th combina tion." They stood before the snfe a moment, and Kennedy examined It closely with much In terest. "Wonderful!" he admired. "I knew you d approve of It!" rrled F.lalne, snurh pleased, to show you." ".Vow I have something else 8h paused at th desk, and from a drawer took out a portfolio of large photograpV. They were very handsome photographs of herself. "Much :iore wonderful than the safe." re- marked Craig earnestly. Then, hesitating and trlfl emnarraasea, n auueu, jnay i may , l., I nave one . "it vaii pin foe It." she snlil. drnnntnr her . - - - --, -- yes, then glancing up at him quickly. . "Care for It?" he repeated. "It will be on l" "- " Bennett. Aunt Jocerhin. and my If wer. talklng earnestly as Elaine and Craig re- turned. "Well." .aid Bennett, glai.clng at hla watch and rising a he turned to Elaine, "I'm afraid I m.st go now." TTe crossed over to where she stood and shook hands. There was no doubt that Ben nett wa. very much smitten by his fair client "Qoodby. Mr. Bennett." she murmured, "and yl thank yon so much for what you have don ior m to-aay. ' But ther wa. something lifeless about th words. Bh. turned quickly to Craig, who had regained standing. "Must yoa go, too, Mr. Kennedyr h asked, noticing his position. Vnt ate.M We 1.m AH ... T ... -Oh. I hoe. y.u-w. a. him .oonl" .h. .- . T KiVKthjt-",ntMt- " -uu' i nuw, r.i. eaussd. By pressing a llttl concealed button . p.n.i m tn wall out.id. to In her dainty .vsnlng gown, was still n loosen, disclosing a smsll, box-Ilk plat In gaged In going over th papers. He carried th Wall Unm.ath. . - hi. h.nrf. r.lh.e .lnrlv wm .nun loot lone .na h.eh.n. fAiip t., h. h..L ii . 7 lMUiw wia, TnrouiH It ran a plec of p.pr earl WHite, mold Daly and "GraigL Kennedy the Motion Pic . . . . Miss Pearl White which unrolled from one coil and wound up on a,lothel. at.tuatc(1 by (.iockwork. Across t,e -blank white 'paper ran an ink line traced i,y a slylogru-phic pen. such as 1 had seen in 'mechanical.' pencils used In offices, hotels, banks and such places. . "What is it?" I asked. "A new kinograph,'' he replied, still gazing carefully at the rolled up 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 Han'. t - i,it t.v L-,i i -,' i-ht.l lit.,- M- li.'ivts hurt nnv visitor, or not in our absence. This straight line Indicates' that we have not. Walt a moment.'' Crahr hastily unlocked the door and en tered Inside 1 could see him pacing up and down otir modest quarters. "lo ou M-e anything, Walter?" he cr.lled. 1 looked at the kinograph. The pen had started to trace its line, no longer even and straight, hut zigzag, at different heights ai ross tiie paper. lie came to the door. "What do you think of It V" be inquired. ' rpUndid idea," I answered enthusiastic ally. We entered and I fell to work nt the afore mentioned typewriter on a i-pecial Sanday story that J had been forced to neglect. I was not so busy, however, that. I did not uotk out of the corner of my eye that Ken nedy bail taken from Its cover Elaine Dodge's picture and was gazing at it ravenously. He tried it on the mantel. That wouldn't oo. t lfiat he held it up beside a picture or cialton, I think, of finger-print and eugenics fame, who ur.r,- on the wall directly opposite I 111- fireplace Hastily he compared the two. Kiaine s picture was precisely the same size. Xet be tore ,t the picture of the scientist and threw it carelessly into the fireplace, Then ae placed Elaine's picture In its place and hun.!? it up again, standing off to admire ' He stopped a moment before the photo- graph, looked at it fixedly. Then he started h:s methodical walk again, hesltRted, and went over to the telephone, calling a number wlikh I recognized. ", must hnve been pretty well done up )ool ,,, turning out the light, she fol by h-r experience, " he said apologetically, s0wd. catching my eye. "I was wondering if hello! ph. hflll ..,rlv di,,,.,..,. wh.n f- oh, Miss Dodge I er I er Just called up 10 Bee u you were an rignt. A musical lauTh rippled over the tele phone. "Yes, I'm all right, thnnk you, Mr. Kennedy and F put the package yoa sent me Into the safe, hut" I-arkage?" frow el Craig. "Why, I sent you no package. Mis Dodge, In the safe? "Why, yes, and th safe Is all covered with moisture and so cold." "Yes. I have been wondering If V. Is all rlsrlit. In fact, I was going to rail you up, only I was afraid you'd think I was foolish." I shall be right over," he answered hastily, clapping the receiver back on Its hook. "Wal ter," he added, seizing his hat and coat, "com on hurry!" coulfl ot nRe htfn lnn. nfter w 1(ft J,,,, Wo,lMi u,. )n tn, afternoon, that Utisl i.rli wh ,.. ui,. vllu4 ve oe , , " " V. I . J " long absence after th attempt to rob her j - ..-.. . lamer, oruppea in on cwuifl, v lae-ryca, sne hail ,,n?a to Ualne. story of what had happened. "Ana you think this Clute-ning Hand has ,v.r recovered th. Incriminating pao.r. that ,.,, nlm -,.., Tonr ,.,h,,r. ..w. Susie. . Let m show Elaine shook her head. "No. you th new safe I'v bought Mr. Kennedy thinks It wonderful." . At (hat very moment, If they had known It, me viuiemng nann, win nis inisier. maskeit far, was peering at th two girls from th '" ' Portl""; Susie rose to go and Elaln followed her to the door. No sooner hid .he gone than th Clutching Hand cam out from behind th cur,ttln' "d b,l npmnt. then, moving over to th safe about which the two girls hud been tarklng, stealthily examined It He must have heard some on coming, for, with . getur of hat at th safe Itself, as ,hUgh M ,"onlfled b "1'p",J b"k ' . u T turnea" 'na " ,n Mt a?wn t the desk to go over aom papers which ::thE?" ,n,rud,r ,t"UhUy a pscKiii ior yo", iibw xun.e, announc- d Michael later In th evening, a Elaine. Mr. Kennedy sent It, ma'am He .ays lt eonlains eluus. and wlU you pl.aM put it la The Famous Scientific Detective of Fiction the new safe for him." Elaine took the package eagerly and exam ined It. Then ahe pulled open the little round ..0,?',orth,rt"!ar saf,'; ,'.' ' ... : it must De geuing cuiu gii, ivuciiaei, . one remarked. "This package la as cold aa ice." "It Is, ma'am," answered Michael, deferen tially, with a sidelong; glance that did not prevent his watching her intently. She closed the safe, and, with a glance at her watch, set the time lock and went up stairs to her room. No sooner had Elaine disappeared than Michael appeared again, cat-like, through the curtains from the drawing-room. and. after a glance about the dimly lighted library, dl.- covered that the coast was clear, motioned to a figure hidlns behind the portieres. A moment and 'Clutching Hand himself came out. "Listen!" cautioned Michael. Some one was coming, and they hastily slunk behind t . 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 hSd evidently sent her. She paused and appeared to be listening. Then she went to the door. "Jennings!" she, backoned. "What is lt, Marie?" he replied. the said nothing, but a. he ca- -e up the hall led him to the centre of the room. "Listen ! I heard sighs and groans!" "But, Jennings, listen," she persisted, were sounds, weird, uncanny. He gazed about the r oiu. It was eerie. Then he took a few steps toward the safe. Marie put out her hand to it and started back. "Why, that safe is all covered with cold sweat!" she cried with bated breath. Sure enough, the face of the "afe was bead ed with dampness. Jennings put his hand on it and quickly drew it away, leaving a mark on the dampness. "Wh-what do you think of It?" hs gasped, see you to sue that er nothing has hap room. 1 "What is the matter, Marie?" asked Elaine, laying down her book. "You look as if you had seen ghost." ..An but mademoiselle It es Just like that. The ga(ef mademoiselle will come downstairs, I will show It you." puzzled, but Interested, Elaine followed her. In the library Jennings pointed mutely gt ,he new ,af. Elaine approached It. As they stood about, new beads of perspiration. a9 u wer()i formen on lt, Elaine touched It and a)BO qllici,ly withdrew her hand. 'I can't Imagine what', the matter," she pid "Rut well Jennings, Marie, also." you may go and When the servants had gone she still re garded the safe with the same wonderlnar the oortiered rtorwov near .v th. rim chlng Hand appeared, and, after gating out at them, took a quick look at the safe. "Good!" he muttered. Nolselessry Michael of the sinister face moved In and tnntr a noslttnn In th ,ni.. o tn, room lf on fuKrii whll Clutchlug Hand sat before the safe watching It in tently. "Some one at the door Jennings Is answer ing the bell," Michael whispered hoarsely. "Confound it!" muttered Clutching Hand, s both moved again behind the heavy velour curtains. "I'm so glad to you, Mr. Kennedy," greeted Elaine unaffectedly as Jennings ad mitted us. She had heard the bell and was coming downstairs as w entered. We three moved . . . 7 : towaro in library and some ,h Klim l,B ne switched on Craig strode over to th car. The cold sweat on It had now turned to Icicles. Craig's face clouded with thought as he examined it ... ,.. J. . . "Cl"eI- T:?,W ClUllly ron- "'.""" V wlulm' W stood looking at th afe. Kennedy was deeply interested, Elaine standing clos v..,,,- e.iH.i. t.. . a . ... n). ' " "QuIck-EUIn.!" h. cri.d, taking her arm, "Stand back!" ' w all retreated. Th safe door, powerful as it was, had actually begun to warp and tiend. Th elate, wer buls-lnr. A moment later, with a loud reoort and concussion th. door blew off. A blast of cold ulr and flakes Ilk .no. flew out Paper, wer scattered on ev.ry .Id. We tood gaslng, aghast, a second, then ran forward. Kennedy quiqfcly examined th safe. II bent down and from th wreck 119 Mi-Ill UUWQ 1DQ irom in WTOCK took up . package, now cov.rd with whit. "That 1. th. parg.g. that wa. Mnf." cried Eialne, T";na opened lt- wm A,ur vacuum bottle, , "A Dswsr flask!" ejaculated Crag. "What la It?" asked Elaine, appealing to 'Liquid air!" h answered. "A. It av.nn. rated, th. t.rrtflo pressure of xn.tidlng sir .11. iimn prnsur 01 .irsuning air la th. safe Increased until It blew out th. door. That is what caused the cola sweating and the groans." We watched him, startled. On the other side of the portieres Michael ' and Clutching Hand waited. Then, In the general confusion. Clutching Hand slowly disappeared, foiled. "Where did this package come from?" asked Kennedy of Jennings suspiciously. Jennipgs looked blank. "Why," put in Elaine, "Michael brought It to me." "Get Michael," ordered Kennedy. "Tea, sir," nodded Jennings. A moment later he returned. "I found him going upstairs," reported Jennings, leading Michael In. - ' 'Where did yon get this package?" shot out Kennedy. "It was left at the door, sir, by a boy, sir." Question after question could not shake that simple, stolid sentence. Kennedy frowned. .'.'''.. '.-',-.' "You may go," he said finally, aa If reserv ing something for Michael later. A sudden exclamation followed from Elaine as Michael passed down the hall again. She had moved over to the desk,' during the ques tioning, and was leaning against it. Inadvertently she had touched an envelope. It was addressed, "Craig Kennedy." Craig tore Ito pen, Elaine bending anxious ly over his shoulder, frightened. We read: "Yui; HAVE INTERFERED FOR THE LAST TIME. IT IS THE END." Beneath It stood the fearsome sign of the Clutching Hand! It was the lato forenoon, when, after a hur ried trip down to the office, I rejoined Ken nedy at his scientific workshop. ' . We walked down the street when a big limousine shot past. Kennedy stopped in the middle of a remark. He had recognised the car, with a sort of instinct. At the same moment I saw a smiling face at the window of the car. It was Elaine Dodge. ' Kennedy, hat off, was at the window In a moment. There were Aunt Josephine and Susie Martin, also. "Where are you boys going?" asked Elaine, with Interest, then added with -. gaiety that 111 concealed her real anxiety, "I'm so elad to see you to see that er nothing has hap pened from the dreadful C.utehliig Hand " "Why, we are Just going up to our rooms," replied Kennedy. "Can't we drive you around?" .' '. Kennedy explains how W climbed In and a moment later wer off. The ride wa. only too .hort for Ken nedy. We stepped out In front of our apart ment and stood chatting for a moment. "Horn day I want to show you th labora tory," Craig was saying. "It mu st b so Interesting!" exclaimed Elaln enthusiastically. "Think of .11 th bad men you must have caught!" "I have quit a collection of stuff her at our rooms," remarked Craig, "almost a mu warn. Still," h ventured, "I can't promise that the plar Is In order," he laughed, Elaln hesitated "Would you like to see It?" sh wheedled of Aunt Jcsephlne. Aunt Josephlr nodded acquiescence, and 4 moment later .11 entered th building. You you r very careful since that last warning?" atltfd Elaine a. w. approached our door. "More than vr now," replied Craig, "I hav mad i my mind to win." Kh seemed to catch at th word. .. though they had a hidden moaning, looking first at him and thin away, not displeased, Kennedy had started to unlock th. door, when he .' opped short. "8," h .aid, "thl. I. a precaution I hav. just Installed. I almost forgot In th excite ment." II prtased a panel and disclosed th bog Ilk pprrr,tus. , "This i my klnograph, which tell, m whether I hav. h.d any visitors In my ab sence, tt th. pen tract, a straight Una, It Is all rtgt; but If hello Walter, th. II n I. wavy.' 1 W fiohangsd a significant glanc. A "nonld you mind r tending down th. ?W "'-'.'' , ? -. sr :m r -' ..,: , naii just a bit while I enter?" asked Cra'.g. "Be careful," cautioned Elaine. Ha unlocked the door, standing oft to one side. Then he extended his hand across the doorway. Still nothing happened. There was not a sound.' He looked cautiously into the room. Apparently there was nothing. It, had been about the middle of the morn ing that an express wagon had pulled up sharply before our apartment. "Mr. Kennedy live here?" asked one of the expressmen, descending with his helper and approaching our Janitor, Jens JenBen, a typi cal Swede, who was coming up out of the basement Jens growled a surly, "Tes but Mr. Ken nady, he bane out." "Too bad we've got this large cabinet ho ordered from Grand Rapids. We can't cart it around all day. Can't you let us in so we can leave it?" Jensen muttered. "Wall I guess It bane all right." " They took the cabinet off the wagon and carried it upstairs. Jensen opened our door, still grumbling, and they placed the hsavy cabinet In the living room. Scarcely had the sound of their footfalls died away In t)ie outside hallway when the door of the cabinet elowly opened and a 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. look ing keenly about, his eye rested on Elaine's picture. A moment he looked at it, then quickly at the fireplace opposite. An idea seemed to occur to him. Ho took the package to the fireplace, removed tho screen and laid the package over the and irons with one end pointing out into tho room. Next he took from the cabinet a couple of storage batteries and a coil of wire. Deftly and quickly he fixed them on the package. Having completed fixing the 'batteries and wires. Clutching Hand ran the wires along the moulding- on the wall overhead from the fireplace until he was directly over Elaine's picture. Skilfully he. managed to fix the wires, using therm In place of the picture wires to support the framed photograph. Then he carefully moved the photograph until it hung very noticeably askew on the wall. The last wire Joined, he looked about the room, then noisely moved to the window and raised the shade. Quickly he raised his hand and 'brought the X. y y ; 4 . 0 the safe was forced open by the fingers .lowly together. It wa. th sign. Off In th allay th express driver and his helper were still gaslng up through th opera glass Quickly they jumped Into the wagon and away It rattled. Jensen was smoking placidly a. th. wagon pulled up the aeoond time. "Sorry," .aid th. driver sheepishly, "but w. delivered th. cabinet to the wrong Mr. Kennedy." He pulled out th. Inevitable book to prove It "Wall, you ban. fin falers," growled Jen sen, puffing Ilk. a furnac. In his (ury. "Tou esnnot go up sgar..." "We'll get fired for th. mistake," pleaded the helper. "Just thl. one," urged the driver, a. he rallied some loos, ehang in hla pocket "Here there goes a whol. day', tips." He handed Jen. a dollar In small Chang. Htill grumpy, but mollified by th .liver, Jens let them go up and opened th. door to our rooms again. Ther stood th. cabinet, as outwardly innocent as when It cam. In, Laigglng and t- ralng. they managed to get th heavy pier of furnllur out and down stairs again, loading It on th wagon. Than they drove off with It, sccompanled by a parting Volley from Jensen, In an onfrequented afreet, perhaps half a ml), aw.y, th. wagon stoppeC. With a keen glanc around, th driver and hi. helper made ur that no an. was about "Huch a shaking up as you'v. given me!" growled a voir. a. Ih. cabinet door pned. "Hut I'v. got him thl. tlm.r 4 . A It was the Clutching Hand. - '' . '.''' Craig gazed Into our living room cautiously.' "I can't Bee anything wrong," he said to me as I stood Just beside him. "Miss Dodge," he added, "will you and the rest excuse me if I ask you to wait Just a moment longer?" Elaine watched him, fascinated. He cross the room, then went Into each of our other rooms. Apparently nothing was wrong and St minute later he reappeared at the doorway. Elaine, Aunt Josephine and Susie Martin entered. Craig placed chairs for them, but still I could see that he was uneasy. From time to time, wlille they were admiring one of our treasures after another, he glanced about suspiciously. Finally he moved Over to a closet and flung the door open, ready for anything. No one was in the closet and he closed it hastily. "What is the trouble, do you think?" asked Elaine wonderlngly, noticing his manner. "I I can't Just say," answered Craig, try ing to appear easy. At last her eye wandered across the room. She caught sight of her own picture, occupying a place of honor but hanging askew. .'-.' She had taken a step or two across the room to straighten the picture. "Miss Dodge!" almost shouted Kennedy, "ala face fairly blanched. "Stop!" She turned, her stunning eyes filled with amazement at his suddenness. Nevertheless she moved quickly to one side, aa he waved his arms, unable to speak quickly enough, Kennedy stood quite still, gazing at th2 plo ture, askew, with suspicion. "That wasn't that way . when we left, was it, Walter?" he asked. "I'm afraid I shall have to ask you to step Into this back room said Craig at length to the ladles "I'm sorry but we can't be too careful with this Intruder, whoever he was." They rose, surprised, but, as he continued to urge them, they moved Into my room, Elaine, however, stopped at the door. For a moment Kennedy appeared to be con sidering. Then his eye fell on a fishing rod that stood In a corner. He took it and moved toward the picture. Carefully Kennedy reached out with the pole and straightened the picture. As he did so there was a flash, a loud, deaf ening report, and a great puff of smoke from the fireplace. The fire screen was riddled and overturned A charge of buckshot shattered the precious photograph of Elaine. a evaporation of liquid air. W. had dropped flat on th floor at th. re port I looked about Kennedy wa. un harmed and ao were the rest. With a bound h. wa. at th. fireplace, fol lowed by Elaine and th. rest of us. Thers, In what remained of a package done up roughly In newspaper, wa. a shotgun with Its barrel .awed oft about six Inches from the lock, fastened to a block of wood, and connected to a series of springs on th. trig gar, released by a llttl electromagnetlo ar rangement actuated by two batterle. and leading by wires up along the moulding to the plctur. where th slightest touch would coiuplet. th circuit A startled cry from Elaine oauaed us to turn. She w.e standing directly before her hal tered plctur where It hung awry on the wall Th heavy charge of buckshot had knocked away larg pieces of paper and plaster under It "Craig !" she gasped. "' ' He wa. at her eld. In a tecend. Sh. laid on. hand on hi. arm, a. sh faced him. With the other ah. traced an Imaginary line In the air from th level of th buckshot to hi. head and then atralght to th. Infernal thing thai had lain In th. flreplac. "And to think," ahs shuddered, "that It was through m that h tried to kill you!" "Never mind," laughed Crslg easily, a. they gssed Into each other's ys, drawn together by their mutual peril. -Clutching Hand wlU have to b. cleverer than this to get either of US Elaln r (To J3o Continued), ; if t i
The Asheville Times (Asheville, N.C.)
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Feb. 3, 1915, edition 1
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