8 WBJMWMW | The Exploits of Elaine I | A Detection Novel and a Motion Picture Drama | 1 1 By ARTHUR B. REEVE I 1 ThcWell-Known Novelist and the Creator of the "Gaig Kennedy" St oriet a | Presented in Collaboration With the Pathe Player* and :Jj < the Eclectic Film Company K Copyright. IVI4. by tS< ttw Com.iny All Fordm Klf hn Rntirc* CONTINUED SYNOPSIS. I —— The New York police are mystified by la series of murders and other crimes. The principal clue to the criminal 1B the warn ing letter which Is sent the victims, •igned with a "clutching hand." Tin- lat est 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 Jrlend Jameson, a newspaper man. En gaged at the determined effort which JSlalne and Craig Kennedy are making to put an end to his crimes, thi Clutching Jiand, as this strangi criminal Is known, tesorts to al! sorts of th most diabolical pcheme* ti put ther out of the way. Jsacli chapter of th- sto . tells of a new flot against their live and of the way he grea- detective uses all his skill to pave this pretty girl and himself from death. SEVENTH EPISODE The Double Trap. Mindful of the sage advice that a (time of peace is beßt employed In pre paring for war, I was busily engaged ,ln cleaning my automatic gun one jmorning as Kennedy and I were seat led in our living room. : Our door buzzer sounded, and Ken nedy, always alert, jumped up, push- ! Ing aside a great pile of papers which Diad accumulated In the Dodge case.„ Two steps took him to the hail, •where the day before he had Installed ia peculiar box about four by six inches, connected in some way with a lens like box of similar size above our bell And speaking tube in the hallway be llow it. He opened it, disclosing an ob long plate of ground glass. "I thought the seismograph ar rangement was not quite enough after [ ■that spring-gun affair," he remarked. | '•'so I have put in a sort of teleview j jof my own Invention—so that I can oe ! 'down into the vestibule downotairs. I Well—just look who's here!" "Some new-fangled periscope ar rangement, I suppose?" I queried, "nov png slowly over toward it. However, one look was enough to (interest me. I can express it only j [in slang. There, framed In the little I (thing, was a vision of as swell a rchlcken" as I have ever seen. I whistled under my breath. "Um!" I exclaimed shamelessly, "A J jpeach! Who's your friend?" I had never said a truer word than jln my description of her, though I did know it at the time. She was in deed known as "Gertie the Peach" in !the select circle where she belonged. Kennedy had opened the lower idoor and our fair visitor was coming upstairs. "Go in there, Walter," he said, seiz ing me quickly and pushing me into iny room. "I want you to wait there and watch her carefully." Kennedy opened the door, disclos ing a very excited young "woman. "Oh, Professor Kennedy," she cried, all 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 my husband must not know of it Help me to recover them —please!" "Just a moment, my dear young lady," interrupted Craig, finding at last a chance to get a word in edge ways. "Do you see that table—and all those papers? Really, I can't take your case. 1 am too busy, as it is, even to take the cases of many of my own clients." "But please, Professor Kennedy— please!" she begged. "Help me. It means—oh, 1 can't tell you how much it means to me!" She had come close to him and had laid her warm, little soft hand on his, in ardent entreaty From my hiding place in my room, I could not help seeirs; that she waa using every charm of her sex and per sonality to lure him on, as she clung confidingly to him. Gertie had thrown her arms about Kennedy, as If in wildest devotion. I wondered what Elaine would have thought if she had a picture of that! "Oh," she begged him, 'please— ►lease help me.!" Btlll Kennedy seemed utterly unaf fected 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 ment in deep abstraction. Finally he seemed to mak» up his mind to something. His manner toward her changed. He took a step to her side. "I will help you," he said, laying his hand oil her shoulder. "If It is pos sible I will recover your Jewels. Where do you live?" "At Hazlehurst," she replied, grate fully. "Oh, Mr. Kennedy, how can I ever thank you?" She seemed overcome with grati tude, and took his hand, pressed It, toven kissed it. "Just a minute," he added, carefully extricating his hand. "I'll be ready in just a minute." Kennedy entered the room where I was listening. "What's it all about, Craig?" I whis kered, mystified. For a moment he stood thinking, ap parently reconsidering what he had See "Exploits of Ela ine," Seventh Episode, In Motion Pictures, Victoria Theatre, Saturday, April 3 j * READ THE STORY IN THE STAR-INDEPENDENT EVERY WEEK JJ just done. Then bis second thought 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, "that's foolhardy. Have her trailed—any thing—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 room. From one Bhelf he took out a small metal box and from another a test tube, placing the test tube in hia waistcoat pocket and the small box in his coat pocket with excessive care. Then he turned and motioned to me to follow him out into the other room. I did so, stuffing my "gatt" into my pocket. "Let me introduce my friend, Mr. Jameson," said Craig, presenting me to the pretty crook. The introduction quickly over, we three went out to get Craig's car, which he kept at a nearby garage. • •••••• That forenoon Perry Dennett waß reading up a case. In the outer of fice Milton Schofield, his office boy, was industriously chewing gum and admiring his feet, cocked up on the desk before him. The door to the waiting room opened and an attractive woman of perhaps thirty, dressed in extreme mourning, entered with a boy. Milton cast a glance of scorn at the "little dude." He was in reality about fourteen years old, but was dressed to j look much younger. "Did you wish to see Mr. Bennett?" i asked the precocious Milton, politely, | on one hand, while on the other he j made a wry grimace. "Yes—here is my card," replied the woman. It was deeply bordered in black. Even Milton was startled at reading i it: "Mrs. Taylor Dodge." He looked at the woman in open | mouthed astonishment. Even he knew : that Elaine's mother had been dead j for years. The woman, however, true to her ; name in the artistic coterie in which , she was leader, had sunk into a chair and was sobbing convulsively, as only "Weepy Mary" could. It was so effective that even Milton was visibly moved. He took the card in, excitedly, to Bennett. "There's a woman outside—says she is Mrs. Taylor Dodge!" he cried. If Milton had had an 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 aboiit to discharge him on the spot for bothering him. He took the card, and his face expressed the most ex treme surprise, then anger. He thought a moment. "Tell that woman to state her busi ness in writing," he thundered curtly at Milton. As the boy turned to go back to the waiting room, Weepy Mary, hear | ing him coming, hastily shoved the ] cigarette into her "son's" hand, j "Mr. Bennett says for you to write j out what it is you want to see him I about," reported Milton, Indicating the j table before which she was sitting. Mary had automatically taken up | sobbing with the release of the ciga : rette. She looked at the table on which were letter paper, pens and ink. "I may write here?" she asked. "Surely, ma'am," replied Milton, still very much overwhelmed by her sorrow. "Weepy Mary" sat there, writing ! and sobbing. In the midst of his sympathy, how ever, Milton sniffed. There was an unmistakable odor of tobacco smoke about the room. He looked sharply at the "son," and discovered the still smoking cigarette. I It was too much for Milton's out- I raged dignity. Bennett did not allow i him that coveted privilege. This up start could not 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 I the wall. "See?" he demanded, i The sign read, courteously: "No Smoking In This Office—Please. "PERRY BENNETT." j "Leggo my arm," snarled the "son," putting the offensive cigarette defl | antly into his mouth. There was every element of a gaudy mixup, when the outer door of the of fice suddenly swung open and Elaine Dodge entered. Gallantry was Milton's middle name, and he sprang forward to hold the door, and then opened Bennett's door, as he ushered In Elaine. As she passed "Weepy Mary," who was still writing at the table and cry ing bitterly, Elaine hesitated and looked at htr curiously. Even after Milton had opened Bennett's door, she could not resist another glance. In stinctively, Elaine seemed to scent trouble. Bennett was still studying the black ! bordered card when she greeted him. HARRISBURG STAR-INDEPENDENT, WEDNESDAY EVENING. MARCH 31. 1915. "Who la that woman?" the asked, ■till wondering about the identity of the nlobe outside. • At first he said nothing. But finally, seeing that she had noticed it, he handed Blaine the card, reluctantly. Blaine read It with a gasp. The look of surprise that crossed her face was terrible. Before she could say anything, how ever, Milton had returned with the sheet of paper on which "Weepy Mary" had written and handed it to Bennett. Bennett read it with uncontrolled astonishment. "What is it?" demanded Elaine. He handed it to her, and she read: As the lawful wife and widow of Taylor Dodge I demand my son's rights and my own, MRB. TAYLOR DODGE. Elaine gasped at it. "She —my father's wife!" she ex claimed. "What effrontery! What does she mean?" Bennett hesitated. "Tell me," Elaine cried. "Is there— can there be anything in it? No—no— there isn't." Bennett spoke in a low tone. "1 have heard a whisper of some scan dal or other connected with your fath er—but—" He paused. Elaine was first shocked, then indig nant. "Why—such a thing is absurd. Show the woman in!" "No—please—Miss Dodge. Let me deal with her." By this time Elaine was furious. "Yes —I will see her." She pressed the button on Bennett's desk, and Milton responded. "Milton, show the —the woman in," she ordered, "and that boy, too." As Milton turned to crook his finger at "Weepy Mary," she nodded surrep titiously and dug her fingers sharply into "son's" ribs. "Yell —you little fool —yell," she whispered. Obedient to his "mother's" com mands, and much to Milton's disgust, the boy started to cry in close imita tion of his elder. Elaine wai still holding the paper in her hands when they entered. "What does all this mean?" she de manded. "Weepy Mary," between sobs, man aged to blurt out, "You are Miss Elaine Dodge, aren't you? Well, It means that your father married me when I was only seventeen and this boy is our son—your half-brother." "No —never," cried F>laine vehem ently, unable to restrain her disgust. "Weepy Mary" smiled cynically. "Come with me and I will show you the church records and the minister who married us." "You will?" repeated Elaine defiant ly. "Well, I'll just do as you ask. Mr. Bennett shall go with mo." "No, no, Miss Dodge—don't go. Leave the matter to me," urged Ben nett. "I will 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 the little town where the woman asserted she had been married. Meanwhile, before a little country church in the town, a closed automo bile had drawn up. As the door opened a figure, humped up and masked, alighted. It was the Clutching Hand. The car had scarcely pulled away when he gave a long rap, followed by two short taps, at the door of the vestry, a ferret code, evidently. Inside the vestry room a man well dressed, but with a very sinister face, heard the lniock and a second later opened the door. . "What —not ready yet?" growled the Clutching "Quick —now —get on *.hose clothes. I heard the train whis tle as I came in the car. In which closet does the minister keep them?" The crook, without a word, went to a closet and took out a suit of clothes of ministerial cut. Then he hastily put them on, adding some side-whisk ers, which he had brought with him. At about the same time Elaine, ac companied by "Weepy Mary" and her son, naa arrived at the little tumble down station and had taken the only vehicle in sight, a very ancient car riage. It ambled along until, at last, it pulled up before the vestry room door of the church, just as the bogus min ister 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. "They're coming!" whispered the crook, peering cautiously out of the window. Clutching Hand moved silently and snakelike into the closet and shut the door. • "How do you do. Doctor Carton?" greeted "Weepy Mary." I guess you don't remember me." The clerical gentleman looked at her fixedly a moment. "Remember you?" he repeated. "Of course, my dear. I remember .every one I marry." "And you remember to whom you married me?" "Perfectly. To an older man—a Tay lor Dodge." Elaine was overcome. "Won't you step in?" he said suavely. "Your friend here doesn't seem well." They all entered. "And you—you say—you married this—this woman _to Taylor Dodge?" queried Blaine, tensely. The bogus minister seemed to be very fatherly. "Yea," he asserted, "I certainly did so." "Have you the record?" asked Blaine, fighting to the last. "Why, yes. I can show you the record." He moved over to the closet "Come over here," he asked. He opened the door. Blaine screamed and drew back. There stood her arch enemy, the Clutching Hand himself. As he stepped forth, she turned wild ly, to run—anywhere. But strong arms seized her and forced her into a chair. 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 shortly by your friend. Craig Kennedy, and," he added with a leer, "I think your rather insistent search for a certain person will cease." Elaine drew back in the chair, horri fied at the implied threat. Clutching Hand laughed diabolically. To Be Continued CTVTXEWS HORSES Al CHILE BURNED Mysterious Fire Destroyed Cumberland County's Largest Barn Yesterday —Damage Was Heavy Shippensburg, iMar-ch 31. —In a fire of mysterious origin, four calves, three lior.-i"8 anil some sixty valuable thickens, with crops anil machinery, were de stroyed yesterday morning' when the big " barn on the farm of Harper P. Mains, on the Stony I'oint road, two ami one-half miles south of this ; lace, was burned to the ground. The loss will amount to some $3,000, practi cally covered by insurance. The fire broke out about 9 o'clock yesterday morning and two 'hours after nothing but smouldering ashes were left of this structure, one of t'ho largest and most extensive in the county. ORDINANCE EFFECTIVE Suburbs of Franklin County Town i*ow Part of Borough Wayne 'viro, March 31.—The dy was found, Greller ran down an alley, Fairy Dreams of Appetite One Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablet Will Enable One to Digest Any Meal, Any Time Make up your mind to go to your next meal with the desire to eat what you will and do it. "Every Meal Smiles at Me Now Since I've Been Taking Stuart's Dyspepria Tablets." After that meal take a Stuart's Dys pepsia Tablet and fear no evil effects from the food you have eaten for it will be digested easily, quickly. Then gradually fairy dreams of ap petite will come back to you and in a short time the old romping appetite will return to you. All druggists carry and recommend Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets, 50c a box. Trial free by sending coupon below. Free Trial Coupon F. A. Stuart Co., 150 Stuart Bldg., Marshall, Mich., send me at once by return mail, a free trial package, of Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets. Name Street City State —Adv. \ & x \ t ) / / / ' / / r % l \ H* I , our exclusive Rengo Belt f !l\\YV \ / RENGO feature which has straight- /' f-pAI \ \\\ \ / op IT ened the abdominal line with ! |lfe4| \ \ / ' perfect comfort. \\ Jh / FEATURE The results that can be "t LA STIC accdmplished with these I I 1 WEBBING garments cannot be dupli- . ' cated with any other corsets made in America. Boned throughout with double watch-spring steels, guaranteed not to rust. For Sale By Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart Prices $2.00, $3.00 and $5.00 'fxn-jmv » •' • »ii|'^wiiwiwwiwwwnii,|iiMpi^w'' l « —«■ .... . IL. I and around a course of more than a inile to get to .his back door. He then o'bserved tihe officers com ing up the yard, and, holding a brick in eacih hand, remanded they go back. He led t'hein a rapid chase to the hilltop. »to-_'p.ing when Chief Eisenhauer point ed his revolver. A shirt, said to be Greller's, was bloodniarked at the sleeves, and the otlicers claim to 'have other evidence against him. Farmer Died From Tetanus Chamfoersburg, March 31. John Kurtz, a farmer and stack dealer, of near Orrstown, felt himself becoming ill Monday while driving a two-horse team to Shippensburg. He turned the horses around and started toward home. The animals stopped in front of the farmyard gate Kurtz had died during the trip. His wife, with the assistance of neighbors, c-arried him into the house. Two weeks ago he ran a nail into his foot. Because the wound gave him 110 pain he declined to have a surgeon lance it. Tetanus developed suddenly while he was driving his team and caused his death. He was 30 years old. Holly Springs Resident Dead Carlisle, March 31.—After an illness of some months, George B. Snyder, a well-known resident of Mount Holly Springs, died on Sunday at midnight at his home in that town He was 52 years old. Death was due to tubercu losis. He is survived by th» following chil dren: Peter, of Mount Holly, N. J.; Guy, Irene and Cecil, of Mount Holly. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Mrs. Marv Martin, Bowinaus dale; Mrs Rachael Wise and William C. Snyder, of Mount Holly. New Postmaster Takes Office Waynesboro, March 31. The Waynesboro postoffiee will foe trans ferred from H. C. Gordon, who has been postmaster for the past four years, to John W, Warehime, rrfneutly appointed to the position by President Wilson, this evuning after the close of (business. To Erect Club House Along River Marietta, March 31.—The Khetol Roil and (tunning Club has been formed here and it is the intention of .the club to buy land along the Susquehanna riv er, erect a commodious house, and equip it up to date. There is consider able sporting element in town, and as this place is the mecea for people dur ing the summer, it is the purpose to push the building rapidly to comple tion for the convenience of the summer guests. John K. Miller was elected secretary; Dr. W. Paxson,-treasurer. Reunion of 1844 High School Class - Marietta, iMarch 31.—Charles John- I son returned last evening from Phila i delphia where he attended the annual [ reunion of the class of 1844 of the ! Philadelphia High school. Thero are still 44 survivors and Mr. Johnson has the distinction of being the only Lan caster countian who survives. The av erage of the class surviving is 69 years. Recital to Initiate New Pipe Organ Marietta, March 31.—A recital was held yesterday in the Bethany Re formed church, at Ephrata, when the new Winger memorial pipe organ was used for the first time. Dr. John W. E. Ward, of Philadelphia, of the St. Paul's Lutheran church, gave the recital, as sisted by Mary S. Goukler, soloist of the same church. The organ is a gift to the church by Mrs. Clara A. Win ger, as a memorial to her late husband, Dr. Frank Winger, and cost $2,000. "TAKES CAKE" OF (i 11 LTV Judge Offers Protection for Men Whose Testimony Aided Government Indianapolis, Ind.,'March 31. —Judge A. B. Anderson at the trial of the Terre Haute ejection eases in Federal Court said yesterday afternoon that he felt it has duty "to take eare of some of the defendants," after two Terre Haute policemen, who had been called by the defense, gave evidence favorable to the- government. The Court announced that he would release the six defendants who have pleaded guilty and who were taken from the jail in Terre Haute and brought to Indianapolis to testify on a writ of habeas corpus and permit them to return to Terra Haute. "And 1 say now," added the Court, "that there shall be nothing dune to fuem over there. I have been informed thut the defendants, Sheriff Dennis Shea anil C'itv Judge Thomas Smith. while they were in jail, tried to influence these boys. They promised to take care of them if they would tell certain things. I shall take care of them, anil I warn any policeman, sheriff or citizen not to molest them." Mother of Allentown Mayor Dies Allen town, Pa», March 3'l. — Mrs. Ellen 'Herbst, widow of Dr. William Herbst and mother of the late Dr. 11. Herbert Herbst, Mayor of Allentown, died Monday night of pneumonia at her home in Trexlerbown. A daughter of David and .Mary Rupp ftchall, Mrs. Herbst was a descendant of revolution ary stock. Minister Married in His Church Lancaster, Pa., March 151.—JMiss Jean M. Illerb, of Wilkcs-Barre, and the Rev. Dr. 11. Franklin Schlegol, new pastor of Bethany United Evangelical church, were married at the church at noon yesterday, the presiding elder, the Rev. I'\ E. Erdman, officiating. Frozen Feet Result in His Dearth Reading, Pa., March 31.—Thomas 11. Schildt, a trolley conductor, died at his thome in Alsace, this county, 'of blood poisoning, the result of frozen feet. lie was on duty in a blizzard and suffered so severely that he was disabled for several months, gangrene following. Slips to Death Under His Train Mauch ('tinnlk, Pa., March 31. — Samuel iSpoon, of Weissport, a Lehigh Valley freight conductor, slipped and fell under his train in front of the IJC high Valley 'passenger station here and was instantly killed. Ho was 40 years old and was employed by the Lehigh Valley virtually all his life. Two Mahanoy City Pioneers Die (Mahanoy City, Pa., M a rch 31.—Two of M'alianoy City's pioneer residents are dead. Richard Littlehales, former tru ant, officer, died of miners' asthma. (He was 77 years old. Charles KrCbs, identi fied with the earlier history of the town, died of age infirmities. He was 79 years old. Pays 48arch 31. —finding jail too irkson.e, John Robinson, who was committed to prison because he refused to pay a 48-cent tax, agneed yesterday to comply witih the law and was re leased. He was committed last Thurs day night. Her Predictions of Death True Reading, Pa., March 31.7r-Predicting her own death, Miss Lizzie IBoge.l), 55 years old. selected her own paWbearers and her funeral raiment. She died soon after completing her funeral arrange ments. WIFE KILLS FOH JEALOUSY Shoots Husband She Accuses of Atten tions to Another Woman Blakelv, Ga., March 31. —Dr. T. B. Sheffield, a prominent physician at t.'e dar Springs, was siiot and killed by his wife yesterday, jealousy being the mo tive for the shooting.' .'.rs. Sheffield is now hysterical and bent upon taking her own life. I>r. Sheffield had just entered his of fice. when the fir • shot wa*. fired. The physician ran cut of the front door, iiis wife behind 'him wiih the smoking Weapon j,, |,,, r i lam |. Jl TBi Sheffield continued firing at 'her husband as ho ran across the street, until she had emptied t'he revolver. The physician died within two minutes without being able to make any statement. Ills wife rushed to him as soon as he fell, and went into hysterics over his body. Jeal ousy of another woman characterized Mrs. Sheffield's hysterical sialtmonU. SHE'D RATHER KISS DEVIL Husband Bases Divorce Suit on Wife's Announced Preference New York. March 31,—Supreme I ourt Justice (iavegan was greatly sur prised yesterday when Joseph S. Beran, an attache of the United States En gineers' Office in Washington, declared on the witness stand that his wife, Julia Scroggins Beran, liad taken all the sweetness out of his married life by telling him that "she would rather kiss the devil than him." Beran is suing his wife for separa tion, and it was this outspoken pref erence for a Watanie, kiss that brought the couple into court. Otherwise, he said, they might be living happily to gether now. "That's hardly anything to quar rel about," said the Justice. "Are you willing to live together again!" The husband quickly replied "yes." The wife was uncertain and hesitated. Finally she said she wouldu't live with him in New York. Justice . o.,March 31.—Louisi ana's sugar crop for the season just closed totaled 242,000 tons, or 50,000 less than in 1913. A statement issued 'by the 'Department of Agriculture last night says the trade conditions from t'he beginning of August to tihe opening of the grinding season has encouraged the factory owners to prepare for an active season. EASTER EXCURSION TO Atlantic City Cape May, Wildwood Ocean City, Sen I«le City* AnKle wn, Avnlon, Ntone Harbor Saturday, April, 3 1915 $4.50 om iarrisburg I 25 cents additional to Atlantic City via Delaware River Bridge Route. Tickets will be accepted on reg ular trains and will be good re turning within sixteen days. Stop-over nlloneil at I'lillailrlphla Full particulars of Ticket Agents or A. Pi. Buchanan. Division I'as senger Agent, Harris-burg, Pa. Pennsylvania R.R.