Part 44 (1/2)

”Oh, all right, Walter,” he replied indulgently. ”I'll meet you as soon as I can and help you out.”

I hung up the receiver with an air of satisfaction. At least now I would get an explanation of the woman's queer story.

”I'll clear this thing up,” I said confidently. ”My friend, Craig Kennedy, the scientific detective is coming out here.”

”Good! That fellow who attacked me ought to be shown up. All women may not be as fortunate as I.”

We waited patiently. Her story certainly was remarkable. She remembered every detail up to a certain point--and then, as she said, all was blankness.

The bell rang and the woman hastened to the door admitting Kennedy.

”h.e.l.lo, Walter,” he greeted.

”This is certainly a most remarkable case, Craig,” I said, introducing him, and telling briefly what I had learned.

”And you actually mean to say that a kiss had the effect--” Just then the telephone interrupted.

”Yes,” she rea.s.serted quickly. ”Excuse me a second.”

She answered the call. ”Oh--why--yes, he's here. Do you want to speak to him? Mr. Jameson, it's the Star.”

”Confound it!” I exclaimed, ”isn't that like the old man--dragging me off this story before it's half finished in order to get another. I'll have to go. I'll get this story from you, Craig.”

The day before, in the suburban house, the Clutching Hand had been talking to two of his emissaries, an attractive young woman and a man.

They were Flirty Florrie and Dan the Dude.

”Now, I want you to get Kennedy,” he said. ”The way to do it is to separate Kennedy and Elaine--see?”

”All right, Chief, we'll do it,” they replied.

”I've rigged it so that you'll reach him through Jameson, understand?”

They nodded eagerly as he told them the subtle plan.

Clutching Hand had scarcely left when Flirty Florrie began by getting published in the papers the story which I had seen.

The next day she called me up from the suburban house. Having got me to promise to see her, she had scarcely turned from the telephone when Dan the Dude walked in from the next room.

”He's coming,” she said.

Dan was carrying a huge stag head with a beautifully branched pair of antlers. Under his arm was a coil of wire which he had connected to the inside of the head.

”Fine!” he exclaimed. Then, pointing to the head, he added, ”It's all ready. See how I fixed it? That ought to please the Chief.”

Dan moved quickly to the mantle and mounted a stepladder there by which he had taken down the head, and started to replace the head above the mantle.

He hooked the head on a nail.