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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 1915)
the omaiia shndav kee: January 3. ioir THETn1 A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama Presented by The Omaha Bee In Collaboration with the Famous Pathe Players and the Eclectic Film Co. duZ't Miss Pearl White, Arnold -Daly and "Craig Kennedy" The Famous Scientific Ieeotlve of Fiction. 1 II III1M Jill II AT k L V I I 1 I i I I I 1 I I I XI AT t i ; . 5 i 1 Written by Arthur B. Reeve The "Well-Known Novelist and the Creator of the "Craig" Kennedy" Stories Dramatized into a Photo-Play by Charles Goddard Author of "The Perils of Pauline" Cast of Leading Characters in the Motion Picture Reproduction by the Famous Pathe Players ELAINE DODGE Miss Pearl White CRAIG KENNEDY . HARRY DENNETT . Everything you read here today you can see in the fascinating Pathe Motion Pic tures at the Motion Picture Theaters this week. Next Sunday another chapter of "The Exploits of Elaine" and new Pathe reels. CIIAlTEIt I. "The Clutching Hand 1 (Copyright, 1814, by the Star Company. All For eign Rights Reserved.) "There must be something new In order to catch criminals nowadays. The old methods are r 11 right ai far as they go. But while w have been lining them, criminals have kept pace with modern science." Craig Kennedy laid down his newspaper and filled his pipe with my tobacco. In college we had roomed together, had shared everything, even poverty, and now that Cra'g .was professor of chemistry In charge of the laboratory at the uni versity and I had a sort of roving cotnniltmlon on the staff of the Star, we had continued our ar rangement. Prosperity found us la a rather neat bachelor apartment on the Heights, not far from the university. "It has always seemed strange to me," he went on slowly, "that no one has ever endowed a pro fessorship in criminal science In any of the large colleges." I tossed aside my own paper and retrieved the tobacco. - "Why should there be a chair In criminal sct vnce?" I replied argumentative!?, settling back in my chair. "I've done my turn at police bead quarters reporting, and I can tell you, Craig, lt'a no place for a college professor. Crime Is Just crime. And as for dealing with It the great de tective ia born and bred to It. College professors for the sociology of the thing yes; for the detec tion of It. give me Byrnes." "On the contrary," persisted Kennedy, his clean-cut features betraying an earnestness which . I knew Indicated that he was leading up to some thing of Importance, "there Is a distinct place for bclence in the detection of crime. On the conti nent they are far In advance of us In that respect We are mere children beside a dozen crime spe cialists over there whom I could name." "Yes?" I queried, rather doubtfully. "But v. here does the college professor come in?" "You must remember. Walter," he pursued, warming up to the subject which had evidently been on his mind for some time, "that it's only within the last ten years or so that we have bad the really practical college professor who could do it. The silk-stockinged variety is out of date now. Today we have professors of everything why not professors rf crime science!" SUU. as I shook nfy head dubiously, he has tened to clinch bis point. "Colleges have got dowa to solving the bard facts of life, nowadays pretty nearly all, except one. They still treat crime In the old way. study Its'statistics and pore over its causes and the theories of how It can be prevented and punished. But as for running down the crit ical himself, scientifically, relentlessly bah! we haven't made enough progress to mention since the hammer and tongs method of your sainted Byrnes." "Doubtloss you will write a brochure en this most Interesting subject," 1 suggested, "and let It go at that." "No, I am serious," he replied, determined for some reason or other to make a convert ef we. "I mean exactly wha I say. I am going te apply science to the detection ef crime, the same sort ef methods by which we trace out the presence ef a mysterious chemical or track down a deadly geria. And before I have gene far, I am going te enlist Walter Jameson as an aide.. 1 think I shall need you la my business." "How do I come In?" I asked. "Well, for one thing, you will get a 'seeop,' a beat' whatever you call It la that newspaper Jargon of yours." Kennedy during the previous year bad traveled much, especially In London, Paris. Berlin and Vi enna, where he bad studied the amaxlug grewth abroad of the new criminal science. Already L knew something, by hearsay, of the men be had seen dross. Lacassagne. Relss and the Immortal Dertlllon. "Fortunately. Walter." he pursued, "the crtme hunjers have gone ahead In science faster than the criminal,. If, to be my Job to catch criminal, oura. It seems to me, Is to show people bow they tan never hope to beat the modern scientific de tective." "Go as far as you like." I exclaimed, convinced t last. And so It was that we formed this strange rew partnership la crime science that has existed ever since. Vie Murder of Banker Fletcher. "Jameson, here's a story I wlah you'd follow i." remarked the managing editor of the 8tr '.j me one evening after I had turned l an as i!aiueat of the late afternoon. He baoded me a clipping from the evening edi Mr. Arnold Daly Mr. Sheldon Lewis tion of the Star, and I quickly ran my eye over the headlines: "THE CLUTCHING HAND" WINS AGAIN. NEW YORK'S MYSTERIOUS MASTER CRIMINAL PERFECTS ANOTHER COUP. CITY POLICE COMPLETELY BAFFLED. "Here's this murder of Fletcher, the retired banker and trust ne ef the university," he ex plained. "Not a1 clue except a warning letter R'gned with this mysterious clutching fist. Last week It was the robbwy of the Haxworth Jewels and the killing of old Haxworth. Again that (t-rlous sign of the hand. Then there was the duHtardly attempt on Sherburne, the steel mag nate. Not a trace of the assailant except the same clutching fist. So It has gone, Jamoson the most alarming and Inexplicable series of murders that has ever happened in this country. And nothing but this uncanny hand to trace them by." The editor paused a moment, then exclaimed: "Why, this fellow seems to take a diabolical I might almost say pathological pleasure la crimes of violence, revenge, avarice and self-protection. Sometimes it seems as if he delights In the pure deviltry of the thing. It is weird." He leaned over and spoke la a low, tense tone. "Strangest of all, the tip has Just come to us that Metcher, Haxworth, Sherburne and all the rest of these wealthy men were insured la the Consoli dated Mutual Life. Now, Jameson, I want you to find Taylor Dodge, the president, and Interview him. Get what you can, at any cost." I had naturally, thought first of Kennedy, but there was no time now to call him up, and, besides, I must see Dodge Immediately. Dodge, I discovered over the telephone, was not at home nor at any of the clubs to which be be longed. Late though It was, I concluded that be was at bla office. No amount of persuasion could get me past the door, and, though I found out later and shall tell soon what was going on there, I de termined, about 9 o'clock, that the best way to get at Dodge was to go to his bouse on Fifth avenue. If I had to camp on bis front doorstep until morn ing. The harder I found the story to get the more I wanted it. With some misgivings about being admitted, I rang the bell of the splendid, though not very modern', Dodge residence. An English butler, with a nose that must have been his fortune, opened the door and gravely Informed me that Mr. Dodge vas not at home, but was expected at any moment. Once in, I was not going lightly to give up that advantage. I bethought myself of his daughter Elaine, one of the most popular debutantes of the season, and sent ia my card to her, oa a chance of interesting her and see her father, writing on the bottom of the card: "Would like to inter view Mr. Dodge regarding Clutching Hand." Summoning up what assurance I had. which is sometimes considerable, I followed tbe butler down the ball as be bore my card. As be opened the door of the drawing room, I caught a vlsloa of a slip of a girl in evening clothes. Elaine Dodge waa both the Ingenue and the athlete the thoroughly modem type of girt equally at home with tennis and tango, table talk and tea. Vivacious eyes that hinted at a stunning amber browa sparkled beneath manses of the most wonderful auburn hair. Her pearly teeth, whea the smiled, were marvellous. And she smiled often, for life to her seemed a continuous film of tajoyment. Near her I recognised from aU pictures Harry Bennett, the rising young corporation lawyer, a mighty good looking fellow, with aa affable, pleas ing way about him, perhap SS years old or so, but already prominent and quite friendly with Dodge. Oa a table I saw a book, as though Elaine had cast it down whea the lawyer arrived to call oa the daughter wader pretense ef waitlag for her father. Crumpled on the table was the Star. They had read the stery. "Wke Is It, Jennings?" he asked. "A reporter, Miss Dodge," answered the batter klB!ng superelHeualy back at me. "Aad yoa know how your father dislikes to see anyone here at the house," be added defereatially to her. 1 took in the situation at a glance. Bennett was trying not to look discourteous, but this was a call on Elaine, and it had been Interrupted. 1 could expect no help from that quarter. Still, I fancied that Elaine was not averse to trying to pique her visitor, and determined at least to try it. Miss Dodge." I pleaded, bowing as if I had known them all my life. "I've been trying to find your father all the evening. It's very Important" She looked up at me surprised and In doubt whether to laugh or stamp her pretty little foot In indignation at my stupendous nerve. She laughed. "You are a very brave young man." she rippled with a roguish look at Ben nett's discomfiture over the Interruption of the tete-a-tete. There was a note of seriousness in it, too, that inade me ak quickly, "Why?" The smile flitted from her face, and in its place came a frank earnest expression, which I later learned to like and respect very much. "My father baa declared be wUl eat the very uit re- k 1 f v Craig Kennedy (Arnold Daly) Discovers That the Tinger Prints the Murderer Has Left on the 3ust Are Identical with His Own. This ta from the Votloa Motors rrodttottea of "The Ssploits of Elaine," by the Vamoos tho Players. orter who tries to Interview him here," she an swered. I was about to prolong the waiting time by some Jolly about such a stunning girl not having by any possibility such a cannibal of a parent, when the rattle of the changing gears of a car out side told of the approach of a limousine. The big front door opened, and Elaine flung herself in the arms of an elderly, stern, faced, gray-haired man. "Why, Dad," she cried, "where have you been? I missed you so much at dinner. Ill be so glad when this ' terrible business gets 'cleared up. Tell me. What is oa your mind? What is it that worries you now?" I noticed then that Dodge seemed wrought up rod a bit unnerved, for he sank rather heavily into a chair, brushed his face with a handkerchief and breathed heavily,. Elaine hovered over him solicitously, repeating her question. With a mighty effort hveeemed to. get himself together. He rose and turned to Bennett. "Harry," he exclaimed, "I've got the Clutching Hand!" The two men stared at each other. "Yes," continued Dodge, "I've found out how to trace It, and tomorrow I am going to set the Harms of the city at rest by exposing" Just then Dodge eaught sight of me. For the moment I thought perhaps he was going to fulfill bis threat. , "Who the devil why didn't you tell me a re porter was here, Jennings?" he sputtered Indig nantly, pointing toward the door. Argument, entreaty, were of no avail. He stamped crustily Into the library, taking Bennett with him and leaving me with .Elaine. Inside I could bear them talking, aad managed to catcb enough to piece together the story. I wanted to stay, hut Elaine, smiling at my enthusiasm, shook her head and held out bar hand in one of her frank, straight-arm handshakes. There was noth ing to do but go. At least, I reflected, I had the greater part of the story all except the one big thing, however the name of the criminal. But Dodge would know Lini tomorrow! I hurried back to the Star to write my story la time to catch the last morning edition. ' Meanwhile, If I may anticipate my story, I must tell of what we later learned had happened to Dodge so completely to upset him. Ever since the Consolidated Mutual had bee bit by the murders, he had had many lines out in tlie hope of enmeshing the perpetrator. That night, as I found out the next day, he had at last heard of a clue. One of the company's detectives had brought in a red-headed, lame, partly par alysed crook, who enjoyed the expressive mennlker cf "Limpy Red." "Limpy Red" waa a gunman of seme renown, evil faced, and, having nothing much to lose, desperate. Whoever the master criminal of the Clutching Hand might have been be had seen fit to employ "Limpy," but had not taken the precaution of getting rid of blm soon enough when be was through. . Therefore Limpy had a grievance, and now de scended under pressure to the low level of snitch ing o Dodge In his office. "No, governor," the trembling wretch bad said as he handed over a grimy envelope, "I alnt never seen his face but here is directions how to find bis hangout" As Limpy ambled out, he turned to Dodge, quivering at the enormity of bla unpardonable sin In gangland: "For God's sake, governor," be 1m (lored, "don't let on how you found out!" And yet Limpy Red bad scarcely left with bis iromtse not to tell, when Dodge, happening to turn ever some papers, came upon an envelops left on Ms own desk, bearing that mysterious clutching tand! He tore It open, and read la amasement: "Destroy Llmpy Red's instructions within the ttit hour." Lodge gazed about in wonder, This thing vu - - f n i Vs getting on his nerves. He determined to go borne ard rest. Outside the house, as he left his car, pasted over the monogram on the door, he found another note, with the same weird mark and the single word: "Remember!" ,s Much of this I had already gathered from what I overheard Dodge telling Bennett as they entered the library. . Some, also, I have pieced together from the story of a servant who overheard. x . At any rate, ia spite of the pleadings of young Bennett, Dodge refused to take warning. Into the cafe In his beautifully fitted library he deposited Limpy'a document in an envelope containing - all the correspondence that bad led up to, the final step in the discovery. " - It wag late in the evening when I returned to our apartment, and, not finding Kennedy there, knew that I would discover him at the laboratory. "Craig," I cried as I burst ia oa him, '"I've t,ot a case for you greater than any ever before." Kennedy looked up calmly from the ruck of scientific instruments that surrounded him test tubes, beakers, carefully labeled bottle. He had been examining a piece of cloth,, and bad laid it aside In disappointment near his mag nifying glass. Justinow he waa watching ' a reac tion ia a series of test tubes standing on bis table. He was looking dejectedly at the floor as I came la. "Indeed?" be remarked, cooly going back ta the reaction. "Yes," I cried. "It is a scientific criminal who seems to leave no clues." Kennedy looked up gravely. "Every criminal leaves a trace," he said quleUy. "If It hasn't been found then it must be because no one baa ever looked for it ia the right way." : i Still casing at me keenly, he added: "Yes, I already knew there waa such a man at large. , I have been called In oa that Fletcher caae be "was a trustee of the university, you know." "All right," I exclaimed, a little nettled 'that ho should have anticipated me even so much 'in the case. "But you haven't beard the latest." "What is it?" he asked with provoking calm ness. "Taylor Dodge," I blurted out, "has the clue.' Tomorrow be will track down the man!" Kennedy fairly Jumped as I repeated the. news. "How loag has he knowa?" he demanded eagerly. ' "Perhaps three or four hours," I hazarded.", Keaaedy gazed at me fixedly. ; "Then Taylor Dodge Is dead!" be exclaimed, throwing off his acid-stained laboratory -coat, " which had once beea a smoking Jacket aad hurry ing Into his street clothes. "Impossible!" I ejaculated. Kennedy paid no attention to the objection. "Come. Walter." he urged. "We must hurry before the trail gets cold." ,. J There was something postlvely uncanny about Kennedy's assurance. I doubted yet I feared. I was well past the middle of the night when we pulled up In a night-hawk taxicab before the Dodge house, mounted the steps and rang the bell. Jennings answered sleepily, but not so much ' so that he did not recognlxe me. He was about to bang the door shut when Kennedy Interposed his foot. "Where Is Mr. Dodge?" aBked Kennedy.-"Is he ' all right?" "Of course be is In bed," replied the butler. Just then we beard a faint cry, like nothing,' exactly human. Or was it our heightened Imagina tions, under the speU of tbe darkness? "Listen!" cautioned Kennedy. We did, standing there now la the hall. Ken nedy was the only one of us who was cool.. Jen- . irg'a face blanched, then be turned tremblingly, and went down to the library door, whence -the acunds bad seemed to come. . . , He called, but there waa no answer. He turned ' tbe boob and opened tbe door. The Dodge library V v ' 1 V . 1 u" A l . was a large room. In the center stood a big flat topped desk of heavy mahogany. It was brilliantly lighted. At one end of the desk was a telephone. Taylo Dodge was lying on the floor at that end of the) desk perfectly rigid his face distorted a ghastly figure. A pet dog ran aver, sniffed frantically at his master's legs and suddenly began to howl dis mally. . Dodge was dead. .. "Help!" shouted Jennings. Others of the servants came rushing In. There was for a moment, the greatest excitement and con fusion. . , "Father!", shrieked a woman's voice, heart broken. "Father! Oh my God he be Is dead!" It was Elaine Dodge. With a mighty effort, the heroic girl seemed to pull herself together. From the one-sided, exeited conversation of the butler over the telephone, I gathered that Bennett had been in the process of disrobing in hla own apartment uptown, and would be right down. ... Together, . Kennedy, Elaine and myself lifted Dodge to a' sofa and Elaine's aunt, Josephine, with 'bom she lived, appeared on the scene, trying to) quiet the sobbing girl. Kennedy and T, withdrew a little way, and he ' looked about curiously. "What was it?". I whispered. "Waa it natural, an accident, - or -or murder" The word seemed to tick In ray throat. If it was murder, what was the motive? Could It have been to get the evidence which Dodge bad that would Incriminate the master criminal? - ' : - ' Kennedy moved, over quietly and examined the body of Dodge. When he rose bis face had a peculiar Icok. "Terrible!" he whispered to me. "Apparently he had beea working at his accustomed place at the desk when the telephone rang. He rose and crossed over to it. See! That brought hia feet oa this register let Into the floor. As he took tbe tele phone, receiver down a flash of light must have shot from it to, his ear. It shows the characteristlo electric burn!': ' , ,"The'motlve?" I queried. "Evidently his pockets bad been gone through, though none of the valuablea were missing. Things 4a the desk show that a haaty search bad beea made." Just then, the door opened and Bennett bunt in. As he stood over the body, gaslng down at It, repressing the emotions of a strong man, be turned to Elaine and 'in a low voice exclaimed: The Clutching Hand did this. I shall consecrate my life to bring this' man to Justice!" - -He spoke. tensely, aad Elaine, looking up intw hia- faee, aa H Imploring hla help in bar hour f need, unable to speak, merely grasped his band. Keanedy, who la tbe meantime had stood apart from tbe rest of as,' waa examining the telephone carefully. ". "A clever crook,". I beard him mutter between lis teeth. "He must have wera glovea. Not a fiageff print at toast here." Perhaps I can do no better than to reconstruct the crime as Kennedy. later pieced these startliaaj eterita together. Long after I had left, and even after Beaaetg left. Dodge continued working In his library, fe be was known as a prodigious worker. Had he taken the, trouble, however, to pauaa) rnd peer out Into the moonlight that flooded the back of bis bouse, be might have seen the figured cf two stealthy crooks crouching in the half shad cws of one of the cellar windows, one crook at least masked. . The masked crook held in his hands carefully tbe ends of two wires attached to an electric feed, and. sending bis pal to keep watch outside, he en terer the cellar of the Dodge house through a win dow, whose pane they bad carefully removed- Ag. be came through the windows be dragged tbe wire wltb blm, and after a moments reconaolterlng, a '.(Continued on Page Elereo. Qoluoa Ooax'