Banging away at my typewriter, the next day, in Kennedy's laboratory, I was startled by
the sudden, insistent ringing of the telephone near me.
"Hello," I answered, for Craig was at work at his table, trying still to extract some clue
from the slender evidence thus far elicited in the Dodge mystery.
"Oh, Mr. Kennedy," I heard an excited voice over the wire reply, "my friend, Susie
Martin is here. Her father has just received a message from that Clutching Hand and--"
"Just a moment, Miss Dodge," I interrupted. "This is Mr. Jameson."
"Oh!" came back the voice, breathless and disappointed. "Let me have Mr. Kennedy--
quick."
I had already passed the telephone to Craig and was watching him keenly as he listened
over it. The anticipation of a message from Elaine did not fade, yet his face grew grave as
he listened.
He motioned to me for a pad and pencil that lay near me.
"Please read the letter again, slower, Miss Dodge," he asked, adding, "There isn't time for
me to see it--just yet. But I want it exactly. You say it is made up of separate words and
type cut from newspapers and pasted on note paper?"
I handed him paper and pencil.
"All right now, Miss Dodge, go ahead."
As he wrote, he indicated to me by his eyes that he wanted me to read. I did so:
"Sturtevant Martin, Jeweler, "739 1/2 Fifth Ave., "New York City.
"As you have failed to deliver the $10,000, I shall rob your main diamond case at exactly
noon today."
"Thank you, Miss Dodge," continued Kennedy, laying down the pencil. "Yes, I
understand perfectly--signed by that same Clutching Hand. Let me see," he pondered,
looking at his watch. "It is now just about half past eleven. Very well. I shall meet you
and Miss Martin at Mr. Martin's store directly."
