This time there was no faithful Rusty to give warning and the
second intruder, after a glance at Elaine, still sleeping, went
quickly to the door, dragged the insensible dog out of the way,
turned the key and admitted the Clutching Hand. As he did so he
closed the door.
Evidently the fumes had not reached Elaine, or if they had, the
inrush of fresh air revived her, for she waked and quickly reached
for the gun. In an instant the other crook had leaped at her.
Holding his hand over her mouth to prevent her screaming he
snatched the revolver away before she could fire it.
In the meantime the Clutching Hand had taken out some chloroform
and, rolling a towel in the form of a cone, placed it over her
face. She struggled, gasping and gagging, but the struggles grew
weaker and weaker and finally ceased altogether.
When Elaine was completely under the influence of the drug, they
lifted her out of bed, the chloroform cone still over her face,
and quietly carried her to the door which they opened stealthily.
Downstairs they carried her until they came to the library with
its new safe and there they placed her on a couch.
. . . . . . . .
At an early hour an express wagon stopped before the Dodge house
and Jennings, half dressed, answered the bell.
"We've come for that broken suit of armor to be repaired," said a
workman.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130