Kennedy reached for it.
"One thing," interrupted the Clutching Hand. "You are a man of
honor."
"Yes--yes. Go on."
"If I tell you what to do, you must promise to give me a fighting
chance."
"Yes, yes."
"Call up Aunt Josephine, then. Do just as I say."
Covering Clutching Hand, Kennedy called a number. "This is Mr.
Kennedy, Mrs. Dodge. Did Elaine receive a present of a wrist watch
from Mr. Bennett?"
"Yes," she replied, "for her birthday. It came this forenoon."
Kennedy hung up the receiver and faced Clutching Hand puzzled as
the latter said, "Call up Martin, the jeweler."
Again Kennedy obeyed.
"Has the watch purchased for Miss Elaine Dodge been delivered?" he
asked the clerk.
"No," came back the reply, "the watch Mr. Bennett bought is still
here being regulated."
Kennedy hung up the receiver. He was stunned.
"The watch will cause her death at three o'clock," said the
Clutching Hand. "Swear to leave here without discovering my
identity and I will tell you how. You can save her!"
A moment Kennedy thought. Here was a quandary.
"No," he shouted, seizing the telephone.
Before Kennedy could move, Clutching Hand had pulled the telephone
wires with almost superhuman strength from the junction box.
"In that watch," he hissed, "I have set a poisoned needle in a
spring that will be released and will plunge it into her arm at
exactly three o'clock.
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