Holding up both hands, he slowly drew near
the door to his private office.
Suddenly he dropped one hand and pressed a hidden spring in the
wall.
Instantly a heavy iron door shot out and closed over the wooden
door. Entrance to the private office was absolutely cut off.
With an angry snarl, the Clutching Hand leaped at me.
As he did so, I fired twice.
He staggered back.
. . . . . . . .
The shots were heard by Kennedy and Elaine, as well as the
secretary, and at the same instant they discovered the iron door
which barred the entrance to the secretary's office.
Rushing into the outer office, they found the clerks excitedly
attempting to open the door of the secretary's office which was
locked. Kennedy drew a revolver and shot through the lock,
bursting open the door.
They rushed into the room.
Clutching Hand was apparently seated in a chair at a desk, his
face buried in his arms, while I was apparently disappearing
through the door.
Kennedy and the clerks pounced upon the figure in the chair and
tore off his mask. To their astonishment, they discovered that it
was myself!
My shots had missed and Clutching Hand had leaped on me with
maddened fury.
Dressed in my coat and hat, which he had deftly removed after
overpowering me and substituting his own clothes, Clutching Hand
had by this time climbed through the window of the outer office
and was making his way down the fire escape to the street.
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