They listened intently as he detailed to them the orders of the Clutching Hand, hastily planning out the campaign like a division commander disposing his forces in battle and assigning each his part.
With alacrity the Brotherhood went their separate ways.
. . . . . . . .
Elaine had not been gone long from the house when Craig and I arrived there. She had followed the telephone instructions of the Clutching Hand and had told no one.
"Too bad," greeted Jennings, "but Miss Elaine has just gone shopping and I don't know when she'll be back."
Shopping being an uncertain element as far as time was concerned,
Kennedy asked if anyone else was at home.
"Mrs. Dodge is in the library reading, sir," replied Jennings, taking it for granted that we would see her.
Aunt Josephine greeted us cordially and Craig set down the vocaphone package he was carrying.
She nodded to Jennings to leave us and he withdrew.
"I'm not going to let anything happen here to Miss Elaine again if I can help it," remarked Craig in a low tone, a moment later, gazing about the library.