Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-13

wrapped package at Murray's elbow.
by parcel post, marked Personal"
he murmured alphabetically and went
away as silently as he had come.
John Murray stared at the package
with incredulous eyes Suddenly his
jaw set firmly and he jumped up and.
locking the door to the outer office,
went to his safe and took from an in
ner compartment two other packages
of the same size and shape as the one
Perkins had just brought in.
With the three packages ranged be-
fore him on the desk. John Murray
studied them with knitted brow.
They were exactly alike. He opened
one of the packages,
Within was a square box of Chinese
red lacquer. with a powdering of gold
on the lid. The box was perhaps ten
inches square and three inches deep.
Murray lifted the lid and gazed long
at the strange contents of the box.
On bed of red silk lay a hand-a
hideouS, claw-lille hand-with long,
transparent nails. The thing was made
of yellow wax, but so perfect was the
workmanship and so faithfully had the
artisan carried out his idea that the
yellow hand seemed like that of liv-
ing human hand, a veined and knotted
hand, with muscled fingers half curl
ed, as if in malignant desire to clutch,
to strangle, to kill.
There was nothing else in the box
save the yellow, claw-like hand.
With set lips Murray opened the sec
ond box and disclosed facsimile OF
the waxen hand and the third box and
saw still another hand. But this last
hand contained in the box Just arrived
was closed, as though it held some,
thing in a death grip.
Murray shuddered a little, for he
knew that the throat which the Yellow
Claw longed to grasp was his own.
He knew that the death grip was In
| tended for his own strong, brown
| throat
Murray knew that he had received
the three warnings and that If he die
not obey the last one-weil, he drew q
| sharp breath and walked to the win
dow-well, if he didn't heed the third
warning, why, he would disappear as
mysteriously as Henderson had vanish
ed three months before or as complete
ly as Moore had dropped out of sight
six months ago.
Il will speak to Swinnerton. He
must advise me-" muttered Murray as
he thrust the boxes back into the safe
I and locked the door
AS he spoke there came a rap at thG
Office door
He turned the key and admitted
Perkins, who darted little, snaky
! glances around the room as he deliv
cred his message;
'Mr. Swinnerton to see you, sir"
Send him in, please" said Murra!
shortly and he pushed forward deer
chair for his visitor, who entered nj
most Immediately. Tom Swinnertor
was tall, thin, anxious looking young
man with fair hair tousled over his fin
forehead He sank down in the chat
and tossed his hat on the desk.
Hope l don't bore you, Murray, bu
I've heard from Them" he said with T.;
nervous laugh.
John Murray uttered faint echo o
the laugh.
I'm IN the same box, Tom. Tv,
heard three times"
My God, Murray gasped the other
you don't mean-why, what are yol
going to do about it,"
Murray shrugged his shoulders. "Th'
third call came only half an hour ago.
I've heard twice. | came to asl
your advice" shuddered the younge
man, fixing his anxious eyes on Muir
rays strong face.
There's only one thing to do, Tom
after all''-and Murray turned sudden
ly and sat down close to his visitor
He spoke in whisper: You know W.
four. Moore and Henderson, you and l
promised to obey the call of the Vel
low Claw at any time in return foI
which they allowed Henderson TO e
free after that fiasco of his up the
river. Those were rough days for for
eigners in China, and, well, I don't be
lieye any one of us expected to b'
called upon to do what the Yellow
Claw demands. Henderson must have
refused and Moore as well for Vol
know they have both disappeared"
''Well, what Is the one thing to do
john" asked Tom after awhile
Go down into Chinatown. find on
what they want and then decide wha
is best TO be done"
"When shall we go?"
Tonight is best I've had nv las
call. The third hand held garroter'
cord. Jove. they're an uncanny set
; these Chinese!" Murray arose an
paced the floor
why Chinatown? We don't know
where to co. objected Tom
They've come by parcel post. "
investigated and can tell you the yer
station from which they were mailed
And I'm pretty sure that when we 20
Into Chinatown there will be some on
looking out for US to take US to tn
Yellow Claw"
! The two men dined in silence. an
, when the early twilight was falIin
they walked slowly up Dupont stree
touching elbows With slant eyed Asia