Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-02-20

stood over the PROSTATE footman.
cursing.
Get up" he ordered.
Michael obeyed. thoroughly cowed.
Take me To the c%ellsr. now" he
demanded.
Michael led the Way from the room
without a protest. the master criminal
following him closely.
Down into the cellar. by a bacl.
way. they went. Clutching Hand still
wearing his muzzle and Michael say
inc not "A word.
Suddenly Clutching Hand turned on
him and seized him BY the collar.
Now, go upstairs. You" he nut.
tered. shaking him until his teeth
fairly chartered. and IL YOU watch me
aFain-IE Kill you.'
He thrust Michael away. and the
fCotman. overcome by fear. hurried
upstairs. Still trembling and fearful.
Michael paused Ia the hallway.
lie put his hand on his face where
the Clutchins Hand had struck him.
Then he waited. muttering Ia himself.
As he thought il over. anger took the
place al ear lie slowly turned IN
the direction of the cellar.
Meanwhile. Clutching Hand was
standing hy the electric meter. lie
examined IL carefully. feeling where
the wires entered and left II. and
starting ~ trace them out. Al last
he came To a point where II seemed
suitable 10 make a connection for
some purpose he had in mind.
Quickly he took some wire from his
bag and connected II with the electric
light wires. Next. he led these wires.
concealed. Ut course. along the cellar
floor. in the direction Of the furnace
The furnace was one OF the old hot
air heaters and he paused before II
as though seeking something. Then
he bent down beside II and uncovered
a little tank.
He thrust Ills hand singerly into IL.
bringing il out quickly. The tank was
nearly FUN Of water.
Next from his ~capacicus bag nc
took two metal poles. or electrodes.
and fastened them carefully e the
ends Of the wires. placing them at op.
rosite ends of the tank i'm the water.
For several moments he watched.
The water insid> the tank seemed the
same as before. only on each cleo
trode there appeared bubbles. on one
bubbles of oxygen. on the other OF
hNl.r TIL. ur.tar .a@ A.uns,Vaz
ing under the current by ele~ctrolysis
Another moment he surveyed his
work to see that he had left no loose
ends. Then he quietly let himself
out ~ the house.
The next morning Rusty. who had
been Elaine's constant companion
since the trouble hal Lc yun. awakened
his mistress b. licAins her hand as II
hung Imply over the side of her
bed.
She awakened with a start and put
her hand H. her head She felt Ill.
Poor old fellow. she murmured.
half aazedly.
Rasty moved away again. ~Sagging
his tail listlessly. The collie, too. felt
in.
Why. Miss Elaine-what ees re
mattaire You are 50 pale" exclaimed
the maid. Marie. as sac entered the
room "A moment later with the morn
ing's mail on "A saivcr.
Il don't feel well. Marie" she re
piled. trying with her slender white
hand To brush the cobwebs from her
brain. II wish you'd tell Aunt 10
sephine 10 telephone Doctor Hay.
ward"
Yes. mademoiSelle.' answered
Marie.
Languidly Elaine took the letters
one by one Oh tie salver.
Finally she selected one and slow.
~ tore II open. II Fad no superscrip.
ton. but II at once arrested her at
~tention and transfixed her with ter
rOr.
II read:
You are sick this morning. To
morrow you will be worse. The next
day you will di. unless you discharge
Craig Kennedy"
IL was signed with the mystic trade.
mark Of the fearsome Ciutching
Hand,
Elaine drew back into the pillows,
horror stricken.
Quickly she called TO Marie. Go
get Aunt Josephine-right away,
And Marie almost flew down the
hall. Elaine seized the telephone and
called Kennedy's number.
Kennedy. in his stained laboratory
apron. was AT work before his table
while ! was watching him with inter
est. when the telephone rang.
Without a word he answered the
call. and | could see a look Of per
turbation cross his face. | knew II
was from Elaine. but could tell moth
ing about the nature OF the message
An instant later he almost tore OF
the apron and threw on his hat and
coat. follosed him as be dashed
out OF the laboratory.
This Is terrible-terribie." he NUT
tered. as he hurried across the campus
OF the university 10 a taxicab stand.
A few minutes later. when we ar
rived al the Dodge mansion. We fornt