The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-03-26

knocked The footsteps ceased Then
the door opened slowly and 1 could
see a cold blue automatic.
Its all right Michael" treasured
Craig calmly "All right, Walter" he
added 10 me.
The gun dropped back into the foot.
mans pocket We entered and MI
chael again locked the door Not a
word had been spoken by him 30 far.
Next Michael moved TO the center
of the room and, as ! realized later,
brought himself in direct line with the
open window. He seemed to be over
come with fear at his betrayal and
stood there breathing heavily
Professor Kennedy" he began II
have been so mistreated that J have
made up my mind 70 tell you all !
know about this Clutching-"
Suddenly he drew a sharp breath
and both his hands olutched at his
own breast, He did not stagger and
fall In the ordinary manner, but
seemed TO bend at the knees and
waist and literally crumple down on
his face.
We ran to him. Craig turned him
over gently on his back and examined
him. He called. No answer Michael
was almost pulseless.
Quickly Craig tore of his collar and
barred HIS breast, for the man seemed
to be struggling for breath. AS he did
so he drew from Michael's throat
small. sharp-polnted dart
What's that?" / calculated, horror
stricken.
"A poisoned blowgun dart, such as
is used by the South American In.
dians on the upper orinoco," he said
slowly.
He examined II carefully
What is the poison?" | asked
"Curari," he replied simply. 1T acts
on the respiratory muscles, paralyzing
them and causing asphyxiatlon."
he dart seemed to have been made
OF quill with very sharp point, hol-
low, and containing the deadly poison
ih the sharpened end
Look QUIT" cautioned. as he
handled IT,
"Oh, that's all right" he answered
casually. IF | don't scratch myself,
am safe enough | could swallow the !
stun and it wouldn't hurt me-unless
| had an abrasion of the lips or some
internal cut"
Kennedy continued to examine the |
dart until suddenly I heard a low eX-
clamation Of surprise from him. In |
side the hollow quill was a thin sheet
of tissue paper, tightly rolled. He
drew it out and read:
ITO know me is Death.
"Kennedy-Take Warming"
Underneath was the inevitable |
Clutching Hand sign.
We jumped to our feet. Kennedy
rushed to the window and slammed it |
shut, while l seized the key from Mi |
chaels pocket, opened the door and |
called for help.
A moment before, on the roof of a
building across the street, one might |
have seen a bent, skulking figure.
His face was copper colored and on
his head was a thick thatch of mat
ted hair. He looked like South
American Indian, in very dis pidated
suit of cast-off American clothes.
He had slipped out through a door
way leading to flight of steps from
the roof to the hallway of the tene-
ment, and, like one of his native ven
omous serpents, worked his way down
the stairs again.
My outcry brought veritable bat
talon of aid. The hotel proprietor,
the negro waiter and several others
dashed upstairs, followed shortly by
a portly policeman.
Craig took the policeman into his
showing him the dart and
explaining about the poison. The Off
Ger stared blankly
Il must get away, too" hurried on
Craig. "Oficer, | will leave you to
take charge here. You can depend on
me for the inquest"
The officer nodded.
Come on, Walter" whispered
Craig, eager to get away, then adding
The one word, "Elainel"
l followed hastily, not slow to un-
ierstand his fear for her.
Nor were Craigs fears groundless.
n spite Of all that could be done for
ler Elaine was still in bed, much ,
weaker now than before ;;
More than that, the Clutching Hand q,
lad not neglected the opportunity, ,
,ither. ,
Suddenly, just before our return, a :
tone had come hurtling through the /,
window, without warning of any kind,
nd had landed on Elaine's bed.
Below, as we learned some time aft
rwards, car had drawn up hastily
nd the evil-faced crook whom the I
Ilutching Hand had used to rid him n
elf Of the informer, "Limpy Red" had
eaped out and hastily hurled the =
tone through the window, as quick ;,
Y leaping back into the car and ;,
'hisking away. 4
Around the stone was wrapped a q
iece of paper on which was the ON
lous warning, signed as usual by the u
land: b
Michael is dead.
Tomorrow, you. =,
"Then Kennedy. -
"Stop before it is too late" =
Elaine had sunk back into her pill =,
,ws, paler than ever from this sec n
nd shock ~
~ "a9 J"St tnon 'u"t NenleuS anu G