The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-07

almost insane. Z


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governable. almost Insane fury.
seemed to possess the man as he
stood over the PROSTATE tootman,
cursing. "a
Get up!" he ordered 0
s Michael obeyed. thoroughly cowed.
Take me to the cellar. now he
demanded.
Michael led the way from the room:
without q. protest, the master criminal.
following him closely VI;
Down into the cellar, by a back
way. they went. C1utching Hand still
wearing his muzzIe and Michael say
ing not word.
Suddenly Clutching Hand turned on
him and seized him by the collar.
Now, go upstairs, you.s he NUT
tered, shaking him until his teeth
fairly chartered. and IL you watch me
again kill you!
He thrust Michael away, and the
footman. overcome by fear, hurried
upstairs. Still trembling and fearful,
Il Michael paused In the hallway
He put his hand on his face where
Then he waited. muttering to himself.
As he thought It over, anger took the
place Of fear. He slowly turned in
the direction Of the cellar
Meanwhile, ClutchtnE Hand was,
standing by. the electric meter. He:
examined 1t carefully feeling where
the wires entered and left 1t, and
starting to trace them out. AT last
he came to e point where It seemed
suitable Ito make a connection for
i some purpose he had In mind.
Quickly he took some wire from his
bag and connected 1t with the electric
light wires. Next, he led. these wires;
concealed, of 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 it
as though seeking something. Then
he bent down beside 1t and uncovered
Il q little tank. sss s.5s
bringing It out quickly. The tank was
nearly, full OF water.
Next from his capacious bag he
took two metal poles, or electrodes
and fastened them carefully to the.
ends Of the wires, placing them at OPP
postte ends of the tank in the water.
For several moments he watched.
aThe water inside the tank seemed the
same as before, only on each cleo.
trode there appeared bubbles, on one
bubbles OF oxygen, On the other OF
hydrogen. The water was decompos-
ing under the current by e1ectrolysis.
Another moment he surveyed his
work to see that he had left no loose
ends. Then he quietly let himself
out Of the house.
The next morning Rusty, who had
been Elaine's constant companion
since the trouble had begun, awakened
his mistress by licking her hand as 1t.
hung Imply over the side OF her.
bed
She awakened with a start and put
her hand to her head. She felt I'LL.
Poor old fellow" she murmured,
(, half dazedly. .5i5.
Rusty moved away again. wagging4
his tail listlessly. The collie, too. felt.
i'll. 5.s
why, MISS Elaine-.-what ees ze,
mattair? 70 are so pale! ;" exclaimed
the maid, Marie, as she entered the
room q moment later with the morn
ing's mail on sa1ver. III
Il don't feel well, Marie she re-
4 piled, trying with her slender white
! hand to brush the scobwebs from her
= brain. I'll wish you'd tell Aunt Jo-
sephine to telephone Doctor Hay
ward. e sy3
Yes. mademoiselle.. answered
Maria 9S siss7 fss tsy
n Languid1y Elaine took the letters
one by one on the salver. III
Finally she selected one and slow
~ tore It open. It had no superscrip-
ton, but It at once arrested her at
tention and transhxed her with ter
ror.
It read: ,saA:
on are sick this morning. To-
morrow you will be worse. Thesnext5
4 day you will die unless you discharge
Craig Kennedy. i.
It was signed with the mystic trade
& mark OF the fearsome Clutching
Hand,
Il Elaine drew back into the pillows
horror stricken.
Quickly she called to Marie. Go
get Aunt Joseph ine-right aWay!t'
And Marie almost few down the
hall. Elaine seized the telephone and
called Kennedy's number.
8 5sSSS = = AAss5 49, q 455
Kennedy, il his stained la boratory5
apron, was at work before his table,:
while Twas watching him with inter
est, when the telephone rang. u
Without a word he answered the
call, and MI could see q look OF per-
y turbation cross his face. I knew 1t.
was from Elaine. but could tell moth
i ing about the nature OF the message.
An instant later he almost tore OF
the apron and threw On his hat and
rnat $ II fnIlnwed him e q ii n ~ # dn she'd