The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-02-04
Just then the 'Clutching Hand Ap

Just then the 'Clutching Hand ap
peared. He came stealthily through
that window, which he had opened. A
moment he hesitated, seeing Elaine
asleep. Then he tiptoed over to the
bed, let Us say, and for moment
looked at her, sleeping.
A second later he had thrust his
hand into his pocket and had taken out
a small glass bulb with long thin
neck. That was ethyl chloride-a
drug which produces quick anesthe-
STA. But it lasts only minute or two.
That was enough. AS he broke the
glass neck of the bulb-letting the
pieces fall on the floor near the bed
he showed the thing under Elaine's
face, turning his own head away and
holding handkerchief over his own
nose. The mere heat of his hand is
enough to cause the ethyl chloride to
spray out and overcome her instantly.
He steps away from her a moment and
replaces the now empty vial in his
pocket.
"Then he took box from his pocket,
opened it. There must have been a
syringe and bottle of scopolamin
Where they came from do not know,
but perhaps from some hospital. l
shall have to find that out later. He
went to Elaine, quickly jabbing the
needle, with no resistance from her
now. Slowly he replaced the bottle
and the needle in his pocket. He
could not have been in any hurry now,
for it takes time for the drug to
work."
Kennedy paused. Had we known at
the time, Michael-he of a sinister
face-must have been in the hallway
that night, careful that no one saw
him. A tap at the door and the
"Clutching Hand" must have beckoned
him. A moments parley and they sep
arated-"Clutching Hand" going. back
to Elaine, who was now under the in
fluence of the second drug.
Our criminal" resumed Kennedy
thoughtfully, may have shaken
Elaine. She did not answer. Then he
may have partly revived her. She
must have been startled. 'Clutching
Hand perhaps, was half crouching,
with big ugly blue steel revolver
leveled full in her face.
lone word and l shoot! he prob
ably cried. Get up!'
''Trembling, she must have done so.
Your slippers and a kimono.' he
would naturally have ordered She
put them on mechanically. Then he
must have ordered her to go out of
the door and down the stairs. Clutch
ing Hand must have followed, and as
he did so he would have cautiously put
out the lights"
We were following, spellbound, Ken
nedy's graphic reconstruction of what
must have happened. Evidently he
had struck close to the truth. Elaine's
eyes were closed Gently Kennedy led
her along. Now, Miss Dodge he en-
couraged, "try-try hard to recollect
just what il was that happened last
night-everything.
AS Kennedy paused after his quick
recital, she seemed to tremble all over.
Slowly she began to speak. We stood
awestruck. Kennedy had been right!
The girl was now living over again
those minutes that had been forgot.
ten blotted out by the drug.
And it was all real to her, too-ter-
ribly real. She was speaking, plainly
in terror.
Il see a man-oh, such a figure
with mask. He holds gun in my
face-he threatens me. l put on my
kimono and slippers, as he tells me.
l am in a daze. l know what l am
doing-and l don't know. l go out
with him. downstairs, into the library
Elaine shuddered again at the recol-
lection. Ugh! The room is dark,
the room where he killed my father.
Moonlight outside streams in. This
masked man and l come in. He
switches on the lights.
"'Go to the safe he says, and
do 1.-THE new safe, you know. DC
you know the combination he asks
me. Yes | reply, too frightened to
say no.
"'Open it them he says, waving that
awful revolver closer. l do SO. Hast
lily he rummages through it, throwing
papers here and there. But he seems
, not to find what he is after and turns
away, swearing fearfully.
Hang it, he cries at me. Where
= else did your father keep papers?'
point in desperation at the desk. He
takes one last look at the safe shoves
all the papers he has strewn on the
floor back again and slams the safe
. shut.
"'Now, come on he says, indicating
, with the gun that he wants me to fol
low him away from the safe. At thu
. desk he repeats the search. But b.
finds nothing. Almost l think he Il
about to kill me. Where else did you
father keep papers?' he Kisses fiercely
still threatening me with the gun.
!, Il am too frightened to speak. Blu
at last / am able to say, II don
, know!' Again he threatens me. A
God is my judge cry, don't know