The Raymer enterprise., 1915-06-10
FIFTH EPISODE
The Poisoned Room

II iu ~ b00O6
The Poisoned Room.
Elaine and Craig were much togeth.
sr during the next few days. Some
how or other. 1t seemed that the chase
Of the Clutchins Hand involved long
conferences In the Dodge library, and
Sven. in fact extended to excursions
into the notoriously crime-infested
neighborhood Of Riverside drive. with
its fashionable procession Of automo-
bfles and go-carts-as far north, In
deed, % that desperate haunt known
- Grants tomb.
But to return to the more serious
ltde Of the affair.
y Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely
come out Of the house and descended
the steps, one afternoon. when q sinis-
ter face appeared in q basement area.
way near BY.
1t was the Clutching Hand.
He wore . telephone inspectors hat
stnd coat and carried a bag slung by q
strap over his shoulder. For once he
had left OF his mask, but, In place Of
It. his face was covered by = scraggy
black beard. The disguise was effec-
tive.
He saw Kennedy and Miss Dodge
and skunk unobtrusively against q
railing, with his head turned away.
Laughing and chatting. they passed.
Then he turned In the other direc-
tion and. going up the steps of the
Dodge house. rang the bell.
Telephone inspector" he said in q
loud tone as Michael. in Jennings
place for the afternoon. opened the
door.
He accompanied the words with the
sign, and Michael admitted him.
Al II happened, Aunt Josephine was
upstairs in Elaine's room. She was
fixing flowers In vase on the dress
ing table Of her idolized niece. Mean
while, Rusty. the collie. lay. half blink
ing, on the floor.
WHO is this?" she asked, as MI
chael led the bogus telephone inspec-
tor into the room.
"A man from the telephone COM
pany," he answered deferentially.
Aunt Josephine. unsophisticated. al
lowed them to enter without further
question.
Quickly. like good workman.
Clutching Hand went to the telephone
instrument and by dint of keeping his
} finger on the hook and his back to
Aunt Josephine succeeded In convey
ing the illusion that he was examining
It.
No sooner was the door shut than
the Clutching Hand hastily opened his
bag and from It drew a small powder
spraying outfit. such as have seen
used for spraying bug powder He
then took out a sort Of muzzle with
an elastic band on 1t and slipped it
over his head SO that the muzzle pro-
LcCtcu LIE uUb6 nuu uOuths
He seemed to work sort of pump
ing attachment and from the nozzle of
the spraying instrument blew out .
cloud Of powder which he directed at
the wall.
Meanwhile, Michael. In the hallway,
on guard to see that no one bothered
the Clutching Hand at his work, was
overcome by curiosity to see what his
master was doing He opened the
door little bit and gazed stealthily
through the crack into the room.
Clutching Hand was now spraying
the rug close to the dressing table Of
Elaine and was standing near the mir
ror. He stopped down to examine the
rug. Then. as he raised his head. he
happened to look into the mirror. In
It he could see the full reflection Of
Mhaael behind him, gazing into the
am
"The scoundrel!" muttered Clutch
Ing Hand. with repressed fury at the
discovery.
He rose quickly and shut on the
spraying is<trument. .stufing 1t into
the bag. Hs took a step or two toward
the door. Michael drew back. fear.
fully, pretending now to be on guard.
Clutchins Hand opened the door
and, still wearing the muzzle. beck
sned to Michael Michael could
scarcely control his fears. But he
obeyed, entering Elaine's room after
the Clutching Hand. who locked the
door.
Were you watching me?" demand
ID the master criminal. with rage.
Michael. trembling all over. shook
his head. For . moment Clutching
Hand looked him over disdainfully
ct the clumsy lie.
Then be brutally struck Michael IN
- Snna knockfne him down. An I'M.