The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-02-26

cursing.
Get up!" he ordered.
Michael obeyed, thoroughly cowed.
Take me to the cellar, now" he
demanded.
Michael led the way from the room
without protest, the master criminal
following him closely.
Down into the cellar, by back
way, they went, Clutching Hand still
wearing his muzzle and Michael say
ing not word.
Suddenly Clutching Hand turned on
him and seized him by the collar.
Nov, go upstairs, you" he NUT
tered, shaking him until his teeth
fairly chartered, land if you watch me
again--Tll kill you'll"
He thrust Michael away, and the
footman, overcome by fear, hurried
upstairs. Still trembling and fearful,
Michael paused in the hallway.
He put his hand on his face where
the Clutching Hand had struck him.
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, Clutching 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 point where it seemed
suitable to make a connection for
some purpose he had in mind.
Quickly he took some wire from his
bag. and connected it 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 it and uncovered
a little tank,
He thrust his hand gingerly into it,
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
posite ends Of the tank in the water.
For several moments he watched.
The 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 electrolysis
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 il
hung Imply over the side of her
bed
She awakened with start and put
her hand to her head. She felt i'll.
Poor old fellow" she murmured
half dazedly.
} Rusty moved away again, waggins
J his tail listlessly. The collie, too, fell
} i'll.
: why. Miss Elaine-what ees zt
! mattair? You are SO pale!" exclaimed
the maid, Marie, as she entered the
room a moment later with the morn
! ing's mail on salver
81 don't feel well, Marie" she re
| piled, trying with her slender white
, hand to brush the cobwebs from hel
| brain. II wish you'd tell Aunt 10
sephine to telephone Doctor Hay
ward"
Yes, mademoiselle," answered
: Marie.
Languidly Elaine took the letters
, one by one off the salver,
t Finally she selected one and slow
ly tore 1t open. 1t had no superscrip
ton, but it at once arrested her at
! tention and transfxed her with ter
) ror.
J 1t read:
. you are sick this morning. To
7 morrow you will be worse. The mex
day you will die unless you discharge
: Craig Kennedy"
( 1t was signed with the mystic trade
: mark Of the fearsome Clutchint
9 Hand!
0 Elaine drew back into the pillows
a horror stricken.
( Quickly she called to Marie. &c
e get Aunt Josephine-right away!
And Marie almost flew down tn
l. hall. Elaine seized the telephone an
Q called Kennedy's number.
g Kennedy, in his stained laborator
0 apron, was at work before his table
while was watching him with intel
: est, when the telephone rang.
|. Without a word he answered tn
r call, and could see look of pei
/. turbation cross his face. | knew
d was from Elaine, but could tell notf
e ing about the nature of the message
r An instant later he almost tore o.
e the apron and threw on his hat an
coat. / followed him as he dashe
l. out of the laboratory
"This is terrible terrible" he mu