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

over gently on his back and examined
him. He called. No answer. Michael
was almost pu1se1ess.
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 a
small. sharp-pointed dart.
What's thai? r. calculated, horror
stricken.
I "a poisoned b1owgun dart. such as
is used by the South American In
dams on the upper orinoco.'' he said
slowly. i. s3
84 He examined It carefully
What is the poison ?" I asked.
a.Curari. he replied simply. 1t acts
on the respiratory muscles, paralyzing
them and causing asphyxtat1on.,'
The dart seemed to have been made
OF quill with a very sharp point. hoI-
low, and containing the deadly poison
In the sharpened end.
Look out. n cautioned, as he
handled It. sisl
Oh y that's all right he answered
casually. II = don't scratch myself, r
am5safe enough. could swallow the
stuff and 1t wouldn't hurt me-un1essi
had an abrasion Of the lips or some
internal cut. az
Kennedy continued to examine the
dart until suddenly I heard a low ex-
cIamation Of surprise from him. IN
side the hollow quill was thin sheet
Of tissue paper, tightly rolled. He
drew 1t. out and read:
'tTo know me Is Death.
KennedyTake Warning
Underneath was the inevitable
Clutching Hand sign.
We Jumped to our feet. Kennedy
;rushed to the window and slammed it
shut, while I seized the key from Mi
chael's pocket, opened the door and
! called for help. .a5
moment before, on the roof Of a
building across the street, one might
have seen bent, skulking figure.
His face was copper colored and on
his head was thick thatch OF mat
ted hair. He looked like al South
American ndian. In Il very d ilapidated
suit OF CASTOR American clothes.
He had slipped out through a door
way leading to q flight OF steps from.
{ the roof to the hallway Of the tene-
ment. and. like one of his native ven
Somous serpents. worked his way down
the stairs again.
Ny outcry brought veritab1e bat
1 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
confidence. showing him the dart and
explaining about the poison. The Off
cersstared blankly.
81 must get away. too hurried on
Craig aOfcer. will leave you to
take charge here. You can depend on
meSfor the inqu est
The officer nodded.
Come on. Walter, I. whispered
Craig, eagerstq get away, then adding
the one werd, Elaine! !"
followed hastily. not slow TO I'M
derstand- his fear for her.
Nor were Craig's fears groundless.
In spite OF all that could be done for
her, Elaine was still 4 in bet. much
weaker now than before #
More than that. the C1utch1ng Hand
had not neglected the opportunity.
either.
Suddenly, just before our return, a
stone had come hurting through the
window, without warning OF any kind,
and had landed on Elaine's bed.
Below, as we learned some time aft
erwards, q car had drawn up hastily.
+ and tie evil-faced crook whom the
Clutching Hand had used to rid hina-
self Of the nformer /. .Limpys Red 81 had
leaped out and hastily hurled the
stone through the window. as quick
III leaping back into the car and
Whisking away.
Around the stone was wrapped IA
piece Of paper on which was the ON
J nous warning. signed as usual BY the
Hand
ichael is dead.
Tomorrow, you 81 \;
Then kennedy.
Stop before 1t is too late 81
Elaine had sunk back into her Pill
lows. paler than ever from this sec;
) onds shock
was just then that Kennedy and
arrived and were admitted.
Oh. Mr.. Kennel cried Elaine.
handing him the note.
IralE aFL0uh881 It aHuss sEehu. MISS
Dodge" he SAID !, az he held the note
Z out to me, you are utfering from ar.
senic poisonin gbut u don't know yet
how It is being administered. q
He gazed about keenly. Meanwhile.
~ had taken the%crumpled note from
him and was reading It Somehow. !
had leaned against the wall. AS ]
turned. Craig happened to glance at
me.
For heavens sake. Walter heard
9