The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-04-22

,.,oopod The footsteps ceased. Then
,ho door opened slowly and ] coHId
500 a cold blue automatic.
ms nil right, Michael r~eassured
CroIe calmly. All right, waiter "e
added 10 me.
The gun dropped back into the ioot'
mans pocket We entered u MI
chael again locked the door. MOI u
uord had been spoken by him 80 far'
Next Michael moved to the center
=, tho room and. as | realized later
brought himself in direct line with the
omen window. lie seemed to be over.
come with fear at his betrayal 1nd
stood there breathing heavily.
professor Kennedy" he began !
have been so mistreated that ] nave
made up my mind TO tell YOU all !
know about this Clutching-
Suddenly he drew a sharp breath
and both his hands clutched at MS
own breast. lie did not stagger n
fall I'm the ordinary manner. but
seemed 10 bead at the knees n
waist and literally crumple down on
his face.
We ran 10 him. Craig turned him
over gently on his back and examined
him. lie called. No answer Michael
was almost %pulseless.
Quickly Craig tore OF his collar and
barred his breast. for the man seemed
10 be struggling for breath. As he did
so he drew from Michael's throat a
small, sharp.pointed dart
whats that?" | calculated, horror
stricken.
"A poisoned blowgun dart, such az
IL used by the South American In.
dams on the upper Orlnoco," he said
slowly.
He examined II carefully
what is the poison" | asked.
"Curari," he replied simply. 1T acts
on the respiratory muscles. paralyzing
them and causing asphyXiation."
The dart seemed TO have been made
OF n quill with a very sharp point. hol.
low, and containing the deadly poison
In the sharpened end.
Look OUT" ! cautioned. as he
handled Il.
"Oh. that's all right" he answered
casually. III | don't scratch myself. !
am safe enough. ! could swallow the
stun and II wouldn't hurt me-unless
] had an abrasion OF the lips or some
internal cut"
Kennedy continued 10 examine the
dart until suddenly / heard a low ex.
clamation Of surprise from him. In.
side the hollow quill VAS a thin sheet
OF tissue paper, tightly rolled. lie
drew II out and read:
ITO know me is Death.
"Kennedy-Take Warning"
Underneath was the inevitable
Clutching Hand sign.
We Jumped to our feet. Kennedy
rushed to the window and slammed IL
shut, while ! seized the key from Nj.
chaeIs pocket, opened the door and
called for help.
a moment before, on the roof OF n
building across the street. one might
nave seen Il bent, skulking figure.
Ills face was copper colored and on
his head was n thick thatch OF mat.
ted hair. He looked like n South
American Indian, in a very dilapidated
suit Of cast'off American clothes.
He had slipped out through a door.
way leading to a flight OF steps from
the root TO the hallway Of the tene.
ment' and, like one OF his native ven.
omous %sorpents. worked his way down
The stairs again.
My cutlery brought a vcritable bat.
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 onl.
Ger stared blankly.
! must get away, too" hurried on
Craig Officer, | will leave you TO
take charge here, You can depend on
me for the inquest"
The officer nodded.
Come on, Walter" whispered
craig, eager to get away, then adding
the n word. "Elaine!"
followed hastily, not slow 10 un.
derstand his fear for her
Nor were Craig's fears groundless
In spite Of all that could be done for
her' Elaine was still In bed. much
weaker now than before.
More than that, the Clutching Hand
had no neglected the opportunity.
either.
Suddenly, just before our return. n
stone had come hurting through the
window without warning OF any kind.
and a landed on Elaine's bed.
Below, as we learned some time Mt.
erwards. a car had drawn up hastily
and the evil.faced crook whom tho
Ciutching Hand had used 10 rid him.
self OF the informer, "Limpy Red had
leaped out and hastily hurled the
stone through the window, as quick.
~ ieaping back into the car and
whisking away.
around the stone was n
piece OF paper on which was the ON.
nous warning, signed as usual by the