Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-09-24
TWENTY-THIRD EPISODE
THE TELLTAlE HEART.

Elaine had dropped in one afternoon
to- see Kennedy at the laboratory
Craig was working over a straight
backed chair which stood close to the
wall On the arms were short straps
apparently to fasten down the arms
Of the sitter.
As they chatted,' Elaine watched
Craig curiously. examining the chair
and especially the left arm, on which
was placed q metal disk in such a
way that the wrist of anyone sitting
in the chair could be strapped in con-
tact with II. Finally Kennedy at
tached a pair Of electric wires from
beneath the chair arm, connecting
with the disk, and running down one
Of the legs, thence through a crack
in the floor to the back room of the
laboratory.
what is it," asked Elaine. cit
looks like q death chair"
Scarcely as bad as that" laughed
Kennedy, taking up a large clock
faced dial which had a single hand
. evidently intended to be swung around
by some force through the graduated
scale on its face This is the sphyg-
mograph-a scientific third degree"
he explained. indicating both the chair
and the dial. ut reads a persons
thoughts and feelings through the
pressure Of the blood"
was on my way from the Star Of.
nee when / happened to spy Q face
In the crowd that seemed familiar. 1t
was of Chinaman. and. although /
could not Just place him. l knew that
! had seen him somewhere before. i
decided to play detective.
Not many minutes before, down in
that secret den in which the serpent
WI concocted his villainies. that wor-
thy had been at work again. tireless.
With subtle satisfaction, he had held
In his hand, which was carefully
gloved in rubber, q small glass tube,
perhaps three-Quarters of an inch in
diameter.
In the. tube was q minute but al
most priceless particle of that strange
element, radium. For a moment WI
regarded 1t, then took up q hand
kerchief that lay before hin. Already
he had ripped q stitch or two from
the seam in the hem. He slipped the
little radium tube into the hem of
the handkerchief.
Here" he said grufily to a servant.
Take this letter and the other thing
to Inez. You know the address"
On uptown he went until he came
to a rather ordinary looking apart |
ment house. He went in without dis |
that / was following.
glanced about. No one was watch
ing me. Then. to be sure that / |
would recognize the house. l noted it |
by marking q small cross with a pen
ell on the stonework Of the steps.
did not know at the time, but /
found out later that upstairs the mes
senger raped at a door which was
by q maid, q mulatto with a
marked gypsy cast Of features.
The maid opened the door into the
hallway and admitted the messenger
Inez took the note and the lead case,
waving to the maid to leave her.
Then she tore open the note and read:
slave her bind the incIosed over
her eyes. ~ In place three minutes,
blindness will result In few days"
Tell the master / shall have it
lone as he directs" she said to the
chinaman as she followed him to the
loor.
Inez turned and went into the back
Dom. her boudoir. where the maid
vas waiting. She brought out from
closet q rather gaudy yellow dress,
J tambourine. a headdress and some
'ther materials.
Nov. ! want you to put this on"
he instructed the maid. Here in
his box have a handkerchief which
want you to use. Tie it over her
yes and keep It there-three min
ties at least; longer II you can" Il
As looked at the house outside II
occurred to me to let
'raig know what had happened, and
sought the nearest telephone booth
nd called the laboratory. Elaine
nd just gone when l called up, and I
told my story of having seen and
rallied the messenger and marked the {
ouse.
As i turned away at my end Of the
ne Kennedy FASTENED to join me. Ily
stunned to the apartment, bent on
arying out Craigs orders. To my I