Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-02-20

knocked. Al Footsteps ceased. lnen
the door opened slowly and ! could
see a cold blue automatic.
Its all right. Michael" treasured
Craig calmly. All right. Walter" he
added 10 me.
The gun dropped back into the foot
mans pocket. We entered and Nj
chael again locked the door. Not a
word had been spoken by him so far.
Next Michael moved 10 the center
OF the room and. as I realized later.
brought himself in direct line with the
open window. He seemed to be owe
come with fear al his betrayal and
stood there breathing heavily.
Professor Kennedy" he began. II
have been so mistreated that ! have
made up my mind TO tell you all
knoy about this Clutching-"
Suddenly he drew a sharp breath
and both his hands clutched al his
own breast. lie did not stagger and
fan In the ordinary manner. but
seemed to bend at the knees and
waist and literally crumple down on
his face.
We ran 10 him. Craig turned him
over gently on his back and examined
him. He called. No answer. Michael
was almost pulseless.
Quickly Craig tore on his collar and
barred his breast. for the maR.seemed
TO be struggling for breath. - he did
so he drew from Michael's throat a
small. sharp-pointed dart.
What's that" ! calculated. horror
stricken.
"A poisoned blowgun dart. such as
II used by the South American In
dians on the upper Orinoco." he said
slowly.
lie examined II carefully
What II the poison" asked.
"Curari." he replied simply. 1T acts
on che respiratory muscles. paralyzing
them and causing asphyxiation."
The dart seemed to have been mads
Of a 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" ne answered
casually. If ] don't scratch myself.
am safe enough. I 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 was a thin sheet
OF tissue paper. tightly rolled. He
drew IL out and read:
TO know me is Death.
"Kennedy-Take Warning"
Underneath was the inevitable
Clutching Hand sign.
We Jumped to our feet. Kennedy
rushed 10 the window and slammed IL
shut. while ! seized the key from MI.
chael's pocket. opened the door and
called for help.
a moment before. on the roof OF a
building across the street. one might
have seen a bent. skulking figure.
His face was copper colored and on
his head Was a thick thatch OF mat
ted hair. He looked like a South
American Indian. in a very dilapidated
suit OF CASTOR American clothes.
tie had slipped out through q door
way leading to a flight or steps from
the roof to the hallway u tfss tene-
ment. and. like one AZ his hativb rem
omous serpents, worktd hid way down
the stairs again O.
My outcry broushta vefitable bat
TALON OF aid. The Iptei proprietor.
the negro water and several dhers
dashed upstairs. follo Isda shsrtlt bf
a pcrtly policeman.
Craig took the pplidF pan into NH
confidence. showing bib kht' Dart anb
explaining about ,he lqlsAA. The Oh
Ger stared blankly. '&N
s"I must gel away. too" ihurrtehsst
Craig. 'Oficer. viii leAve' you ~
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 one word. "Elainei"
followed hastily. o slow TO 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 not neglected the opportunity.
either.
Suddenly. Just before our return. a
stone had come hurtling through the
window. without warning OF any kind.
and had landed on Elaine's bed.
Below. as we learned some time aft
erwards. a car had drawn up hastily
and the evil-faced crook whom the
Clutching Hand had used TO rid him
self OF the hformer. "Limpy Red" had
leaped put and hastily hurled the
stone through the window. as quick
ly leaping back into the car and
%whisking away.
Around the stone was wrapped a