The Springdale news., 1915-03-12

knocked. The footsteps ceased Then the door opened slowly and 1 could see a cold blue automatic.
 It's all right, Michael" 'reassured Craig calmly All right, Walter,' he added to me.
 The gun dropped back into the foot mans pocket We entered and Mi chael again locked the door. Not a word had been spoken by him so far
 Next Michael moved to the center of the room and as I realized later. brought himself in direct line with the open window. He seemed to be over come with fear at his betrayal and stood there breathing heavily.
 Professor Kennedy" he began, 'I have been so mistreated that l have made up my mind to tell you all | know about this Clutehing-"
 Suddenly he drew sharp breath and both his hands clutched at his | own breast He did not stagger and fall in the ordinary manner, but seemed to bend at the knees and waist and literally erumple down on his face.
 We ran to him. Craig turned him over gently on his back and examined him. He called No answer. Michael was almost pulseless.
 Quickly Craig tore off his collar and l barred his breast. for the man seemed to be struggling for breath. As he did so he drew from Miehaels throat small, sharp pointed dart
 What's that9" I calculated, horror stricken
 A poisoned blowgun dart. such as is used by the South American h. dians on the upper Orinoco,n he said slowly.
 He examined 1t carefully What is the poison?" I asked.
 "Curar,' he replied simply It acts on the respiratory muscles. paralyzing them and causing asphyxiation."
 The dart seemed to have been made of quill with very sharp point. hol low. and containing the deadly poison in the sharpened end
 Look out" I cautioned, as he handled it.
 "Oh that's all right" he answered casual. If l don't scratch myself. am safe enough. I could swallow the l had an abrasion of the lips or some internal cut
 Kennedy continued to examine the dart until suddenly 1 heard a low ex- elamation of surprise from him h. side the hollow quill was a thin sheet of tissue paper, tightly rolled. He drew it out and read
 ITO know me is Death
 kennedy-Take Warning"
 Underneath was the inevitable Clatching Hand sign.
 We jumped to our feet. Kennedy rushed to the window and slammed it shut, while seized the key from Nil ehaels pocket, opened the door and called for help.
 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 a South American Indian. in very dila pidated suit of east-off American clothes.
 He had slipped out through a door way leading to a flight of steps from the roof to the hallway of the tene- ment. and, like one of his native ven- omous serpents, worked his way down the stairs again.
 My outory brought veritable bat talion 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, cer stared blankly
 T must get away, too" hurried on Craig Officer. 1 will leave you to take charge here. You can depend on ne for the inquest.
 The officer nodded
 "Come on, Walter" whispered Craig, eager to get away, then adding the one word. "Elaine,"
 followed hastily, not 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 Clutehing Hand had not neglected the opportunity. either
 Suddenly just before our return, 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, car had drawn up hastily and the evil-faced crook whom the Clutching Hand had used to rid him. self of the informer. @Limpy Red, had leaped out and hastily hurled the stone through the window, as quick ly leaping back into the car and whisking away.