The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-05-18

WI n " DEC tAat NC udu lclt ~ lUO5d
ends. Then he quietly let himself
out of the house.
The next morning Rusty, who had
been Elaine's constant companion
/, since the trouble had begun, awakened
his mistress by licking her hand as II
hung Imply over the side of her
bed.
She awakened with a start and put
her hand to her head. She felt i'll.
Poor old fellow" she murmured,
half dazedly.
Rusty moved away again, wagging
his tail listlessly. The collie. too. felt
| i'll.
Why, Miss Elaine-what ees re
mattair? You are SO palel" exclaimed
the maid, Marie, as she entered the
room moment later with the morn
ing's mail on salver.
Il don't feel well, Marie" she re-
piled, trying with her slender white
hand to brush the cobwebs from her
brain. I'll wish you'd tell Aunt Jo-
sephine to telephone Doctor Hay
ward" A~
Eyes. mademoiselle." answered
Marie.
Languidly Elaine took the letters
one by one of the salver.
Finally she selected one and slow
ly tore it open. It had no superscrip-
ton, but 1t at once arrested her at
tention and transfxed her with ter
ror.
1t read:
you are sick this morning. To-
morrow you will be worse. The next
day you will die unless you discharge
Craig Kennedy"
1t was signed with the mystic trade
mark of the fearsome Clutching
Hand!
Elaine drew back into the pillows,
horror stricken.
Quickly she called to Marie. 60
get Aunt Josephine-right away!'
And Marie almost few down the
hail. Elaine seized the telephone and
called Kennedy's number.
Kennedy, in his stained laboratory
apron, was at work before his table,
while was watching him with inter-
est, when the telephone rang
Without word he answered the
call. and could see look OF per-
turbation cross his face. ! knew It
was from Elaine, but could tell moth
ing about the nature OF the message.
An fpdfonf lot "a oil 80
the apron and threw on his hat and
coat. followed him as he dashed
out of the laboratory.
"This is terrible-terrible, he NUT
tered, as he hurried across the campus
of the university to taxicab stand.
A few minutes later, when we ar
rived at the Dodge mansion, we found
Aunt Josephine and Marie doing all
they could under the circumstances.
Doctor Hayward had arrived and
had just finished taking the patients
pulse and temperature as our cab
pulled up.
Elaine was quite III indeed.
"Oh! I'm so glad to see you," she
breathed with an air of relief as Ken
nedy advanced.
''Why-what is the matterf' asked
Craig anxiously.
| Doctor Hayward shook his head du-
biously, but Kennedy did not notice
| him, for, as he approached Elaine. she
drew from the covers where she had
concealed it letter and handed 1t to
him.
Craig took 1t and read:
| you are sick this morning. To
morrow you will be worse The next
day you will die unless you discharge
Craig Kennedy"
At the signature of the Clutchine
Hand he frowned, then, noticing Doc
tor Hayward, turned to him and re-
peated his question, What is the mat
| terri"
Doctor Hayward continued shaking
his head. Il cannot diagnose her
symptoms" he shrugged.
| There seemed to be faint odor, al.
most as II of garlic, in the room. II
was unmistakable and Craig looked
about him curiously, but said nothing.
AS he smiled, he moved impatientIy
and his foot touched Rusty. under the
bed. Rusty whined and moved back
lazily. Craig bent over and looked
| at him.
What's the matter with Rusty?" he
asked. "Is he sick, too?"
why. yes" answered Elaine, fol
lowing Craig with her deep eyes,
Craig reached down and gently
pulled the collie out into the room
Rusty crouched down close to the
floor. His nose was hot and dry and
feverish. He was plainly Ill.
How long has Rusty been in the
room?" asked Craig.
"All night" answered Elaine. =
wouldn't think Of being without him
now"
MAY take Rusty along with me7'
Craig asked finally.
Elaine hesitated. Surely" she said
at length, only be gentle with him.
| "Of course" he said simply. 81
thought that might be able to dis
cover the trouble from studying him.
| We stayed only a few minutes
longer, for Kennedy seemed to realize
the necessity of doing something i'm
mediately, and even Doctor Hayward
was fighting In the dark.
Back In the laboratory, Kennedy sci
to work Immediately. brushing every
thing else aside. He began by draw
| ing of a little Of Rusty's blood in {
tube. very carefully.
i Here, Walter" he said, pointing tt
the little incision he had made, Twill
You take care Of himf"
Quickly Craig made one test aftel
another.
i AS he did so I shifted. There was
an unmistakable odor Of garlic In The
/ air which made me think Of what
had already noticed IN Elaine's room
"Arseniuretted hydrogen" he an
swered. still engaged In verifying hi.
tests. "This is the Marsh test fol
arsenic"
"Arsenicl" repeated, in horror.
had scarcely recovered from the
surprise Of Kennedy's startling reve
lation when the telephone rang again
Kennedy seized the receiver, thinking
evidently that the message might b
from or about ElainA