The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1915-07-08

is USED Dy the South American In
dams on the upper Orinoco," he said
Slowly.
He examined it carefully
What is the poison" l asked
"Curari he replied simply. 1T 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!" l cautioned, as he
handled it.
"Oh, that's all right" he answered
casually. IF don't scratch myself,
am safe enough. | could swallow the
stuff and it wouldn't hurt me-unless
had an abrasion of the lips or some
internal cut"
Kennedy continued to examine the
dart until suddenly | heard low ex-
clamation of surprise from him In
side the hollow quill was a thin sheet
of tisSue paper, tightly rolled He
drew 1t 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 to the window and slammed it
shut, while / seized the key from Mi
chaels pocket, opened the door and
called for help.
A 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
bis head was thick thatch of mat
ted hair. He looked like a South
American Indian. in very dilapidated
suit of cast-off American clothes.
He had slipped out through a door
way leading to 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 cutlery brought veritable 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 off,
Ger stared blankly
Il must get away, too hurried on
Craig, Officer, | will leave you to
take charge here. You can depend on
me tor 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 I'M
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
eTwards, a car had drawn up hastily
and the evil-faced crook whom the
CIutching Hand had used to rid him
self of the informer, "Limpy Red" had
Ieaped out and hastily hurled the
stone through the window, as quick
ly leaping back into the car and
whisking away.
Around fhn ctnnp wrqnnnd
piece of paper on which was the ON
jnous warning, signed as usual by the
Hand:
Michael is dead.
Tomorrow, you.
"Then Kennedy.
stop before it is too late"
Elaine had sunk back into her pill
lows, paler than ever from this sec
ond shock
1t was Just then that Kennedy and
arrived and were admitted.
"Oh, Mr. Kennedy" cried Elaine,
handing him the note.
Craig took 1t and read. Miss
Dodge" he said as he held the note
out to me, you are suffering from ar
senic poisoning-but l don't know yet
how it is being administered"
He gazed about keenly. Meanwhile,
/ had taken the crumpled note from
him and was reading it. Somehow,
had leaned against the wall. AS
turned, Craig happened to glance at
me.
"For heavens sake, Walter" | heard
MIN exclaim. what have you been
up against?"
n. e,;rI,, Iaonad at me- and | felt