The Ordway new era., 1915-04-30


Poisoned Room.
spite OF the fact that 1t was broad
daylight, 1t was running. His face
puckered.
They are using no current at pres
ent In the house." he ruminated, yet
the meter is running"
He continued to examine the meter.
Then he began to follow the electric
wires along. At last he discovered
place where they had been tampered
with and tapped by other wires.
1.-THE work of tho Clutching Hand"
he muttered.
Eagerly he followed the wires to
the furnace and around to the back.
There they led right into little
water tank Kennedy yanked them
out. As he did SO he pulled some
thing with them.
1.-TWO electrodes the villain placed
there" he exclaimed. holding them up
triumphantly for me to see.
Yves" replied. obviously. but
what does 1t all mean?"
"Why, don't you see? Under the in
fluence of the electric current the wa.
ter was. decomposed and gave OF oxy.
gen and hydrogen. The free hydrogen
passed up the furnace pipe and com.
bining with the arsenic In the wall
paper formed the deadly arseniuretted
hydrogen"
He cast the Whole improvised elcc-
trolysis apparatus on the floor and
dashed up the cellar steps.
I've found it," he crtet. hurrying
Into Elaine's room. Its in this room
"a deadly gas-arseniurettef hydro
gen."
He tore open the windows.
Have her moved" nc shouted to
Aunt Josephine Then have a vac
uum cleaner go over every inch O:
wall. carpet and upholstery
Standing beside her. he breathlesa-
ly explained his discovery. That we'll
paper has been loaded down with
arsenic, probably paris green or
Schweinfurth green. which is acetoar.
senite OF copper. Ever, minute you
are here you are breathing arseniuret-
ted hydrogen. This Clutching Hand
is a diabolical genius. Think Of it
poisoned wall paper!"
No one said a word. Kennedy
reached down and took the two
Clutching Hand messages Elaine had
received. Il shall want to study
these notes. more, too" he said. hold.
ing them up to the wall at the head
of the bed as he flashed his pocket
lens at them. You see. Elaine. may
be able to get something from study
ing the ink, the paper. the hand writ
ing"
Suddenly both leaped back. with
cry.
Their faces had been several inches
apart. Something had whizzed between
them and literally impaled the two
notes on the wall.
Down the street, on the roof OF
carriage house, back Of a neighbor's.
might have been seen the uncouth fig.
ure of the shabby South American In.
dian crouching behind a chimney and
gazing intently at the Dodge house.
As Craig had thrown open Elaine's
window and turned to Elaine the figure
had crouched closer to the chimney.
Then with an uncanny determine
ton. he slowly raised the blowgun to
his lips.
jumped forward, followed by Doc
tor Hayward. Aunt Josephine and
Marie. Kennedy had peculiar look
as he pulled out from the wall blow.
gun dart similar in every way to that
which had killed Michael.
"Craig!" gasped Elaine, reaching up
and laying her soft. white hand on his
arm in undIsguised fear for him. you
you must give up this chase for the
Clutching Hand!" s-
"Give up the chase for the Clutch.
ing Hand?" he repeated in surprise.
Never! Not until either he or I is
dead!"
There was both fear and admiration
mingled In her look. as he reached
down and patted her dainty shoulder
encouragingly.
CTo BE coNTINUEDl