The Dermott news., 1915-05-06

see a cold blue automatic.
 Its 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 word had been spoken by him so far.
 Next Michael moved to the center of the room and as l 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. q have been so mistreated that I have made up my mind to tell you all l know about this Clutchine-"
 Suddenly he drew a sharp breath and both his hands clutehed at his own breast He did not staeser and fall in the ordinary manner. but seemed 10 bend at the knees and waist and literally crumple down on his face
 We ran to hsm Craig turned him over gently on his back and examined him HeealI.d Aa#ansWer. Michael was almost pu.seIess.
 Quickly Craig =tare=of hts eoIlar and hared h.s breast for the man seemed ta be struggling fer breath As he d5a so re drew from Nichaclts throat small sharr-putHted= dart
 Whats that2 calculated. horror stricken
 "A poisoned hlawruu dart. such as is used ty tho south American In. d'an- oa the upper 0rinoco." he said slowly
 examined | carefully
 What is the pe.sau '' asked
 'Car4ri he replied simply "lt acts =on the respiratory muscles. H3ralyzine them and causing asphyN5t5aa
 The dart seemed ta have been made ef a aatl1 ~ith very sharp noint. ho} low. and containing tho deadly poison in the s6arpcned end
 Lock agt'" cautioned. as he handled it
 Oh that's all right" he answered casually. If | don't scratch myself. am sac enough could swallow the stuff and t 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. eIamatioH of surprise from him In. side the hollow quill was a chm sheet of tissue paper tightly rolled. He drew t out and read
 'To know me Is Death
 Kennedy Take Warning.
 Underneath was the inevitable Glutchtue Hand sign
 We iHmped 10 eur feet. Kennedy rushed ta tho window and slammed t shut vhlle seized the key from Ni= ehael pocket opened tHe door and called for heIp
 \ moment before on tae roof Of balldtHz across fHe street. one might have seeH eeH8. skal&tae figure Ills face MS eeFHer colared and aa hls head was th5eh thateh Of mat- ted hair lie Ioaaed like South American Indian. n a very dilaudated suit Of castoG American clothes.
 h. had s'ppcd out through a door. way leading t1 hlEht of steps from the roof tu the hallway ot the tone meut and like one Of his native ven omous serpeats. worked his way down the stars asaIu
 My outcry brought veritabie 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 htm the dart and explaining about the poison The ofIl cer stared blaukly
 .'l must get away. too hurried on Craig Officer will leave you to Bake charge here You can depend on me for che inquest"
 The officer nodded
 Come on. Walter" whispered Crag. eager to get away, then adding ihe one word, Elaine"
 followed hastily not slow to un- derstaui his fear for her
 Nor were Craigs fears GrCuadless. In spite Of all that could be done for her Blame 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. stone had come hurtllng through the window, without warning of any kind. and had landed on Elaines bed
 Below. as we learned some time aft erwards. car had drawn up hastily and the eyil-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.
 Around the stone was wrapped a piece of paper on which was the om- inous warning. signed as usual by the