The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1915-04-22

knocked. The footsteps ceased. Then
the door opened slowly and / could
see a cold blue automatic.
IT'S all right. Michael. treasured
Craig calmly. All right, Walter, he
added 10 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 10 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, Il
have been so mistreated that l have
made up my mind to tell you all l
know about this Clutching-
Suddenly he drew a 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 crumple 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 of his collar and
barred his breast, for the man seemed
70 be struggling for breath. AS he did
so he drew from Michaefs throat a
small. sharp-pointed dart
What's that?" l calculated, horror
stricken.
A poisoned blowgun dart, such as
is used by the South American In
dams on the upper Orinoeo." 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 a low ex-
clamation of surprise from him In
side the hollow quill was a thin sheet
of tissue paper. tightly rolled. He
drew il out and read;
To know me is Death.
'Kennedy-Take Warning
Underneath was the inevitable
Clutehing Hand sign.
We jumped to our feet. Kennedy
rushed TO the window and slammed il
shut, while l seized the key from Mi
chael's pocket, opened the door and
called for help.
\ moment before. on the roof of a
building across the street. one might
have seen a bent, skulking figure.
His face was copper colored and on
his head was a thick thatch of mat
ted hair He looked like a South
American Indian, in very dilapidated
suit OF east-off American clothes.
He had slipped out through a door
way leading to a fight OF steps from
the roof TO the hallway of the tene-
ment. and. like one o. his native zen
omous serpents, worked his way down
the stairs again.
Ny outcry 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.
4 must get away, too" hurried on
Craig Office, | will leave you to
take charge here. You can depend on
me 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 Clutching 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
C1utching 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 ON
nous 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
l arrived and were admitted.
"Oh, Mr.. Kennedy" cried Elaine