Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-04-16

Just then the 'Clutching Hand ap-
peared. He came steaIthily through
that window, which he had opened A
moment he hesitated, seeing Elaine
asleep. Then he tiptoed over to the
bed, let us say, and for a moment
looked at her, sleeping.
A second later he had thrust his
hand into his pocket and had taken out
a small glass bulb with long thin
neck. That was ethyl chloride-a
drug which produces quick anesthe-
STA. But it lasts only minute or two
Thatfwas enough. AS he broke the
glass neck of the bulb-letting the
pieces fall on the floor near the bed
he showed the thing under Elaines
face, turning his own head away and
holding handkerchief over his own
nose. The mere heat of his hand is
enough to cause the ethyl chloride to
spray out and overcome her instantly.
He steps away from her moment and
replaces the now empty vial in his
pocket
Then he took box from his pocket,
opened it. There must have been a
syringe and a bottle of scopolamin.
Where they came from l do not know,
but perhaps from some hospital l
shall have to find that out later He
went to Elaine, quickly jabbing the
needle, with no resistance from her
now. Slowly he replaced the bottle
and the needle in his pocket. He
could not have been in any hurry now
for it takes time for the drug to
work"
Kennedy paused. Had we known at
the time, Michael-he of a sinister
that night, careful that no one saw
him. A tap at the door and the
"Clutching Hand" must have beckoned
him A moments parley and they sep
arated-"C lutching Hand" going back
to Elaine, who was now under the in
tluence of the second drug
Our criminal" resumed Kennedy
thoughtfully, may have shaken
Elaine She did not answer Then he
may have partly revived her. She
must have been startled 'Clutching
Hand, perhaps, was half Crouching,
. with big ugly blue steel revolver
leveled full in her face
One word and I shootH he prob
ably cried Get up!
Trembling, she must have done so.
Your slippers and a kimono, he
, would naturally have ordered She
put them on mechanically. Then he
must have ordered her to 60 out of
the door and down the stairs. Clutch
/, ing Hand must have followed, and as
he did so he would have cautiously put
out the lights"
We were following, speIbound, Ken.
nedy's graphic reconstruction of what
must have happened, Evidently he
had struck close to the truth. Elaine S
eyes were closed. Gently Kennedy led
her along Nov, Miss Dodge" he en-.
| couraged, "try-try hard to recollect
just what it was that happened last
night-everything.
| AS Kennedy paused after his quick
| recital, she seemed to tremble all over
Slowly she began to speak We stood
awestruck. Kennedy had been right!
The girl was now living over again
those minutes that had been forgot
II ten-blotted out by the drug.
| And it was all real to her. too--ter
/ ribly real. She was speaking, plainly
i in terror.
81 see a man-oh, such figure
/ with mask He holds gun in my
/ face-he threatens me | put on my
| kimono and slippers, as he tells me
H / am in a daze | know what | an
| doing-and / don't know. ! go Out
| with him. downstairs, into the library.
| Elaine shuddered again at the recol
| lection ugh! The room is dark
Il the room where he killed my father
4 Moonlight outside streams in. This
/ masked man and ! come in. He
Il switches on the lights.
h Go to the safe, he says, and
\ do 1.-THE new safe, you know. Dc
l you know the combination he asks
\ me, Yes l reply, too frightened tC
I say no.
"'Open it then he says, waving tina
awful revolver closer | do so. Hast
lily he rummages through it, throwing
papers here and there. But he seem:
,, not to find what he is after and turns
- away, swearing fearfully.
:, Hang it,! he cries at me. 'Whert
else did your father keep papers?
point in desperation at the desk. Hi
takes one last look at the safe, shove
-, all the papers he has strewn on tn
floor back again and slams the SAT-
shut.
u Nov, come on, he says, indicating
& with the gun that he wants me to fol
low him away from the safe. At tn
e desk he repeats the search. But h
finds nothing. Almost | think be il
It about to kill me. Where else didyou
D. father keep papers?' he Kisses fiercely
J. / a. h.,