The Dermott news., 1915-05-06

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 Take me to the cellar, now" he demanded
 Michael led the way from the room without protest. the master criminal following him closely
 Down into the cellar. by a back way. they went. Clutehing Hand still wearing his muzzle and Michael say ing not a word.
 Suddenly Clutchng Hand turned on him and seized him by the collar.
 Now. fo upstairs. you" he nut tered. shaking him until his teeth fairly chattered and if you watch me aEain-l'll kill you!' He thrust Michael away, and the footman. overcome by fear, hurried upstairs. still trembling and fearful, Michael paused in the hallway He put his hand on his face where the Clutchins Hand had struck him. Then he waited, muttering to himself As he thought it over. anger took the place Of fear. He slowly turned in the direction of the cellar. Meanwhile. Clutehing Hand was standing by the electric meter. He exam ned 1t carefully. feeling where the wires entered and left it. and starting to trace them out At last he came to d point where 1t seemed suitable to make connection for some purpose he had in mind.
 Quickly he took some wire from his bag and connected it with the electric i light wires Next. he led these wires concealed of course. along the cellar floor. in the direction of the furnace
 The furnace was one of the old hot air heaters and he paused before it as though seeking something Then he bent down beside it and uncovered q little tank
 He thrust his hand ginrerly into it. bringing it out quickly The tank was nearly full of water
 Next from his capacious bag he took two metal poles. or electrodes, and fastened them carefully to the ends of the wires placing them al op- | posite ends Of the tank in the water.
 Fer several moments he watched. 1 tIt' NstA'l ktHstAt NlAt ls4Ilh S't4tte G AtAt' same as before. only on each cleo ,rode there appeared bubbles, on one bubbles of oxygen, on the other of i hydrogen. The water was decompos- 1 ing under the current by eleCtrolysis. Another moment he surveyed his work to see that he had left no loose ends Then he quietly let himself out of the house
 Tho next morning Rusty who had been Elaiue's constant companion 1 since the trouble had begun, awakened 1 his mistress by licking her hand as 1t hung Imply over the side of her l bed
 She awakened with start and put her hand to hnr head. She felt i'll
 Poor old fellow she murmured, l half dazcdly.
 Rusty moved away again. wagging his tail listlessly. The collie. too. felt i'll
 Why. Miss Elaine-what ees ze mattair? You are so pale!" exclaimed the maid, Marie. as she entered the room n moment later with the morn ] ing's mail on a salycr 'I don't feel well. Marie" she re | piled, trying with her slender white | hand to brush the cohwebs from her brain. II wish you'd tell Aunt Jo- sephine to telephone Doctor Hay ward"
 Yes. mademoiselle. answered Marie
 LanGuidly Elaine took the letters one by one of the salver Finally she selected one and slow | ly tore 1t open. It had no superscrip- tion. but il at once arrested her at tention and transtixed her with ter TOT
 It read;
 You arc sick this morning To morrow you will be worse. The next day you will die unless you discharge Craig Kennedy"
 IL was signed with the mystic trade mark of the fearsome Clutching Hand,
 Elaine drew back into the pillows. horror stricken , Quickly she called to Marie. GO get Aunt Josephine-right away!
 And Marie almost flew down the 1 hall. Elaine seized the telephone and called kennedys number
 
 Kennedy, in his stained laboratory apron. was work before his table, while l was watching him with iuts", est. when the telephone rang
 Without a word he answered the call and l could see n look of per. turbation cross his face. knew 1t was from Elaine, but could tell noth- ing about the nature of the message.
 An instant later he almost tore otr the apron and threw on his hat and coat followed him as he dashed out of the laboratory
 This is terrihle-terrible." he nut. tered, as he hurried across the campus Of the university 10 taxicab stand A few minutes later, when we ar