Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-05-21

see a cold blue automatic.
IT'S all right, Michael" treasured
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 q
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, Il
have been SO mistreated that I 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, fer the man seemed
to be struggling for breath AS he did
so he drew from Michael's throat
small, sharp-pointed dart
What's that" / calculated, horror
stricken.
"A poisoned blowgun dart, such as
is used by the South American In.
dams on the upper Orinoco." 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 QUIT" / cautioned. as he
handled it.
"Oh. that's all right" he answered
casually. If l don't scratch myself, I
am safe enough. could swallow the
stun and 1t wouldn't hurt me-unless
l 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 1t out and read:
ITO know me Is Death.
"Kennedy-Take Warning"
Underneath was the inevitable
Clutching Hand sign.
We jumped to our feet. Kennedy
rushed to the window and slammed 1t
shut, while I seized the key from Mi.
chaePs pocket. opened the door and
called for help.
A moment before, on the roof of a
building across the street, one might
nave 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 a very dilapidated
suit Of CASTOR American clothes.
He had slipped out through a door.
way leading to flight of steps from
the roof to the hallway of the tene-
ment. and, like one of his native VEN
omous serpents. worked his way down
the stairs again.
My cutlery brought a 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 him the dart and
explaining about the poison. The off,
Ger stared blankly.
Il must get away, too" hurried on
Craig Officer l 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 we're Craig's fears groundless.
In spite of all that could be done for
her. Elaine was still in bed, much |
weaker neT than before.
More titan that, the Clutching Hand |
had not neglected the opportunity.
either.
Suddenly, just before our return, q
stone had come hurting through the |
window, without warning of any kind,
and had landed on Elaines bed.
Below. as We learned some time aft |
a car had drawn up hastily
and the evilfaced 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 q |
piece of paper on which was the ON
inous warning. signed as usual by the |
Hand:
Michael IL dead.
Tomorrow, you.
"Then Kennedy.
stop before it is too late"
Elaine had sunk back into her Dill |
lows, paler than ever from this sec
ond shock.
It was just then that Kennedy and
arrived and were admitted.
"Oh, Mr.. Kennedy" cried Elaine.