Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-03-13
Kennedy Discovers the Secret @. the
Poisoned Room.

FOlopUcu hoOfU
spito of the fact tina; it was bread
daylight. it was running. His face
puckcrcd.
They are using no current at pres
ent in the house" he ruminated. yet
the meteor is running"
He continued to examine the meter.
Then he began to follow tho electric
wires along Al hast he discovered a
place where they had been tempered
with and tapped by other wires.
The work of the Clutching Hand"
he muttered
Eagerly he followed the wires TO
tic furnace and around To the back.
There they led right into little
water tank. Kennedy yanked them
out As he did so he pulled some
thing with them.
Two electrodes the villain placed
there" lie exclaimed. holding them up
triuinlhantiy for me to see.
Yves" replied. obviously, but
what d-es Il all meau?"
Why, cont yea see? Under tho In
fuCncc Ct ;he electric current the Wa
tcT was GecoilroseG ?rd gave CT ox.-
gen ard hydrogen. The free hydrogen
passed up the furnace pipe and COM
bir:n- with The arsenic in the vail
paper formed the deadly arseniuretted
hydrogen"
He cast the whole imrrovised cleo
trolysis apparatus on the floor and
lashed up the cellar steps.
we found it," he cried, hMrrying
into Gaines room. IT'S in this room
q deadly as-aTsenluretted hydro
gen"
He tore open the windows.
Have her moved" be shouted to
Aunt Josephine Then have n vac
uum cleaner go over every inch OF
wall. carpet and upholstery"
Standing beside her, he breathlcss-
ly explained his discovery. That wall
paper has been loaded down with
arsenic, probably paris green or
Schweinfurtr green, which Is acetoar-
semitic OF copper. Every minute yon
are here you are breathing arseniuret-
ted hydrogen. This Clutching Hand
is a dia bolical genius. Think OF it
poisoned wall paper"
No one said word. Kennedy
reached down and took the two
Clutching Hand messages Elaine had
received. Il shall want TO study
these notes, more, too" he said, hold
Ing them up to the wall at the head
of the bed as he flashed his pocket
lens at them. You see, Elaine, / may
be able to get'something from study
ing the ink. the paper. the hand writ
ing"
Suddenly both leaped back, with a
cry.
Their faces had been several inches
apart Something had whizzed between
them and literally impaled the two
notes on the wall
Down the street, on the roof of a
carriage house, back of a neighbours,
might have been seen the uncouth fig
ure of the shabby South American In
dian crouch!ng behind chimney and
gazing intently ut the Dodge house.
AS craig had thrown open Elaine'S
window and turned to Elaine the figure
had crouched closer to the chimney
Then with an uncanny determine
ton, he slowly raised the biowgun to
his lips.
I Jumped forward, followed by Doc
tor Hayward, Aunt Josephine and
Marie. Kennedy had a peculiar look
as he pulled out from the wall blow
gun dart similar in every way to that
which had killed Michael
Craig" gasped Elaine. reaching up
and laying her soft, white hand on his
arm in undisguised fear for him, you
You must give up this chase for the
Clutching Hand"
Give up the chase for the Clutch
ing Hand?" he repeated in surprise.
"Neve-; Not until either ne or IL
dead"
There was both fear and admiration
mingled in her look. as he reached
down and patted her dainty shoulder
encouragingly.
fTO BE CoNTINUED3