The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-07
FIFTH EPISODE
The Poisoned Room.

The Poisoned Room. Al
Elaine and Craig were much tngeth-
er during the next few days, Some
how or other. it seemed that the chase
Of the Clutching Hand involved long
conferences in the Dodge library, and
even, In fact. extended to excursions
into the VIGOROUSLY crime-infested5
nelghborhood or Riverside drive, with
its fashionable procession Of automo-
biles and go-carts as far north, in
deed, as that desperate haunt known
as Grants tomb.
But to return to the more serious
side of the affair.
Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely
como out OF the house and descended
the steps, one afternoon, when a SIMS
ter face appeared in Basement area
way near by. .s
1t was the E1utching Hand
He. wore "a tel ephone inspectors hat
and coat and carried a bag slunE bysa
strap over his shoulder. For once he
had left off his mask, but, ii place or
1t. his face was covered by scraggy
black beard. Tho disguise was effec-t
tive.
He saw. Kennedy and Miss Dodge
and SUNK unobtrusively against a
railing, with his head turned away
Laughing and chatting, they passed.
Then he turned In the other direc-
ton and, going up the steps of the
Dodge house. rang the bell.
Telephone inspector" he said In
loud tone as Michael, in Jennings
place for the afternoon. opened the;
door.
He accompanied the words with the
aign. and Michael admitted him. III
AS it happened. Aunt Josephine was
upstairs In Elaine's room. She was
fixing flowers in "a vase on the dress
ing table Of her idolized niece. Mean
while, Rusty, the collie. lay. half blink
Ing. on the floor.
who Is this?" she asked, as Mi
chael led the bogus telephone inspec-s
tor into the room
"a man: from the telephone com
pany,r he answered deferentiall
Aunt Josephine, unsop histicated, al
lowed them to enter without a further
question.
Quickly, like a good workman.
Clutching Hand went to the telephone.
instrument and by dint Of keeping his
finger on the hook and his back to-
Aunt Josephine succeeded In convey
Ing the Illusion that #heBwas examining
it.
No sooner was the door shut than
the Clutching Hand hastily opened his
bag and from 1t drew a small powder
spraying outfit, such as have seen
used for spraying bug powder. He
then took out IA sort OF muzzle with
an elastic band on It and slipped it
over his head SO that the muzzle pro-
tected his nose and mouth
He seemed to work a sort Of pump
ing attachment and from the nozzle Of.
the spraying instrument blew out a
cloud Of powder which he directed at
the wall i5 .B Az is
Meanwhile, Michael, in the hallway
on guard to see that no one bothered
the Clutchtng Hand at his work. was
overcome by curiosity to see what his
master was doing. He opened the
door "a little bit and gazed stealthily
through the crack into the room.
Clutching Hand was now spraying.
the rug close to the dressing table Of
Elaine and was standing near the mir
aror. He stopped down to examine the
rug. Then as, he raised his head, he
! happened to look into the mirror In
y 1t he could see the full reflection Of
Y Michael behind him. gazing into the
room.
The scoundrel!' 2 muttered Clutch
ing. Hand, with repressed fury at the
discovery.
He rose quickly and shut OF the.
spraying instrument. stufhng 1t into
the bag. He took a step or two toward
the door. Michael drew back. fear.
fully, pretending now to be on guard.
Clutching Hand opened the door
and, still wearing the Smuzzle, beck
5oned to Michael. Michael could
scarcely: control his fears. But he
obeyed. entering Elaine's room after
the Clutching Hand, who locked the.
T door.
Were you watching me?" demand
VI cd the master criminal. with rage.
iichael, trembling all oveE. shook
Z his head. For: a moment Clntchins3
Hand looked him over disdainfully
at the clunlsy lie
Then be brutallF struck Michael In
the faces knocking him A.. an I'M
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