The Elbert County tribune., 1915-03-19
FIFTH EPISODE
The Poisoned Room.

Elaine and Craig were much togeth-
er during the next few days. Some
how or other. 1t seemed that the chase
of the Clutching Hand involved long
conferences in the Dodge library, and
oven, in fact, extended to excursions
into the notoriously crime-infested
neighborhood of Riverside drive, with
its fashionable procession of automo-
biIes and go-carts-as far north, In
deed. as that desperate haunt known
an Grants tomb
But to return to the more serious
side of the affair.
Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely
come out OF the house and descended
the steps, one afternoon, when a sinis-,
ter face appeared In basement area
way near by.
1t was the Clutching Hand.
He wore a telephone inspectors hat
and coat and carried bag slung by a
strap over his shoulder. For once he
had left Off his mask. but. in place OF
1t, his face was covered by a scraggy
black beard. The disguise was effec-
tive.
He saw Kennedy and Miss Dodge
and skunk 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 a
loud tone as Michael, in Jennings
place for the afternoon. opened the
door.
He accompanied the words with the
sign, and Michael admitted him.
AS 1t happened, Aunt Josephine was
upstairs in Elaines 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-
tor into the room.
"A man from the telephone COM
pany," he answered deferentially.
Aunt Josephine. unsophisticated, al
lowed them to enter without a further
question.
Quickly. like 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 he was examining
1t.
No sooner was the door shut than
the Clutching Hand hastily opened his
bag and from it drew small powder
spraying outfit. such as l have seen
used for spraying bug powder. He
then took out sort of muZzle with
an elastic band on 1t and slipped it
over his head so that the muzzle pro-
tected his nose and mouth.
He seemed to work 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.
Meanwhile. Michael. in the hallway,
on guard to see that no one bothered
the Clutching Hand at his work. was
overcome by curiosity to see what his
master was doing He opened the
door little bit and gazed stealthily
through the crack into the room.
Ciutching Hand was now spraying
the rug close to the dressing table of
Elaine and was standing near the mir
ror. He stopped down to examine the
rug Then. as he raised his head, he
happened to look into the mirror. In
it he could see the full reflection of
Michael behind him. gazing into the
room.
THE scoundrel!" muttered Clutch
ing Hand. with repressed fury at the
discovery.
He rose quickly and shut off the
spraying irStrument. stufiing it into
the bag. 70 took 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 muzzle, beck
oned to Michael Michael could
scarcely control his fears. But he
obeyed. entering Elaine's room after
the Clutching Hand, who locked the
door.
Were you watching me?" demand
ed the master criminal. with rage.
Michael. trembling all over, shooF
his head. For a moment Clutching
Hand looked him over disdainfully
at the clumsy lie.
Then he brutally struck Michael in
the face, knocking him down An un-