Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-05
FIFTH EPISODE
The Poisoned Room.

4 The Poisoned Room.
q Elaine and Craig were much togeth.
er during the next few days. Some
how or other, II 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-infested
ineighborhood OF Riverside drive, with
It's fashionable procession Of automo-
biles and go-carts-as far north, In
deed, 90 that desperate haunt known
as Grants tomb.
But TO return to the more serious
side Of the aftair.
Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely
come out OF the house and descended
the steps, one afternoon. when q SIMS
ter face appeared In q basement area
way near BY.
Il was the Ciutching Hand.
He wore q telephone inspectors hat
and coat and carried bag slung by a
strap over his shoulder. For once he
had left on his mask, but, in place Of
4, HIS face was covered by scraggy
black beard. The disguise was eftec-
tive.
He saw Kennedy and Miss Dodge
and skunk unobtruslyeiy against
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 a. Michael. in Jennings
place for the afternoon. opened the
door.
He accompanied the words with the
ssgit. and Michael admitted him.
AS Il happened. Aunt Josephine was
upstairs in Elaine's room. She was
,fixiag howers In vase on the dress
irg table of her idolIzed niece. Mean
While. Rusty, the collie, lay. half blink
l1g. M the floor.
sWho 81 thisf'' abe asked, as MI
rsae: led the bogus telephone inspec-
tor into the room
"A rsSb from the telephone COM
patty" he answered deferentially.
Acct Josephine. unsophisticated. al
lowed their t. enter without a further
QHcshor
Quickly. Ike . good workman.
Clutching Hand vert to the telephone
ihetrament aud by dint Of keeping his
fuEer on the hook end his back to
Aunt Jose..hipe exceeded In convey
irg tie illus.ca that he was examining
Il.
40 sooner was me door shut than
tie csa'chinR Hand hastily opened his
bas an from II drew 8 small powder
spraying outh', such as have seen
used Cor spraying hug powder. He
then took vut sort OF muzzle with
81 elastic taad On II and slipped it
over Tie head 90 that the muzzle pro-
tecied his nose and mouth.
Re seemed 10 work q sort OF pump
ikr attacnrent AMI from the nozzle of
ihe sprayirg instrument blew out q
cloud 81 powder wBich he directed at
tis vail
Mcanwh:le. Mlchacl, in the hallway.
On gard to zoe that no one bothered
she CMtchlug Hand at his work. was
Overcome by curiosity 20 see what his
master wcs doing He opened the
door t.ttle bit aud sazsd steaithily
through The crack into the room.
ciEscslng IIspd was now spraying
the rig close to thc J7ossipg table of
elaine sud wss standing rear the mir
,rey. He stopped down to examine the
rug. ~hes. as he raiscd bis head. he
;ksupcncd 50 icox into the mirror. In
81 ho could sae tho sull reflection OF
tsschaci behind him. gazing into the
rOols. ~
erie -coundrci!" Ianttcrcd Clutch
.inr Wand, With reprassed fury at the
discovery.
He rose cuiSsiy aud shut CO the
spraying instrument. stuaing 1t i1to
the kar. ue took step or two toward
tte door. Michael creT back. fear.
sfully. pretending now to be on guard.
Clutching Hand opened the door
ana stili wearing the nuEzlc. seek.
sorrd IN Michael. Michael ccald
scarcely control kis feaTs. sut IL
Iobcyos, entering Elaine's roorc after
tho ciutc Wing Hand. who locked the
door.
~Were you watching me" ds:aand-
Id the master criminal with rage
Michael. trcruhling all over, shoof
hits head. For n moment Ciutching
/ IT., r1.nd lcoxcd Linn over disdainfuiiy
II. A. = ~fuoaev ga - 4
Their 10 trctally s:'seE M n 81 -
the face. knocking him down. An ul'