The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-12


One thing that interested him was
that part of the contents had been
wrapped in paper to keep them in
place. This paper he was now care
fully examining with microscope.
AS nearly as l could make it out, the
paper contained part of a typewrit-
ten cremical formula, which read:
TINcTURE OF IODINE
THREE PARTS Of
He looked up from his study of the
microscope to Long Sin.
Tell me just how it happened that
you got this bomb" he asked.
Without hesitation the Chinaman re-
cited the circumstances. beginning
with the note by which he had been
summoned.
"A note?" repeated Kennedy, ca
gerly. WAS it typewritten?"
Long Sin reached into his pocket
and produced the note itself, which he
had not burned.
AS Craig studied the typewriter
message from the Clutching Hand
could see that he was growing more
and more excited.
sAt last he has given us something
typewritten,' he exclaimed. ITO most
people, l suppose, it seems that type
writing is the best way to conceal
identity. But there are thousand
and one ways of identifying typewrit
ing.
Look, Walter" he remarked at
length, taking a fine tipped pencil and
pointing at the distinguishing marks
as he talked. You will notice that
all the rs in this note are bat
tered and faint as we'll as just a trifie
out of alignment Now l will place the
paper from the bomb under the micro
scope and you will see that the IT'S
in the scrap of formula have exactly
the same appearance"
I strained my eyes to look. Sure
enough. Kennedy was right. There
was that unmistakable identity be-
tween the rs in the formula and the
note.
Kennedy had been gazing at the
floor, his face puckered in thought as
looked. Suddenly he clapped his
hands together, as if he had made a
great discovery.
I've struck it," he exclaimed, jump
ing up. 81 was wondering where
had seen typewriting that reminds me
of this. Walter, get on your coat
and hat We are on the right trail at
| last"
With Long Sin we hurried out of
the laboratory. leaving him at the
nearest taxicab stand, where We
jumped into waiting car.
at is the clue of the battered IT'S
Craig muttered.
Aunt Josephine was in the library
knitting when the butler, Jennings, an
nounced us.
''where is-Miss Dodge?" inquired
Kennedy, with suppressed excitement
as we entered.
81 think she's out shopping, and I
don't know just when she will be
back" answered Aunt Josephine. with
some surprise. "Why? Is it anything
important-any news?"
Every important" returned Kennedy
excitedly 81 think 1 have the best
clue yet Only-it will be necessary
to look through some of the household
correspondence Immediately to see
whether there are certain letters.
wouldn't be surprised If she had some
perhaps not very personal-but I
/ must see them"
Kennedy lost no time. He went to
desk where Elaine generally sat,
and quickly took out several type
written letters. One after another he
examined them closely, rejecting one
after another. until finally he came
to one that seemed to interest him.
He separated it from the rest and
fell to studying it, comparing it with
the paper from the bomb and the
note which Long Sin had received
from the Clutching Hand Then he
! folded the letter so that the sigma
ture and the address could not be
read by us.
A portion of the letter recall read
something like this:
"This Is his contention: Whereas,
TRUTH is the only goal and MATTER
/ Is non-existent-"
Look at this, Walter" remarked
/ Craig, with difficulty restraining him
self. What do you make of it?"
A glance at the typewriting was suf-
f1cient to show me that Kennedy had,
indeed, made an important discovery.
We stared at each other almost too
dazed to speak.
At that moment we were startled
by the sudden appearance of Elaiue
She entered the. room carrying in
her arms a huge bunch of roses which
she had evidently just received.
The moment she saw Craig, how
ever, she stopped short with look OF
great surprise.
Her keen eye had not missed the
fact that several of her letters lay
scattered over the top of the desk.
What are you doing with my let
tiers, Mr.. Kennedy" she asked, in an
astonished tone, evidently resenting
! the unceremoniousness with which he
had apparently been overhauling her
correspondence.
As guardedly as possible, Kennedy
met her inquiry, which 1 could not
myself blame her for making.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Dodge
he said. but matter has just come
up which necessitated merely a cur.
sorry examination of some purely for.
NAL letters which might have an i'm.
portant bearing on the discovery oil
the Clutching Hand. Your aunt had
no idea where you were. nor when you
might return. and the absolute neces-
sity for haste in such an important
matter is my only excuse for examin-
ing few minor letters without first
obtaining your permission"
l. She said nothing. At another time
such an explanation would have been
instantly accepted. Now, however, il
was different