The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-17

Doctor Hayward had arrived and
had Just finished taking the patients
pulse and temperature as our cab
pulled up.
Maine was quite M indeed.
.-0hi I'm 20 glad to see you,. she
breathed with an air of relief as Ken
nedy advanced
'Why-what 10 the matterY" asked
Craig anxiously.
Doctor Hayward shook his head du-
biously. but Kennedy did not notice
him. for. as he approached Elaine. she
drew from the covers where she had
concealed It = letter and handed Il to
him.
Craig took It and read:
you are sick this morning. To
morrow you will be worse The next
day YOU will die unless you discharge
Craig Kennedy.
At the signature of the Clutching'
Hand he frowned, then. noticing Doc
tor Hayward. turned to him and re-
peated his question. What is the mat
teri"
Doctor Hayward continued shaking
his head. Il cannot diagnose her
symptoms" he shrugged.
There seemed to be faint odor. al
most as If of garlic. in the room. 1t
was unmistakable and Craig looked
about him curiously. but said nothing.
As he sniffed he moved impatiently
and his foot touched Rusty, under the
bed. Rusty whined and moved back
lazily. Craig bent over and looked
at him.
What's the matter with Rusty!" he
asked. rs he sick. too"
Why. yes" answered Elaine. fol-
lowing Craig with her deep eyes.
Craig reached down and gently
pulled the collie out into the room.
Rusty crouched down close to the
floor His nose was hot and dry and
feverish. He was plainly ill.,
How long has Rusty been In the
room?" asked Craig.
"All night" answered Elaine. 81
wouldn't think OF being without him
now"
May take Rusty along with me?"
Craig asked finally.
Elaine hesitated Surely" she said
at length. only be gentle with him."
of course" he said simply II
thought that | might be able to dis
cover the trouble from studying him"
We stayed only a few minutes.
longer. for Kennedy seemed to realize
the necessity of doing something i'm.
mediately, and even Doctor Hayward
was fighting In the dark.
Back in the laboratory, Kennedy set
to work Immediately, brushing every.
thing else aside. He began bv draw.
ing off little of Rusty's blood in a
tube, very carefully
Here. Walter" he said. pointing to
the little incision he had made. will
you take care of him?"
Quickly Craig made one test after
another.
As he did so shifted There was
an unmistakable odor of garlic in the
air which made me think of what !
had already noticed in Elaine's room.
"Arseniuretted hydrogen" he an.
swered, still engaged in verifying his
tests. This is the Marsh test for
arsenic"
Arsenic!" | repeated, in horror.
l had scarcely recovered from the
surprise of Kennedy's startling reve.
lation when the telephone rang again
Kennedy seized the receiver. thinking
evidently that the message might be
from or about Elaine
But from the look on his face and
from his manner. could gather that,
although it was not from Elaine her
self, 1t was about something that In
terested him greatly
Good" heard him say finally. II
shall keep the appointment-abso-
lutely"
What was it," asked, eagerly
1T was Elaine's footman. Michael"
he replied. thoughtfully "As sus.
pected, he says that he is confeder-
ate of the Clutching Hand, and If we
will protect him he will tell US the
trouble with Elaine.
considere a moment. ''How's
that?" I queried
Well" added Craig. you see, MI.
chael has become infuriated by the
treatment he received from the Clutch
ing Hand. | believe he cuffed him in
the face yesterday. Anyway. he says
he has determined to get even and be-
tray him"
| did not like the looks of the
thing, and said so. Craig" | objected
yehemently, don't go to meet him.
1t is a trap"
Kennedy had evidently considered
my objection already
1T may be trap" he replied slow
ly, but Elaine is dying and we've got
10 see this thing through"
AS he spoke, he took an automatic
from drawer of a cabinet and thrust
1t into bis pocket. Then he went to
another drawer and took out several
sections of thin tubing, which seemed
to be made to fasten together as a
fishing pole is fastened, but were now
separate, as if ready for travelling.
Then he went out / followed, still
arguing.
If you go, 60" l capitulated.
That's all there is to it,
Following the directions that Mi
chael had given over the telephone.
Craig led me into one of the toughest
parts of the lower West side.