The hummer. (Houston, Miss.) 1914-19??, 1915-07-16

Knocked. The HOLSTERS ceased. lhen
the door opened slowly and Z could
see q cold blue automatic.
TITS an right Michael" reassurad
Craig calmly. IAN right Walter" be
added to me.
The gun dropped back into the foot
mans pocket We entered and MI
chaei again locked the door Not
word had been spoken BY him 30 far.
Next Michael moved 20 the center
OF the room and. as ! realized later
brought himself IN direct line with The
open window. He seemed 10 be over
come with fear at his betrayal and
stood there breathing heavily.
Professor Kennedy" he began, 7
have been 90 mistreated that I have
made up my mind 70 tell you all ]
know about this Clutching-"
Suddenly be drew q sharp breath
and both his hands clutched at his
own breast He did not stagger and
fan IN the ordinary manner but
seemed TO bend at the knees and
waist and literally crumple down on
his face.
We ran to him. Craig turned him
over gently on his back and examined
him. He called. No answer. Michael
was almost pulseless.
Quickly Craig tore on his collar and
barred his breast, for the man seemed
to be struggling for breath. As he did
so he drew from Miohael's throat q
small. sharp-pointed dart
What's that7" ! calculated, horror
stricken.
"A poisoned blowgun dart, such as
is used by the South American In
dams on the upper Orinoco," he said
slowly.
He examined It carefully
What Is the poison?" ] asked.
"Curari," he replied simply. 1T acts
on the respiratory muscles, paralyEing
them and causing asphyxiation.
The dart seemed to have been made
Of a quill with a very sharp point, hol-
low, and containing the deadly poison
IN the sharpened end.
Look outi" cautioned, as he
handled It.
"Oh. that's all right" he answered
casually. II / don't scratch myself,
am safe enough. I could swallow the
stun and It wouldn't hurt me-unless
] had an abrasion Of the lips or some
internal cut"
Kennedy continued to examine the
dart unth suddenly I heard a low ex-
clamation Of surprise from him. In
side the hollow quill was a thin sheet
Of tissue paper, tightly rolled. He
drew It out and read:
ITO know me is Death.
"Kennedy-Take Warning"
Underneath was the inevitable
Clutching Hand sign.
We jumped to our feet. Kennedy
rushed to the window and slammed Il
shut, while seized the key from MI.
chael's pocket opened the door and
called for help.
A moment before, on the roof Of a
building across the street, one might
have seen a bent, skullzing figure.
His face was copper colored end on
his head was a thick thatch Of mat.
ted hair. He looked like a South
American Indian, in a very dilapidated
suit Of CASTOR American clothes.
He had slipped out through a door
way leading to a flight Of steps from
the roof to the hallway Of the tene-
ment, and, like one Of his native ven
omous serpents. worked his way down
the stairs again.
Ny cutlery brought a yeritable bat
talon Of aid. The hotel proprietor,
the negro waiter and several others
dashed upstairs, followed shortly BY
q portly policeman.
Craig took the policeman into his
confidence. showing him the dart and
explaining about the poison. The on
Ger stared blankly.
Il must get away, too" hurried on
Craig. "Ohieer, / win leave you to
take charge here. You can depend on
me for the inquest"
The officer nodded
Come on, Walter" whispered
Craig, eager to get away then adding
the one word, "EIainel"
I followed hastily. not slow to I'M
derstand his fear for her.
Nor were Craig's fears groundless.
In spite Of all that could be done for
her. Elaine was still in bed. much
weaker now than before.
More than that, the Clutching Hand
had not neglected the opportunity,
either.
Suddenly, Just before our return, a
stone had come hurting through the
window. without warning Of any kind,
and had landed on Elaine's bed. =.
Below, as we learned some time aft
erwards, a car had drawn up hastily
and the evil-faced crook whom the
Clutching Hand had used to rid him
self Of the informer, "Limpy Red, had
leaped out and hastily hurled the
stone through the window, as quick.