The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-02-26
FIFTH EPISODE
The Poisoned Room.

Elaine and Craig we're much togeth-
er during the next few days. Some
how or other, it 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
neighborhood of Riverside drive, with
its fashionable procession of automo-
biles and go-carts-as far north, in
deed, as that desperate haunt known
as 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 sinis-
ter face appeared in basement area
way near by.
1t was the Clutching Hand.
He wore 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
It, his face was covered by 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. it happened, Aunt Josephine was
upstairs in Elaine's room. She was
fixing flowers in 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 further
question.
Quickly, like a good workman
Clutching Hand went to the telephone
instrument and by dint of keeping hi
finger on the hook and his back tt
Aunt Josephine succeeded in convey
ing the illusion that he was examining
1t.
No sooner was the door shut thar
the Clutching Hand hastily opened hi
bag and from it drew small powder
spraying outfit, such as / have seel
used for spraying bug powder HI
then took out sort of muzzle will
an elastic band on it and slipped i
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 o
the spraying instrument blew out
cloud of powder which he directed a
the wall.
Meanwhile, Michael, In the hallway
on guard to see that no one bothere'
the Clutching Hand at his work, wa
overcome by curiosity to see what hi
master was doing. He opened til
door little bit and gazed stealthil
through the crack into the room.
Clutching Hand was now sprayin
the rug close to the dressing table 0
Elaine and was standing near the mil
ror. He stopped down to examine tn
rug. Then, as he raised his head, h
happened to look into the mirror. 1
it he could see the full reflection G
Michael behind him, gazing into tn
room.
.The scoundrel!" muttered Clutci
ing Hand, with depressed fury at tn
discovery.
He rose quickly and shut off tn
spraying instrument, stuffing 1t int
the bag. He took step OF two towar
the door. Michael drew back, fea
fully, pretending now to be on guar
Clutching Hand opened the doc
and, still wearing the muzzle, becl
oned to Michael. Michael coul
scarcely control his fears. But b
obeyeo, entering Elaine's room afts
the Clutching Hand. who locked tn
door.
Were you watching me?" deman
ed the master criminal, with rage.
Michael. trembling all over, shoe
his head. For a moment Clutchin
Hand looked him over disdainfull
at the clumsy lie.
Then he brutally struck Michael
the face. knocking him down. An u